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From: holcomb@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (David Holcomb)
Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions
Subject: Need Help Determining Ultimate System
Date: 26 Sep 1993 23:51:23 -0400
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA
Lines: 118
Message-ID: <285nvr$4vf@csugrad.cs.vt.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: csugrad.cs.vt.edu
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL9]
Okay, I am helping a friend to build the Ultimate PC-based
BSD system on a budget of $4000. I don't want to spend
more than $3700 of it so that she can still buy MS Word
and Turbo C (or C++) for the DOS/Windows side plus buy
the FreeBSD CD-ROM.
I have scrapped through just about every FAQ and studiously
gleaned from _Computer Shopper_ some of the "best buys" I
could find.
I need help determining a few things:
1) Should I spend >$50 on a keyboard?
2) Where to buy RAM? (prices seem to have gone up...)
I want 4 4x9 70 ns SIMMs = 16MB RAM
3) Is there a printer driver for the HP Deskjet 500 for NetBSD,
FreeBSD, and Linux?
4) Where to buy CPU & case?
I want a Universal Bus motherboard (5 ISA, 3 EISA, 2 VESA slots)
OR EISA Master Bus motherboard with at least 2 VESA slots
I want a 486DX-2/66 chip
I want the case to be a full tower with >= 2 fans, >= 230W power
supply, and at least 8 drive bays
5) Am I missing anything (see below also), or is there something
wrong with this setup?
I believe I have the lowest prices (at least out of the October's
_Computer Shopper_) on everything else. List and source follows:
Monitor:
A) Mag Innovision 15" MX15F $425 p. 347
(digital controls)
B) Mag Innovision 17" MX17F FS $899 p. 347
(digital controls)
C) ViewSonic 15 (15", digital controls) $498 p. 59
D) ViewSonic 7 (17", digital controls) $855 p. 59
E) ViewSonic 17 (17", digital controls) $998 p. 760
I choose A.
Modem:
A) US Robotics 14.4k (No fax) $155 pp. 31,32,395,433
B) Flex 14.4k (Fax also) $149 p. 834
I choose A.
Keyboard:
???
RAM:
???
Mouse:
A) Logitech DEXXA 3-button Serial $39 p. 134
B) Logitech DEXXA Serial Mouse $29.50 p. 25
C) Logitech DEXXA Mouse $19 p. 634
D) Logitech 3-button Mouse $25 p. 659
E) Logitech DEXXA Serial $25 p. 694
F) Logitech DEXXA $24 p. 756
I believe these are all the same mouse (?). I choose C.
CD-ROM:
Toshiba 3401B (200ms) $409 p. 614
Printer:
HP Deskjet 500 $282 p. 686
Hard Disk:
A) Maxtor 1.2GB (SCSI or SCSI-2?) $878 p. 623
B) Seagate ST11200N 1050MB (SCSI-2) $902 p. 465
C) Conner CP30540 543MB (SCSI-2) $509 p. 428
I choose B because 1) SCSI-2, 2) 2yr warranty .
Floppies:
A) Teac 3.5" 1.44M $40 p. 437
B) Teac 5.25" 1.2M (Grey Bezel) $48 p. 437
C) Teac 3.5" 1.44M $41 p. 423
B) Teac 5.25" 1.2M $49 p. 456
I choose C and D because I believe they are not the Grey Bezel color.
They may need $5 mounting brackets (?).
SCSI Controller Card:
Ultrastor 34F (VESA Local Bus or EISA?) $225 p. 437
Do I need the kit? It adds about $62 to above price.
Video Adapter:
A) Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 Plus/ 1 MB (VLB?) $146 p. 407
B) Orchid Fahrenheit 1280 Plus VLB/ 1 MB $154 p. 6591
If A is VLB, I choose A.
Hopefully I don't need anything else (other than <$50 mounting parts).
Okay, to total it all up:
Monitor $425
Modem $155
Keyboard ????
16MB RAM ????
CPU ????
Case ????
Mouse $18
CD-ROM $409
Printer $282
Hard Disk $902
2 Floppies $90
SCSI Card $225
Video Card $146
Total $2652
This leaves $3700-$2652=$1048 for motherboard+CPU, RAM, case, and
keyboard. Any suggestions?
Dave Holcomb
holcomb@csugrad.cs.vt.edu