"Baby" Wants Computer

[Whizbang]

I think it must be fresh out of the "hatchery."  There are no reviews, no memory site listings, or anything else.  The specs are very good for that price.  The board apparently can also take a video memory upgrade to 128M.

[Bill]

I just read thru the spec.s and I'd guess the "up to 128 m of video" is not an upgrade.  I think the video memory is "shared" and the amount shared can be specified in the BIOs, up to 128.  

If that's true, plan on adding some to the system memory.

If you're going to look at LCDs, make sure it's a D-sub connection for this board.

Bill

[Whizbang]

MSI "K7N2GM-V" NVIDIA nForce--->$56.00 with S&H at NewEgg

ASPIRE X-Infinity Red ATX Mid-Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, Model"ATXB6KLW-RED/350"   --->$78.50 with S&H at NewEgg

Seagate 80 GB Barracuda 7200RPM SATA with NCQ Hard Drive, Model ST380817AS, OEM, 5 year warranty--->$74.00 with S&H at NewEgg

NEC 16X Double Layer DVD?RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3520A BK, OEM   --->$61.99 with S&H at NewEgg

Keymouse PS/2 3-Button Optical Retail Box   $5.00 with S&H at PCMicro

Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 -OEM   $94.00 with S&H at NewEgg

NEC 1.44MB Black Internal Floppy Drive, OEM   $10.50 with S&H at NewEgg

Lite-On 16X DVD-ROM, Model SOHD-167T Black, OEM   $28.00 at NewEgg

Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail   $128.00 with S&H at NewEgg

Logitech X-230 2.1 Black Speaker System --->42.00 with S&H at NewEgg

TOTAL------------------------------------->   ~$578.00

I could not find anything but a Lite-On or Sony for the DVD ROM in black, but I figured that was not a major concern since it is just a "What-does-it say?" device.

I have another Logitech keyboard.  I will look at Best Buy for the monitor.  I am still going to need to get a printer also.

Everything but the mouse is at NewEgg.  I have that little cheap mouse, and it has a very good feel, is crisp, and works well.

The monitor I get may come with speakers, not of this quality, but more compact.

Nero DVD burner program is available at OEM for about $15.00.  I need to get out my old receipt.

I likely will add red fans and neon cables for around $30.00.

[Chandler]

The Evercase ECE-4252 is worth a look - it is cheap but is near the top of SilentPCReview's recommended case list.  I got one just this week and it is very well built.  Cost is $35 for a black case without PSU, or $55 for black with 350W PSU.

It's nothing flashy, in fact somewhat mundane, but it is extremely quiet and has excellent airflow and EMI shielding.

[Whizbang]

I forgot to list the AMD Athlon XP-2600 (2.133GHz) 256KB 333MHz CPU Retail Box W/ Fan & 3yr Warranty from SMK Superstore.  It retails for $97.00[/color]

[Whizbang]

The Evercase ECE-4252 is worth a look - it is cheap but is near the top of SilentPCReview's recommended case list.  I got one just this week and it is very well built.  Cost is $35 for a black case without PSU, or $55 for black with 350W PSU.

It's nothing flashy, in fact somewhat mundane, but it is extremely quiet and has excellent airflow and EMI shielding.

But, not available in red.   :-\  Knowing my daughter, red is the key to complete success.   ;D

I probably will get the 1 gig memory.  I have never seen a package deal for that much memory with lifetime warranty.  Mushkin is on the list of tested for use on this board.

The shared memory concept is not the best idea, but I can always go to separate card later if needed.  

The Seagate has 5 year warranty, but needs adapter power plug that I added to the list for $4.00.

NewEgg was out of stock on a simple black DVD ROM.

The 2600XP with retail package comes with the manufacturer's 3-year warranty and heatsink/fan combo.  The 2800 with 512 cache is only $10.00 more, but is a tad slower.  What do you  think?

