Okay, hopefully my final comparison post with which to bother you gentlemen!
The best of the pre-built PC's I can find is a Compaq available through Costco (US warehouse store).
The asking price comes to a total of about $1070
(628.263 sterling)
I put the assitant through his paces and got him to dig inside the rig so I could figure out what's making it tick. What did I find?
Athlon XP 2600+
2x256MB Samsung PC2700 DDR SDRAM
Seagate ST3800 80Gig 7200Rpm Ultra DMA
Asus A7N8X-VM - Specs available
here
Bestec 250W PSU
Taisol HSF
16x DVD-ROM
48x CD-RW
Built-in graphics Nvidia Geforce4MX 64MB
V.92 Modem
17" LCD (flat screen) monitor
Compaq Keyboard and Mouse
Win XP Home
Works, Money 2003, Encarta Online
Norton Antivirus 60 days
1Yr warranty
(I think that's about it)
My build, costing $863.43 to 897.43 (depending on variations):
(506.950 pounds sterling - 526.936 sterling)
WD 80GB 7200Rpm 8MB Cache ATA/100
(Alternatives -
Seagate, same spec, SATA 150
Maxtor, same spec, ATA/133)
Corsair/Kingston PC3200 DDR SDRAM 2x256
Asus A7N8X Deluxe
(Alternative - MSI K7N2 Delta ILSR)
Athlon XP 2500+
(alternative XP 2600+)
Radeon 9600Pro Atlantis
Antec SX630II Case w/PSU
Volcano 9 HSF
(Alt. Volcano 11)
17" CRT monitor
Creative V.92 PCI Modem
Artec CD-RW 52x24x52
1.44 Mitsubishi Floppy
Mouse
WinXP Home
Thermal Paste
So, what do we think? Build or buy? Other suggestions?


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Around here I doubt you'll find anyone pointing you to buying it pre-built. There are benefits to buying pre-built but check things like if you're allowed to upgrade (warranty) and how much support costs. Basically that system isn't bad but onboard GF4MX are dire for anything more than very basic gaming. You get an AGP slot so can throw a $120ish Rad9600PRO and should find they use a std PSU so can add your own Antec too (if needs be). Up to you really, I've seen plenty worse pre-built and certainly plenty pricier too!

Glad to hear it, so it's self built you're going for then? Alternatives ...
