Hi everybody! My wife and I are looking to spend about $800 Canadian on a decent computer system. She likes the word processing and I like the games (like warcraft III- I can't wait for World Of Warcraft to come out) I want a decent video card (mines only 4 mb) and good memory, blah blah blah. As we were searching on the net we became lost in the multitude of options. Can anyone tell me in simple terms what a sweet set up with decent video game potental could be for about $800?

if u looking in something middle class i'm looking for a buyer for my comp for more info plz e-mail me

Shahabazd123@hotmail.com

Though I dont have first hand experience with these parts I have read they are all pretty good and would fit what you are looking for:
CPU
Athlon XP2600+ Thoroughbread 333FSB - $150
Mobo
A7N8X w/audio - $180
RAM
Samsung DDR400 PC3200 512MB - $100
HD
WD 80G 8MB - $130
Video
ATI Radeon 9000 Pro 128MB - $190
CD
LG 52x - $25
Floppy
Panasonic 1.44 - $20
Case
Antec LanBoy Aluminum w/350w - $150

Total 950
This is in CDN from anitec.ca, based in vancouver. I realise it is over your budget, plus whatever tax is, but I was not sure what you would cut and still be a reasonable gaming machine in a few years. If you need a monitor that would also be an uncosted expense... sorry I dont have more experience to offer and gl.

My recommendations:--


CPU: Athlon XP 2400+ (retail) « or » Athlon XP 2600+ 333 MHz FSB (retail)

Mobo: MSI K7N2 Delta-ILSR

RAM: 2 x 256 MB Kingston HyperX PC3000 CL2.0 DDR (if buying AXP 2400+, then 2 x 256 MB Kingston PC2700 CL2.5 should be enough)

HDD: Western Digital 80 GB (7200 rpm, 8 MB buffer)

Graphics Card: GeForce4 Ti4200 64 MB or Radeon 9100 64 MB (if you want to to save money)

Optical drive (according to need):-

CD-RW: LiteOn 52x/24x/52x

DVD-ROM: LiteOn 16x

Combo Drive: LiteOn 48x/24x/48x/16x (if want both DVD-ROM and CD-RW, this should save few bucks)


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<b><A HREF="http://geocities.com/spitfire_x86" target="_new"> My Website</A></b>

<b><A HREF="http://geocities.com/spitfire_x86/myrig.html" target="_new"> My Rig</A></b>

Badger's system is good. Check out the anitec website (anitec.ca).You can save a bit by getting the non-delux board, a 40 gig hdd (same model) pc2700 samsung ram and an xp2500 cpu. I would suggest getting a saphire ati 9500 pro ($265) or ATI 9600 pro video card. It's way better than the 9000 pro for not much more cash. I bought a 9000 pro and regret it. I have bought a lot of stuff from anitec and they are good. Only two rmas,with no problem. (f you have the receipt)

Hi! First of all there is no monitor included and I don't know any other shops than the suggested www.Anitec.ca. I also wonder if there is any sales tax in canada and if it is included or not in the Anitec prices?. Well, anyway, here's my suggestion:
Asus 48x24x52 CD-RW............................$49.98
ACT 0309BU Tower Chassi.......................$29.98
AMD Athlon XP2500+ "Barton" 333FSB......$135.00
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 80G 7200RPM..$108.95
Fujitsu 8729 PS2 keyboard OEM................$20.00
Asus A7V8X -X KT400 motherboard retail... $95.95
Samsung Optical Wheel Mouse Retail..........$25.00
Spectek-Micron DDR333(PC2700)512MBRAM$.72.95
ATI Sapphire Radeon 9500 Pro 128MB DDR. $265.00
-----------------------------------------------
Grand total of:...................... $802.81

The CPU is retail and comes with heatsink/fan.
I use precisely the same HD and mobo and memory! And it works great, and it owerclocks just fine if you'd like to try that. I know the mobo isn't as good as Nforce2 mobos but its more than good enough and its cheap with quality. I choose to spend the money on a good videocard instead. If you wan't too save some money on my suggested rig, go for a smaller HD, a ordinary CD/DVD-Rom (non burner). Don't buy less than a total 512 MB. You'll need it. Also don't forget to buy a FLOPPYDRIVE, its unfortunately a must have.

One last advice, if you can talk yourself (and your wife ) into it spend about a $100 more and get the ATI Sapphire Radeon 9700 Pro . Its a much better card and has much better longetivity. Although the 9500 PRO is a good card, it (and many others) are futile compared to the 9700 PRO. Also be aware that the 9500 PRO (don't get the 9500 non PRO version it sucks) is better than the 9600 PRO!

Phew! GL

Turk

where u get the parts that cheap i buy my parts from local store and they 25% more expensive then what u said

Since no one has posted an intel solution yet, I will

Motherboard - Asus P4P800 (Non-VM, Non Deluxe) - 125.00
Processor - Intel 2.4C 800 MHZ FSB - 175.00
Ram1 - Corsair CMX256A-3200C2 - 60.00
Ram2 - Corsair CMX256A-3200C2 - 60.00
Video Card - ATI 9500 128mb 8xAGP - 142.00
Hard Disk - Western Digital WD800JB 80GB 8MB 7200RPM - 82.00
CD-RW - Lite-On 52x24x52x CD-RW - 46.00
Speakers - Juster 5d-107 7Pcs - 34.00
Case - Raidmax Model 208 10 Bay 350W PS - 43.00
Floppy - Teac 1.44 Floppy Drive - 12.00
Sound - Creative Audigy2 - 70.00
KB/M - Logitech Optical Desktop KB/M - 28.00
Total - 877$, Upgradeable to 3.6c

Course, there are somethings that can be cut here too... the soundcard is redundant if you don't mind the ac97 sound on the board, the kb/m is probally redundent if you have decent ones already, the speakers may or may not be redundent... etc... if you just took the sound card off you'd be at 807$ including s&h. Prices are from pricewatch.com

This system will do everything you want for the next couple years, and if in 2 years you upgrade it to a 3.6c it'll do it for a year or two beyond that...