CPU

[Bill]

Whiz,
Unless you're a Seagate fan , the WD SATA 80 gig 8m cach is about $10 cheaper and doesn't require a power adapter.- at newegg.

RE: Shared video memory: I suspect with a gig of system memory no one will notice.  

SMk Superstore was the only place I could find with the 2600XP available.  I'd wonder why.

Bill

[Whizbang]

I went with the Seagate before your feedback came but likely will get another drive later to store the OS once it is installed and will look at the WD.  The 5 year warranty caught me.  I did not check the specs on the WD.  I hope SMK Superstore still has that CPU when I get around to ordering.  The piggy bank is too thin right now unless my wife says otherwise.  It is rather odd that a manufacturer designs a drive with a 15 pin power array.

The Aspire X-Infinity is $17.00 cheaper at Xtreme Gear and I ordered it from them.  I still need a DVD/CD ROM drive, monitor, UV cables, a couple of red LED fans, the CPU, and, of course the other hard drive.  I think if I put a red strobe in the red case, her cats would go nuts.   :o

[Bill]

Whiz,

I hope my comment about the XP 2600 being hard to find didn't mislead you.  I am not enough of a tech expert to know but...
In another thread, Chandler was reflecting on the early Celerons that were sold with a disabled cach and the outcry about their poor performance.  I also think it noteworthy that the higher end A64s have double the cach of the lower speed chips.  
If the smaller size cach also relies on system memory while the large cach is more self-contained, I have to assume the on chip cach is much faster than system memory.  
Or maybe the difference is too small to notice.  Someone with a better understanding ought to be more help here.
Maybe it's worth investigating before you make the investment.

Bill

[Chandler]

Memory reads through L1 cache take about 3 cycles
Memory reads through L2 cache take about 7-20 cycles
Memory reads direct from memory take about 200 cycles

Cache performance is particularly important for things like video decoding which makes heavy use of memory, so the faster the better.  The amount of cache can improve performance - the 512K Barton XP's have a higher "+" rating than a 256K T-Bred XP of the same clock speed.  But in some situations there is no difference.

[Whizbang]

Cache performance is particularly important for things like video decoding which makes heavy use of memory, so the faster the better.  The amount of cache can improve performance - the 512K Barton XP's have a higher "+" rating than a 256K T-Bred XP of the same clock speed.  But in some situations there is no difference.

If you had to make the decision, would you go with the 2600 or the 2800?  I am not trying to put you on the spot, just sorting out options here.

[Bill]

Whiz,
Aside from the speed issue and the $10, you would have more purchasing options with the XP2800.  

Bill

[Whizbang]

10-4.   ;D

[Carskick]

If the 2600 is a barton, it's cache is nearly identicle to the 2800. If it's a thoroughbred-A, which I would avoid, as it has a 266FSB, it has 256KB cache, as does the thoroughbred-B, wich has the 333FSB with 256KB cache.

Athlon XP 2600+ barton

Black Samsung DVD/CD-RW drive

[Whizbang]

That is some price on the Samsung, only a few dollars more than a read-only DVD ROM.  I don't have to rush to buy.  Her birthday is in May.  I probably will save on the CPU by waiting anyway.

[Whizbang]

The "stuff" began arriving today.  NewEgg did not save as much money as they could, however.  They sent the required "hardware" to satisfy the Microsoft requirement for shipping an OEM XP Home Edition by packaging a power splitter in a separate FedEx box.  Since the splitter was a freebie, the actual cost to them had to be $5.00 or so with S&H; and I ordered hardware that would have met the requirement anyway.

I am awaiting the case from Xtreme Gear.  They do not seem to emphasize the fast shipping policy of NewEgg because UPS still has not received the actual package from them, only the intent to ship.

SMK is now listing the still-to-order 2800 XP Barton for less than the 2600 XP with 256 cache.  Prices really are volatile.

