Home Systems June 2003

<B>Intro</B>:

Welcome to another edition of the system guides. Yes, I'm in my element of home systems. Too bad I made the game systems very similar. DOH!

<B>Case</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>A case is just a case. The same case as the gaming systems is fine. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=11-154-017&depa=0">Newegg has it</a>, it looks nicer and comes with a 350 watt PSU. You'll spend a scant $43 on this one.</td></tr></table>

<B>Motherboard</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>Just like last edition, we'll use the nForce 2 with everything on it. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=13-127-143&depa=1">Abit's NF7-M has everything you need</a>. Everything is on this board, everything. $122 from Newegg.</td></tr></table>

<B>CPU</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>An AMD motherboard requires an AMD CPU. <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=19-103-379&depa=1">An Athlon 2500+ is perfect</a>. Speedy at 1.83 Ghz, and it is the newest Barton type CPU. It comes with a heatsink and fan, but you can get a better one is you want. $90 at Newegg.</td></tr></table>

<B>Memory</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>$40 for a stick of PC2700 256MB <a href="http://www.crucial.com/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT3264Z335&cat=RAM">of Crucial Memory</a> is just what you need. Great stuff at a good price. You can get free memory right now at Officemax, but Crucial is better.</td></tr></table>

<B>Video Card</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>Pretty simple with onboard video.</tr></table>

<B>Optical & Magnetic Storage</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td></td><td>CompUSA has a 160GB 8MB cache Harddrive for $100. 48x CDRW at OfficeMax for $20 AR. A home system requires a DVD drive at all times. Pick up a Lite On DVD at <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=27-131-112&depa=1">Newegg for $36</a>.</td></tr></table>


<B>Monitor</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td>We'll opt for a 19 inch. Still <a href="http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=296017&pfp=BROWSE">a Viewsonic one</a> from CompUSA for a price of $229.97 (AR)</td></tr></table>

<B>Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers</B>:

<table><tr><td></td><td></td><td> </td><td>Altec Lansing AVS500w are nice 4.1 speakers on the cheap. Good quality, and the price is right at $35 (CompUSA +tax). You also need a mouse and keyboard so go for the Logitech cordless elite duo from Office Max for a price of $49.99. Network card is onboard. Sound is onboard.<td></tr></table>

<B>OS</B>:

Linux is free, but <a href="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=37-102-014&DEPA=6">Windows XP Home</a> will run you $93 at Newegg.


<b>Summary</b>

AMD Athlon XP 2500+ (2GHZ) $90
Abit NF7-M $122
Case + 400Watt PSU $43
Crucial 256 $40
160GB $100 (+tax)
48x CDRW $20 (+tax)
DVD $36
Logitech Elite Duo $49.99
Speakers $35 (+tax)
19inch Viewsonic Monitor $229.97 (+tax)
WinXP Home $93
Pretty Impressive, good stuff for a budget system.
Total: ~$860 After rebates. Awesome.