"Baby" Wants Computer

[Whizbang]

My not-so-baby 26 year old daughter wants a computer for her May birthday.  I told her that I could put a much better one together for her than she could buy.  I don't know why she was shocked; it could be because she hardly ever spends any time here and hasn't a clue what is going on in this house.   ::)  She has the Playstation bit and does not need a gamer.  I am looking at a practical unit with options for expansion later.  I would start with onboard video, sound, LAN, 32 bit AMD XP board with 5 PCI slots.  She would not need more than a 2800 XP AMD processor.  Shoot some mainboards at me for a cursory perusal please  ;D

[query]

Most of the integrated-video boards have only 3 PCI slots (micro ATX format), but since many functions are integrated (network, sound, etc.), that may be enough.

I would go with an nForce integrated board before a VIA one (the VIA video is weaker than the nVidia).

http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7n8x-vm-400/overview.htm

Alternatively, if you find yourself in need of better video - it's an opportunity - buy the A7N8X-X board and donate your card, and upgrade to a newer one ...

[Whizbang]

Now that I think of it, I do not believe I have ever used more that 3 PCI slots at a time, even with an IDE RAID option card and a hard drive switch card that fastens in a slot just for a place to hang it.

[Mark H]

You can't beat the Asus A7N8X motherboards if you are willing to get a lower end video card. I have an ATI 9200 in this machine and it works fine for everything I do on it, which doesn't include Photoshop or gaming (I have another monster PC for that ;D )

Mark H

[Neon]

The Abit NF7-M is a full ATX board.

The MSI K7N2GM2-LSR has SATA on board, which many of the other nForce2 IGP boards do not have.

[Whizbang]

Would you then nix any with S3 unichrome graphics?

[Neon]

Uh, S3 graphics are pretty weak from a gamer's point of view - not that it's their market, anyway.

Not sure about long term access to drivers - S3 is now a small player in the graphics market.

[Whizbang]

The MSI K7N2GM2-LSR has SATA on board, which many of the other nForce2 IGP boards do not have.

This one looks like a good buy for $73.00 at ZipZoomFly.  NewEgg is out but at the same price.

Right now, this one seems hard to beat.  I paid $72.00 just for my son's old ATI 7500.   :o

[Whizbang]

MSI K7N2GM2-LSR  --------------$73.00  @  ZipZoomFly

ASPIRE X-Infinity Red
ATX Mid-Tower Case with
350W Power Supply,
Model"ATXB6KLW-RED/350"-------------$62.50  @  NewEgg  (It has a Turbolink PS.  I have had no problems with it.  Although it does not have the heft of an Antec, the local shops use them and report no problems.  Deer PS is the real dog they avoid.)  I could replace the PS if necessary, but she would like the red (26 years old going on 13 ::)  )

Hitachi IBM 80GB 7200RPM SERIAL ATA HDS722580VLSA80, 3 year warranty---------$61.00 at NewEgg

Western Digital 40GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, 3 year warranty------$56.50  @ NewEgg.

NEC 16X Double Layer DVD?RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3520A BK, OEM----$61.99  @ NewEgg

Memory, PC3200, 512 meg----------about $80.00

----------------------------------
total -->  about $340.00 plus around $125.00 for a CRT
-------------------------
464.00   plus S&H

Less than $550.00 ?

What did I miss?

[Neon]

A CPU might be nice...  ;) Are you thinking XP Barton, or Sempron?

Don't forget keyboard, mouse, OS, floppy

Why a SATA plus a PATA hard drive? Heck, I didn't know they still sell 40GB drives.

Get her a nice red cold cathode - she'll like that. ;)

[Whizbang]

I guess it might work better with a CPU, ya think?  Sheesh!   :P  I was just looking at warranties and price.  I may look at Sempron.  The floppy is no problem.  I have one.  The keyboard and mouse are cheap, but I did forget to list.  I am sure I will add a USB thumb drive.  I was just looking at the main hardware right now.  There is also the CD/DVD writer program.  I have plenty of word processing programs from my junked computers.  She could do worse than MS Works.  I never had any problems with it.  OS is going to be the biggest decision.  So is money.   :'(

More details to follow

[Whizbang]

I probably will go with two SATA drives and leave the IDE connections to the CDs.  Is there any disadvantage to the Sempron as opposed to the Athlon XP.  I do know they are a bit slower, but marginally so.

[Carskick]

Semprons are rebranded AthlonXPs or 64s. The rating is just a little overrated.

