Build me a colledge/Music/mid gaming machine....please

[Bizkitkid2001]

Here I am sitting away on a half-shot 56K modem only able to connect at 30k max. So of course newegg is going slow with all of there pretty pictures, and i don't have much time to sit around at the computer. So I come to my fellow techimo's to do all the work for me

Ok, to the details. My sister needs a computer for colledge. So far the two things she NEEDS on the computer are a cd-rw drive, and then some form of office xp or office 2003, just as long as it has Publisher and Word, as well as Winows XP Pro.

Her boyfriend listens to alot of rock and wants an awsome system, so I was thinking of some sort of audigy with the Klipsch 5.1 Ultras.

They have nothing, natta, htis is form the ground up, everything is needed. IDE cables, power cables, monitors, floppy drives, etc...

The budget is $1500, can go over a hundred or two if really needed.

Thanks,
-Biz

[FatalException]

If she's headed for college, she might want to consider a laptop and get the rest as gravy (speakers, etc.) Would she be interested in this or are we talking about a desktop only?

[jmichna]

Just some general thoughts:
As a college student your sister can purchase the Academic version of Office 2003 Pro for $160 or less. Newegg offers academic software, as does www.academicsuperstore.com.

There will also be Academic version of WinXP Pro at academic pricing. Newegg offers the Academic U/G version for $84.

For music, I think the Klipsch Promedia 2.1's would be more than sufficient... $159 at Newegg. You just don't need 5-way speakers to listen to Stereo music, and you'd save maybe $150 dollars over the 5.1's.

If they are content with a CRT monitor, you can get real nice 19" models for under $300. I suggest the Viewsonic Optiquest Q95 for $194, or the NEC Accusync 95F for $214, both from www.monitorsdirect.com.

Personally, I would opt for a DVD burner rather than a CD burner... just because I think they'll enjoy the added flexibility and storage options. If they do go with a DVD burner, then go top quality: Plextor 708A, now available for about $170.

Following the above eats up roughly $700, leaving you with about $800 for the balance of the system.

Check out Cook_1's thread on his system at this TIMO link for the balance of the PC:
http://www.techimo.com/forum/t113379.html

I think he put together a real nice system for the $$$.

[Bizkitkid2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatalException

If she's headed for college, she might want to consider a laptop and get the rest as gravy (speakers, etc.) Would she be interested in this or are we talking about a desktop only?

She is doing colledge over the internet, so she doesn't need a laptop.

[pinipig523]

My personal advice.

go with a biostar ideq sff nf2 based computer... 199$
go with a 9600pro for $140
go with a 2500 mobile for 100$
go for liteon cdrw/dvd combo drive for $46
go for audigy 2zs for 90$
go for logitech z680s for 260$
go for a samsung 172n flat panel for 370$
go for 256 geil ddr400 ram for $60
go for 80gb special edition 7200rpm drive and 8mb cache for $70
keyboard/mouse (logitech mx duo) for $80
modem (???) for 15$

total:
1430$

u pocket the 60$ for your troubles, biz.... and dont forget to send me 10$ for mine!!

[Bizkitkid2001]

nah, the extra money would have to go for Windows XP Pro, Office 2003, etc... And her boyfriend would rather have a tighter/cleaner bass than a boomier bass that the Z680s have. Thats why I recommended the Klipsch. But as jmichna pointed out, 5.1 is usless for music, so I guess getting a kick ass 2.1 system would be better. Anyone got recommendations for a really good 2.1 system other than the klipsch promedia 2.1?

[Whir]

Sure I do. But you can't afford them.

I can't believe people are spending so much money on something that doesn't need to cut your grass and take out your garbage.

A7N8X, 512 PC2700 Kingston HyperX, 2500 (Mobile if you think you need to spend the extra money), 9600 Pro, WD 120 8MB (get the IDE, the SATA is a pain the arse to setup), Logitech keyboard and mouse, any one of the $50 HP printers (heck, I got my 3520 for $32 at Walmart - with ink - and it prints great), randa-case w/350W power supply. And go with the Klipsch ProMedias. I'd go with a Viewsonic G90/91f monitor. For God's sake, if you don't need an LCD, don't get an LCD. Go with that Plextor jmichna was talking about for an optical drive.

Upgrade as money allows if you think it's even necessary for what they'll be doing to it.

Any questions?

[Bizkitkid2001]

Yeah, whats a good LCD for around $200? My sister really really wants an LCD.

[HeadBand]

what whir posted looks pretty good although i would not go for the mobile anyways since she probobally wont be ocing the printer is a good idea i didnt think that they might want it but its a good idea since you say they have nothing although i would go with a cannon since the ink is dirt cheap....might even go with a multifunction and i wouldnt spend so much on the dvd burner i have always had good experiances with lite on drives and you can get a dual layer dvd burner for $99 so i wouldnt spend the extra $70 just to get a plextor

also just fyi office dosent come with publisher so thats gonna be another $85 for the acedemic version

well the only LCD for 200 at newegg is 14" and i don't think you're gonna find a much better deal let alone a quality one and that is going to be so small compared to a 17" crt even....ask her why she wants it and explain the difference in price and quality and see if she still wants one...just about everybody i know would rather have a 19" crt instead of a 14" lcd and 2 (or atleast a 19" and a 17") instead of a 17" lcd

[Whir]

You said "good," "LCD," and "around $200" in the same sentence. That's funny! Even Walmart's LCDs cost more than that.

From what I've heard, you want to stick with NEC for LCDs though.