Buying a computer setup your friends will envy for $900
#1
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Buying a computer setup your friends will envy for $900
My home computing setup:
I consider it the best "bang for the buck" setup available right now.
Step 1
Purchase a refurbished dell desktop. There are always several from $200-$300 with decent specs. Mine was $270 over a year ago.
I just pulled this one from the dell outlet site for $249
Inspiron 531
System Price: $249.00
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ (2.10GHZ)
Memory: 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive: 250 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)Modem
48X CD RW/DVD Combo
Windows Vista
Step 3
Purchase a 28" Hanns-G Monitor, I got mine on newegg for $521.23 Shipped The price jumped back to $569 but watch it...it frequently drops to $499.
Step 4
Purchase a Cordless Mouse and Keyboard
You can get a nice logitech set like mine for around $30 on ebay
Step 5
Purchase a High End set of PC speakers used...
Mine pictured (Altec Lansing ADA-880) were $40 from ebay but cost $300 new.
Similar sets to check out are the Klipsch 2.1 set and for a 4.1 sound look at the Z-560 from logitech..these were both $200-$300 speaker sets a few years back.
Step 6
Reformat the Dell since it is loaded with a bunch of crap
Step 7
Sit back and relax and realize you have just built the sweetest home theatre system around for under $900 bucks.
I consider it the best "bang for the buck" setup available right now.
Step 1
Purchase a refurbished dell desktop. There are always several from $200-$300 with decent specs. Mine was $270 over a year ago.
I just pulled this one from the dell outlet site for $249
Inspiron 531
System Price: $249.00
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ (2.10GHZ)
Memory: 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive: 250 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)Modem
48X CD RW/DVD Combo
Windows Vista
Step 3
Purchase a 28" Hanns-G Monitor, I got mine on newegg for $521.23 Shipped The price jumped back to $569 but watch it...it frequently drops to $499.
Step 4
Purchase a Cordless Mouse and Keyboard
You can get a nice logitech set like mine for around $30 on ebay
Step 5
Purchase a High End set of PC speakers used...
Mine pictured (Altec Lansing ADA-880) were $40 from ebay but cost $300 new.
Similar sets to check out are the Klipsch 2.1 set and for a 4.1 sound look at the Z-560 from logitech..these were both $200-$300 speaker sets a few years back.
Step 6
Reformat the Dell since it is loaded with a bunch of crap
Step 7
Sit back and relax and realize you have just built the sweetest home theatre system around for under $900 bucks.
#2
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dude, that is sweeeeet
after i sell a few of the 30'' hp monitors i got i might just buy one for my self at my cost i get them for.
and then just connect it to my laptop on my computer desk and sit back in the leather rocking recliner with a wireless mouse and keyboard and my laptop will be hooked up to my 15'' jbl cabaret series computer room sound system. \
then ill be like you.. just wait and see... im not jealous.....
maybe just a lil bit
after i sell a few of the 30'' hp monitors i got i might just buy one for my self at my cost i get them for.
and then just connect it to my laptop on my computer desk and sit back in the leather rocking recliner with a wireless mouse and keyboard and my laptop will be hooked up to my 15'' jbl cabaret series computer room sound system. \
then ill be like you.. just wait and see... im not jealous.....
maybe just a lil bit
#3
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I think I might have you a run for your money... for audio, anyway.
RECEIVER:
harman/kardon HK330i "Ultrawideband Linear Phase Stereo Receiver" - $10 (Goodwill)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryvo/2177472522/1982-1985 vintage. Scored this one yesterday. Otherwise I already have an existing Sansui A-80 amplifier, I'm determining which one sounds better and will keep that one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryvo/302345623/
SOUND CARD:
Chaintech AV-710, ~$25. Just about the best two channel sound card money can buy and heck lots cheaper than comparable Sound blaster Audigy'*.
SPEAKERS:
I had these lying around, but used I figure they *can't* be expensive.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryvo/2176675609/These are home theatre speakers, 1990'* vintage with the 4" main speaker and a little tweeter, plus the port hole. They pack a lot more punch than they let on.
RECEIVER:
harman/kardon HK330i "Ultrawideband Linear Phase Stereo Receiver" - $10 (Goodwill)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryvo/2177472522/1982-1985 vintage. Scored this one yesterday. Otherwise I already have an existing Sansui A-80 amplifier, I'm determining which one sounds better and will keep that one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryvo/302345623/
SOUND CARD:
Chaintech AV-710, ~$25. Just about the best two channel sound card money can buy and heck lots cheaper than comparable Sound blaster Audigy'*.
