Computer Systems #2

[thrash_head]

Functions: Anything you can think of
Company: All prices and parts are from www.newegg.com
Budget: No Budget
Updated: 1/13/07


God Box

Power Supply -- OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply: $149.99
Memory -- G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory: $499.99
Hard Drive -- 2 x Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive = 1TB: $359.98 ($179.99 each)
Sound Card -- Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card: $259.99
Motherboard -- EVGA 122-CK-NF68-AR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard: $249.99
Processor -- Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor: $998.00
Videocards -- 2 x eVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card: $1,179.98 ($589.99 each)
Case -- COOLER MASTER Stacker 830 RC-830-SSN2-GP Silver Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case: $259.99
Speakers -- Creative GigaWorks S750 700 Watts 7.1 Speaker: $429.99
DVD Burner -- PLEXTOR Blu-ray DVD Burner with replaceable White front bezel -Bilingual Packaging Black IDE: $835.99

Final Price: $5,203.89

If you will notice I did not include a monitor, and keyboard/mouse. If you are wanting to completely upgrade you whole system and not just the PC itself, look below....

Monitor -- ViewSonic VX2245wm Black-Silver 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with a Built-in iPod Dock and Stereo Speakers and Subwoofer: $499.99
Alternate Monitor -- Acer AL2423Wdr Silver/Black 24" 6ms GTG DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with Height Adjustments: $659.99
Keyboard -- Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard: $64.99
Mouse -- Logitech MX Revolution 931689-0403 Black 7 Buttons 2 x Wheels USB RF Wireless Laser Mouse: $99.99

Thoughts:

What is there to say? I mean, this computer is out of reach for almost anyone here. This is truly the "god box". I don't know what to say about it really. It's all very expensive, top of the line parts. If you have about $6,000 - $7,000 to spend on a computer, this is what you want. Most of the time I just look at these parts and cry because I know it's way out of my budget. If you take on this quest to buy these parts and build this computer, do us a favor and take pictures and show us the final result.

[thrash_head]

Functions: Games, Media Center, and basic Internet functions
Company: All prices and parts are from www.newegg.com
Budget: $2000
Updated: 1/13/07


Ultra Gaming Computer

Power Supply -- Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply with Three 12V Rails: $129.99
Memory -- G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit: $299.99
Hard Drive -- Western Digital Caviar RE2 WD5000YS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive: $179.99
Sound Card -- Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series: $145.99
Motherboard -- GIGABYTE GA-965P-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard: $209.99
Processor -- Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600: $317.00
Videocard -- XFX PVT71JYHE9 GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP ExTreme Edition Video Card: $279.00
Case -- Antec Performance One P180 Silver cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case: $129.99
DVD Drive -- SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology Black IDE: $31.99

Final Price: $1724.92

If you will notice I did not include a monitor, keyboard/mouse, and speakers. If you are wanting to completely upgrade you whole system and not just the PC itself, look below....

Monitor -- ViewSonic VX922 Black/Silver 19" 2ms LCD Monitor: $269.99
Alternate Monitor -- ViewSonic Q19WB-2 Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD: $199.99
Speakers -- Creative Inspire P7800 7.1 Speaker: $79.99
Keyboard -- Saitek PK02 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Standard Eclipse II Keyboard: $59.55
Mouse -- Logitech MX518 2-Tone Mouse: $39.99


Thoughts

This computer is a powerful one. It has enough power, memory, and hard drive space to host your own media center and play games. It also comes with a 7.1 sound card and if you chose to buy the speakers to go with it, you will be blown away by the superb sound quality. This computer comes with the latest and greatest processor, the Intel E6600. This baby can be over clocked with greatness and it out performs AMD's best processors at half the price. The motherboard is also great for overclocking from what I've read. The guys over at tomshardware (http://www.tomshardware.com) recommend it if you plan to overclock. The videocard is not the best on the market right now, but in my opinion why spend $599 on a DX10 card, when DX10 isn't even out? Sure the 8800GTX is the most powerful card out right now, but why should we buy this if it won't even be used for what it was made for, DX10. If you have the money to burn and want the best go check out the 8800GTX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130072), its your money. If your on a strict budget, I would suggest going with the 7950GT. It is also an amazing videocard and its running at a reasonable price. As for Monitors, If you don't like the idea of the widescreen, go with the regualr 19" viewsonic 2ms. It's an amazing monitor and everyone that has ever used it or seen it agrees with me. If you are like me and love widescreen, it's at an amazing price and its 5ms response time (great for gaming).

[thrash_head]

Functions: Games, and basic Internet functions
Company: All prices and parts are from www.newegg.com
Budget: $1,200
Updated: 1/13/07

Advanced Gaming Computer

Power Supply -- Antec NeoPower NeoHE 550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply 100: $109.99
Memory -- OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit: $245.99
Hard Drive -- Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive: $69.99
Sound Card -- Onboard Sound: $0
Motherboard -- BIOSTAR 945P-A7A (8.0) LGA 775 Intel 945P ATX Intel Motherboard: $78.99
Processor -- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400: $221.00
Videocard SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card: $189.99
Case -- Antec Solution SLK3000-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case: $59.99
DVD Drive -- LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black: $36.99

Final Price: $1,012.93

If you will notice I did not include a monitor, keyboard/mouse, and speakers. If you are wanting to completely upgrade you whole system and not just the PC itself, look below....

