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nightsurge on 09 March 2009
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Impulsivity said:
nightsurge said:
Sorry, but using the components you linked to (and I mean the cheaper alternatives), the base price including an operating system and without any shipping charges is $1085 (including an aftermarket heatsink for overclocking the i7).

If I use your suggestions for a $40 case and only get 3GB of DDR3 for $60, I still only save $60, which brings it down to about $1000... no where near your 800-900. I'm guessing you were adding this up in your head and didn't carry correctly, and you simply forgot the addition of an operating system.

 

   I don't know how you're adding.  Ill break it down briefly

    Motherboard 169.99 (plus whatever tax your state charges with Newegg)

     GPU 149.99

    Processor 267

     Hard Drive 62.99

    Power Supply 75 (and its overkill, the minimum for the 260 is 500 if you're not going to SLI it ever, so you can get a 30 dollar supply just fine)

   DVD RW 29.99

    RAM 109.00

    Case 63.00

    So 170+150+63+75+30+109+63=927.  

Drop the power supply down to 500 Watts and 75 becomes 30, drop the RAM down to 3GBs and 109 becomes 40 and drop the case another 20 bucks and it becomes 40.  That's another 135 saved, makes the total around 800 even.

   Yes you might need an additional specialty fan to seriously overclock, but the i7 is stable enough you can get to 3.5Ghz or so from 2.66 with just air cooling assuming good case air flow.  

   I repeat though, the cheaper build is just over 900, if you drop the power supply, case and RAM down a little it comes in at 800 dollars easy.

 

   As too adding in the hefty 150 dollar or so windows tax, I would bet almost everyone on this forum can get their hands on a copy of Vista or XP that will validate.  I have an OEM of Vista left over from installing it on my laptop that validates if you call for instance and a friend has a retail home premium retail with 3 licensees of which he is only using 1.  Either is an easy Vista path.  

   When building a PC it is not neccesary to include the cost of the OS.  You can use a free one (any Linux) or find a copy of Windows that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

   Best way to avoid the windows task in a 100% legit way?  Download the Windows 7 beta and you'll have Vista SP2 for free for another 6 months just fine (thats what I did this time around).

   Software costs are not like hardware costs, you don't have to pay them to have a working machine (unlike, say, trying to run the box without a processor, video card or other important component) so I see no reason to include them.

I see.  So you are recommending we use Windows OS illegaly, and use crappy cheap PSU's and Cases for high end parts?  Interesting.  Just never get a job as a computer builder/consultant.