Heading to a computer show

[TekDragon]

.... this saturday to upgrade my machine and build my fiance a machine of her own.

I've got a budget of about $1730 and have pretty much plotted out what I want to get, but wouldn't mind some tweaking from some of the techies here like Rbstr.

For those who knew that Vitter was my fiance's account and that I used it to get ideas on building my PC (after my alienware bit the dust) and ideas on how to overclock it - the machine I am currently building is very similar. Any arguments used back then are still welcome now (hopefully we've all gotten more educated since then).

Ok so, here we go:

Antec Performance Plus Case with 430W Power Supply (no window) Plus1080AMG
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=140108

ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-464&depa=1

Intel Pentium 4/ 2.8C GHz
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...116-161&depa=0

OCZ 2x512 DDR400 Enhanced Latency Series Dual Channel
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...146-883&depa=1

Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...144-160&depa=1

ATI RADEON X800 XT
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?edc=646747

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-162&depa=1

Lite-On Black 52X32X52 CD-RW Drive
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...106-197&depa=0

Lite-On Black 52X32X52X16 Combo Drive
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...106-932&depa=0

Logitech Z640 5.1 Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-104&depa=1

Ok, now. One important thing to note is that the machine im building for her will get my ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (256mb) and I will be putting the x800 XT in my machine.

So, feel free to critique.

[Daleon]

Well mainly the video, don't expect it to soon. I know plenty of ppl who tried to get an XT through cdw. Their 2 wk waiting list is more like an indefinte wait. But stock should start to pick up over next 2-3 wks.

As far as HD, I'd rather go with some of the new 2nd gen sata's with 16 meg caches starting to hit the market.

Don't really like the case all that much, big, heavy, and bulky. A light weight Lian-Li or something would be nicer. The PS is ok, so price isn't to bad for both.

[Corrosion]

The X800 is plentiful at computer shows.

[Electrofreak]

i need to take some cash to a computer show. I hear that towards the end of the show, they start to mark down their prices dramatically to try to sell the stuff before the show ends. What they don't sell at the show they have to haul back to their store/warehouse and re-stock, which is usually not something they want to have to do. At least... thats what I hear.

[TekDragon]

Originally Posted by Electrofreak

i need to take some cash to a computer show. I hear that towards the end of the show, they start to mark down their prices dramatically to try to sell the stuff before the show ends. What they don't sell at the show they have to haul back to their store/warehouse and re-stock, which is usually not something they want to have to do. At least... thats what I hear.

Sweet, ill keep that in mind.

I made up this list on Word with all the prices, coupled with a 10% and 20% price reduction on that price.

I'm gonna try bargaining for the 20% reductions, and use the 10% as a low end.

[Fragmatic]

Originally Posted by Electrofreak

i need to take some cash to a computer show. I hear that towards the end of the show, they start to mark down their prices dramatically to try to sell the stuff before the show ends. What they don't sell at the show they have to haul back to their store/warehouse and re-stock, which is usually not something they want to have to do. At least... thats what I hear.

yup, usually happens within the last 30mins.... expect most of the good stuff to be gone though, you'd be lucky to find what you really want around that time.

[TekDragon]

Originally Posted by Daleon

As far as HD, I'd rather go with some of the new 2nd gen sata's with 16 meg caches starting to hit the market.

Can anyone provide some links? Yahoo and Google turned up nothing except laptop HD's.

[Rbstr]

When your going raptor i would advise to get two 32gig ones and raid 0 them, its even faster that way. and the P4C has that built in.

Otherwise its 1337

[Casimir]

the performace increase you would gain is not worth it...

[TekDragon]

Originally Posted by Casimir

the performace increase you would gain is not worth it...

You talking in terms of Rbstr's suggestion to RAID the two 10k 32g? If so, I agree with you. While it is attractive, I've seen the comparisons and it really doesn't offer any boost.

In the future, if i discover my system is being bottlenecked by the single SATA 10k, then ill run a RAID-0. Until then, i think 1, 10k will be enough.

[CassH]

Originally Posted by Electrofreak

i need to take some cash to a computer show. I hear that towards the end of the show, they start to mark down their prices dramatically to try to sell the stuff before the show ends. What they don't sell at the show they have to haul back to their store/warehouse and re-stock, which is usually not something they want to have to do. At least... thats what I hear.

if anyone see's a marked down AGP Radeon9800pro that fits in a green AGP slot ill buy it off you through Ebay lol

[Daleon]

On the new drives:

http://www.shareholder.com/maxtor/Re..._section=press

AT review:

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2094

It goes back and forth between the raptor in most of the bench's. With raport looking a little better for gaming but the maxtor for overall application use. The size and close performance is its main advantages.

I also realllly like the new hitachi sata drives, they are smoking fast.