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#242891 - 30/11/2004 11:03 Barebones recommendations in USA?
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
The computer I've been borrowing for a few years has finally taken a dump. Looking for a barebones system, I came across this . Even that looks like over kill. I'll be using it primarily as a case to store big hard drives and share them on the network. My wife will be using it to write papers. I might fire up a game on the thing, but it's not really a concern at this point. Does anyone have an recomendations?

I also have an OLD server case at my house. The thing is HUGE and load. But it also has ttons of room and I assume a good power supply. Should I instead look at getting a motherboard for that? As it is, the thing won't even run Win2K, and I don't feel like messing with NT4.0, so I would need new guts for it. It even has hot-swapable bays, but I assume they are out of date. Would photos help?
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Brad B.

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#242892 - 30/11/2004 11:53 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
robricc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Both TigerDirect and Soyo are known for not honoring rebates, so I would say your final price on the machine linked is $389.99. At that price, the deal isn't that good. Plus, I wouldn't support TigerDirect anyway because of their phone card scam a couple years ago.

Walmart is actually selling barebones machines. They may be lacking a bit out of the box, but they're easily upgraded. I bought a couple a year or two ago and it used quality components. Enlight case and power supply, MSI motherboard and optical drive, and Maxtor hard drive. These don't carry the same brand name, but they may be OK for the money...
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?cat=86798
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-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736

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#242893 - 30/11/2004 20:54 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: robricc]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Thanks Rob, I think you have me on the right track...

I've never been much of a computer hardware guy so I'm amazed at the selection there is out there!

Is it just me or have processor prices gone up in the last year for the same thing?
_________________________
Brad B.

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#242894 - 30/11/2004 22:26 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: robricc]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
I bought a couple a year or two ago and it used quality components.

That's the most important thing to me when building a machine for myself or anyone else. It's also my biggest gripe with any of these companies that sell barebones machines to whole systems (and I'm including companies like Dell). Frequently they won't tell you anything about the manufacturer of the parts of the system. Sure, they may use Maxtor, Corsair, etc. They could also easily use crap brands that nobody has heard of and reap the difference.

I'll just say that I looked at one of those Walmart systems and while the price is low, it's nothing that you can't put together for yourself for the same cost, and then you know what you put in it.

And I'm sure you've noted it, but they don't come with an OS, which will cost you about $90 (XP home) or $150 (XP pro). Of course you may be a Linux guy or already have a copy, in which case the point is moot

Anyway, the hardware part is what I find the most fun about PCs, so I thoroughly enjoy looking at the latest prices for all types of setups.


Edited by Dignan17 (30/11/2004 22:26)
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Matt

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#242895 - 01/12/2004 00:19 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: Dignan]
robricc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Quote:
I'll just say that I looked at one of those Walmart systems and while the price is low, it's nothing that you can't put together for yourself for the same cost, and then you know what you put in it.

Yeah, if you don't mind rolling your own, definitely do that. These current machines offered through Walmart.com may not be like they used to be. The ones I bought were branded "Microtel" which also happens to be a hotel chain around here. Kinda like calling your computer company "Super 8."

I just whipped this up on newegg. Decent specs and components I know and trust for about $300. You have to slap it together though...
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-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736

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#242896 - 01/12/2004 08:28 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: robricc]
ineedcolor
addict

Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
Hey Brad..

If you get your own components, I'll put it together for you for a few beers...I am a hardware guy



Attachments
242254-apart.jpg (101 downloads)

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#242897 - 01/12/2004 08:31 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: ineedcolor]
ineedcolor
addict

Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
Oh, and of course, the finished work



Attachments
242255-together.jpg (105 downloads)

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#242898 - 01/12/2004 08:38 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: ineedcolor]
Roger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5680
Loc: London, UK
Quote:
Oh, and of course, the finished work


I like the way that you've got both photos datestamped, to forestall accusations of posting the pictures in the wrong order
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-- roger

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#242899 - 01/12/2004 10:53 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: ineedcolor]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Yikes!
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Brad B.

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#242900 - 02/12/2004 01:11 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
ineedcolor
addict

Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
What???

You've never seen a Heathkit laptop before???
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#242901 - 02/12/2004 03:59 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: Roger]
gbeer
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/12/2000
Posts: 2665
Loc: Manteca, California
Quote:
Quote:
Oh, and of course, the finished work


I like the way that you've got both photos datestamped, to forestall accusations of posting the pictures in the wrong order


What... you've never backdated a clock.
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Glenn

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#242902 - 04/12/2004 11:42 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: robricc]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Thanks everyone, your posts have been really helpful. I wanted to order the guts of my systems this weekend, and thought I'd run a selection by you. I already have the case and 450watt power supply on order (found a killer deal). Basically, if I'm going to spend money on anything, I'm thinking the motherboard should be the thing I should splurge on since everything else is so easy to upgrade. I'd hate to build a system, and then have the motherboard be my limiting factor (i.e., if I wanted to go with serial ATA down the road).

