Head to Head

[chrisf6969]

a few details from me on my system?

This is what I would recommend for $900
P4 2.6C ----- $175 (retail w/HSF)
ABit IS-7 ----- $89
GeilDDR433 - $124 (2x256) (2x$62)
VGA fx5900-- $230
40GB WD 8mb-$68
48x24x48x16- $55 (liteon CDRW-DVD combo drive)
Asipre Turbo - $52 (cool case w/350W PSU, window & temp probe display)
Win XP home - $98
shipping ------ $15
TOTAL $906 (all prices from Newegg.com )

I guarantee that system would clock to 3Ghz 100%
probably about 90% chance of 3.25Ghz...
and to get higher you would probably need a better HSF and/or a bit of luck.

The system I was talking about was cheaper b/c I was going to put a ti4200 in it for $96, so it would have been under $800.

[Galant]

Ah, but no monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers etc. !!!

By varying only the HSF, mobo, and peripherals I can get a complete system, inculding everything between $780 - 850.

I think you can beat those RAM prices, and some of the others. Check out www.pricewatch.com and do searches in the appropriate categories.

[joshwa]

Originally posted by Galant
$19.99 (13 or 14 quid) for Nexcom to test my $114 mobo before they ship it.

Is it worth it?

no definitely not - it should work anyway, you shouldn't have to pay to find out whether a brand new motherboard works, as it should work anyway and if it doesn't you just send it back and they send you back another brand new one.

faulty pc stuff is about 5% i reckon, so 95% or more of the time you get working stuff