Need some help on a budget build...

[KSpark]

Some recent events have led to me being able to replace my current PC (in my sig) with something better, but for cheap. I was already planning on buying a laptop in the very near future, so I don't need anything special for this desktop...but I don't want to downgrade (duh).

- Budget: $500...the less, the better, as it means more for the laptop.
- I multitask a lot, so it must be a dual core...AMD X2 or Pent D, I have yet to decide.
- There's an xbox 360 hooked up to my monitor, so I don't need anything hardcore for gaming...but DVI is necessary, so might as well get something mediocre.
- I'm not looking to overclock, so a plain mobo is fine.
- Thinking of keeping my cooler master case, would the 380W power supply be adequate?

I made a quick little list off newegg today, don't know if going w/ a Pentium D would be better...

AMD X2 3800+ AM2 - 160
Cheap motherboard - 55
Samsung 160GB HDD - 54
1GB DDR2 800 - 110
PNY 6600 256MB - 50
DVD-RW - 30

Any help would be great, thanks.

[The_YongGrand]

Currently the best multitasker will be the lowest-end Core 2 Duo E6300. What brand of board will you be choosing? I suggest either an Asus or a Gigabyte will do for now.

[freakitchen]

I wouldn't recommend a core2duo build for a $500 budget, nor would I recommend the AM2 platform - it's still too picky about memory for it to be classed as stable.

For the uses you list, I'd build a dual core AMD socket 939 system. If you don't want to game on this system, but do want DVI-out for video, I'd get the ASUS A8N-VM CSM motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131570

Top quality board with on-board video (good for everything but gaming), and a PCI-E x16 slot should you want to add a dedicated video card at some point.

Couple that with a 3800 X2 processor, and some Corsair Value Select DDR400 RAM, and you've got a great budget build.

I'd get a Seagate SATA hard drive instead of Samsung for quality reasons.

Your 380w Coolermaster Power Supply *might* be suitable, check the specs on it. It NEEDS to be ATX 2.x spec with a 24 pin main power connector. It should also have dual +12v rails if you ever plan on adding a video card.

Finally, if you do want the system to be able to play games, go for the ASUS A8N5X motherboard, and buy a PCI-Express video card, at least the 7300GT.

FK

[glc]

If you go 939, you can reuse your ram. Do NOT buy a cheap motherboard, that A8N-VM CSM is a great choice for the money. You will probably need a new power supply if you go PCI-E, they need ATX 2.0 spec units. Why not just keep the WD hard drive?

So - worst case, all you need is motherboard, processor, maybe a power supply, and maybe a video card.

[KSpark]

I would love to reuse the memory and HD, but due to the unique way I'm funded for this project, I need to build a whole new system. (dad wants new computer, through negotiation I convinced him to take mine and let me build myself one instead of him getting a Dell )

Anyways, that Asus A8N5X looks good, I think I will use that. Are there any reasons that I should go 939 and not AM2 other than ram issues? What about a Pentium D 930 or 945? They're the same price as a X2 3800+, but I don't know if I should replace my home's heating system with computer. =/

[glc]

If you need a complete dual core system for $500, that's almost impossible without buying some really crappy parts.

List EVERYTHING you can strip and reuse, please. Do NOT forget the need for a legal operating system.

[KSpark]

Originally Posted by glc If you need a complete dual core system for $500, that's almost impossible without buying some really crappy parts. List EVERYTHING you can strip and reuse, please. Do NOT forget the need for a legal operating system.

I live in Redmond, WA, so I get all my MS products for free.

As for what I can reuse, the only thing I can keep is the case and sound card, a Cooler Master Cavalier w/ a 380W psu, and a soundblaster live.

Since a core 2 duo is only $20 more, I thought it would be worth it in the long run...here is a setup that should be $500, shipping included. Is it better to spend the extra money on a C2D? Or should I stay with an AMD X2 or Pent D?

C2D E6300 - $180
ECS 945P-A - $59
pqi 1GB DDR2 667 - $100
WD 160GB 16MB - $65
DVD-RW - $30
PNY GeForce 6600 - $48

[newbuilder14]

That video card is fine I have it. I don't really recommend that motherboard, though.

[moodyblues100]

$402.00 + tax & shipping. Add a monitor and you're good to go

[newbuilder14]

Your link doesn't work moody, I think you need set it to 'public'.

[KSpark]

Originally Posted by newbuilder14 Your link doesn't work moody, I think you need set it to 'public'.

Yeah, it needs to be set to public. I'm interested in what kind of set up you have configured for $402...seems mighty cheap for a dual-core computer.

[moodyblues100]

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...Number=3232394

Sorry took the link from my saved wish list, not the shared list.

[freakitchen]

I'd stick with the original 939 build. Core2Duo is a good platform, but it isn't great for a budget build due to the lack of cheap motherboards. I would never consider an ECS board for any build, but the cheapest motherboard I've seen recommended for C2D is the ASUS P5B, which runs to nearly $150.

I wouldn't recommend you get anything like the build moodyblues linked to. It isn't a dual core, it's on the relatively unstable AM2 platform, and uses a low quality chipset and power supply (sorry, moody!)

FK

[chuck4456]

You should just go ahead and construct a good 805 Smithfield system, since you don't need the gaming end. You can do that for $500.00. 805s rock - ask anybody here.

[glc]

The Core 2 Duo will really help you multitask. If you don't game, why not a motherboard with onboard video with the idea of possibly adding a video card later? The Intel onboard video is pretty decent for what it is. Run VGA instead of DVI till you add a card, the difference is very minor.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131041

If your power supply is ATX 2.0 with a 24 pin connector, it should handle a PCI-E build, but if it's an old 20 pin ATX 1.x, I would not use it even with onboard video.

Here's a good cheap suitable PSU if you need it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104901

Get a dual channel ram kit, not a single module.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145568

[moodyblues100]

Originally Posted by glc The Core 2 Duo will really help you multitask. If you don't game, why not a motherboard with onboard video with the idea of possibly adding a video card later? The Intel onboard video is pretty decent for what it is. Run VGA instead of DVI till you add a card, the difference is very minor. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131041 If your power supply is ATX 2.0 with a 24 pin connector, it should handle a PCI-E build, but if it's an old 20 pin ATX 1.x, I would not use it even with onboard video. Here's a good cheap suitable PSU if you need it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104901 Get a dual channel ram kit, not a single module. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145568

Put those components into a complete system -monitor. $607.00 W/O monitor & add in vid card. (shipping is also not included) http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...Number=4237528 Titled it "PCMech" if you happen to check before I get to post the link.

[KSpark]

Originally Posted by Freakitchen I'd stick with the original 939 build. Core2Duo is a good platform, but it isn't great for a budget build due to the lack of cheap motherboards. I would never consider an ECS board for any build, but the cheapest motherboard I've seen recommended for C2D is the ASUS P5B, which runs to nearly $150. I wouldn't recommend you get anything like the build moodyblues linked to. It isn't a dual core, it's on the relatively unstable AM2 platform, and uses a low quality chipset and power supply (sorry, moody!) FK

Also, the point of this was looking for the cheapest way to upgrade from my current desktop...a Sempron with 512MB ram won't help me when I already have an Athlon64 and 1GB.

glc- that would be a good mobo, but like I said in my first post, I need DVI because my VGA port is already taken by my 360

I think I might listen to chuck and just get a low-end Pentium D, and instead use the money saved on 2GB of ram. If I buy a decent motherboard, I can upgrade to C2D in the future.