The $2000 Machine

[DigitalJ]

Since I've been building a machine forever, and I like won't buy a part for it for another year or two, I'm constantly updating the list of components to keep it as close to $2k as possible. If anyone is interested, I can continue to update it as time goes on, though it may seem a bit redundant to anyone with a calculator and access to Saph's list of parts.

I do make a few assumptions with this list.
a) I didn't include a case. I don't care about cases...if it's ATX, I'll use it. If you don't have one, go to a tech shop and they'll probably give you one. If you're into flashy lights, go wrap some christmas lights around it *shrugs* I don't care.
b) I assume that a keyboard and mouse are handy, and that a single monitor will survive through several upgrades. Therefore, I didn't include those either.
c) Onboard sound is up to 8.1 channel high definition sound....I don't see any reason the shell an extra $200 on an audigy that's going to give me extra buttons and hook-ups that I won't use. If you do, feel free to add.

The $2,000 Machine
Mobo - ASUS A8N-SLI Premium (http://www.shopping.com/xPC-ASUS_ASUS_A8N_SLI_PREMIUM_SOCKET_939_NVIDIA_NFORCE 4_SLI_DUAL_PCI_E_DDR400)
Proc - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (http://www.shopping.com/xPC-AMD_AMD_Athlon_64_X2_4200_2_2GHz_Socket939_1MB_BOX ED_w_fan)
Memory - 1GB Corsair TWINX1024-3200XLPT (Dual-Channel, CL2) (http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80097-09)
Hard Drive - Maxtor MaxLine III 300GB (16MB Buffer) (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1474382&CatId=0)
Video Card - ASUS EN7800GTX (http://www.shopping.com/xPC-ASUS_ASUS_GEFORCE_7800GTX_PCI_E_256MB_DDR3_2XDVI_V IVO_SLI_CAPABLE_RETAIL)
DVD - Plextor PX-716A (http://www.shopping.com/xPC-INTERNAL_DVD_WRITE_DVD_REWRITE_DVD_READ)
Power Supply - Antec TruePower 550W (http://www.shopping.com/xPC-Antec_TruePower_550_Watt_ATX_CPU_Power_Supply_TRUE 550)
Speakers - Creative Labs THX660W (http://www.shopping.com/xPC-Creative_Labs_Creative_MegaWorks_THX_6_1)

Price Tag - $1,993.88

Now all I need is $2k...

Oh, and Saph, feel free to reem me if I missed something silly ;)

[123456]

network card and a heatsink/fans?

[hockey man]

Why not go with a SATA II hd like this. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144417) And a SATA optical drive like this. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131329)

[saphalline]

Hmmm... a SATA 2.0 or "3G" hard drive might be better, but I don't think Maxtor makes them in 16MB cache flavor. At least not yet. For now, that's a great hard drive.

A SATA optical drive, eh? ;) Those are nice, but at that point it might be better to go with the PX716SASW (which is the SATA version of the one you have listed) for a bit more money - $30 or so more. Or you can go with a nice dual-layer burner from another company for less, but again, who can resist a sexy Plexy!?

The RAM is another issue entirely. You've got a K8-based CPU there. What's with the high-end RAM? It won't be able to use it! I've seen numerous benchmarks using the rev.E K8 CPU's (with more RAM dividers) coupled with higher speed RAM, and the most performance increase I've seen is somewhere around 5% - and that's with a slightly OC'ed A64 X2 Toledo with DDR500! :eek: The K8 doesn't need anything more than basic DDR400 with a CAS of 2. It's a testament to the K8's pure efficiency but also a let-down for those of you who like to buy fancy RAM. :p

[hockey man]

I don't think Maxtor makes them in 16MB cache flavor.

Opps, I forgot to check that! good eyes.