RATE NEW SYSTEMS

[rickd59]

OK, I am going to build a new system for someone. She wants a decent system ("best bang for the buck"). Light gaming, JAVA, some light database work, office, light gaming. This system must have wireless keyboard and mouse and a 19" LCD. It will be running XP Pro. Other than those, all else is up for grabs. I threw together these two options. Any problems with these parts playing together nicely for either system? Any better ones for the money? Which system, 1 or 2? Anything else is (AS ALWAYS) greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance everyone!

SYSTEM 1 ('REASONABLE' PC):
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LITE-ON Black ATAPI/E-IDE DVD Burner With LightScribe and 5X DVD-RAM Write Model SHM-165H6S - OEM
LITE-ON Black IDE Combo Drive Model SOHC-5236V BK RTL - Retail
IN WIN IW-C583T.J300BFU2AD Black 0.8 mm SECC Japanese Steel metal ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 300W Power Supply - Retail
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST380817AS 80GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
CMV CT-934D Silver 19" 8 ms (Tr+Tf) LCD Monitor - Retail
Gigabyte GA-K8NS Socket 754 NVIDIA nForce3 250 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Creative Inspire T3000 29 Watts 2.1 Speaker - Retail
Logitech 967496-0403 2-Tone PS/2 RF Wireless Slim Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM
crucial 512MB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (USB Portable) Model CT512MBUFD - Retail - Retail
Patriot Signature Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Newcastle 800MHz FSB Socket 754 Processor Model ADA3000BOX - Retail
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2006 - OEM
CHAINTECH SA5500T2 Geforce FX5500 256MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
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SYSTEM 2 ('BETTER' PC):
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Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
IN WIN IW-C583T.J300BFU2AD Black 0.8 mm SECC Japanese Steel metal ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 300W Power Supply - Retail
LITE-ON Black IDE Combo Drive Model SOHC-5236V BK RTL - Retail
ASUS Black E-IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner 5X DVD-RAM Write Model DRW-1608P2S BK - Retail
crucial 512MB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (USB Portable) Model CT512MBUFD - Retail - Retail
Western Digital Caviar RE WD1600SD 160GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Logitech 967496-0403 2-Tone PS/2 RF Wireless Slim Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM
Patriot Signature Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model PSD1G400KH - Retail
SAMSUNG 940b Silver 19" 8ms LCD Monitor - Retail
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BPBOX - Retail
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2006 - OEM
Creative Inspire T3000 29 Watts 2.1 Speaker - Retail
MSI RX550-TD256E Radeon X550 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
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System 1 is about $990 and System 2 was about $1170. Money is certainly a factor, but quality is far more important. Any input is appreciated. Thanks again, -Rick.

 

[pmr]

Assuming that you want to build this system to your wife/girlfriend, and you are an enthusiast, i'd go for the most expensive one...

Yes, your fat ass will be in front of the lcd and pimpin' it 80% of the time, even if it's your girlfriend computer 😀

 

[corvetteguy]

2 minor things, because i had trouble getting my new system bellow 3000cad. btw this is US dollars right?

anyways, i know you said an LCD but crt's are cheaper and are better quality unless she needs the space which she probably does.
second, i noticed a portable flash memory stick and know they are expensive, i recently gat a 4gig mini harddrive, and i mean mini, for 90cad at futureshop, its not as durable as flash memory, but is a lot larger capacity and cheaper, thats all for now.

edit1: i would go for the second one for the sole reason, its PCCe and seems to be more upgradeable if you wanted to, and even if you didn't, you'd get more from your vid card.