Under $2000 SCREAMER!!! 166 MHz Pentium, totally tricked-out!!
Larry Hale
computer...", for more info on me. As always, if there are _any_
questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me - larr...@aol.com)
Case -$ 100 Tower (6.3"x17"x16.3") or Desktop (15.3"x7"x16.5")
Keyboard - 30 NMB Membrane, Mechanical, or Windows95 (Membrane)
Mouse - 30 Microsoft, 2-button
Speakers - 45 2-way, 120 Watt P.M.P.O.
Motherboard - 730 133 MHz Intel Pentium
4 72-pin SIMM sockets
Mouse & Printer ports
Supports 4 EIDE devices
3 PCI & 4 ISA slots
256 Kilobyte Cache
CPU Fan - 5
RAM - 220 16 Megabytes (1 72-pin SIMM)
Video - 235 Diamond Stealth 64-bit PCI SVGA, w/2 MB *Video* RAM
Sound - 70 Soundblaster 16-bit
Modem - 115 33,600 bits-per-second fax/modem
Fixed - 200 Conner 1.2 GB (EIDE)
Floppy - 75 Dual 3.5" & 5.25" combo drive
CD-ROM - 110 Toshiba 6x speed (EIDE)
=====
System TOTAL $ 1965
Monitor -$ 225 14" OptiQuest, 1024x 768 NI .28
535 17" OptiQuest, 1280x1024 NI .28
1115 20" ViewSonic, 1600x1280 NI .26
OS -$ 100 DOS 6.22+Win 3.11, or Win95 (IF NEEDED)
Works Pkg -$ 75 ClarrisWorks (Win3) or MSWorks (Win95)
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-- HINTS & SUGGESTIONS: --
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Which case configuration _should_ you get? That's a question answered by
your taste and space availability. A "desktop" case (the traditional,
horizontal, IBM-type orientation) makes it easy to stack the monitor on
top of the main system for space-conscious locations, while "tower"
(vertically oriented) cases are nice for making a system look more
"mainframe-ish", I suppose. _Either_ case _can_ be oriented either way,
but might look "funny"; no harm will be done, however, as long as you
re-orient the case while the system is turned "off" (ie., the hard drive
is not spinning, so as to avoid "crashing" it). In short: aesthetics!
:)
Oh, and why do I use a $100 case? The quality. It shows, and it's worth
it. Sure there are $30 cases, but they're flimsy, and look like poo-poo.
I'm not trying to milk you for an extra $70 - as I've said, I'd rather
_earn_ my keep by a good reputation. If you want a _cheap_ case, just let
me know and I'll use one for you, but _please_ don't fault me for what
you'd get.
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The more memory, the merrier the system!
Add -$ 220 for each additional 16 MB SIMM, up to 64 MB total
For systems with greater RAM needs, prices are $450 per 32 MB block (up to
128 MB total); deduct $220 from above, since this would also replace the
base 16 MB.
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VRAM _and_ a fast processor will make a snappy system when you use more
colorful/higer-res screen modes. The more memory on the video card, the
more colors and/or higer-resolution screens you can use. (Examples:
1280x1024 pixels [Horz x Vert dots] x 24-bit [16.7 million colors] == 3.75
MB of memory; 1024x768 x 16-bit [65 thousand colors] == 1.5 MB of memory;
800x600 x 8-bit [256 colors] == .45 MB) Video cards these days also do
some "computing" of their own for Windows, so don't worry, "extra" RAM
over what you need isn't wasted, it _is_ used.
Add -$ 145 for 4 MB _Video_ RAM
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Anyone who's _ever_ used a computer knows you can _never_ have TOO much
hard drive space! A _very_ inexpensive way to give yourself plenty of
room to breathe (megabyte-wise, that is :).
Add -$ 35 1.6 GB (EIDE) Maxtor
90 2.0 GB (EIDE) Maxtor
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Consider some sort of back-up/removable mass-storage solution! I never
recommend "doing without"; my theory is that you put _valuable_ stuff on
your machine, so you should _want_ to protect it. (To "back-up" means to
make an emergency copy of everything on your hard drive in case it should
ever kick the bucket. And I don't mean to scare you, drives are
_infinitely_ more reliable than they were even just a few years ago, but
accidents, errors, and ACTS-OF-GOD do happen, and I always believed that
it's better to be safe than sorry! After replacing the hard drive, you
"restore" the information from your back-up and you have everything back
the way it was before your drive died - as current as your last back-up!
Also convenient for those "oopsies" when you accidentally delete a needed
file; you can simply restore the file from your back-up [naturally, it
will be as current as your last back-up].)
Tape drives are fine for archiving/backing-up stuff, while cartridge
drives can double as another hard drive with infinite capacity - just add
new carts when needed. Tapes are slow, but better than not backing up at
all. Cartridge drives are slower than typical hard drives (new ones, at
least; boy are we spoiled these days), but faster than tape or floppies,
more convenient, and, as I said, can be used to supplement your existing
hard drive, and stave off having to buy another one.
