Mom's New Computer

[Fibbles]

My mom, being very bad with computers, killed her Dell, although I bought it for her <_< . Since the warranty is period is over, I've decided to use what should still work and build her a new one. Through my sisters old laptop, we conversed (she still has no idea how to use AIM/Trillian :sigh: ) and I bought some new parts with some of her input (and some of my sisters).

This is what I've ended up with:

1 black Chieftech Dragon with side window (she thought it would be 'neat' to see it while it's running and I found used one).

1 Soyo P4RC350 ATI 9100, with onboard 9100 graphics (shares system memory), LAN and, audio. Also has an AGP slot, for future upgradability.

My old 478 P4 3.0 w/Thermalright SP90

1 512mb stick of PC3200 Gigaram memory @ 2.5-3-3-7 with Nanya chips (the same kind the Dell had, but it was a single 128mb PC2700 stick).

Dell's WD 40gb HDD

My old Plextor 8x DVDRW

I was originally going for an AMD64 2800 and an all-in-one PCI-E board, but the ETA on Newegg slipped from later this month to next month. How should the 9100 play games? I'll be stuck with that comp when I visit, so I was thinking of buying a cheap game-able card to add on, but I don't know my low end cards well, and I don't want to spend over $110 max.

[WiLieR]

I understand the 9100 to be so-so on games. It is basically the same as playing games on a Radeon 9100 video card, just with DX support.

For a budget video card that still kicks good, I would say the 9600XT. It handles DX9 games and packs a good punch for such a card. Can find one for under $110 retail.

Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102326
Sapphire Radeon 9600XT 128M $98

NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102344
Sapphire Radeon 9600XT 256MB $109

If you want to drop just a few bucks more on a very good card here is this:
NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102362
Radeon 9800PRO 128MB $126.50 and free shipping

[Fibbles]

If you want to drop just a few bucks more on a very good card here is this:
NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102362
Radeon 9800PRO 128MB $126.50 and free shipping

I doubt I would ever have found that one, thanks. That's gonna be my gaming card for holidays now :thumb:

[WiLieR]

Glad to help.:)

I wish I hadn't found it now! I keep wanting to click "add to cart" everytime I look at it. :)

[mnpctech]

Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102326
Sapphire Radeon 9600XT 128M $98

Looks like a good canidate for the HD100 project.
Hes not a Gamer, but can appreciate the size. Video card was the last missing item on our list :)

[Fibbles]

Sweet ^_^

That 9600XT looks really really nice, mostly cause of that black PCB B)

It would have been a contender, but the 9800 Pro was only an itty bitty more, and an itty bitty over my limit, but what are limits for anyway :o Especially since I am a gamer. Moms computer is gonna own!

[WiLieR]

For some reason the song "Stacey's Mom" comes to mind, but the lyrics now are:
Fibbles mom has got it going on
She's got a comp
That plays games all night long :D

I also agree that for just the few extra $$, the 9800 would definately be worth it.

[Pug]

For some reason the song "Stacey's Mom" comes to mind, but the lyrics now are:
Fibbles mom has got it going on
She's got a comp
That plays games all night long :D

I also agree that for just the few extra $$, the 9800 would definately be worth it.
Lol! :D

Mmm, that's a bangin' price for a v. capable card. :thumb:

Kickass Av, Bill. :wiz:

[Fibbles]

I ended up with a stick of Geil value RAM (if Pug uses it ;) ) instead of the Gigaram, and can run it at 2-3-3-6 @ 200 instead of 3-3-3-6 :)

The computer is pretty fast and there are actually options for the onboard graphics. It actually runs Doom 3 at 800 x 600 in the mid 20 FPS :o That was a surprise, a very nice surprise.

Since I never did buy my 2 1gb sticks, I'm going to go for a pair of Geil Value 1gb sticks. My Mushkin PC3500 lvl1 is at 2-3-3-6 already and I'm not OC'ing, the Geil will be perfect, even if it doesn't go any lower (a few of the reviews say 2.5 cas is very attainable though).

[Starbuck3733T]

wonderbar!

(shame you didn't get her the matching black vid card ;)**)


**damn things are hard to find!!!

[walkitiki]

I've got a black sapphire 9500 (softmoddable, though not to the full 9700, more of a bastardized/castrated 9500 pro), I could sell it to you, I've been looking to upgrade.

^^out of place on the forums??

[Starbuck3733T]

not really, but I've got a black OEM 9800 pro. that looks like the end of line as far as the black cards go. pisses me off.

[Fibbles]

not really, but I've got a black OEM 9800 pro. that looks like the end of line as far as the black cards go. pisses me off.

Blue it is! The pic for my 6800GT was green, so imagine my surprise when it was actually blue. My 9800Pro was blue, and a Hercules at that (too bad they don't make cards anymore).