Is this a good deal? - Computer parts

[cadis12]

I was surfing some deal pages today and ran accross this combo setup at Newegg.com.  How would this be for a good Mame setup?

~ Foxconn Socket 939 MicroATX Motherboard +
~ AMD Athlon 64 3400+ Venice 2.2GHz CPU +
~ Crucial 512MB PC3200 DDR for $120
$10 rebate [Exp 6/30] - $20 rebate [Exp 6/15] + $7 shipping =

$97 shipped after rebates.

Cheap powersupply (I have a powersupply that I got free after rebates through Frys) and a case (or just install the parts in the cabinet directly) and I should be good to go? 

I know this has been asked before but my understanding is that 512megs of ram should be enough for mame.  CPU is more important.  What's your opinion on this combo deal?

[Kaytrim]

That is a nice deal.  You still need a harddrive otherwise it looks good to go.  Just install the parts in the cab using PCB Feet on the MB and you should be ok.  I decase my computers anyway but I still use the sheet metal that the MB is mounted on.  This way I have a good way to attach the MB to the side of the case.  Look at my bartop project (link in sig), I show that part of the construction.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[TheAdMan]

Yeah, that;s a pretty good deal, although I never count on rebates to save money.

[SavannahLion]

Yeah, that;s a pretty good deal, although I never count on rebates to save money.

Never count on them for saving money but rebates are still worthwhile. It just sucks that by the time you get the rebate back in the mail, the part you bought is obsolete and you're not even using it anymore. During the whole rebate madness during the late 90's. Every part I put in one PC had some sort of rebate. By the time I started getting the first rebates back, the PC was already retired, dissasembled, scrapped and parted out. I was three generations away from the original video card before I got the rebate for the first one.

Rebate centers are a little better about sending back rebates nowadays. Still takes forever, but it doesn't take so long that whatever you bought is already obsolete. I'm not sure, but I think there's a time frame that they have to send you the rebate back or deny it. In the past four years, every rebate came back within the year.

edit:You know what? After a little more thought. They're not worth it at all. All the time you spend filling out and chasing after rebates just doesn't make it worthwhile. Buy the product based on its merits and send the rebate in. If the check comes back, consider it a little bonus.

[ArtMAME]

Sounds like a good deal.  512MB of RAM is plenty for all the playable MAME stuff out there.  The CPU is nice and beefy too.  I have an AMD 64 3000 (1.8GHz) in my main desktop and I test MAME on it all the time with great results.

[Tiger-Heli]

Need a vid card too, unless the M/b has onboard graphics, in which case, not optimal for MAME unless disabled, which brings us back to - need a vid card too.

[cadis12]

Yea, it has built in video.  After thinking about this deal it might not be so hot.  Still need to buy a heat sink and fan.  Plus I would need a PCI express vid card with svideo out so I can hook it up to my TV.  Deal might be warm at best.  Sorry for the post!

[ArtMAME]

No apologies needed...

That's half the fun right there, trying to get deals on parts for yer cab.  Some parts we get new, some stuff used, some stuff we luck out and get free...

It is all in good sport me lad...

If ya need parts, just keep surfing and see what you find.  I am always browsing ebay, CL, Newegg, Microcenter, Fry's, etc...  I have parts in storage e that I won't use soon, but got a good deal on when I got them. 

[cowguy]

$120 bucks for 512 ram, Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---! I could buy a gig for that!

[ark_ader]

Or two.

[Scottk]

Exactly.
newegg is selling 2 G packs for less than 100 bucks after rebate these days.

Everything else looks fine, but you are getting ripped on the memory.

[PsychoAU]

The way I read his post, the entire deal is for $120 before rebates.  Not just the memory.