[fwlug] Building a New PC: It's Greek to Me

Sat May 15 12:46:32 CDT 2010

This is slightly off-topic, but it's tangentially Linux-related and I don't
know where else to turn for help.

My cousin's husband in Greece is convinced that I'm a master hacker because
I showed off a few Linux command line tricks on my netbook while I was
there.  He wants me to help design a new PC for him, for 1000¤  or less
(about $1,250).  He is obsessed with having the latest everything.  The main
tasks he wants the computer for are e-mail/Internet and playing a Windows
XP-based rally racing video game (the company he wants to buy from only
offers Windows 7, so I'm not sure what he's going to do about that).  I told
him I don't think he needs to spend that much because his game is old and
isn't as much of a resource hog as newer games, so he doesn't need as much
memory and processing speed as he thinks.  I wanted him to look for a used
computer with XP to run his game, with the ability to dual-boot Ubuntu, of
course.  He won't listen.  Only the best, he says---as long as I stay under
$1,250.

So, I'm trying to help him design the fastest, most durable system I can
while staying within his budget.  The problem is, while I have experience
breathing new life into old computers, I have never set out to build an
entirely new one.  I've never needed, for instance, to buy a new fan.
They've always just worked.  Is a 60¤  fan  really 25% better than a 45¤
fan?  Something tells me "no," but I've never had to buy one.  I've picked
the cheapest parts possible while keeping in mind that he wants high
performance, a bigger monitor, and probably the smallest profile possible
for the rest of the computer.  The price is 1,250¤, which is over-budget.
I'd like to remove Windows7, which adds over $100 US to the price, but he
wants a Windows machine.  (I will, however, be sneaking an Ubuntu dual-boot
install onto it the next time I visit!)

Any suggestions on cost-cutting measures?  Is the i7 really worth the
premium over the Core2 Duo? Wanring: Massive amounts of HTML and some Greek
characters follow...

<http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/Connectivity/Cables/Power-Supply-Cables/Konig-Power-Cable-For-Nb-3Pin-CABLE-712.htm>

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(3pin)<http://www.plaisio.gr/Peripherals/Connectivity/Cables/Power-Supply-Cables/Konig-Power-Cable-For-Nb-3Pin-CABLE-712.htm>
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CoolerMaster Elite 310 Silver Case
(RC-310-SKN1-GP)<http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/PC-Cases/Coolermaster-Elite-310-Silver-Case-RC-310-SKN1-GP-RC-310-SKN1-GP.htm>
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Intel Core i7 930 (s1366,
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Xigmatek HDT-S1284-Big Scoprion Cpu Cooler
(CAC-SXHH4-U01)<http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/CPU-Coolers/Xigmatek-Hdt-S1284-Big-Scorpion-CAC-SXHH4-U01.htm>
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Asus P6T SE (1366, DDR3,
X58)<http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Motherboards/Asus-P6T-Se-1366-X58-Ddr3-90-MIB870-G0EAY00Z.htm>
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OCZ Gold Low Voltage 8GB DDR3-1333 Ram Kit (PC3-10666, 9-9-9-20,
OCZ3G1333LV8GQ)<http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/RAM/OCZ-Gold-Low-Voltage-8GB-DDR3-1333-Ram-Kit-PC3-10666-9-9-9-20-OCZ3G1333LV8GQ.htm>
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Seagate 250 GB HDD (8MB , 7200.12rpm, Sata II ,
ST3250318AS)<http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/Hard-Disk-Drives/Seagate-Sata-Ii-250-Gb-8Mb-7200-12-ST3250318AS.htm>
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Asus 5450 SILENT/DI/512MD2 (Low Profile, PCI-Express, DDR2, 512
MB)<http://www.plaisio.gr/Computers/Hardware/SVGA/ASUS-Vga-Pci-X-5450-Silent-Di-512Md2-Lp-90-C1CP2A-J0UANABZ.htm>
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Sony AD-7240S-0B DVDRW + / - (Sata 24X, Bulk,
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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit Greek/Eng
OEM<http://www.plaisio.gr/B2O/B2O-Software/Operating-System/Microsoft-Windows-7-Home-Premium-32bit-Greek-Eng-OEM.htm>
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Logitech Classic
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êüóôïò áãïñþí 1.249,27 ¤
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