cheap box - HP PAVILION SLIMLINE S3200N - $380

[keyclone]

this just came across my email... it looks like it could run 2 or 3 wows... might be a good secondary box

hopefully you hardware gurus can chime in...

note: does Recertified == refurbished?

--

HP PAVILION SLIMLINE S3200N AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core processor 4800+, Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g, NVIDIA GeForce, 360GB, 1024MB DDR2, SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology, 15 in 1 memory card reader, Vista Home Premium - Recertified - GN566AAABA

$379.99


http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=205611532

• Operating system Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
• Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core processor 4800+
• Memory 1024MB
• Memory speed PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM
• Total memory slots 2 DIMM
• Maximum memory expansion Expandable up to 2x1GB
• Graphics Nvidia GeForce 6150 SE graphics
• TV and entertainment experience N/A
• PCI expansion 1 PCI slot (occupied) 1 PCI-E x16 (22) slot (available)
• Hard disk drive(s) 360GB 7200 rpm SATA [gigabyte is defined as 1,000,000,000 bytes, accessible capacity may vary]
• Primary CD/DVD drive SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology
• Secondary CD/DVD drive N/A
• Communications Integrated 10/100Base-T-network interface
• Sound card High Definition Audio
• Speakers 6 speaker configurable
• Front-side bus (processor dependent) 2000MHz System Bus
• Power supply N/A
• I/O ports Front panel 15-in-1 memory card reader 5 USB 2.0 ports (1 Front, 4 Back) 1 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port(s) (Back) 2 PS/2; Digital Audio-out;
• Software - full versions Photosmart Essential to manage your digital photos; Roxio Creator featuring LightScribe Technology: Edit, burn and archive data to to DVDs and CDs; muvee autoProducer Basic: Automatically create professional looking home videos videos and burn to DVD; Roxio MyDVD Basic: Make movies and slideshows and burn to DVD or CD; Microsoft Works 8: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar; Adobe Reader 8.0: Read and print PDF files; HP Total Care Advisor: Customizable desktop tool provides support, system health and shopping information
• Software - introductory versions Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Trial: 60-day trial version (14); Norton Internet Security 2007: Protect your PC out of the box (60 days of complimentary live updates)
• Trial Internet service Easy sign-up to major dial-up and broadband Internet Service Providers: (16) - AOL Basic Dial-Up (offer included), AOL Dial-Up Advantage (offer included), AOL High Speed (offer included), MSN dial-up (offer included), NetZero Dial-Up (offer included), NetZero Accelerated Dial-Up (offer included), EarthLink dial-up (offer included), EarthLink High Speed (offer included) - High Speed Internet Services Comparison Shopping
• Dimensions 13.39 x 4.21 x 10.87 in Basic warranty One year of hardware parts and labor coverage, 90 day software toll-free phone assistance

[Wilbur]

chuck a graphics card and some more RAM in there and you'll be Golden.

Re-certified means that they were licensed to someone, but for some reason HP has relicensed them (Large order that didnt get shipped).

Pretty good deal IMHO.

[keyclone]

it would be interesting to find the computer with the lowest cost per clone.

ie: runs 2 clones and costs $600 ... $300 / clone
runs 4 clones across 2 monitors (in portrait mode)... cost: $1,200 .. cost per clone: $300

i'd want to say a clone should run @ 25 maxfpsbk and 50 maxfps to be valid
cost must include monitor(s)

[Gallo]

A quad core can run 5, and can be built for ~$850 (I just did this). I already had 2 monitors.

Thats $170 per character.

[keyclone]

you still have to include the price of the monitors. the idea is for someone off the street that wants to get into it... or has 1 computer and needs a 2nd to handle the other clones

the res of the clone area should also be considered. (ie: 800x600 minimal .. no overlap)

[Schwarz]

A quad core can run 5, and can be built for ~$850 (I just did this). I already had 2 monitors.

Thats $170 per character.

Can you list more details on this the box that I was looking to put together was more like $1400 sans monitors

[Vos]

assuming you have nothing to start with It takes around 1600 to build a 5 box setup,

I did this in 5 minutes, with careful planning and watching sales you could probably knock off a couple o hundred bucks, maybe... There's also 85 bucks in rebates and 35 dollars in shipping to consider, but that's the basic idea...

I did not include mouse, keyboard, speakers, keyclone, or wow accounts.....

This is not intended to be a recommendation for particular parts (although I consider each of these to be good parts), just an example....


Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price 1

Antec Solo Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case -
79.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

$69.99
2

Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP support -

$499.98$439.98($219.99 each)
1
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card -
$239.99
1
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Crossfire Edition) EPS12V 750W Power Supply -

$199.99$149.99
1
Patriot Viper 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS24G6400LLK -$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$99.99



ABIT IP35-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard -
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$99.99


1
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 -

$277.99
1
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM


$111.49
Subtotal: $1,599.40


edit: blerg, in trying to edit the links out I accidentally got rid of the mobo... fixed

[Schwarz]

So sans monitors the setup is still $1100. How do you shave $250 off it?

[Vos]

you could get a cheaper power supply, cheaper ram, cheaper case..... but i wouldn't recommend it.... there are lots of good powersupplies in the $100 range, there's always cheaper ram to get, etc etc.... that was just intended as a general list for keyclone

[Vos]

Keyclone you could also get a dell xps 420 with a quad core, 4gb of ram, an 8800gt, and 2x 22" monitors for around 1700 if you want it put together for you....

I think the answer to your question is 1 box 2x monitors cost per account for 5 is $275-$325 depending on the particulars... But that's assuming you are starting from scratch, and I would argue that most wouldn't be