Example:

An Athlon XP 2Ghz, 333FSB, 256KB L2
                 is equal to
An Sempron 2Ghz, 333FSB, 256KB L2


However

An Athlon XP 2500+
   Is better than
A Sempron 2500+


In other words, the actual core is the same.

[Chandler]

How about Biostar's M7NCG-400?  It is quite a popular and reliable board and you could use one of the mobile Athlon XP's in it for excellent thermal properties:
NewEgg.com - M7NCG-400

[Carskick]

Looks like a nice board for the price. It doesn't have RAID or SATA, but if you don't need those or 5 PCI slots, then the board is probably perfect. I've read about people using the highly efficient mobile AthlonXPs, overclocking them to outrageous speeds without too much trouble.

[Whizbang]

I'll keep them both in mind.  I like the SATA option, but she really does not need it.

[Whizbang]

I forgot how expensive a total system build is.  She will also need a printer and monitor.  When I upgrade, I add a little at a time, which means that I never have a completely new system.  I won't do that with her, but this is going to to be a real pinch.   :-\

[Whizbang]

After more thought, I think I will aim as high as I can and trim as necessary.

[Whizbang]

My "rich" sister called me tonight, and I told her about her niece's wanting a computer.  Without asking, she offered to help with the birthday present.  Things are looking up, unless she was thinking of my resurrecting the old PBell from the dirt dauber wasps in the barn.    ???  Nah.   ;D

[Bill]

That's a bit of good fortune. Don't forget to factor in your assembly and testing labor when you start dividing the costs.   Mwave charges $80 to assembly and test.


Bill

[Whizbang]

That's a bit of good fortune. Don't forget to factor in your assembly and testing labor when you start dividing the costs.   Mwave charges $80 to assembly and test.


Bill

Heck, I never expected her to come across with a dime, especially since I did not even ask.  History is being made here.   ;D

[Bill]

Why don't you mention it to your "rich son" (your words Bells and Whisles poast- no offense meant Whiz) and make it a family present?

One never knows.

B-

[Carskick]

Here is a board that may intrest you from newegg. It is a Chaintech using the Nforce2 400 chipset, supports dual channel, and only costs $47. The main downside with it is that there is no integrated video, but I rather have the better chipset, and the lower price will allow you to buy an MX440 or Radeon7500 as opposed to the integrated for not much more money.  

[Whizbang]

He just gave us an enormously valuable gift in our new daughter-in-law.  He may volunteer some financial remuneration after I tell him what his aunt did.  I never prod for help.  One thing I have always done is never to beg my kids for help.  It is just "sweeter" that way.   ;)

[Whizbang]

What is the survival rate for Chaintech?  That is one board I have had no information on.

[Whizbang]

I fear that my decision regarding what to purchase for "baby" has changed quite a bit--->up.  Auntie has come across with enough cash to put together a good 64 system!  That does not include the peripherals and OS which will cost about as much as the computer.  I will do a retake for upgrade of the proposed unit and be jealous of her computer specs.  The one thing I will set a cap on is the video card.  She would not need a super-gamer, but I probably will drop the onboard video in favor of separate AGP card.  PCI Express would reduce the money available for the rest of the stuff.  

[Bill]

Whiz,
the Family Present!

Here is a proposed system I am 2-3 weeks from ordering:  I opted for a CDr combo instead of the DVDr option to accommodate my bckup system.  Not a gamer but reasonable, I think.

Antec 3700 AMB
GIGABYTE "GA-K8NS 939"      
GIGABYTE ATI RADEON 9600PRO Video Card 256/128  
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 90nm      
Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB cl 2.5          
Mitsumi 1.44MB 3.5Inch Floppy                    
Antec All Clear 120mm fan                              
Samsung 52X32X52X16X DVD/CD-RW
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD                                                          

Microsoft Windows XP Home  

About  $740.  
monitors, KB, mouse, speakers, printer all extra

[Whizbang]

eWiz.com has that board for $88.00 total!  I will take a look at reviews, if any are out yet.   ;)

[Whizbang]

I am going to have to take a step back because of a need for a compact monitor, as in LCD.  Her front bed room, where the computer would be set up will not accomodate a CRT easily.  I also decided that since she is quite computer illiterate, the 64 bit is over the top now.

Here is a mobo I just came across on NewEgg for $53.00 with 400FSB and DDR400 also.  It also has Nvidia 2 integrated video.
MSI 'K7N2GM-V'

[Bill]

Whiz,

Certainly much less expensive and just as effective for the tasks at hand.  I don't know the board, at all.

I also need to point out that the price I quoted for the system I posted did not include the 3700 case ($65) which I already have.  Mybad.

Bill