PCTech Forums

by **Angborn** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:44 am

Okay, looking at WD 200GB 7,200 RPM HDDs online, comparing prices on and keep noticing the 'cache' or 'buffer speed' being 2MB on the models I've looked at.

Is 2MB sufficient on a HDD? What does it mean? Any input would be helpful.

Thanks!

by **Angborn** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:23 am

Update: Hard drive purchases, on the way home

WD 200GB WD2000JB EIDE ULTRA-ATA/66-100 8.9MS 7200RPM 8MB BUFFER HARD DRIVE (Bare drive) (36" ATA ROUND CABLE) $153

Running total:

$1362

by **Angborn** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:35 pm

Got a lot to add in this post, so here goes... Bear in mind that shipping is included in these costs, where I was charged for it. Some sites charged more than I'd have liked for shipping (note the two extra case fans... yikes!). But, c'est la vie.

Case: Aopen H700B Full Tower - $109
Upgraded Case Power Supply Unit (PSU): 500W Dual Fan - $34
Cooling: 2 x Case Fans (Case had only one in it): $24
CPU - P4 3.2GHz (800 FSB) w/ Upgraded Heat Sink/Fan and Pretest - $313
Vid card: Radeon 9800 XT 256MB DDR (OEM) - $410
Mother Board (aka MOBO): Abit IC7-G Max3 i875 (800 FSB) - $192
Memory: 2 x 512MB 184-pin PC3200 DIMM Ram sticks @$88 ea.: $176
Hard Drive: WD 200GB EIDE ULTRA-ATA/66-100 8.9MS 7200RPM 8MB - $152
Sound: Audigy Sound Blaster ZS Platinum - $170
CD: Liteon CDRW - $36
DVD: NEC DVD+/-RW - $98

Monitor: ViewSonic 22" Flat Screen CRT P220f - $400
Keyboard: Belkin Ergonomic - $33
Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical (OEM) - $24
Speakers: Creative Inspire T7700 7.1 - $129

Total (Accurate to +/- $10): $2300

Now... what am I forgetting, or missing?? Where did I screw up??

I do realize that I got some (most?) stuff that's really unnecessary... I'm aware I paid a little more here and there (and hopefully a little less in places) than I could have... I'm okay with that, since I was too impatient to really seek out the super best deals, or wait til prices dropped... I realize that impatience costs a bit.... But all that aside, how'd I do? Lemme have it guys!

by **Angborn** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 2:10 pm

If anyone is watching this thread and thinks they can do better with a retail builder, like Alienware... I just configured a comp on Alienware's site that's as close as I can get to my system specs here (actually the major difference being that I have 40GB more HD space), and this is what I came up with:

Area-51™ Extreme

High-Performance Heatsink/CPU Fan
Optimized to play your favorite games
Performance Benchmarks Documentation
Personalized Owner's Manual
FREE Custom Alienware® Mouse Pad
Latest Qualified Drivers Installed

Was: $4,761.00
$4,561.00 as low as $137/mo.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do believe I just saved about $2261. I sure hope people are doing their math before looking at Alienware... Sad thing is they're making money. <shrug>

by **occult** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 7:04 pm

I'm starting to feel cheap lol. I finally went with the custom built (if you remember me) and it's grand total is between around 600 and 700 bucks. 9600 VC, athlon 2400, 120 HDD, motherboard is gonna be $75, it's my friends 8x... I hope it all works together (I have a really LONG history of bad luck. I've had many friends say that they've never known someone who's had so many computer problems before so.... lets hope it works.

I have a question though... am I missing anything? My list is like this... (BTW, this is my first time EVER doing this. I'm going with my friends help)

motherboard- $75
Case- $70
ANTEC 77042 80mm Blue LED Computer Fan- (around) $18
AMD Athlon 2400+ XP Processor 2.0GHz with 333MHz Frontside Bus- (around) $100
ATI Radeon 9600 SE AGP 8X Visual Processor- $130
MAXTOR DiamondMax Plus 120GB U133 Internal IDE Hard Drive or SEAGATE ST380013ARK Barracuda 7200.7 80GB Internal Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive- (depends on how much money I can spend at this point)
Centon 512MB PC2700 Memory Module- $113

Am I missing anything?

please tell me because even though my friend built his and helped like 2 other people on theirs... he hasn't really told me much...

P.S The drives I'm gonna rip out of my old computer

by **liljim** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:17 pm

by **occult** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:14 pm

by **Old_Fart** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 5:02 am

Most people I have seen build a comp will replace the power supply if it is a chinese one and run something better. There not a big cost item

by **liljim** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 5:22 am

occult,
Most often the case comes with a power supply,check the website you ordered/plan to order your case from to see.

by **occult** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 6:19 am

GAH! They shanked me a power supply at the store... last time I go to some back woods computer/video game store for my stuff!!!!! :mad:

YAR!!!!!!!! so... I'm off to buy a 300 watt power supply.... ATX ok?

by **liljim** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:54 am

ATX is what you need,300 watts is questionable.If your going to buy one,buy something bigger than 300 and keep in mind you cant ever have too much juice.

by **Scarlet** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 11:43 am

I bought a really cheap setup. Since August 2003, i have upgraded it by about £200. It can run BF:VIETNAM on Medium, no lag!

PCTech Forums

n00b Builds Own PC; Needs Input Along the Way:

Cache, Buffer Size (HDD)

Really milking this thread aren't I?

Final (I think) parts list and cost:

Wow...

Wow

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