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ok, basically, i need to get a system for cheap (under $350) that's small (SFF preferably). i have a vid card (9600), and a harddrive i can use. but i need the SFF, processor, and ram. what would be the best choice?

How small are you looking for?

You can always go mATX and save quite a bit of money. Newegg also has a mATX case with a handle on the top.

like this one

SFF: Shuttle SN41G2 refurb $215

http://www.excaliberpc.com/product_info.php?cPath=213_602&products_id=2843

Processor: Barton 2500 OEM $75.00

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-378&depa=1

RAM: 512 PC3200 $89

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-150-333&depa=1

Total 380, a bit high but you're not going to get a better combo of parts for a SFF box

Edited thanks to Yahoolian who pointed out with a cube you only need an OEM processor

Now take the processor and Ram HowardDrake recommended and put it onto this board and into the case linked earlier and you just saved yourself $100

$176.4 Refub SN45G

$59 Athlon XP 1700+

$88 TwinMOS 512MB PC3200

$323.4

Nice call on the cube Yahoolian but I'd still prefer the Barton to a 1700

DivX what will you be using it for? Are you willing to overclock?

thanks for the quick replys. what about the SK43G? how good is that compared to the 45G2? is it a big enough difference so that the risk with buying a refurb is worth it? (apart from the price diff between the refurb and the 43)

DivX wrote:

thanks for the quick replys. what about the SK43G? how good is that compared to the 45G2? is it a big enough difference so that the risk with buying a refurb is worth it? (apart from the price diff between the refurb and the 43)

The Nforce2 400Ultra chipset is far superior to the KM400 chipset, in terms of performance and overclocking, so I'd say get the refurb SN45G( differences between SN45G and G2 are minor, G version has 400FSB support, G2 only up to 333, but G2 has onboard GF4MX).

i do a lot of gaming, and some 3d animation. i'll overclock, but if it can't i don't really care.

typo in my post: i meant the difference between the 45g and 43g. not the 45g and the 45g2

i do a lot of gaming, and some 3d animation.

I'm pretty sure those aren't affected much by cache size, so I'd say save the $15 bucks and go with the Athlon XP 1700+ and overclock it.

in the refurb it doesn't mention a psu, while in (all the cubes) retail versions it lists them. what's with that?

I'm sure it does have the PSU, but it might not have the cables. I think the improved performance of the Barton more than makes up for the 16 bucks you pay for it.

I'm pretty sure those aren't affected much by cache size, so I'd say save the $15 bucks and go with the Athlon XP 1700+ and overclock it.

Im pretty sure the gaming performance increase for getting a 2500+ Barton over a 1700+ is significant (+ a faster fsb??!)

[Edit: Bugger, didnt see HowardDrakes reply ]

Im pretty sure the gaming performance increase for getting a 2500+ Barton over a 1700+ is significant (+ a faster fsb??!)

Additional cache has a small impact on gaming, once you have enough of it.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpu/showdoc.html?i=1783&p=12
AXP 2700+ (256KB cache) vs Athlon XP Barton 3000+( 512KB cache, same clock speed )

UT2003 flyby: Barton 8% faster 215fps vs 199fps
botmatch: 8% faster 75fps vs 70fps

Jedi Knight 2: Barton 4.5% faster 168fps vs 161 fps

Comanche 4: Barton 3.7% faster

I doubt anyone could notice any of the above differences while gaming.

The faster FSB can easily be neutralized by overclocking, and that's probably why the Barton scores higher than the TBred, because of the FSB, not the cache.

dunno how much stuff costs in US (thought it was usually cheaper :/ )

But i found

Biostar IDEQ 200V Barebones System ~ £100
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Biostar.html

AMD Athlon "Barton" XP2500+ 333FSB ~ £55
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/amd_athlon_xp_barton.html

and 512mb Corsair Value 2700 ~ £73
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Corsair_Value_Select.html

which comes to ~~ £240, which i consider as a bargain

Yahoolian wrote:

Additional cache has a small impact on gaming, once you have enough of it.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpu/showdoc.html?i=1783&p=12
AXP 2700+ (256MB cache) vs Athlon XP Barton 3000+( 512MB cache, same clock speed )

Wow, where can I get one of those 256MB and 512MB cache processors?

Yeah, I meant KB.