part abs custom

I was considering for a long time building my own custom from scratch, but don't really have the time i'd like to really concentrate on everything, plus the fact that i'd be a first time builder, anyways, i am thinking about buying a custom from ABS, check it out here <http://www.abspc.com/app/config.asp?mono=1353&view=2> and added on to the ABS selection, which is $1716, a Dell FP 19" LCD (don't worry, im not a gamer) for $620, a epson printer for around $90, Antivirus software, Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Version $124, Logitech Z560 speakers $162. That brings the total to around $2700 and my mom thinks its crazy to spend that much on a computer, but its a full setup really. Tell me what you guys think, thanks

You're paying WAY too much for stuff you don't even need if you're not a gamer. What's the intended usage?

i would use it for college work, word processing, instant messenging, email, cd burning, music recording and downloading, listening to music, watching dvds. i want to get a good quality system though, that would be fast, very fast

in addendum... i want the computer to look good and have good picture when watching a dvd

whatever will make you happy go for it! its only money and im sure you will get plenty more heh

here's something I put together that's a bit more powerful, except the graphics because you really don't need a 9800 pro 256mb in there if you don't game a LOT. http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishLis...VIEW&ID=508244

i wasn't able to bring up anything from the newegg site, but i don't want to build the tower myself, i would probably want to go through ABS, can you recommend any specs on a computer like that? How about Gateway? Dell?

crapo, forgot to add mr. floppy - not that you ever need him anymore though, except maybe for the occasional BIOS flash.

If you wanna drop the price a bit, I suggest you go ahead and downgrade the CPU to a 2.8C. There's no noticeable difference really between the two CPUs, meaning that there's really nothing you can do with the 3.2 that you can't do with the 2.8.

it's not hard to build the comp...it takes like 2 hours (with beer breaks). Try this link for the comp. It's titled "good rig for college" http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishLis...nt&submit=view

If you're gonna get pre-built, you're always going to pay too much compared to what you get. ABS is probably the best price/performance out there. Dell/Gateway etc big OEMs have generic parts with VERY limited customizability.

If you REALLY want to go with the ABS, I think you've built a pretty good comp but I'd drop the graphics card down a couple of notches and add more ram.

check ibuypower.com and build something similar and do a price comparaison.

Couple friends have good experience with them.

ok. yea im pretty sure im gonna go with a prebuilt tower, i really don't have the time or experience or my parents confidence to build a good custom family computer that i will end up taking to college. i don't know if the parts i clicked on with the ABS site come up visible when you click the link, but i clicked for the 2.8 and a lower graphics card, i think the SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP DVI/TV BULK, also going with the gig of Corsair memory (2x512).

with that video card (SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP DVI/TV BULK) or with other video cards, do they determine the quality of the images you see when watching a DVD on the computer? like would watching a dvd on a computer with a 9600 look not as good as one with a 9800? or does the video card more regulate the gaming images?

i just checked out ibuypower.com and it was about the same if not a little more than ABS

ok i put all the pricing together and im about to go crazy here. Note, this all started about three months ago with looking at a budget of around $2000. dad's wallet isn't looking to happy right now... but anyways, here it is: I don't really know enough about computers now to build my own or have my family confident in me building one, so i want to buy a tower made by a company, prolly ABS? and then buy the monitor, printer, windows, MS office (student and teacher version), antivirus software, speakers, keyboard, and mouse. Ok, now here is some stuff i plugged in with an ABS Ultimate X5:

Total Cost (of ABS parts): $1653.01

Parts:
-Antec Performance Plusview LE (Limited Edition) With Side Panel Window and Free Case Harness
-Antec [TrueBlue] 480 watt Power Supply "Quieter PS" with 2 blue LED fans
-Thermaltake Blue Cold Cathode Light | Voice Controlled | Lights inside case w/ cool blue glow
-Quantity 4 of COOLER MASTER TLF-R82 (TLF-R82-E1) ( Blue )Neon L.E.D. Fan.
-Intel 875P 800MHz FSB 8X AGP (Hyper-Threading) SATA 1 gigabit Lan
-Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz 512k 800MHz FSB
-Quantity 2 of Corsair 512MB PC-3200 DDR400 C2 XMS | (Extreme Memory Speed series)
-Quantity 2 of Seagate Barracuda 120GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA (ATA150)
-Quantity 2 of 18-Inch SATA ( SERIAL ATA 150 ) Cable. 2-Head. ( GREY ).CATA150-182GRY
-SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP DVI/TV BULK
-Sony 16x DVD-ROM (48x CD-ROM) Drive - (Black)
-Lite-On 52x32x52 CD-RW Drive - (Black)
-Ultra ATA-133 IDE 18" 3H Round Cable Transparent BLUE RTL
-Mitsumi 1.44 MB Floppy Drive - BLACK
-Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
-Intergrated Network Controller
-Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1a
-Standard Warranty - 1 Year Parts and Lifetime Labor and Lifetime Tech Support
-2Net 1 Year 24/7 Tech Support & Onsite Service | (Concurrent with Standard Warranty)
-ABS USER MANUAL
- it also comes with McAfee VirusScan Version 8.0 with One Year of Updates, Microsoft Works 7.0, and Half Life Platinum Edition 2
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Alright, that is all the stuff i would be buying from ABS, all totaling the $1653.01, now for the stuff i would buy extra just to get it cheaper than buying it as well through ABS, as well as ABS maybe not offering these things

