Still the same cpu (dual core), just presented differently.

There's not much difference between the 2.8 GHz Dual Core and 3 GHz Dual Core (Core 2 Duo) when it comes to running these latest/upcoming AG's within the next 6 - 8 yrs, is there?

Minimal, if any at all.

Here's final, final, final specs:
- I've selected (Value Series, L panel, "Customize Button"):

CPU - 2.8 GHz Dual Core E6300;
Heatsink/fan - took default;
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA 73PVM;
Memory - default - 2 GB;
Hard drive - default - 500GB 7200 RPM;
CD / DVD / CDRW - default;
Video card - 1 GB GeForce GTS 250;
Operating System - none - will use the XP OS install disc that I used when I put XP on my mac;
Case - Apevia Silver X Dreamer;
Power Supply - 500 Watt Antec Earthwatts EA500;
Networking - default;
Wireless networking - Wireless B/G PCI Adapter;
Sound card - default;
Speakers - none - will use these from current Dell Dimension 8200;
Floppy drive - 1.44 Floppy Drive (I never know when I might order a DOS game from Amazon.com/Ebay that comes on a 3.5" floppy disks);
Keyboard/mouse/card reader/accessories 1 & 2 - none;
Will use the keyboard, mouse, and CRT monitor from the current Dell Dimension.

Warranty - default;

price is now $632.

Talked to Mom about getting it for Xmas and she told me "after the holidays" so I said "how about first week in Jan?"
Mom said "sounds good"

Maybe Jenny or Inland will know for sure, but I don't think you can use that XP install disk again, even if it was inside a Mac OS.

This build is back down to planet earth as far as your adventure gaming goes. The Video card is still overkill for adventure gaming, but if you want to spend the money....

As long as it was a retail boxed version of XP, and not an OEM version, you are allowed to transfer it to a different computer provided XP is no longer installed on the original computer.

I'd still suggest buying the computer with XP already installed unless you enjoy fussing with drivers for newer hardware. There's also the problem with AHCI drivers (Intel Matrix Storage Drivers) that you'll probably have to contend with. They have to either be loaded prior to the installation or slipstreamed into an existing XP image and burned to a new install disc. Otherwise you boot to a black screen after installation because the system can't find the hard drive. Alternatively you could disable AHCI functionality in the BIOS and do without the advanced AHCI features. And in some cases you can copy the AHCI drivers to the hard drive before the install.

Do a Google search for
XP AHCI drivers
to find out more about what I'm talking about.

Thanks, Jen - will do - here's final, final, final, superfinal specs:
- I've selected (Value Series, L panel, "Customize Button"):

CPU - 2.8 GHz Dual Core E6300;
Heatsink/fan - took default;
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA 73PVM;
Memory - default - 2 GB;
Hard drive - default - 500GB 7200 RPM;
CD / DVD / CDRW - default;
Video card - 1 GB GeForce GTS 250;
Operating System - MS Windows XP Home_sp3;
Case - Apevia Silver X Dreamer;
Power Supply - 500 Watt Antec Earthwatts EA500;
Networking - default;
Wireless networking - Wireless B/G PCI Adapter;
Sound card - default;
Speakers - none - will use these from current Dell Dimension 8200;
Floppy drive - 1.44 Floppy Drive (I never know when I might order a DOS game from Amazon.com/Ebay that comes on a 3.5" floppy disks);
Keyboard/mouse/card reader/accessories 1 & 2 - none;
Will use the keyboard, mouse, and CRT monitor from the current Dell Dimension.

Warranty - default;

price is now $731.

I'm concerned that if I wait until the first week in Jan. to order this PC, the Windows XP option might no longer be available - this is why I want to get this computer this month?

Thanks for the answer, Jenny. I've heard several different opinions about the differences between retail and OEM versions as far as moving from one computer to another, so I wasn't sure. Someone told me I should never have been able to install that old HP hard drive to my new MOBO because the XP OS was OEM. Go figure.

A possibility would be to ask the folks at ecollege PC if they send the driver CD for the motherboard with the drivers Jenny mentions. I just installed the Gigabyte drivers on my XP drive and after some serious tweaking in the BIOS, it now boots up perfectly.

As you've been told many times before, there will be no problem with getting XP after January 1 unless ecollege stops offering it. The OS will be supported for a few years yet. If you are concerned about it, contact ecollege and ask.

Contacted EcollegePC last night and got this email from them:



So it looks like I have absolutely nothing to worry about.

K515 you could also get an external floppy drive, my three year old one came with a floppy that I didn't use much at all and it is now defunct. Tech told me if you don't use them, they don't last, go figure. A lot does depend on your climate though, ours is very damp.

You should definitely have a cd for your motherboard, everytime I have had to reload Windows it is the first thing I have to do. Mine has the drivers for network, audio and something else that is necessary for the computer to work properly. If I don't do it I can't even get it back online, has happened to me before, even with the cd.

Hope Mom doesn't change her mind.

Hawka, I didn't know that I'd need a CD for the motherboard - I've never even heard of this. Why would I need a CD for the motherboard? Every PC I've used (from the old Packard-Bell to the CTX to the Dell Dimension) never had to have this. Is this something new?

No, this is something old. You've always purchased brand name computers with everything put together they way they want. This time you're purchasing a computer that has been built by someone. It's the same as when I built mine last spring. Motherboards need drivers for things like their on-board sound or video or other components. Mine has 7 or 8 different driver sets that it installs.

Won't ecollegepc install the drivers? The driver CD would be useful to have if you ever have to reinstall Windows, but as long as you buy the computer from them with Windows preinstalled, they should install all necessary drivers.

True. But as it's been stated, it would be nice to have the driver cd for the mobo & for Windows itself. On the chance a fresh Windows install is needed, without the mobo install cd,unless you already have the mobo drivers downloaded, or without a partition on the hd for a system recovery, you're pretty much S.O.L . Best to have physical copies of Windows, & the mobo cd.

And as Mike from ecollege pc responded to Cruise02 in her post above, all the disks are included with the computer and if they install the OS, all the drivers are loaded up and the computer is ready to go.