I am actually finding that it is more expensive to custom build my PC than buy it through HP! This is what I am looking at through HP:

Operating system Upgrade to Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit) edit
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz) edit
Memory 2GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024) edit
Graphics Card 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT, TV-out, DVI-I, HDMI edit
Networking No Modem edit
Hard Drive 1TB 7200rpm SATA 3Gb/s dual hard drives (2x500GB) edit
Primary CD/DVD Drive LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive edit
Secondary CD/DVD Drive 16x max. DVD-ROM edit
Front Productivity Ports 15-in-1 memory card reader, 3 USB, 1394, video edit
TV & Entertainment Experience ATSC-NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote edit
Sound Card Sound Blaster Audigy X-Fi, 24-bit Xtreme Fidelity edit
Security Software Norton Internet Security(TM) 2007 - 15 Months edit
Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works 8.0 edit
Keyboard and Mouse HP keyboard and HP scroller mouse edit
The final price is $2160.88 with a 4 year at home service warranty + tax


If I buy the parts individually...

ASUS P5K Pentium 4 ATX Mbrd (1.86GHz-3.8GHz+), Intel P35 $195
4 DDR2 PC8500 1066MHz dual channel DIMM sckts, Flash BIOS,
2 PCI-E x16, 1 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI slots, ATA133 IDE/RAID
Serial ATA, 1 par, 1 ser, 10 USB 2.0, 1333MHz bus, SOUND,
10/100/1000, 1394 Firewire, *** Core 2 Duo *** Support, S775
* ASUS boards have 3yr manufacturer's warranty

Intel Quad Core 2 Duo Q6600 2.4GHz (8MB),1066MHz, 130W ~$375
Intel Quad Core 2 Duo Q6700 2.66GHz (8MB),1066MHz, 130W ~$730

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz Dual (4MB),1333MHz,S775,65W ~$300
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz Dual (4MB),1333MHz,S775,65W ~$375

* Retail boxed versions w/ fan & 3yr warranty

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Memory/RAM:
DDR2 RAM:
1GB PC2-6400 800MHz DDR2 RAM 240-pin DIMM ~$70 x 2
* name brand, life warr

Cases and Power Supplies/UPS:
Antec Nine Hundred Gaming Case ATX Mid w/ NO PS (9 bays),1394 $170

Thermaltake 600W ATX Power Supply $130

Mitsumi 3.5" Combo Floppy/USB 2.0 7-In-1 Card Reader $35

HARD DRIVES:
Serial ATA (bare drive):
Western Digital 500GB SATA2, 7200rpm, 16MB cache ~$155 x 2
* Western Digital/Maxtor/Samsung/Hitachi Drives Have A 3 YEAR WARRANTY

Sony 230 IDE CD-RW (Rewritable) 52x/32x/52x $40
Samsung SH-S182M Lightscribe Dual 18x DVD+RW/-RW/CD-RW,18x DVD $55

VIDEO CARDS:
NVIDIA:
320MB GeForce 8800 GTS DDR PCI Express, TV Out & DVI $335
640MB GeForce 8800 GTS DDR PCI Express, TV Out & DVI $430

TV Tuner/Video Capture:
Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 500 MCE White box PCI Interface Personal Video Recorder
$185

Microsoft Win Media Center Remote
$45

Monitors/LCDs:

Creative Labs PCI SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer 7.1 $115
Creative Labs PCI SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro 7.1 (retail) $165

MS Windows Vista Ultimate 32-Bit DVD (full version) $250
* Includes Complete load of Windows and updates





I come out more around $2,500 this route... final price shipped to my door. It has a 1 year warranty (unless more is mentioned above through the manufacturer) and lifetime support.

I went with the $375 processor. Anyone have any opinions on if it would be better to get the quad core at this price or the dual core at this price? Which one is better? faster? Can't be that much different if they're the same price...

I also went with the 640 MB graphics card - why not? (i like that smilie).

Any opinions on that dual TV Tuner? Recommendations for any others??


Any opinions on going either route? On the parts and configuration I selected? I'm arleady aware I'll never use half of it, but I'm the nerd who has to have something as close to the best available that my college kid budget will allow.

I'm hoping to get either order finalized in the next few hours... so any opinions would be greatly appreciated!!

THANKS

Start off with a custom built by a manufacturer. That way you get a warrenty on the system. If you try to build it yourself, you will probably end up with many different problems and even more questions.

Well this isn't the first time I have custom built a PC by myself. I am more than capable of building the PC and repairing any issues. After spending a solid 6 months and over $1,000 in overage minutes (yes I have 2,100 a month)... I am stick of going through someone as well. I want to know exactly what I am getting and know that it will be OEM.

I don't suggest Quad Core. Dual Core hasn't even been taken completely advantage of yet. You'll be way better off with a dual-core! It'll be much cooler (temperature-wise), too.

I don't suggest Norton or Microsoft Works. I've used both and I can't say very much positive about either. I'd definitely go with Microsoft Office, and use some of the free security sofware in our Downloads section.

That's about as much advice as I can offer at 1:38 AM.

I have Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 (get it free from my university). I love the 2007 version so much better.

I haven't had anti-virus on my current computer for 1.5 years and I am virus free... but since my school gives that to me free as well I'm sure I'll use it. They give us PC-cillin and I've been pleased with it on my laptop which runs Vista.

The Works is what comes standard (not paying to upgrade to Office when I already own it) and Norton comes default - can't change it.

Anyways, I went with the custom build. Here is what I have:

ASUS P5K Pentium 4 ATX Mbrd (1.86GHz-3.8GHz+), Intel P35
NZXT Apollo BLACK w/ no PS (10 bays), 1394
Western Digital 500 GB x 2 SATA 2, 7200rmp, 16 MB cache
Samsung SH-S182M Lightscribe Dual 18x DVD+RW/-RW/CD-RW, 18x DVD x 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz Dual (4MB),1333MHz,S775,65W
1GB PC2-6400 800MHz DDR2 RAM 240-pin DIMM x 2
Thermaltake 600W ATX Power Supply
Mitsumi 3.5" Combo Floppy/USB 2.0 7-In-1 Card Reader
640MB GeForce 8800 GTS DDR PCI Express, TV Out & DVI
Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 500 MCE White box PCI Interface Personal Video Recorder
Creative Labs PCI SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro 7.1
MS Windows Vista Ultimate 32-Bit DVD (full version)
*note the x 2 (two of them)

That, my friend, is pure luck. The average user without protection will las 16 minutes before being potentially compromised. Just goes to show what type of people inhabit this world, with statistics like that...

I don't know much about PC-cilin, and I certainly wouldn't rely on that alone. You need to have an Antivirus, an AntiSpyware, and a Firewall, in addition to safe internet usage, to truly be safe.