How is this setup?

[SubKamran]

I'm going to buy a new computer (once I collect enough money) and I want it to last a few years...

I came up with this, is the price tag good or sucky?


Intel 875P Chipset P4 Mobo
Intel Pentium4 3.2Ghz
1024MB XMS PC3200 DDR RAM Sticks (x2 512MB)
ATI RADEON™ 9800 PRO 128MB 8x AGP w/DVI & S-Video
Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 Platinum eX
120GB Maxtor DiamondMax9 7200RMP Serial ATA 8MB Cache
Logitech MX300 Mouse & Logitech Elite Keyboard
Samsung 16X DVD + 52x24x52 CD-RW Combo Drive
Creative MegaWorks THX® 6.1 650
ThermalTake Xaser III Silver Case

Along with a Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu Aluminum + Copper CPU Cooler for Intel.

Don't tell me "Buy a AMD instead" please :D I did my research...

$2398

[Jason425]

I have never owned an amd and most likely never will... anyway, that is going to be one SICK computer.. but since you're going overboard, why not get the 256mb radeon? or maybe even the fx5900 ultra? Also, there are several motherboards with that chipset. You would be benefitted by looking at SEVERAL reviews from any board that interests you. Don't eliminate the 865 chipset either, as in some cases it performs as well as the 875.

[eviltechie]

check out the logitech MX duo

also have you ever considered overclocking later?
that can prolong your system's life speedwise...

a 2.4C is the best overclocker so far
and 3.2C is the worst

[SubKamran]

I read an article about is it worth spending $100 more on the 256MB version, and the conclusion was "Better to use that $100 for something else".

And I don't want the 5900 because I want to play HL2 with FSAA (which the nVidia cards cannot do yet) :D

As for overclocking, eh, nah... :/

[vee_ess]

I do not know which article you are making reference to, however most articles that say the 256MB card is not worth it do not take into consideration future gaming. Currently, games do not show any noticable difference between the 256MB and 128MB performance numbers, but as the next generation of games comes out, there will be more demand put on the cards and there will be a difference between the cards. Likely a noticable one.

[eviltechie]

yeah but by then there will be faster cards with lower prices with 256mb ram

that time hasnt came yet
this time hardware jumps the horse as always :D

[james]

I would say get another harddrive. Use the 120 as one dedicated to data and such, and get a smaller one (40GB or so) and partition it up and boot several OS's off of it (or just one, and use the other partition for data). ime, it's dangerous to put any of your data on the same partition as your OS. I'd be weary of Thermaltake's case, i haven't had a chance to lay my hands on it, but it's probably not worth the money. Don't bother paying the extra for the live drive on the audigy unless you have lots of audio equipment, b/c it just doesn't provide any advantage. It adds a cable to have to deal with and takes up unnecessary space. Sounds like you've got a deep pocket. Want to donate a case to a poor college student :P. hope you have fun with your system. I would put LOTS of thought into your mobo. make sure the manufacturer you get utilizes the 875 chipset properly (i.e. SATA integrated into the Northbridge and not the PCI bus, etc.) If i'm not mistaken, the Xaser case has lots of front panel access ports, make sure the mobo you get has headers to support those ports. If i was going all out like that on a pentium system, i'd check out the Abit Max 3. It looks like you havenothing but new stuff, so you might as well get a mobo that doesn't waste space on lots of legacy ports. Last thing i would say is to get a keyboard with a wire. I dont' think it's just me, but who wants to be sitting there gaming or typing a paper and have their keyboard go out on them?? You'll probably benefit from having mulitmedia keys on your keyboard. Also, if you get a wireless mouse, do the environment (and yourself) a favor and get one that has a charger stand. OR, get rechargable batteries and keep a spare set right next to your computer.