ASB AMD Web Special

[Davo1111]

OK.... I'm finally going to buy a new system... I was considering the ASB Web Special recently reviewed in the "Computer Shopper". I mainly am looking for something under a $1000 that can move around the web quickly and play up to date games smoothly.... I will probably be purchasing without the monitor. I was wondering if anyone has any input on this system or a better suggestion. Not real picky about AMD or Intel (or should i be???). Thanks for any opinions.

[Randy_tx]

Take a look at the "Local" vendors in your area that build custom systems...they might be $75-$100 more than the "Internet Blue Light Specials" ...but you will get local and oftentimes same day service. The newer faster systems seem to have a few more bugs initially and it's nice to be back up the same day if something DOES go wrong.
For about $1,000 for a cpu box only you can expect to get:
A 800 mhz AMD Athalon or a 800 mhz Celeron Intel (Athalon is faster)
128 mb Ram - 16 MB AGP video - Decent Sound Card - v90 56k modem - 50X or so Cd Rom - 20 Gig 7200 Rpm HD - NIC - ATX mid sized case with 300 Watt ps - 1.44 floppy - Win 98 SE - word processor - free internet (Juno or something) - Maybe a cd writer...but that might be a stretch. If someone offers more than this for the same money, the quality of components will be less than decent in my opinion. I sell a system like this for about $995....box only. There is a huge advantage in buying from someone very near where you will actually use the box (home or office).

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 03-24-2001).]

[hiredgoonz]

I would avoid celerons...they're pretty much ancient technology at this point...

You can get a duron (far outperforms the celeron) for pretty decent price...

Computers have advanced far faster lately than the software available, anything 600mhz or faster will net you practically identical performance in most apps,,,

Price for performance, the duron is, without question, the best processor ever made...

[sleddog]

Originally posted by hiredgoonz:
I would avoid celerons...they're pretty much ancient technology at this point...

You can get a duron (far outperforms the celeron) for pretty decent price...

Computers have advanced far faster lately than the software available, anything 600mhz or faster will net you practically identical performance in most apps,,,

Price for performance, the duron is, without question, the best processor ever made...

Spot on! I just want to echo that sentiment...

Price for performance, the duron is, without question, the best processor ever made...
Price for performance, the duron is, without question, the best processor ever made...
Price for performance, the duron is, without question, the best processor ever made... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Paleo Pete]

I'm with Randy here, check with local peopele first. May be a bit more expensive, but in most cases you'll get much better quality hardware and local tech support. The local Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau might give you an dea if a shop is reputable or not.

CPU...I'm an Intel guy...I always get slammed for it, but I don't use AMD and probably never will. Only one in my family that ever was stable was an old 486-50. The rest have been problems. Benchmarks may be a bit faster but when you're dealing with CPU's over 500MHz you can't see the difference. Your eyes and other senses are not that sensitive. 2 nanoseconds will never attract your attention...

Also I see no reason to deal with the nuisance of being limited to only certain "AMD Approved" motherboards and power supplies, or having to install certain drivers just to make the thing work at all. And just why is it cheaper? You get what you pay for...and why are the majority of problems we see here related to machines with AMD CPU's? I certainly don't think all or even most are directly related to the CPU itself, but 8 out of 10 or so makes me seriously question it. Slam me if you want, I'll still go with Intel.

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Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[sleddog]

Originally posted by Paleo Pete:
...and why are the majority of problems we see here related to machines with AMD CPU's? I certainly don't think all or even most are directly related to the CPU itself, but 8 out of 10 or so makes me seriously question it.


Makes me think about relative SALES FIGURES for home built systems. But I'm not getting into this again.

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[sleddog]

OK, I lied... just *one* more post http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Consider these two systems, which I worked with daily until a couple weeks ago (I've since upgraded the RAM, HDD and OS in the Duron):

System 1:
Celeron 600
Asus CUV4X motherboard with VIA Apollo chipset
128mb PC-100 RAM
6.4gb Fujitsu HDD
8mb AGP ATI Xpert 98 video
Windows NT4 sp4

System 2:
Duron 600
Asus A7V motherboard with VIA Apollo chipset
96mb PC-100 RAM
6.4gb Fujitsu HDD
8mb PCI ATI Xpert 98 video
Windows NT4 sp4

On each system open a multi-page, multi-megabyte CorelDraw 8 file, plus a dozen multi-megabyte, 600dpi, 24bit photographs in Paint Shop Pro 5. Work with both apps for an hour doing extensive editing.

Despite having less RAM, and PCI video compared to AGP, the Duron system is noticeably snappier. And I'm not talking about nanoseconds, I mean real-time, human-discernable, this-machine-clearly-responds-faster performance.



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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)