USB (Universal Serial Bus)

Why I like it: it's the only option.

Only option:

On motherboard, like most other cards so far.

Update:

We found more USB cards, with 2.0 speed and 4 or 5 ports.  Cost is about $30

New Choice:

USB card for $30

Bluetooth

We were looking on the Internet for bluetooth information when we found this. A bluetooth is used for a Personal Area Network (PAN) and it uses radio frequency instead of infrared technology and the difference is that you can use radio frequency anywhere in a short range, but you have to point infrared lights at the device.

Requirements:

Bluetooth on board to allow connection of devices

Options:

We found out that the bluetooth technology is only available on better motherboards and you cannot buy it separately. It is just another thing for the motherboard to handle.

Audio Card

Dad gave me some links for the Internet, so we went and searched.  That audio chips can actually be part of the motherboard and that's what most people use.  

We found out that an audio card is used mainly when someone wants to watch movies on their computer and they want surround sound.  

Requirements:  Something that produces good sound.

Option 1:

Integrated with motherboard

Option 2:

Model:  Creative x-fi sound blaster pci express card

Cost:      $170

Preference:

I prefer the integrated option over the other one because the gaming companies all have there audio on the motherboard for their gaming systems.

Video Card

Model:  Visiontek Radeon 3870 x2

Price:    $300

Specs:   HD / 1080p / pipe 640 / 1 gb ram / bit mem 512 / hdmi / pci express slot

Model:  Nvidia GE force gtx 280

Price:    $400

Specs:  HD / 1080p / pipe 240 / 1 gb ram / bit mem 512 / hdmi / pci express slot

Model:  Visiontek Radeon 4870 xxx

Price:    $300

Specs:   HD / 1080p / pipe 800 / 1 gb ram / bit mem 256 / hdmi / pci express slot

Model:  Visiontek Radeon hd 4870

Price:    $600

Specs:   HD / 1080p / pipe 1600 / 2 gb ram / bit mem 512 / hdmi / pci express slot 

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

I was searching on the internet, when I found that Intel is better quality than AMD for gaming.  They tested five different games and Intel won on all five.   

We checked out what Intel had and what was available for a good price.  The internet had also suggested some things.  These are the ones we chose.

Manufacturer:  Intel

Type:  dual core

Details:  2 - 3 GHz, fsb 800 - 1300 MHz, cache 1 - 6 mb

cost: between $200 and 300

Option 1

intel core 2 duo processor model, e8500 (6m cache, 3.16 GHz, 1333 MHz fsb, 64bit)

Option 2

intel core 2 duo processor model, e8400 (6m cache, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz fsb, 64bit)

motherboard

It turns out that I need some other things before I can look at the motherboard.

Computer Case

website

http://www.directron.com/case50to59.html

cost

$40-60

case

option 1 logisys clear acrylic mid tower computer atx case w/ 3 LED fans, front usb audio,pre assembled

option 2 blue apevia computer case aspire x-plorer atx mid tower computer case w/ see through side window model atxbblw bl.ds

option 3 tricod console 9003 atx mid tower computer case, w/ 500w 12 cm LED fans

computer parts

case

mother board

hard drive

audio card

video card

fans

network card

usb cards

blue tooth

power unit

processor

memory card

disc drive