Best Sites That Put Together Custom Computer
I know some companies will put one together for you, you just pick what you want in them. I would just buy any computer but i want to get one that has a 500 w power supply so I can put a Radeon X800 in it. If there is already a link to a really good computer with something like this already in it that would be cool.
I want a
3.4ghz hyperthreading water cooling
2ghz RAM
256mb/bit Radeon x800
160gb HD
Any ok sound card
Dont want a monitor so if anyone knows a link to a site thats selling a similar type computer it would be just as good as creating my own. Thanks
Wholesale prices -- build yourself
Putting together a computer is pretty easy. I don't see why you don't do it yourself? Especially when it will cost a lot less.
Well, I must say that you are buying stuff that has some huge price premiums. A rough estimate on cost puts this at under $2,000 for quality parts (RAM, Good PSU) you didn't specifically mention...and that's not including assembly. My suggestion is to build it yourself instead of paying Alienware $3,500 for a somewhat inferior setup.
a
1) PowerSupply:
* You can't go wrong with a custom-built PC Power & Cooling 510 Deluxe. Begins around $210. Nothing compares with this powersupply, not even "600 watt" power supplies.
* If you want to spend a bit less, and your motherboard supports takes EPS power connections (instead of ATX), the Forton Source 550 isn't a bad choice. For ~ $90 it is a great value.
* If your motherboard isn't EPS12V, but ATX12, then the Antec True 550 is a good choice. ~$110, not too bad.
2) HDD: 160GB is ~$100.
* Checkout HDD's by Seagate. They recently decided they trusted their drives enough to have put a 5 year warrenty across all of their products. I think they are the FIRST company to warrenty consumer drives for 5 years. Warrenty counts. A lot.
* I use Maxtor, Western Digital, and Samsung HDDs. I don't have anything bad to say about them. But some people have bad luck with them. Again, warrenty counts.
3) Video Card - ~$470
4) RAM
* You can go for ultra low latencies like CORSAIR XMS Xtreme Memory that is ~$170 for 512MB. Get 4. Run it Dual Channel. Low Latency can increase throughput/memory bandwidth. Might help in games, and the Pentium 4 processors that love memory speed/bandwidth to death.
* You can go cheaper for more conservative memory. Like Kingston, or different versions of memory from CORSAIR. CORSAIR is supposed to have the best lifetime warrenty though. You might find memory costing $100 to $150 in this range for 512MB. Get 4. Run it Dual Channel.
5) CPU - P4 3.4GHz Prescott ~$420
* You could consider Athlon64. Athlon64 based computers are pretty awesome in game benchmark comparisons. Although you won't see too much of a difference unless you play Far Cry. Plus you're ready for the 64bit version of Windows. ~ $310 for a 3400+. ~$500 for a 3700+. Unfortunately, the upgrade path of the 754 socket seems to die quickly. But then again, so does Intel's upgrade path.
* Opertrons are a possible consideration. I don't know if the 1xx series will offer a dual core drop in replacement, which might mean that in the future you might be able to buy a new processor that is acturally TWO. BUT, I don't remember if the 1xx series will have this upgrade path open to them. :S
6) Sound Card -- Many motherboards have integrated sound. If you don't care too much about sound, no need to worry. The sound doesn't suck, but there is supposed to be better. Unless you have a lot of money invested in audio equipment or are an audiophile, it won't make a difference to you.
7) Operating System
* Windows XP Pro, Retail is $240. Less hastle with MS if you upgrade and have to reactivate. (supposedly)
* XP Pro, OEM is $140. Supposed to be more hastle with MS if you upgrade stuff and have to reactivate, because you are OEM, or cheaper.
* (Linux Distro Here) Free. But probably won't play your latest DX9 games that great.
