- Pentium 4 550 @ 3.4GHz
- 800MHz FSB
- 1MB L2 Cache
- 1GB Dual Channel PC3200 DDR RAM, max of 4GB
- XP Pro
- 250GB SATA w/ 8MB Cache @ 7200 RPM
- 128MB GeForce 5300FX PCI Express
- Intel High-def 7.1 audio
- 16x Dual-Layer DVD+-RW
- 16x DVD+-ROM

$1299 U.S., $999 after rebates

I think it's a sweet price, but what do all ya'll think? Co-workers said it's a good deal too, being that it's under $1100. I'll be getting it in less than 12 hours ...  ;D 8)

that video card is crap, like a year and a half old. you can get much better (especially PCI-Express) if you get one of those new xX00 radeons. the 6x00 series of nvidia cards don't really have much power, unless you get the 6800ultra, which uses up like two or three PCI slots + power supply. its rediculous.
and if you're building this, go AMD. its alot cheaper. i just baught an athlon64 3400+ and its amazing, costed $220 for the cpu from newegg.

besides, intel is for noobs like yoin ^_^

[quote author=Wish link=topic=9942.msg92793#msg92793 date=1103356582]
that video card is crap, like a year and a half old. you can get much better (especially PCI-Express) if you get one of those new xX00 radeons. the 6x00 series of nvidia cards don't really have much power, unless you get the 6800ultra, which uses up like two or three PCI slots + power supply. its rediculous.
and if you're building this, go AMD. its alot cheaper. i just baught an athlon64 3400+ and its amazing, costed $220 for the cpu from newegg.

besides, intel is for noobs like yoin ^_^
[/quote]im not worried about the vid card; can upgrade later, just like everyone else

as for your thoughts on the processor; though im not building it, i would never go amd simply because of it being known for overheating. id rather not even risk it.

I prefer AMD over Intel. I don't really have a reason, just a preference. However, one thing I do like about Intel chips is the fact that when they get really hot they shut off instead of catching on fire.

[quote author=tA-Kane link=topic=9942.msg92805#msg92805 date=1103379262]
as for your thoughts on the processor; though im not building it, i would never go amd simply because of it being known for overheating. id rather not even risk it.
[/quote]
Don't worry, the exact opposite seems to be true with the newer processors from both companies.

Windows will shut off if it detects overheating. 

And btw, Intel? You're a traitor to Macs :(

[quote author=tA-Kane link=topic=9942.msg92786#msg92786 date=1103353894]
- Pentium 4 550 @ 3.4GHz
- 800MHz FSB
- 1MB L2 Cache
- 1GB Dual Channel PC3200 DDR RAM, max of 4GB
- XP Pro
- 250GB SATA w/ 8MB Cache @ 7200 RPM
- 128MB GeForce 5300FX PCI Express
- Intel High-def 7.1 audio
- 16x Dual-Layer DVD+-RW
- 16x DVD+-ROM

$1299 U.S., $999 after rebates

I think it's a sweet price, but what do all ya'll think? Co-workers said it's a good deal too, being that it's under $1100. I'll be getting it in less than 12 hours ...   ;D 8)
[/quote]

Looks great, Kane.

Buy the nVidia 6600GT or Radeon X600.

Great cards.

There's nothing wrong with nVidia...Wish is wrong.

Also, there's applicability for AMD and Intel.  Go with what you want.  The Intel higher up processors need a special vent in the side of the PC's; the AMD's don't have a huge problem with heat -if- you get the 90nm processor.

[quote author=cefx- link=topic=9942.msg92810#msg92810 date=1103382769]
the AMD's don't have a huge problem with heat -if- you get the 90nm processor.
[/quote]
Because we all know packing transistors closer together reduces heat!

None of the Athlon64 processors has had a problem with heat, 130nm or 90nm.

Looks like a sweet computer for $1000, I'd upgrade the card if you game though.

Out of curiousity, why are you not getting a new Mac? You could save money and get an eMac, or maybe even a iBook?

How about the G5? ;D But I think thats a good computer at a nice price.

[quote author=Falcon[anti-yL] link=topic=9942.msg92821#msg92821 date=1103389334]
How about the G5? ;D But I think thats a good computer at a nice price.
[/quote]

Price. You can get both an eMac and an iBook for less than $1000.

My computer that I bout about a year ago has roughly the same specifications as yours, though the HD is only 80GB 7200RPM and it's a 5200 GeForce FX, ew.

Just got home from the store 2 hours ago. Got it all set up and everything, and am setting up the games. I'll probably buy a new graphics card in a year; I expected that when I got this. Meanwhile, the current graphics card will be just fine.

As for being a traitor to Mac... well, I'll buy one later. Right now, I really need a fast computer for gaming (a few years is long enough), and the Mac I want isn't in my price range just yet.

Besides, it'll be nice to be able to run things for both Windows here and Mac on my old comp.  :)

You can make that machine yourself for cheaper.

[quote author=iago link=topic=9942.msg92808#msg92808 date=1103381578]
Windows will shut off if it detects overheating. 

And btw, Intel? You're a traitor to Macs :(
[/quote] Well not windows... most motherboards have a built in thermoster (an intel proc has an internal one) and the clock speed starts to drop when you reach a certain temperature. So if you rip the heatsink off the freq will go down and pretty soon the system will just lockup and you will bsod. It is demonstrated here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/images/thg_video_1_cpu_cooling.zip
Notice how an amd will burn up if the on an older motherboard that does not have a thermoster?

