Computer Shopping....

[audiophyle]

you could build your own state of the art system with parts off of www.pricewatch.com for around 1000 and thats if you wanted the best of everything. 600 will build a really nice gamer system. I wouldnt get a flat screen if i were you. Flat screens will never have as sharp a picture as a nice crt. Plus the color fades over time and if you leave it on too long it will burn an image onto your screen that wont go away. flat screens suck.

 

[JG1]

Which speakers would you guys go with?

Creative Inspire™ 6.1 6600 Speakers - Black [+81]
Creative MegaWorks THX® 2.1 250D - Black [+216]
Creative MegaWorks THX® 5.1 550 - Black [+226]
Creative MegaWorks THX® 6.1 650 - Black - $60 Mail-In Rebate [+349]
Logitech® Z-640 5.1 Speakers [+80]
Logitech® Z-680 5.1 500-Watt THX Speakers [+324]
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 200-Watt THX Speakers [+169]
Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 500-Watt THX Speakers [+379]
NEW Klipsch ProMedia GMX D-5.1 Speakers - $30 Instant Rebate [+299]
(None)

 

[Stangfriik]

I have the Creative Inspire 5.1's and they work great for me while gaming so I'm sure the 6.1's are even better. If you want the best though, go for the Klipsch's. What ever you do though at least get a 4.1 surround sound setup. Games sound much more awesome with them. You can actually here when someone is coming behind you or from the side which has it's advantages.

 

[JG1]

I was thinking about maybe the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 200-Watt THX Speakers [+169].

I'm not sure where I'd put the surround sound speakers

 

[JG1]

This is what I'm thinking...

Area51 System
$2,500.00

1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Alienware Full-Tower Case (420-Watt PS) - Conspiracy Blue
AlienIce™ Video Cooling System - Terra Green
Alienware Cable Management System
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache & HyperThreading
Intel® D875PBZ - Intel 875P Pentium 4 Motherboard
512MB DDR SDRAM PC-3200 - 2 x 256MB Module
80GB Seagate Barracuda ATA IV ATA-100 2MB Cache - Quantity 1
16/48x DVD-ROM - IDE - Black w/Software MPEG-2 Decoder
ATI RADEON™ 9800 PRO 128MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video - LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 - 6.1
Integrated Intel Pro/1000 CT Gigabit Ethernet Adapter w/CSA
NEC 19" MultiSync FE991SB Flat CRT - Black
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 200-Watt THX Speakers
Microsoft Internet Keyboard - Conspiracy Blue
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 - USB - Conspiracy Blue
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Bonus 12-Month Subscription to Computer Games Magazine!
AlienAutopsy: Automated Technical Support Request System

 

[Stangfriik]

This is what I'm thinking...

Area51 System
$2,500.00

1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Alienware Full-Tower Case (420-Watt PS) - Conspiracy Blue
AlienIce™ Video Cooling System - Terra Green
Alienware Cable Management System
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache & HyperThreading
Intel® D875PBZ - Intel 875P Pentium 4 Motherboard
512MB DDR SDRAM PC-3200 - 2 x 256MB Module
80GB Seagate Barracuda ATA IV ATA-100 2MB Cache - Quantity 1
16/48x DVD-ROM - IDE - Black w/Software MPEG-2 Decoder
ATI RADEON™ 9800 PRO 128MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video - LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 - 6.1
Integrated Intel Pro/1000 CT Gigabit Ethernet Adapter w/CSA
NEC 19" MultiSync FE991SB Flat CRT - Black
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 200-Watt THX Speakers
Microsoft Internet Keyboard - Conspiracy Blue
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 - USB - Conspiracy Blue
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Bonus 12-Month Subscription to Computer Games Magazine!
AlienAutopsy: Automated Technical Support Request System

Looks like a kickass system. No cdrw though?

 

[JG1]

Whats the better card?

NVIDIA GeForce™ FX 5800 Ultra 128MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video

ATI RADEON™ 9800 PRO 128MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video

 

[Stangfriik]

If you look here, the 9800 beats the hell out of the 5800 when AA and AF are turned on. These two functions increase the image quality a decent amount.


http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1794&p=7

 

[JG1]

Guys, check this out. A fellow over at AnandTech offered to build me the following system.

Antec Performance PLUS with 430 watt P4 approved power supply
Lite On 52x24x52 CDRW
Lite On 16x DVD Drive
Sony 3.5 inch Floppy drive
Western Digital Raptor 10,000 RPM 36 GB SATA drive (VERY fast for Windows and Programs)
Western Digital 120 GB 7200 RPM drive (slower drive for storing MP3's and video and whatnot)
Microsoft Internet Keyboard
Corsair XMS PC3200 RAM (2x512) CAS2
KDS 19inch monitor - 1600x1200 @ 75 Hz or 1280x1024 @ 85 hz (recommended)
Intel Pentium 4 (800 FSB) Motherboard Model D875PBZLK
Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse
Intel P4 3.0C (800 Mhz FSB)
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2
Creative Labs Inspire 6600 6.1 Speaker system (6 satelites and a sub woofer)
Powercolor ATI Radeon 9700 Pro video card (128 MB)

He quoted me at $1900 + shipping.

Let me know what you guys think? How does this compare to the Area 51?

 

[JG1]

Made some alterations in the Area 51 model. I'm gonna just use my 19" ViewSonic that I have now.

Here's what i'm looking at with the are 51. Between this, and what the guy at AnandTech wants to build me, what would you guys choose? I'd have to buy Windows XP is he builds it for me which is another $100. I'd also get no tech support if I bought the system from him. So add the $100 for the XP, and subtract $160 for the KDS 19" monitor and I'm looking about $1950 for his system shipped without the monitor vrs $2341 (shipped) for the Are 51 system. I'm looking at a $400 difference between the two systems. (Plus with the Area 51 I'd get to finance it 6 months interest free)

Area51 System
$2,326.00

1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
Alienware Full-Tower Case (420-Watt PS) - Conspiracy Blue
AlienIce™ Video Cooling System - Terra Green
Alienware Cable Management System
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache & HyperThreading
Intel® D875PBZ - Intel 875P Pentium 4 Motherboard
1GB DDR SDRAM PC-3200 - 2 x 512MB Module
80GB Seagate Barracuda ATA IV ATA-100 2MB Cache - Quantity 1
16/48x DVD-ROM - IDE - Black w/Software MPEG-2 Decoder
Lite-On 52x24x52x CD-RW - IDE - Black
ATI RADEON™ 9800 PRO 128MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video -
Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 - 6.1
Integrated Intel Pro/1000 CT Gigabit Ethernet Adapter w/CSA
Creative Inspire™ 6.1 6600 Speakers - Black
Microsoft Internet Keyboard - Conspiracy Blue
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 - USB - Conspiracy Blue
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Free Alienware® T-Shirt - Black
Bonus 12-Month Subscription to Computer Games Magazine!
AlienAutopsy: Automated Technical Support Request System