Additional Purchases:
-Dell 19" Flat Panel LCD (about $680)
-Logitech Cordless MX Duo Cordless Elite Keyboard w/MX700 Opt ($60.00)
-Epson Stylus C84 Color Inkjet Printer ( 22 PPM, 5760 x1440 DPI, Color, 128KB, PC/Mac)($70)
-Windows XP Professional ($123)
-Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Version ($109)
-Norton Antivirus and Spam Protection (free after rebates)
-Logitech's THX certified Z560 4.1 surround sound system ($162)
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That would bring the total of the whole system, ABS and additional purchases, to $2857.01! Damn, thats a lot! I want a good quality system that will last for a while, has an awesome sound setup, is speedy, and looks good. Again, im not a gamer, and building my own isn't an option. Help please!!!

i made a mistake. the ABS system includes Windows XP Pro, so the total price on the full system (ABS and added) would be -$123.

some more updates... i added up all the parts on the ABS system with their newegg prices and the system would come out to around $1469.37 (for just the ABS parts). So if you take the $1653.01 that ABS would charge you, minus the $1469.37 that it would cost from newegg, you get about a $183.64 difference. This i guess would pay for them assembling it and warranting it. So, in summary, if i purchased this whole system and built it myself, purchasing from newegg that is, it would come up about $183.64 less than having ABS build the tower and me add the other parts. Let me know what you guys think, thanks

I purchased my P4 PC from ABS back in March and I've been very happy with it. I bought it mostly for gaming and my PC was $300-500 less than a similar PC from Alienware, Hypersonic or Dell. I also looked at Falcon Northwest and Voodoo but they were way out of my price range. As for ibuypower and cyberpower, I checked ResellerRratings.com and bizrate.com and ABS got much better customer reviews. I also felt that had a better selection of quality components.

I'm not sure if ABS still does it but they used to give a 5% discount on the weekends for online orders. Good luck!

For just watching movies you dont need an awsome rig. You should realize that for your computer to be "fast, very fast" in word processing etc. doesent require much and getting top of the line for that is reasonably pointless. You definatly dont need a gig of ram, 512 sufficient for all but graphics design and big multiplayer like Planetside and Battlefield 1942 w/ 64 peeps. Whatever, your money, but maybe 2200 should be total setup. I spent 1600 for everything but moniter and mine is pretty strong for gaming. In responce to bfore13, ABS less expensive because has a normal case, does much less marketing, etc. Falcon are excellent computers, but not for someone on any sort of a budget. If I didnt build though, abs would have been my choice... too bad they no longer stock lian-li cases.

IMO watching DVD requires half of that system...

granted, I am an AMD fanboy here, but you could drop about half of that stuff and still have a monster system.

I just put together a system about 4 months back that is plenty for powerful for those purposes.

It had an ATI 9200 in it, which I would upgrade it for gaming.

XP 2000+
epox mobo (8rda+, would use a shuttle an35 or equiv now(8rda3+ for SATA)
512 of pc3200 ram (I used Buffalo Tech, winbond chips)
onboard sound, 5.1 audio capable and digital out
lite on 52x burner
lite on 16x dvd
FLOPPY DRIVE (hehe, talldude :p)
western digital 80gb, 8mb cache IDE
Antec LANBoy case with 300 PSU
3com modem (damn dail-up users)
That part of the system alone ran under 900 dollars.
I added a keyboard, MS optical mouse, 2ch speakers (mostly headphones uesr) and a decent 17" monitor kept the system under the $1300 budget.

That sounds like it would work great for you want to use it for, if you want 5.1 audio for get some nice logitech or klipsch units, and power DVD deluxe with 5.1 decoding

you can prolly build the whole system for a little bit more than you are expecting to buy just a case from ABS.

But that is just my .02

If you choose to go with ABS, you still will have a good system on your hands, so go have fun with it.