[Whizbang]

I guess I will go with the Canon Pixma i3000 that has double-sided printing, unless someone has heard some bad news here.  I also have a mail-in rebate form for $20.00.   $63.95 minus the $20.00 rebate plus about $7.00 S&H makes a grand total of about $51.00.  I trust Canon on the rebate more than others, but I would have purchased this one without it.  I just do not see how anyone can make and sell any printer for this price.  The reviews are very good.  My old BJC240 cost $189.00 in 1992 at Sears.

NewEgg

[John Smith]

About the price of the printer, I think that in general they sell printers for a low price, then make their profit on the ink cartriges...

[Whizbang]

I sucker punched  'm.  I now buy from InkProducts.com  I can refill all of the cartridges for less than $8.00 per round.  Unlike PrintPal, the ink is indelible, reliable, and OEM quality.  Query came up with the link to the site.

[John Smith]

$8.00 for a round of refills?! That sure beats paying the usual $40-60 (CAD) price tag. I got fed up of those expensive ink refills and got a laser printer, whose toner lasts longer and is cheaper than ink.

[Whizbang]

$8.00 for a round of refills?! That sure beats paying the usual $40-60 (CAD) price tag. I got fed up of those expensive ink refills and got a laser printer, whose toner lasts longer and is cheaper than ink.

This site really makes an effort to turn out good ink and recommends Canon printers.  I did not realize how stable the ink is until I forgot and left a sketch of my roof on the back of my pickup one night during a rain.  The graph grid was still legible although s little bleeding had occured.  I also spilled a cola on it while I was on the roof and discovered it a bit later only to find that simply blotting it off returned the paper to near perfect condition.  (I am a bit of a klutz   :(  )

[Whizbang]

I ordered the case from XtremeGear on Feb 28.  The replacement for the crunched one finally arrived today, I thought.  It seems that they sent a new side panel for the case that they had told me to return, but no case.  I actually was able to get through to RMA today and told them about the problem.  The answer was that I could keep the side panel and that a new case had been shipped out on March 29.  I will not hold my breath.  This is more confusing than my first date.  At least, I was able to get her home before the appointed time, did not crash the car, and did not switch dates either.   ::)

[Igloo]

lol  ;D

ah well wizzo, they will get it right..... something..........

[Whizbang]

After 5 1/2 weeks, I think I finally spoke to someone at Xtreme Gear who was awake.  I received a side panel last week for a non-existent case, but I was assured that I would also get a case this week.--->I didn't and called RMA this afternoon and just happened to get to speak to the guy who received the damaged case.  He seemed really upset that they had blundered so much and was more than a little apologetic.  I could tell by the way he was speaking that he was also typing in the request to send the case.  It should arrive early next week, hopefully intact.  If the acrylic side panel is busted, I do have one to replace it.

On another note, I purchased a retail package 2800XP Athlon from ChiefValue.  Their feedback is excellent and they were also the cheapest at $96.99 total.  Maybe this one will work out OK.

[Igloo]

heres hoping ;D

i need to find myself a nice pre modded case.....

for my a64 gaming pc...


but i odnt like any of the ones i see :(

[Buffalo2102]

Hi igloo

Where have you looked?

Overclockers have quite a good selection, although I don't know how reasonably priced they are.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Cases_7.html

[Igloo]

have checked....


www.ebuyer.co.uk

www.xcase.co.uk

www.overclockerscafe.om

www.novatech.co.uk

www.eclipsecomputers.com

and some others....

[Buffalo2102]

The only other place that I can suggest (I have used them myself and had no problems), is

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/kc.asp?bn=10149

[Igloo]

ok, :D

i have looked, and this case seems a good one, possibility of water cooling too (although ill probably go air cooled)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_Akasa.html

any one here own / have ideas on this case?


Igloo

[Buffalo2102]

The top one, or the acrylic one?

I like the top one.  My case has exactly the same cooling arrangement - a 120mm fan front and back.  This arrangement gives the best cooling IMO.  And it's quiet too.