Best Components for the money.. (BEST PC for the MONEY)

[Christopher J. Martin]

I am current about to buy a computer and put it together myself. I am
trying to buy the right pieces for cheap and put together the best PC
for the money. I already have the box, monitor, keyboard, and the
mouse from a local computer show. Now I need to pick up are the
components.

This is what I am currently looking to get and the price.

(All prices from zipzoomfly)
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 3GHz, 800MHz FSB, Socket 478 $225.00
Western Digital Caviar 200GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive$152.50
Nu Tech DBW-521 DVD 16x + CD-RW 52x24x52 Combo Drive Retail $ 52.99
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Sound Card $172.00
Asus P4P800 Deluxe i865PE P4 800FSB Skt478 DDR ATX $126.99
Kingston KVR400X64C3AK2/1G 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Memory Retl $170.00
SapphireTech Atlantis Radeon 9600 AGP 8X 256MB DDR V. Card $109.50
CoolerMaster Aero 4 Lite DI4-7J74F CPU $ 19.00

I would prefer not to spend over $200 on the video card and that is
why I choose this one. I understand that the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro is
quite a bit better then the one listed above. I guess I was looking
for the best card under $150.

The other question I had about was the memory. I did see that for
alittle more a can purchase Corsair Dual-Channel Memory. See below..
I am not sure how much of a difference that is going to make or if the
memory I have listed above can already be able to do Dual-Channel
functionality.

"Corsair 1GB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Ch. Memory w/Platinum Heat" $218.00


Thanks

Chris

 

[CBFalconer]

.... snip ...

The other question I had about was the memory. I did see that for
alittle more a can purchase Corsair Dual-Channel Memory. See below..
I am not sure how much of a difference that is going to make or if the
memory I have listed above can already be able to do Dual-Channel
functionality.

Disgustingly over cross-posted. Anyhoo, spend the extra on
reliability and get ECC memory.

 

[Christopher J. Martin]

reliability and get ECC memory.


What is ECC Memory? How would I know if it is or isn't ECC? How does
it relate to Dual Access Memory?

 

[CBFalconer]

What is ECC Memory? How would I know if it is or isn't ECC? How does
it relate to Dual Access Memory?

ECC is error correcting memory, and is dynamic and transparent.
It will be 72 bits wide, rather than 64. Dual Access Memory
probably means multi-ported memory, which is fairly pointless
barring multi-processors or video systems. It is pathetic that
the cost-cutters have almost killed any knowledge of it. Ask the
memory vendors for ECC memory. Check the MB specs for ECC
capability.

You are still crossposting heavily. Set followups to wherever you
are posting from.

 

[Christopher J. Martin]

Disgustingly over cross-posted. Anyhoo, spend the extra on
reliability and get ECC memory.

Isn't ECC (Error Checking Correcting) Memory almost double the price
of stand non-ecc memory. It would cost $300 for the memory 1 gig
instead of 180. I don't think the extra money is worth it.

Being the type of motherboard and P4 CPU, I do believe the Dual
Channel memory is worth it.

Thanks for the input though..

 

[mr x]

Yes, ECC memory is way more money and unless you're doing calculations for
NASA, I honestly don't think you need it. That's not to say you should buy
the cheapest stuff you can find either.

Personally I buy all the same EXACT kind of memory from one manufacturer for
my systems.

 

[CBFalconer]

*** top posting fixed ***

Yes, ECC memory is way more money and unless you're doing calculations
for NASA, I honestly don't think you need it. That's not to say you
should buy the cheapest stuff you can find either.

Personally I buy all the same EXACT kind of memory from one
manufacturer for my systems.

ECC intrinsically costs about 12% more (9 to 8 ratio). In
practice it might even cost you 20%. However it is not subject to
random losses from cosmic rays, and so forth, that can totally
sabotage your system and not be noticed for days, weeks, months,
even years after the damage is done, and long after any backups
have been made useless.