help-configuration decision needed-short timeframe

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My existing system is being given to a college student in two weeks. I am asking for advise. What i am going with, as of now, is:

Case - Mid-Tower 300 Watt 7237 ATX 7 Bay
Motherboard - Iwill KA266 Ali Magic1Chipset PC1600 / PC2100 (200/266) DDR ATX
CPU - AMD T Bird 1 GHz 266FSB
Cooling Fan - GlobalWIN WBK38 dual bearing high speed fan for AMD T Bird/Duron
Memory - 1-Micron DDR PC2100 256MB 2.5V 16x8 ECC REG
1- Micron DDR PC2100 256MB 2.5V 16x8 ECC REG (512mg TOTAL)
Hard Drive - Western Digital 40.1GB 7200RPM ATA/100
Video Card - eVGA 64 MB DDR GeForce3 4x AGP
Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1 OEM
CD/DVD ROM - PIONEER 16X DVD ROM 115 IDE INT
CDRW - YAMAHA CDRW 16X10X40 IDE INT
Operating System Microsoft Windows 98 Second Editon

This system will be used for fast internet video downloads, business software applications, limited gaming (but the ability if so needed).
Internet access will high speed cable.
My questions are:
Is this configuration compatable?
Will I encounter heat problems?
Do I need additional power supply?
What is overkill and what is not, where can I redirect the money?
This system has to last me 3 years without upgrades.

Suggestions encouraged,

Thanks.......

[mjc]

You may want to beef up the power supply a little...300W is the minimum with what you have detailed and dependeing on its specs it may be weak in the +12V area to handle your needs....

If all you are doing is a little gaming a GeForce2 Ultra may sufice...but you did say needs to last for 3 yrs. And you may want to add a case fan or two...(if the case doesn't come with one preinstalled)

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mjc
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[ranchdog]

Excellent choice of equipment. If you are looking at a 3 year work-out go with the 1.4 MHz processor. As AMD has steadily dropped to a somewhat affordable price on CPU's. That way when a 2 Gig chip seems to be the norm you will still be in the hunt. Might consider an additional HDD as a slave. Also for what you have posted I recommend Win2000 Pro for an 0/S. Somehow I have this strange feeling of jealously. Drive on.

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......

[iisbob]

Excellant specs; darn near echo my own! However, as much as i'm loathe to say this http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif , if you're only into casual gaming i would look at a Geforce2 mx 400 series card; they're about half the price of the G3-but will still provide plenty of graphics processing power to someone who only plays games occasionally. But, hey, as i stated in an earlier post; why go for a 4 banger when you can have a V8! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif With that setup you'll certainly be the envy of the crowd! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif Not too mention being able to do plenty of apps for the next 3-5 years.

As for the OS, personally i would partition the drive and load both 98se/2000- then you can be asssured of compatibilty and performance. Not to mention the learning you can get in on the OS's.

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

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[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 07-28-2001).]

[bassvax]

Cool system http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Don't forget the NIC, although I know 2 of the cable providers here that will install one for you when they show up at your door...just don't how much they will over charge you for this relatively inexpensive peripheral.

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Flush 'N' Forget
FE Stokes WWTP (http://www2.apex.net/users/hwuswtp)

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THANKS FOR THE HELP. I AM GETTING CLOSER TO CLICKING THE ORDER BUTTON. I AM STILL GOING WITH THE SAME SYSTEM -(STEPPED TO 1.4 GIG AND 2 30GB HARD DRIVES). I FOUND OUT THE CABLE COMPANY INSTALLS THEIR OWN ETHERNET CARD. I AM STILL CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A MID TOWER WITH 300 WATTS WILL GET THE JOB DONE. ALL THE CONFIGURERS ON THE INTERNET I HAVE SEEN (THAT DON'T COST AN ARM AND A LEG) GIVE ONLY THE 300 WATT MID TOWER OPTION. HAS ANYONE DELT WITH A COMPANY CALLED UNITED MICRO?

[ranchdog]

A 300W PSU is going to be very borderline in this situation. A huge doubt. Especially using the 1.4 T-bird (somewhere in the neighborhood of 60W by themselves.) The sweetest ATX PSU on the market today is the Enermax 430W (DUAL FAN). Add up the number of all your pieces of hardware - divide by 3 - and multiply by 100. Allow plenty of slack for the CPU and you have a ballpark figure. Keep in mind this will be for the average user. With your selection of hardware, were I to practice "overkill" anywhere it would be with the power supply. Can't offer any news good or bad concerning United Micro. Luck. Man if you could get you hands on a Palamino CPU..... What a system.

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......

[This message has been edited by ranchdog (edited 07-30-2001).]