Page 3: High End
<B>High End</B>:
We are going all out on this one, we've got another $800 to blow, it looks like we're gonna need a hefty amount of storage and a DVD burner. Price is almost no option here.
<B>Case</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>For the high end, we have a very nice and moderately expensive case. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=11-129-115&depa=1">This case</a>. It is a ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS1080AMG- with Antec Original TRUE 430W P4 Power Supply ATX12V Retail . Once again, it is $146 shipped with a PSU.</td></tr></table>
<B>Motherboard</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>For a very high end board, we've got Granite Bay. It is a Dual DDR Intel board.<a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=13-131-437&depa=0">Asus P4G8X</a>. This thing has everything you ever wanted in a motherboard, with a price to match. $289.99</td></tr></table>
<B>CPU</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>While the 3.06Ghz is the fastest on the market, it and the new Bartons are just way to overpriced. Get this <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=19-116-147&depa=1">2.8Ghz P4 retail</a>. It comes with a heatsink and fan for $381. I have found that Intel heatsinks are great compared to the ones offered by AMD.</td></tr></table>
<B>Memory</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>We want dual memory for this system. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=20-145-056&depa=0">We'll use 2x 256MB sticks of PC2700 Crucial memory is enough to power that system of yours</a>. The cost is only $47.99 x2, and most likely will be going down in price also. If you want, you can double each stick, but I don't notice any improvement over 256MB anyway.</td></tr></table>
<B>Video Card</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>With a top of the line system, you need a <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-102-250&depa=0"> AIW Radeon 9700 Pro</a>. Nothing is better on the market right now, nope. Not even the Dustbuster FX. It has everything an ATI card should have plus amazing 3D speed. This card has EVERYTHING. All this for $389.</td></tr></table>
<B>Optical Storage</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>For this high end system, we need a DVDRW drive. At OfficeMax, you've got a HP 200i DVD+RW for $199.99 (tax) after a $50 Rebate. For the regular 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. Same as the budget system</td></tr></table>
<B>Magnetic Storage</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>A nice jump is space is needed. You should get a <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=22-144-129&depa=0">Western Digital 200GB 8MB </a> drive. It is $249.</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 midrange system. <a href="http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product%5Fcode=50123522&csearch=&cmid=&pfp=srch1">This NEC Accusync 95F 19inch</a> is perfect for a home system. NEC has great quality monitors. You can pick this up at CompUSA for $237.07 (+tax). We'll stick with the same monitor, and I don't like LCDs that much.</td></tr></table>
<B>Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>
</td><td> 
</td><td>Now, we want some BIG sound coming out of this. You want some of the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=logitech+z560">Logitech z560s</a>, and you'll wet yourself! And don't forget the Logitech Cordless Elite Duo, which I use right now. I notice no delay in the mouse and it is simply the best keyboard I've ever had.</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>Summary</B>:
ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS1080AMG $146
Asus P4G8X $289.99
Intel P4 2.8Ghz Retail $381
Crucial 2x 256MB PC2700 $95.98
ATI Radeon AIW 9700 Pro $389
HP DVDRW $249.99 -$50 rebate (+tax)
Lite On 16x DVD $44
WD 200GB 8MB $249
NEC Accusync 95F 19inch $237.07 (+tax)
Logitech z560 $139
Logitech Cordless Elite Duo ~$50-99 (depends on where you get it) (+tax)
WinXP Home $97
Total (Prepare for spending spree): GRAND TOTAL: $$$$ 2367.03 Which is way over $2000, but hell, this rocks!!! AND! It'll be outdated in a month anyway.
I hope you enjoyed reading this guide, please leave us some feedback!
We are going all out on this one, we've got another $800 to blow, it looks like we're gonna need a hefty amount of storage and a DVD burner. Price is almost no option here.
<B>Case</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>For the high end, we have a very nice and moderately expensive case. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=11-129-115&depa=1">This case</a>. It is a ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS1080AMG- with Antec Original TRUE 430W P4 Power Supply ATX12V Retail . Once again, it is $146 shipped with a PSU.</td></tr></table><B>Motherboard</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>For a very high end board, we've got Granite Bay. It is a Dual DDR Intel board.<a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=13-131-437&depa=0">Asus P4G8X</a>. This thing has everything you ever wanted in a motherboard, with a price to match. $289.99</td></tr></table><B>CPU</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>While the 3.06Ghz is the fastest on the market, it and the new Bartons are just way to overpriced. Get this <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=19-116-147&depa=1">2.8Ghz P4 retail</a>. It comes with a heatsink and fan for $381. I have found that Intel heatsinks are great compared to the ones offered by AMD.</td></tr></table><B>Memory</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>We want dual memory for this system. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=20-145-056&depa=0">We'll use 2x 256MB sticks of PC2700 Crucial memory is enough to power that system of yours</a>. The cost is only $47.99 x2, and most likely will be going down in price also. If you want, you can double each stick, but I don't notice any improvement over 256MB anyway.</td></tr></table><B>Video Card</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>With a top of the line system, you need a <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=14-102-250&depa=0"> AIW Radeon 9700 Pro</a>. Nothing is better on the market right now, nope. Not even the Dustbuster FX. It has everything an ATI card should have plus amazing 3D speed. This card has EVERYTHING. All this for $389.</td></tr></table><B>Optical Storage</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>For this high end system, we need a DVDRW drive. At OfficeMax, you've got a HP 200i DVD+RW for $199.99 (tax) after a $50 Rebate. For the regular 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. Same as the budget system</td></tr></table><B>Magnetic Storage</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td>A nice jump is space is needed. You should get a <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=22-144-129&depa=0">Western Digital 200GB 8MB </a> drive. It is $249.</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 midrange system. <a href="http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product%5Fcode=50123522&csearch=&cmid=&pfp=srch1">This NEC Accusync 95F 19inch</a> is perfect for a home system. NEC has great quality monitors. You can pick this up at CompUSA for $237.07 (+tax). We'll stick with the same monitor, and I don't like LCDs that much.</td></tr></table><B>Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers</B>:
<table><tr><td>
</td><td></td><td> </td><td>Now, we want some BIG sound coming out of this. You want some of the <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=logitech+z560">Logitech z560s</a>, and you'll wet yourself! And don't forget the Logitech Cordless Elite Duo, which I use right now. I notice no delay in the mouse and it is simply the best keyboard I've ever had.</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>Summary</B>:
ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS1080AMG $146
Asus P4G8X $289.99
Intel P4 2.8Ghz Retail $381
Crucial 2x 256MB PC2700 $95.98
ATI Radeon AIW 9700 Pro $389
HP DVDRW $249.99 -$50 rebate (+tax)
Lite On 16x DVD $44
WD 200GB 8MB $249
NEC Accusync 95F 19inch $237.07 (+tax)
Logitech z560 $139
Logitech Cordless Elite Duo ~$50-99 (depends on where you get it) (+tax)
WinXP Home $97
Total (Prepare for spending spree): GRAND TOTAL: $$$$ 2367.03 Which is way over $2000, but hell, this rocks!!! AND! It'll be outdated in a month anyway.
I hope you enjoyed reading this guide, please leave us some feedback!