Buying a computer setup your friends will envy for $900
Thread Starter
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,545
Likes: 1
From: Twin Falls, Idaho
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.
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,646
Likes: 0
From: allentown, pa--brooklyn, ny
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
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Purgatory
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
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
From: Fargo, ND
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.
Senior Member
Certified GM nut
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 2
From: West Point, Utah - Village Idiot
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!
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 0
From: Granville, Ohio ~NEBF '07 Survivor~
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