SPEAKERS:
I had these lying around, but used I figure they *can't* be expensive.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryvo/2176675609/These are home theatre speakers, 1990'* vintage with the 4" main speaker and a little tweeter, plus the port hole. They pack a lot more punch than they let on.
#4
Hans,
Notice the desk!
Since I started building my own, I will not ever buy one of those boxed systems again. I like the freedom of knowing exactly what I got.
It is also a bonus getting the processors for free. lol
#7
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Here'* what I put together last fall...
Raidmax Smilodon Case
OCZ GameXStream 700W PS
aBit IP35 Pro Mobo
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
XFX GeForce 8800GTS
Samsung Spinpoint 500GB HD
Patriot eXtreme Performance 4 x 1GB RAM
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 (505 watts of loudness)
Monitor: Samsung 226BW (22" Widescreen)
3dMark06 = 9914
Maybe not as cost friendly as yours but I'm happy with it as it'* the first comp I've built.
Raidmax Smilodon Case
OCZ GameXStream 700W PS
aBit IP35 Pro Mobo
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
XFX GeForce 8800GTS
Samsung Spinpoint 500GB HD
Patriot eXtreme Performance 4 x 1GB RAM
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 (505 watts of loudness)
Monitor: Samsung 226BW (22" Widescreen)
3dMark06 = 9914
Maybe not as cost friendly as yours but I'm happy with it as it'* the first comp I've built.
#8
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Re: Buying a computer setup your friends will envy for $900
Originally Posted by Hans
Step 1
Purchase a refurbished dell desktop. There are always several from $200-$300 with decent specs. Mine was $270 over a year ago.
I just pulled this one from the dell outlet site for $249
Inspiron 531
System Price: $249.00
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ (2.10GHZ)
Memory: 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive: 250 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)Modem
48X CD RW/DVD Combo
Windows Vista
Step 3
Purchase a 28" Hanns-G Monitor, I got mine on newegg for $521.23 Shipped The price jumped back to $569 but watch it...it frequently drops to $499.
Step 4
Purchase a Cordless Mouse and Keyboard
You can get a nice logitech set like mine for around $30 on ebay
Step 5
Purchase a High End set of PC speakers used...
Mine pictured (Altec Lansing ADA-880) were $40 from ebay but cost $300 new.
Similar sets to check out are the Klipsch 2.1 set and for a 4.1 sound look at the Z-560 from logitech..these were both $200-$300 speaker sets a few years back.
Step 6
Reformat the Dell since it is loaded with a bunch of crap
Step 7
Sit back and relax and realize you have just built the sweetest home theatre system around for under $900 bucks.
Purchase a refurbished dell desktop. There are always several from $200-$300 with decent specs. Mine was $270 over a year ago.
I just pulled this one from the dell outlet site for $249
Inspiron 531
System Price: $249.00
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ (2.10GHZ)
Memory: 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive: 250 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)Modem
48X CD RW/DVD Combo
Windows Vista
Step 3
Purchase a 28" Hanns-G Monitor, I got mine on newegg for $521.23 Shipped The price jumped back to $569 but watch it...it frequently drops to $499.
Step 4
Purchase a Cordless Mouse and Keyboard
You can get a nice logitech set like mine for around $30 on ebay
Step 5
Purchase a High End set of PC speakers used...
Mine pictured (Altec Lansing ADA-880) were $40 from ebay but cost $300 new.
Similar sets to check out are the Klipsch 2.1 set and for a 4.1 sound look at the Z-560 from logitech..these were both $200-$300 speaker sets a few years back.
Step 6
Reformat the Dell since it is loaded with a bunch of crap
Step 7
Sit back and relax and realize you have just built the sweetest home theatre system around for under $900 bucks.
LOL!
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Granville, Ohio ~NEBF '07 Survivor~
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Originally Posted by lglarum
Raidmax Smilodon Case
I have that same case. How do you like it? It'* WAY too loud for my tastes. I need to get a fan controller badly. I only have 2 of the possible 4 fans running right now just because it'* SO loud
I've also had a slight issue with the build quality...
Anywho, for those that are wondering:
Athlon64 3200+ Winchester OCed to 2.15 ghz
MSI mobo w/ ATI Xpress 200 chipset
2gb PC2700
1x ATI x1800 GTO (Sapphire)
WD 250gb SATA II drive
20x Samsung DVD burner
Thermaltake 650w PSU
19" Hanns G monitor (big enough for my small space)
Logitech X-230 speakers (replacing soon, they're pretty beat up)
Waiting for the summer to upgrade to Phenom/AM2/DDR2/Crossfire