Initially, I had built a system on newegg.com that included the following motherboard and processor as a combo deal that saved me 20 bucks. The deal is no longer offered, so here are the two seperately:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-259&depa=0
And
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-259&depa=0

Also, I notice they have this deal today on this processor:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=19-103-342&DEPA=0

So, basically, my question is: Is there anything that you'd recommend at this price point instead of these guys? I don't mind spending the amound I've picked out, but since I don't know much about hardware, I wanted to be sure that there wasn't anything else out there for the same money that was a better way to go.

EDIT: It looks like they are offering some sort of motherboard and CPU deal again, one with a video card, that may be the same as the one that I let slip by:
http://newegg.com/app/combspecial.asp?listtype=bundle
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Brad B.

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#242903 - 04/12/2004 13:40 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Well, I'm not sure if you noticed, but the motherboards you linked are for 64-bit CPUs, and the processor you linked is a 32-bit.

I think you're wise to go with a good mobo. Take it from me, having a bad mobo in your brand new system is NOT fun. I had a Soyo that turned out to be total crap, and it's not cool to have to disconnect everything in your machine, RMA your mobo, and wait for the refund before you get a new one shipped to you. Hell, by the time I got my system back together and running for the first time, its value had already depreciated tremendously

I have one more recommendation, though. Actually, it's more like something you have to do: GET GOOD MEMORY. Above all else, you must have good RAM. I went through two pairs until I got a decent set that didn't cause me headaches from random reboots and memtest86 errors.
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Matt

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#242904 - 04/12/2004 14:02 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Now that I think about it, it seems to me that you're aiming for something as future-proof as possible. Well, I'm not sure how cheap you'll get if you want to go all out in that regard, but it looks to me like the major trends that impact this are the AMD socket 939 processors (if you go AMD), and PCI Express. Again, those things will probably set you back a bit of dough, but I saw you were possibly going for 64-bit processors with those mobos, but they support the type of chip that AMD isn't thinking of sticking with.

PCI Express appears, at the moment, to be the next big thing. It's intended to replace both AGP and PCI, while being backwards compatible with regular PCI. It has a much higher bandwidth, and there are already a number of video cards out there for it. However, it looks like it's mostly an Intel thing for the moment, so you might not want to bother. I think for a year or two it'll be mostly video cards taking advantage of it. I'm planning on a new system, and I'm not thinking about PCI Express.

Anyway, those were just some things I was thinking about. I'm probably completely wrong, too. It's hard to get info on some of these things. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but there seems to be very little info out there on the current state of 64-bit processors. I've had to sort of piece together my own understanding of it. Please correct me if my interpretations are wrong.

*edit*
by the way, if you've thinking of the CPU you linked in that post even though it's a 32-bit (it's still a very nice CPU), then I heartily recommend the Asus A7N8X. It's my current mobo and I think it's fantastic. SATA, two LAN ports, 4 rear USB 2.0 ports (and pins for two more), and it's been very reliable. It's also good as far as not being awkward to work on. There aren't really any poorly placed connectors which can make it frustrating.


Edited by Dignan17 (04/12/2004 14:14)
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Matt

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#242905 - 04/12/2004 21:47 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: Dignan]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Oops, one of the processors I meant to link to is 64 bit, but I linked the mother board twice!

Thanks for the tip on the Asus motherboard. I heard they were great from people, but they offer so many models, I didn't know which to pick. It's about 10 dollars more than I was going to spend on the other motherboard, but I also found this deal on a CPU:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDes...ufactory=BROWSE

This is the "retail" version of the OEM chip I intended on linking to earlier today. And it's actally 3 dollars cheaper than the OEM version! Not only is it 3 dollars cheaper, but it includes a heat sync and fan, so that'll save me around 17 or 20 bucks...

What's a good brand for RAM? I'm thinking I'd rather get a good brand and settle for fewer MB's if I had to choose.
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Brad B.

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#242906 - 05/12/2004 04:37 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Well, I love that mobo I linked, but it's for the 32-bit AMDs.

I'd say Corsair or Crucial memory.
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Matt

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#242907 - 30/12/2004 15:54 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Is anyone able to view www.newegg.com ? For two days now I can't view the site.
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Brad B.

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#242908 - 30/12/2004 15:58 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
That was odd... I viewed a Google cached version of their page, to try to find a phone number, and now the site is viewable to me. Before, I got "no website configured for this address" or something like that. A Mozilla bug?
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Brad B.

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#242909 - 30/12/2004 15:58 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Works for me...

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#242910 - 30/12/2004 16:50 Re: Barebones recommendations in USA? [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
I've been on it constantly for the past two days
Quote:
That was odd...

Well, maybe Tony needs to give the net a reboot. It's been a while since the last one.


Edited by Dignan17 (30/12/2004 16:56)
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Matt

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