OK, here is the situation. Here (at my house) we (I) are (am) currently using the following computer: (by "using" I mean "dragging along with")
-> PIII 866mhz
-> 256mb DDR RAM
-> nVidia GeForce 2 MX 32mb
-> USB 1.1 port that only works if you plug in the hardware before turning on the comp
-> DVD ROM, CD Rewriter
-> Windows XP Pro
-> 10gb, 6gb, 6gb Hard Drives
-> 17" NEC Monitor
I got quoted the following system from NEC for €1500:
-> Intel Pentium 4 @ 3.4ghz
-> 1gb DDR-RAM @ 400mhz
-> Radeon 9800 128mb
-> 120gb Hard Drive
-> DVD +- RW Drive
-> Micro ATX Mothercards
-> 19" NEC Monitor
-> Creative Labs Audigy 2 Soundcard
Could I build a computer with similar/better specs for a cheaper price? Bearing this in mind we have XP Pro and Office etc. and so we would save on the XP liscensing costs. (as when buying from a computer vendor in France you must have a Windows OS preinstalled - they have contracts with Microsoft) I was also looking to update the Radeon 9800 to an X800 or X600, or better still, an nVidia GeForce 6800 with 256mb DDR.
Opinions would be greatly appreciated! (as would websites and manufacturors that sell cheap-ish aprts) I'm going to try and overclock my (old) computer tomorrow but the hardware is outdated. To be fair I don't play that many graphics-intensive games, and surprisingly Max Payne 2 runs OK on half-minimal settings.
Thanks again in advance.
-> PIII 866mhz
-> 256mb DDR RAM
-> nVidia GeForce 2 MX 32mb
-> USB 1.1 port that only works if you plug in the hardware before turning on the comp
-> DVD ROM, CD Rewriter
-> Windows XP Pro
-> 10gb, 6gb, 6gb Hard Drives
-> 17" NEC Monitor
I got quoted the following system from NEC for €1500:
-> Intel Pentium 4 @ 3.4ghz
-> 1gb DDR-RAM @ 400mhz
-> Radeon 9800 128mb
-> 120gb Hard Drive
-> DVD +- RW Drive
-> Micro ATX Mothercards
-> 19" NEC Monitor
-> Creative Labs Audigy 2 Soundcard
Could I build a computer with similar/better specs for a cheaper price? Bearing this in mind we have XP Pro and Office etc. and so we would save on the XP liscensing costs. (as when buying from a computer vendor in France you must have a Windows OS preinstalled - they have contracts with Microsoft) I was also looking to update the Radeon 9800 to an X800 or X600, or better still, an nVidia GeForce 6800 with 256mb DDR.
Opinions would be greatly appreciated! (as would websites and manufacturors that sell cheap-ish aprts) I'm going to try and overclock my (old) computer tomorrow but the hardware is outdated. To be fair I don't play that many graphics-intensive games, and surprisingly Max Payne 2 runs OK on half-minimal settings.
Thanks again in advance.