Buyer's Guide - Entry Level, October 2004
by Jarred Walton on October 6, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Guides
Miscellaneous Components
We have covered all of the parts necessary for building a computer with a few exceptions. Network and audio are provided by the motherboard, and there is no reason to purchase a separate card to handle those duties. A Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS might make a nice addition to the gaming system, but we have already pushed the price of the budget gaming system up far enough. We also feel that the $80 that the Audigy 2 ZS costs could be put to better use in the graphics department, as that tends to be far more of a bottleneck than the sound processing.While it is not required, there are still instances where having a floppy drive comes in handy. Whether you want to spend the extra $10 or so is up to you, but many of us still insist on including a floppy drive in every PC. As long as you do not need to use it, you could probably care less, but for those rare occasions when you do need it, it can be a real life saver. BIOS flashing and installing hard drive controllers for XP are a couple of examples that often benefit from the presence of a floppy drive.
The last items that every computer needs are the keyboard and mouse. As before, we do not want to give a specific recommendation, as personal preference plays a large part in this area. However, we do like the Microsoft and Logitech models quite a lot. Products from both companies tend to have very good out-of-box support from Windows XP, which may not be the case with some of the other alternatives.
For the keyboard, office users might want to look into getting an ergonomic split keyboard in order to reduce the strain due to typing - most serious typists swear by them. Our one comment is that we really dislike keyboards that have the large enter key with the back slash moved elsewhere - people who have written any code or HTML can be very unhappy when certain keys are moved to the "wrong" location. If that sort of thing bothers you, remember to pay close attention to that detail when selecting a keyboard.
The only comment that we have to make about the mouse is that we really like optical mice. If you are used to an optical mouse and have to go back to an old rubber ball mouse, it can be an unpleasant experience. The precision and responsiveness of optical mice still varies, so you probably should not just get the cheapest mouse that you can find.
You can find mice and keyboards in both wired and wireless versions, and depending on your tastes, you may prefer one over the other. Wired versions are nice in that you never have to worry about batteries, but you still have to deal with the cords. Most likely, you already know what you like, so unless you are itching to try something new, you can stick with that.
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Gholam - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
Why not use an nForce2 IGP or KM400 based board and dump the discrete graphics card? Also, $73 case for an office system is waaaaay too expensive - an HEC 6CS3 with a 300W PSU will run you $30-35.Scarceas - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
Ozenmacher - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
I think for a budget office system, someone staring at a monitor all day may appreciate an LCD since they generally have better text and do not flicker. In that case, you can find 15 in LCD's online close to 200 dollars with integrated speakers. While integrated speakers suck, they would suffice for the office user and would reduce clutter. In that case, maybe another recommendation would be to subtract the 16 dollar speakers and add a little money towards an LCD for a slightly higher price. If they are really hurting for money, they definitely could subtract the video card as well.ceefka - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
I second that #8. I like this new style too. Thank you Jarred for going the extra mile.Zebo - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
#7 the best kept secret in ram is the crucial 8T, which Mwave sells also in thier bundles. This stuff can and will clock to 250 Mhz FSB and low timings. 3-3-3 1T. I've talked about it in various threads before and pointed here: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=328636to show it's outstanding charachteristics.
Zebo - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
Excellent work Jarred.I really like the idea of and your explinations of "alternative" goods. Like the monitor, 512 ram and 9800 pro. It gives users who may value of aspect or another, while considering thier intended use, some good clues.
DrMrLordX - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
Interesting guide. I may follow some, if not all of these recommendations soon, if I can actually bear to part with money for a new system anytime soon.I was wondering if you've noticed mwave.com's deals on the Chaintech board you recommended, paired with Athlon 64s and Kingston memory(I think they have a few other brands available). The price on the three components together is very cheap, and could serve as an excellent base for a budget gamer(or overclocker) system.
You can get the above-mentioned combo(the RAM is 1x512 megs Kingston PC3200) for $292 + shipping. You get a free Farcry thrown in as well, and you get a better CPU than the Sempron 3100+.
Also, AMD is reportedly going to be dropping prices across the board on Oct 15. Best to wait 'til then if you're going to buy an AMD system.
ilancas - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
JarredWalton - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
Calin, certain flash USB devices can apparently be configured to function in place of a floppy drive. At least, that's what I've heard - I have never actually used one personally. Like I said in the article, it's worth the $10 for me. :DCalin - Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - link
"and installing hard drive controllers for XP are a couple of examples that often benefit from the presence of a floppy drive"Hello, there is no other way to install a driver for an unusual controller - even in Windows 2003. If you don't have a floppy, you're out of luck
Calin