[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=9942.msg92849#msg92849 date=1103401009]
You can make that machine yourself for cheaper.
[/quote]I'm sure I could... but I don't want to invest the time and effort in it. Besides, I get a warranty with this...

[quote author=tA-Kane link=topic=9942.msg92853#msg92853 date=1103403950]
[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=9942.msg92849#msg92849 date=1103401009]
You can make that machine yourself for cheaper.
[/quote]I'm sure I could... but I don't want to invest the time and effort in it. Besides, I get a warranty with this...
[/quote] Well the time thing is a misnomer. It takes the same ammount of time either way. I can put together a pc in an hour or so. I just have to wait for the parts to be shipper, which should take about the same time as a prebuilt pc.

Also I have warranty on all the parts I order.

[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=9942.msg92854#msg92854 date=1103404901]
[quote author=tA-Kane link=topic=9942.msg92853#msg92853 date=1103403950]
[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=9942.msg92849#msg92849 date=1103401009]
You can make that machine yourself for cheaper.
[/quote]I'm sure I could... but I don't want to invest the time and effort in it. Besides, I get a warranty with this...
[/quote] Well the time thing is a misnomer. It takes the same ammount of time either way. I can put together a pc in an hour or so. I just have to wait for the parts to be shipper, which should take about the same time as a prebuilt pc.

Also I have warranty on all the parts I order.
[/quote]Shipping time being the same amount of time as a pre-built PC when you purchase the machine at a local store and walk it out of the building? Doubtful.


Anyways, I have a question; how do I make it so that programs stay running even after I've logged out? My dad's PC is set up that way, but I'm not sure what I did to make it that way, and I'd like it the same way here ...  :\

Run the program as a service.  Perhaps it's not that he's actually logging out, more so that he's 'switching user' which lets you switch to another user's account while keeping your account session alive.

[quote author=tA-Kane link=topic=9942.msg92866#msg92866 date=1103407051]
[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=9942.msg92854#msg92854 date=1103404901]
[quote author=tA-Kane link=topic=9942.msg92853#msg92853 date=1103403950]
[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=9942.msg92849#msg92849 date=1103401009]
You can make that machine yourself for cheaper.
[/quote]I'm sure I could... but I don't want to invest the time and effort in it. Besides, I get a warranty with this...
[/quote] Well the time thing is a misnomer. It takes the same ammount of time either way. I can put together a pc in an hour or so. I just have to wait for the parts to be shipper, which should take about the same time as a prebuilt pc.

Also I have warranty on all the parts I order.
[/quote]Shipping time being the same amount of time as a pre-built PC when you purchase the machine at a local store and walk it out of the building? Doubtful. [/quote]ah, I see. I missed that detail. I thought you were ordering from a company and they were going to ship the whole deal to you.
[quote]
Anyways, I have a question; how do I make it so that programs stay running even after I've logged out? My dad's PC is set up that way, but I'm not sure what I did to make it that way, and I'd like it the same way here ...  :\
[/quote] To run a program as a service you might consider something similar to the following:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/a.west/tracker_howto.htm
I thought there was another way to do i through dos without using someone elses exe, but I can't remember how. I have set other stuff to run as a service before though.

Yes.  Go into the User Accounts in Control Panel, "change the way users log on" and make sure fast user switching and the welcome screen are checked.

Click logoff and select "switch users" instead of logoff.

[quote author=cefx- link=topic=9942.msg93307#msg93307 date=1103816058]
Yes. Go into the User Accounts in Control Panel, "change the way users log on" and make sure fast user switching and the welcome screen are checked.

Click logoff and select "switch users" instead of logoff.
[/quote]:)

I have one other question; is there a way to grant a user "administrator" priviledges without letting them be able to modify system settings?

Some games require admin privs, and I don't want to give my siblings very much ability to fux up the computer by giving them admin privs just to play a few games..

Don't listen to them, Intel > AMD har har. The only part thats lacking is:

- 128MB GeForce 5300FX PCI Express
- Intel High-def 7.1 audio

the integrated audio is fine unless you invest in a $250+ speaker system, and that video card is good enough but really not the best, if that were slightly better it would be a great deal. I guess the factors on wether or not its a worthy deal would be the case/psu/cooling/MB/warrenty in it.

I'm not totally sure it's actually "7.1" audio ... I'm not sure how to set it up, even if I did have all of the proper speakers for it. It looks like the audio software in this thing has support for "2-channel" (2 speakers with an integrated sub), "4-channel" (4 speakers with integrated sub), and "6-channel" (5 speakers with dedicated subwoofer channel) setups. I don't see anything regarding 7- or 8-channel audio (8 speakers with integrated sub or 7 speakers with dedicated subwoofer channel). Very odd...


Actually, I *do* have a nice 4.2 speaker setup which I got from a music store that went out of business, but my dad wants that to be saved for home theatre system...  :(

[quote author=Hostile link=topic=9942.msg93506#msg93506 date=1104003050]
Don't listen to them, Intel > AMD har har. The only part thats lacking is:
[/quote] I concur, intel is better then amd... but amd does have the edge price wise. I still like my afordable gaming system setup.

Well, these guys may be right. I'm not a hardware genious. All I have to say is that it beats the shit out of mine.