All drives come with one piece of media included. (One [1] tape or
cartridge, as applicable.) I _reccomend_ getting an extra tape or
cartridge, so you can alternate your back-ups; after all, if something
should happen _while_ you're making your back-up on your _one-and-only_
tape, it's the same as having no back-up at all... Statistically
speaking, the chances are even more remote of _that_ happening, but
_nothing's_ 100% in life. And again, I'm not trying to make another
"sale", merely give you my opinion; the media prices listed below the
drive prices are the cheapest _I_ could find. I suggest options I believe
in, but you don't have to take my word for it, nor do you have to purchase
the extra media from me. Anyway...
Price Capacity Interface Make/Model Media
Removable -$ 100 420 MB Floppy Iomega Ditto Tape
155 800 MB Floppy Iomega Ditto Tape
200 135 MB EIDE Syquest EZ Cartridge
250 3 GB Floppy Iomega Ditto Tape
500 1 GB SCSI-2 Iomega JAZ Cartridge
50 Double-speed interface for tape drives
Media prices: $ 20 420 MB tape
(estimated) 30 800 MB tape
25 135 MB Syquest cartridge
35 3 GB tape
125 1 GB JAZ cartridge
Why no ZIP drive? Internal ones aren't available yet, and I prefer to
sell integrated, compact, _together_ systems.
---------------------------
And lastly, even greater speed could be achieved with a SCSI-based system
(for the CD-ROM, hard drive, and back-up device [if applicable], as well
as for scanners, external drives, etc.). Prices listed below are
**ADD-ON** prices to the base system above:
Motherboard -$ 110 166 MHz Intel Pentium
4 72-pin SIMM sockets
Mouse & Printer ports
Supports 4 EIDE devices
3 PCI & 4 ISA slots
256 Kilobyte Cache
====>> SCSI-][ interface
Fixed -$ 85 NEC 1.6 GB (SCSI)
335 Conner 2 GB (SCSI)
695 Conner 4 GB (SCSI)
CD-ROM -$ 25 Toshiba 4x speed (SCSI)
110 Toshiba 6x speed (SCSI)
NOTE: These SCSI component prices are ADD-ON prices. For example, the
1.6 GB SCSI drive above is $85 MORE than the $200 1.2 GB EIDE drive listed
in the system above; ie., the drive's _total_ item cost is _$285_. I just
want to be as clear as possible and not inadvertently mislead _anyone_!
:)
---------------------------
Remember, YOUR COST == PARTS + TAX (if applicable) + $50 LABOR + SHIPPING
I know you're not made of money; I don't _know_ anyone who is. None of
the above is meant as an insult, and surely not to scare you off, merely
to let you have all the options I can think of.
Because monitor prices don't go down much and the technology is pretty
stable, this is one part of the system puzzle that might best be bought
used; if you find that diamond deal, go for it!
But for systems - unless there's that "perfect" steal - the best, easiest,
and most reliable computer purchase is new... I know, I know, enough with
the sales pitch already, but it's true from a customer standpoint, too!
(I buy new and used things too, ya know! :)
Anyway, I'll stop rambling, and I hope this helps give you some things to
think about!
If there are _any_ questions or comments, _please_ feel free to let me
know!
Thanks again for your time!
Regards,
larry
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NOTES: Prices are subject to change (usually lower, and _always_ outside
of my control! :), so _please_ ask me for _current_ prices prior to
finalizing an order. (I'll always send you an updated quote for your
desired system, I just don't want you to be surprised by any discrepancies
between this post and my return message; as I said, it _should_ be lower.)
If there are _specific_ brands you prefer, let me know - and if you can,
_why_ you prefer them. Hey, even _I_ could use some good advice whenever
I can get it! :)
On occasion I may use different brand components than listed above,
depending on current market prices. (For instance, a Conner versus a
Maxtor hard drive.) I will _never_ use inferior parts! There are a hand
full of brands I know and trust; _your_ bottom line will always be of
_utmost_ concern, but _not_ at the expense of the quality of your system!
(As I've said before, I don't want to spend my time troubleshooting or
repairing systems, I'd rather build more and make some money! :) I will
list what brands I will use on your final quote, and many brands that I
use will _never_ change (for instance, Microsoft mice, NMB keyboards,
etc.) Certain brands I may be unable to say because of "forces beyond my
control", for instance the cases (distributors don't want you to order
directly from the manufacturer behind their back) and memory (RAM is RAM
is RAM, and my memory supplier chooses the least expensive brand out of a
hand full _they_ believe in; their theory on brand choosing is as mine,
since they don't want to waste _their_ time testing/returning defective
memory - or any other parts for that matter!) I say this not to bore you,
merely to be up-front with you! (I hope you appreciate that! :)
SHIPPING: I'd probably use UPS, unless you'd prefer otherwise. Creative
shipping suggestions are _always_ appreciated! (If it saves you money,
and/or me time/hassel, without sacrificing service or insurance coverage,
I'm all "e-ears"! :)