Shadus

Dude thanks for all the info! I am new to learning all this computer jargon but I like the way you broke it all down. Thanks

Hello mr Shadus! I looked at your nice suggestion but are you sure that you have calculated with CANADIAN$? I checked the prices you had written and at www.anitec.ca (only store I know in Ca) the prices where right, if you viewed them in US currency. There is a option to view them in either Ca currency or the corresponding US currency.

If I'm wrong would you please tell us which store you got these prices from?

Ty

Turk

Hey recruit you would have to grab a ferry to get these prices. Actually, Anitec will ship (prepaid) to our capital I believe.
Turk, you can check another Vancouver website. "atic.ca" has better prices. I dont like buying there myself, rather inpersonal and some bad reports but thier prices are good.
Sorry to our intel fanboy. You blew it bigtime. To get the Canadian price for your system add 40%. Yes the intel system might be a very small bit better, but 40% more!!!

I would put the most $$ into a fast motherboard, as this is the backbone of your system and will dictate how long it lasts. I'm an AMD owner but if I was buying a system today I would try to find a way to get a fast motherboard with 800MHz front side bus. If that means Intel then so be it. Cost/benifit anlysis says I'll save the most money in the long run by buying the fastest motherboard I can.

Sorry I'm not motivated enough to look up all the prices, but I thought I'd share my philosophy about the whole thing. In other words, but that's just IMHO.

120% Klipsch Fanboy!!!

Harrow where do you live in Canada, if it's the BC region than i'll pm me and i'll give you a site in calgary that will only charge u one tax (all site in vancouver will charge u two taxes if your live there)

Proud Owner the Block Heater
120% Nvidia Fanboy
Athlon 64......nForce 3, it sure sucks when you can't afford things. One day Operton Servers will cost less than $4000 so everyone can get one

Hello Harrow: I am in the Kingston Ontario Region and i usually buy my parts at <A HREF="http://www.canadacomputers.com" target="_new">Canada Computers</A>, <A HREF="http://www.kingstoncomputerplanet.com" target="_new">Kingston Computer PLanet</A> or <A HREF="http://www.bytewizecomputers.com" target="_new">Bytewize Computers</A>.
Canada Computers have some of the best prices in Canada, they have locations in toronto too, don't know if they ship but they probably do. I am sure though that you can find a retailer in your area with similar prices, the advantage with going local is that you don't pay shipping and much easier to return a defective product. I spec'd a system for you, so you can have one more. BTW. Bytewize ships everywhere and they have very good customer service in my opinion.

Recommended Suggestion:
MotherBoard- MSI K7N2-DELTA-L nVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400-$133
CPU-Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton) w/ 512K L2 cache Retail- $138
Memory - KingMax 512MB PC-3200 DDR400 SDRAM - $109
Video - Sapphire ATI Radeon 9500 Pro 128MB DDR OEM - $252
Hard Drive - Western Digital 80GB - $115
CD-RW - LiteOn 52x24x52 OEM - $61
Case - Super case - $32 <A HREF="http://www.canadacomputers.com/products/cases/supercase_pc146-big.jpg" target="_new">Link with Picture</A>
Power Supply - Enermax 350W EG365P-VE Dual Fan $65
Keyboard/Mouse - Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard & Optical Mouse - $40

Grand Total: $945.00


Budget Quote:
MotherBoard- MSI K7N2-DELTA-L nVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400-$133
CPU-Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton) w/ 512K L2 cache Retail- $138
Memory - KingMax 512MB PC-3200 DDR400 SDRAM - $109
Video - Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9200 128mb Retail - $109.00
Hard Drive - Western Digital 80GB - $115
CD-RW - LiteOn 52x24x52 OEM - $61
Case/Power Supply - AOpen QF50A w/ 300W PSU and Front USB (Ivory/Black)- $65
Keyboard - IBM Keyboard PS/2 (71G4644) $4.99
Mouse - Logitech Optical Mouse OEM - $18

Grand Total: $752.99

I made two quotes one onder your budget and one that i felt was the best all around system. I don't like going with generic PSU's but i did to get under budget.
I would strongly suggest you purchasing a nFroce2 motherboard as they are the best chipset for the AMD Athlon right now. The board i chose has the newer version of the chipset which allows 400Mhz bus cpu's for better upgradability later on. The reason i chose one stick of DDR not taking advantage of the Dual-DDR is for upgradibility, you can add another stick later to increase Memory to 1024MB. I got all these parts from Canada Computers.

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The only thing that i truly know...

is that i know nothing at all.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by peter21 on 06/08/03 11:04 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

Hey Harrow, I just want to add another link here to the ones Peter gave ya.

These guys have great prices, and if you don't live in Alberta, you won't have to pay PST on the system (shipping cost purolator ground is next to nothing aswell).

<A HREF="http://www.mlhsystems.com/" target="_new">http://www.mlhsystems.com/</A>

"Only those who attempt the absurd, acheive the impossible." - Albert Einstein