Home Systems February 2003

<B>Intro</B>:

You are lucky that I didn't start the guides, or else I would've started with a probably very long intro. I'll keep this one short though. These guides are to help anyone looking to build a complete system. By complete, I mean from the cpu to the speakers. This is only our opinion, and you may not like what we pick out, and that's fine. I'll be focusing on home systems. What a home system to me is something that can keep every member of the family happy. It isn't too hard to do this with whatever level of budget you have. Let's get started with the budget system.

<B>Case</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>While I was browsing around Newegg I found <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-125-406&DEPA=1">this case</a>. It is a Chenming ATX-301KB-A w/380W PowerSupply. I don't have a clue of the quality of the case, but I wouldn't mind it for $54 shipped, it even comes with a nice wattage PSU. That takes care of two things with one purchase.</td></tr></table>

<B>Motherboard</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>The central part of the computer needs to be very stable and a bunch of features would be great for a home system. That means that VIA is out of the question. While VIA has some nice and fast boards, their stability is a bit lacking. I choose the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=13-127-144&depa=1">Abit NF7</a>, a nForce 2 solution without built in graphics. The board provides LAN and sound, all for a nice price of $106. You can save some money by going with a cheaper board, but the stability of the nForce is good.</td></tr></table>

<B>CPU</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>You can't beat the price of an Athlon XP right now. You can't go wrong with a <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=19-103-353&depa=1">1800+ Throroughbred retail</a> CPU. It comes with a heatsink and fan for $72. For another $15 you can get a better heatsink/fan, the Volcano 7 (which is what I use right now), but you shouldn't need to.</td></tr></table>

<B>Memory</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>There are many types of memory and many different speeds. Even though the CPU that goes with this system is only 266Mhz FSB, we'll use 333Mhz RAM for headroom. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=20-145-056&depa=0">A 256MB stick of PC2700 Crucial memory is enough to power that system of yours</a>. The cost if only $47.99, and most likely will be going down in price also.</td></tr></table>

<B>Video Card</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>I choose features over speed for the home system, especially for budget. We want good 2D and nice 3D as well with DVD decoding and more! I choose the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-131-204&depa=0">Powercolor Radeon 9100</a>. The Radeon 9100 has excellent 2D with enough 3D power for the gamer in your family. All this for $73.</td></tr></table>

<B>Optical Storage</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>A home system should be an entertainment center, not just a computer. I choose to buy a DVD and a CDRW drive in this system, and still keep the price low. Rebates are your friend though. Staples has a Buslink (which are usually Lite-On drives) <a href="http://instorespecials.staples.com/staples/listing_detail.asp?listingid=-2098682179&storeid=2279028&offerid=">52x CDRW drive</a> on sale for $19.98 (+tax) after a $50 rebate. For the DVD Drive, you can't beat the quality of a <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=27-131-109&depa=0">Lite-On 16x</a>. This one is priced at $44.</td></tr></table>

<B>Magnetic Storage</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>Even though you can find some pretty good deals on Hard Drives with some work, it is difficult without price matching and other tactics. With this in mind, I stuck with a <a href="http://instorespecials.staples.com/staples/listing_detail.asp?listingid=-2098682177&storeid=2279028&offerid=">Maxtor 40GB 7200RPM</a> drive. It is $49.98 (+tax) after a $40 rebate.</td></tr></table>

<B>Monitor</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>A monitor is very important for a home system. You'll want a nice and flat CRT for a budget system. <a href="http://instorespecials.staples.com/staples/listing_detail.asp?listingid=-2098682159&storeid=2279028&offerid=">This Envision EN775E</a> is perfect for a home system. I use an Envision LCD and they are great with their products and support. It is $89.99 (+tax) after a $60 rebate.</td></tr></table>

<B>Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td>Altec Lansing AVS500w are nice 4.1 speakers on the cheap. Good quality, and the price is right at $35.18 (CompUSA +tax). While your there, pick up one of their Cordless Optical mice for ~$30. They work great, we use two at home here. Don't forget a Logitech Acess Keyboard for $14.09, also at CompUSA. Yes, you'll get screwed on the tax, but it is better than waiting for stuff to get sent to you... (Even though you will with Newegg anyway)</td></tr></table>

<B>OS</B>:

If you want my recommendation, I'd say Linux. In fact, I have Lycoris on one of my boxes and it handles everything nicely, Open Office and MP3, movies and more. That's free! But you'll probably want <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=37-102-014&depa=0">Windows XP Home</a> for another $97 at Newegg.

<B>So in summary, for this month's Home Budget System</B>:
Chenming ATX-301KB-A w/380W PowerSupply $54
Abit NF7 $106
Athlon XP 1800+ Retail $72
Crucial 256MB PC2700 $47.99
Powercolor Radeon 9100 $73
Buslink 52x CDRW $69.98 -$50 rebate (+tax)
Lite On 16x DVD $44
Maxtor 40GB $89.98 - $40 rebate (+tax)
Envision EN775E 17inch $149.99 -$60 rebate (+tax)
AVS500w $35.18 (+tax)
CompUSA Cordless Optical Mouse $29.99 (+tax)
Logitech Access Keyboard $14.09 (+tax)
WinXP Home $97

Total: Without rebates - $883.20 (+$23.36 tax) Minus $150 rebates = $756.56.

And you have a great system for less than $800 (after rebates). Next up is the midrange system.