I need a computer for LAN 0w|\|4g3
Also (well, primarily) for Year 12. Which starts in 3 weeks. Ouch.
I don't think I'll be able to hold off until the next iMac update, and the current iMacs are too expensive. The eMac doesn't really fit the bill, being so freakishly big and heavy. Also, the GeForce 2 MX is behind the times.
I want to spend about ~$3000 Australian, which currently is a SuperDrive eMac. But I don't need a SuperDrive, I need a machine for 0w|\\|4g3 !!!
So, I'll probably be (shock!) getting a Windows machine in the next week or two. Windows XP, OpenOffice, and g4m3z.
The specs follow. If anyone knows of any way to make this a better gaming machine for ~$3000 (just double the US$ to get the A$), well that's why I'm posting. Any overclocking etc is out of the question, I want a stable computer for Year 12. Also, I'm not interested in anything rice (neons, fans, perspex, etc), just raw performance. These are A$ prices mostly from TechWareHouse.com.au.
<a href="http://macase.com/KA-K80.htm"; target="_blank">Macase K80 Galaxy</a> - $158
<a href="http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/sv/index.htm?iid=ipp_browse+motherbd_d845pesv&"; target="_blank">Intel P4PESV</a> - $274
<a href="http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/processors/pentium4/index.htm"; target="_blank">Intel Penitum 4 2.4GHz-B</a> - $459
Winbond 512MB DDR333, two for 1GB - $598
<a href="http://tw.giga-byte.com/products/r9500.htm"; target="_blank">Gigabyte Radeon 9500 Pro</a> - $399
<a href="http://www.wdc.com/products/products.asp?DriveID=32"; target="_blank">Western Digital 80GB Special Edition</a> - $292
<a href="http://www.pccasegear.com.au/category20_1.htm"; target="_blank">Red Rounded, IDE, Shielded (Red)</a> - Two for $40
<a href="http://lge.com/c_product/catalog/product_information.jsp?mdl_pfx=4CDBA&mdl_cod=GCC-4320B&mdl_mak=1&navigation=1,20,5"; target="_blank">LG 4320B Combo Drive</a> - $209
<a href="http://microsoft.com/hardware/keyboard/mmk_info.asp"; target="_blank">Microsoft MultiMedia Keyboard</a> - $55
<a href="http://microsoft.com/hardware/mouse/omb_info.asp"; target="_blank">Microsoft Optical Mouse Blue</a> - $60
<a href="http://www.mitsubishi-electric.com.au/products/compp/MONITORS/dv1786fd2.htm"; target="_blank">Mitsubishi Diamond View Flat 17"</a> - $435
I will be using two big Sony bookshelf speakers hooked up to a stereo reciever, and some multimedia speakers which I already have at <a href="http://www.actgn.com"; target="_blank">LANs</a>.
Barto
I don't think I'll be able to hold off until the next iMac update, and the current iMacs are too expensive. The eMac doesn't really fit the bill, being so freakishly big and heavy. Also, the GeForce 2 MX is behind the times.
I want to spend about ~$3000 Australian, which currently is a SuperDrive eMac. But I don't need a SuperDrive, I need a machine for 0w|\\|4g3 !!!
So, I'll probably be (shock!) getting a Windows machine in the next week or two. Windows XP, OpenOffice, and g4m3z.
The specs follow. If anyone knows of any way to make this a better gaming machine for ~$3000 (just double the US$ to get the A$), well that's why I'm posting. Any overclocking etc is out of the question, I want a stable computer for Year 12. Also, I'm not interested in anything rice (neons, fans, perspex, etc), just raw performance. These are A$ prices mostly from TechWareHouse.com.au.
<a href="http://macase.com/KA-K80.htm"; target="_blank">Macase K80 Galaxy</a> - $158
<a href="http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/sv/index.htm?iid=ipp_browse+motherbd_d845pesv&"; target="_blank">Intel P4PESV</a> - $274
<a href="http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/processors/pentium4/index.htm"; target="_blank">Intel Penitum 4 2.4GHz-B</a> - $459
Winbond 512MB DDR333, two for 1GB - $598
<a href="http://tw.giga-byte.com/products/r9500.htm"; target="_blank">Gigabyte Radeon 9500 Pro</a> - $399
<a href="http://www.wdc.com/products/products.asp?DriveID=32"; target="_blank">Western Digital 80GB Special Edition</a> - $292
<a href="http://www.pccasegear.com.au/category20_1.htm"; target="_blank">Red Rounded, IDE, Shielded (Red)</a> - Two for $40
<a href="http://lge.com/c_product/catalog/product_information.jsp?mdl_pfx=4CDBA&mdl_cod=GCC-4320B&mdl_mak=1&navigation=1,20,5"; target="_blank">LG 4320B Combo Drive</a> - $209
<a href="http://microsoft.com/hardware/keyboard/mmk_info.asp"; target="_blank">Microsoft MultiMedia Keyboard</a> - $55
<a href="http://microsoft.com/hardware/mouse/omb_info.asp"; target="_blank">Microsoft Optical Mouse Blue</a> - $60
<a href="http://www.mitsubishi-electric.com.au/products/compp/MONITORS/dv1786fd2.htm"; target="_blank">Mitsubishi Diamond View Flat 17"</a> - $435
I will be using two big Sony bookshelf speakers hooked up to a stereo reciever, and some multimedia speakers which I already have at <a href="http://www.actgn.com"; target="_blank">LANs</a>.
Barto
Comments
However, if you are the kind of person who is able to exhibit some sort of self control when it comes to games and study, then why not consider an Athlon instead of a P4?
Anyway, consider yourself warned!
Year 11 forced me to gain self-control (although my adjusted scores didn't turn out too bad), and I never really gamed much with the exception of the once-a-month LANs here in Canberra.
Why Intel? Because the run cooler (in a relative sense), have a heat-spreader for safer operation, and Socket 478 will probably be around longer than Socket A.
Barto
I paid:
$100 - Antec Perfomance Plus 1080AMG with TruePower 430 watt power supply
$160 - ASUS P4PE with FireWire, Serial ATA, Gigabit LAN, etc.
$190 - Intel P4 2.4B
$32 - Alpha-Novatech PAL8942 bare heatsink
$20 - 6 Panaflo 80x25 mm "L1A" low speed fans
$160 - Corsair XMS 512 MB PC2700 RAM
$50 - black Pioneer 16x DVD-ROM drive
$110 - black Yamaha CRW-F1 44x CD-RW
$30 - rounded cables for 4 IDE drives and a floppy drive.
$20 - black Sony floppy drive
$320 - ATi Radeon 9700 Pro
$225 - Dell 992 19" CRT
I already had extra keyboards, mice, HDDs and other assorted pieces.