Monitor -- ViewSonic VX922 Black/Silver 19" 2ms LCD Monitor: $269.99
Alternate Monitor -- ViewSonic Q19WB-2 Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD: $199.99
Speakers -- Logitech X-530 70 Watts 5.1 Speaker: $59.99
Keyboard -- Saitek PK02 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Standard Eclipse II Keyboard: $59.55
Mouse -- Logitech MX518 2-Tone Mouse: $39.99

Thoughts

This computer isn't as good as the ultra, but it packs a mean punch. It will be able to handle any game thrown at it. It will be able to handle games such as Oblivion, BF2142, and F.E.A.R, at pretty good frame rates. There is plenty of hard drive space, memory, and processor speed here that should last you 1-2 years before your next build. The motherboard is not an overclockers dream, but it is a great board running at a great price. Overall I really like this build and I really like the price range it is in.

[thrash_head]

Functions: Games, and basic Internet functions
Company: All prices and parts are from www.newegg.com
Budget: $850
Updated: 1/13/07


Basic Gaming Computer

Case/PSU -- Antec LifeStyle SONATA II ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower Power Supply: $89.99
Memory -- Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory: $289.99
Hard Drive -- Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive: $52.99
Sound Card -- Onboard Sound: $0
Motherboard -- ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard: $92.99
Processor -- AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor - Retail: $133.00
Videocard -- eVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card: $129.99
DVD Drive -- LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black: $36.99

Final Price: $825.94


If you will notice I did not include a monitor, keyboard/mouse, and speakers. If you are wanting to completely upgrade you whole system and not just the PC itself, look below....

Monitor -- ViewSonic VX922 Black/Silver 19" 2ms LCD Monitor: $269.99
Alternate Monitor -- ViewSonic Q19WB-2 Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD: $199.99
Speakers -- Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1 Black Speaker System: $37.99
Keyboard -- Saitek PK02 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Standard Eclipse II Keyboard: $59.55
Mouse -- Logitech MX518 2-Tone Mouse: $39.99

Thoughts:

This is the kind of computer that trys to deceive you. Because of the price you will think to yourself, "I bet that thing is a piece of crap". Well your wrong. This computer is very capable of handling any of the newer games out with playable frame rates. I personally have a few of the above specs, and I run all the games such as Oblivion, F.E.A.R, and HL2 fine. The processor is a nice AM2 Dual core and it is paired up with a wonderful ASUS motherboard. I also managed to fit 2gb of DDR2800 in the build. The hard drive is not by any means big enough to be a media center, but it is big enough to hold all of your school work, games, music, AVI's, and much more! I believe that this build is the best "bang for the buck" build. If your under a very strict budget and want to spend as less money as possible, i will advise you to go for this build.

[thrash_head]

Functions: Basic Internet functions
Company: All prices and parts are from www.newegg.com
Budget: $400
Updated: 1/13/07


Basic Internet Computer

Case/PSU -- Antec LifeStyle SONATA II ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower Power Supply: $89.99
Memory -- G.SKILL 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory Model F1-3200PHU1-512NR - Retail: $40.99
Hard Drive -- Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3120811AS 120GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive: $54.99
Sound Card -- Onboard Sound: $0
Motherboard -- BIOSTAR P4M80-M4 Socket 478 VIA P4M800 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard: $49.99
Videocard -- Onboard Video: $0
Processor -- Intel Pentium 4 2.8 Northwood 2.8GHz Socket 478 Processor: $71.99
DVD Drive -- LG 18X DVD±R Super-Multi DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE: $29.99

Final Price: $337.94


If you will notice I did not include a monitor, keyboard/mouse, and speakers. If you are wanting to completely upgrade you whole system and not just the PC itself, look below....

Monitor -- ViewSonic VX922 Black/Silver 19" 2ms LCD Monitor: $269.99
Speakers -- Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1 Black Speaker System: $37.99
Keyboard -- Saitek PK02 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Standard Eclipse II Keyboard: $59.55
Mouse -- Logitech MX518 2-Tone Mouse: $39.99

Thoughts:

This computer is not for gaming. If you are on a budget of $400 for a gaming machine, good luck. But if you are just looking for a computer to take to college or build for basic Internet browsing, this is perfect. It comes with 512mb of ram, 2.8ghz processor, onboard video/sound. It also has an AGP slot just in case you might be interested in upgrading to play a few games. But keep in mind that AGP is out of date. They have stopped making AGP video cards for the most part. So most likely, your AGP options are going to be sort of slim. The bottom line is, if your wanting to play games, look at the basic gaming computer. Sell lemonade, mow lawns, do something to raise that extra money. It is worth it.