Fez ventures into a new area...

[trickster]

Maybe. Tigerdirect has one CDRW/DVD drive for $99. I would risk it. The price is great.

[trickster]

[quote author=Feztaa link=board=3;threadid=4314;start=0#42826 date=1027571454]
Hmmm, ok. I think I'm going to wait until I get to university (so my parents won't hassle me about spending money).

I guess I'm going to abandon the kits idea. So I guess now the idea is to make a list of what kind of hardware I want...

I don't really like ordering stuff online, just not comfortable with it (plus no credit card, which really rules out a lot of places. All I have is debit.

There are a couple of really good local companies. BCOM Computers, Tucson Computers, and Best Computer Sales & Service seem to have pretty decent prices (and Tucson is the only company I haven't actually bought anything from).

What's the difference between DDR and SDR?

[/quote]
From Crucial.com:
Double data rate (DDR) SDRAM does exactly what it sounds like — it doubles the rate of speed at which standard SDRAM can process data. That means DDR is roughly twice as fast as standard SDRAM.

Here is a link to more detailed info:
http://www.crucial.com/DDR/ddr_explained.asp

[Feztaa]

Thanks guys, you been a great help

[Schotty]

Feztaa -- I no longer have a credit card (too much temptation) and merely rely on my ATM/Debit card. They work as long as you have a visa or mastercard logo on it too. Mine is originally issued by visa to the bank, who then issues it to me. I have been doing this for over five years like this. True visas and mastercards never hurt when trying to do an online purchase, but debits are fine too. I neveer had a problem yet that wasnt my fault (address the bank has is different than the one I typed in because I moved).

[Feztaa]

I've never heard of debit cards with credit card logos

I guess I'll give my debit card a shot one day, and if it works it works, I guess.

[Schotty]

Here in the US we essentially have two types of bank cards

1) Just ATM only
2) ATM + Debit (meaning all funds are withdrawn from the checking account) These are issued usually by a major credit card co. Mine happens to be done by visa (more flexible than mastercard when it comes to the bank <-> credit card co.)

in winnipeg $700 could almost build you a kick ass system.

[capybara]

giga-byte ga7 mobo, amd 761 chipset us$ 70
amd xp-1700+ us$120
volcano 6cu+ 25
soundblstr live 30
ethernet or modem 30
256mb ddr 2100 ram 40
tnt2, 32mb agp video card 40 atx case with 300w psu 40
==============================================
total (assuming you re-use hard drive and cdrom or cd burner) us$395
==============================================
two places i use alot and recommend
www.newegg.com
www.mypcparts.com