Need assistance with a new build...

[ComputerDragon79]

I'm building a computer for a good friend of mine. I've built computers before (including my own) and he knows nothing about computers, so he's pretty much put me in charge of getting the parts. The budget we're working with is $1000 (does not include keyboard, mouse and monitor). He wants to do a lot of gaming for the most part. Now the last computer I built was a P4 3.0 ghz, just to give you an idea of the kind of hardware I was dealing with the last time I built a computer. I would like some part suggestions, keeping in mind the budget I'm working with. I really want to give him the best bang for his buck, especially since his current computer is a piece of junk. Any input would be appreciated, espcially for the CPU and motherboard.

[TimPoet]

Might be kinda hard to keep a gaming build under a grand....

Here are some suggestions, all from newegg.com which rocks. And it's overclockable, too.

Originally Posted by ComputerDragon79 Any input would be appreciated, espcially for the CPU and motherboard.

This parts list doesn't have the latest and greatest cpu, but it is a dual corejt's just not the newest. It's Intel, which means stability and quality. The mobo is from one of the top manufacturers, it is good for o/c ing.


COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$39.99

ASUS P5L-VM 1394 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$94.99

eVGA 512-P2-N637-AR GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Superclocked Video Card - Retail
$279.99

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail
$53.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$148.98


Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 Dual Core,EM64T Processor Model BX80551PE2666FN - Retail
$91.99

Crucial 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model CT2KIT6464AA53E - OEM
$129.99
Subtotal: $834.00 approx, shipping should be around $30.

Still need an OS and all....

There is stuff still to add, but this gives you the basics... enjoy!

[glc]

Tim, for $1000 we have been recommending Core 2 Duo builds. You are throwing too much money into the video card and the hard drive with that list. You no longer have to spend close to 300 bucks for a quality gaming card and smaller hard drives are half that price. A Core 2 Duo will leave that 805 in the dust.

[TimPoet]

Originally Posted by glc Tim, for $1000 we have been recommending Core 2 Duo builds. You are throwing too much money into the video card and the hard drive with that list. You no longer have to spend close to 300 bucks for a quality gaming card and smaller hard drives are half that price. A Core 2 Duo will leave that 805 in the dust.

I see...
Well, the more the merrier! Core 2 Duo away!

[ComputerDragon79]

I was actually eyeing this:

Intel Core 2 Due E6600 Conroe 2.4Ghz

That was based on some posts I saw elsewhere in the forum. Out of curiosity, how does that compare to a Pentium IV 3.0 Ghz? I've been out of the CPU loop for awhile.

[coreywhite]

I think you might have trouble keeping things to a strict $1000 budget with an E6600, although if you could do it, that's apparently a terrific processor. Chances are, though, that you're better off with an E6300. As far as I can tell, if you're going Conroe, you should take one of those two . . . they seem to offer better bang for the buck than the alternatives (E6400, etc.). You should note, when comparing clock speeds, that they really don't seem to mean as much as they used to . . . the 1.86 GHz E6300 will outperform the Pentium IV 3.0 GHz by a good margin.

Since no one has actually posted a suggested list of parts for a $1000 Core 2 Duo build, here's a list that I suggested for someone else (maybe a week ago). Prices have probably changed somewhat since then, and you may want to consider going for an ATI X1950pro for $20 more or so, if you're not an Nvidia fan. Also, as far as I can tell, the hard drive I'm suggesting is the same one as the one TimPoet listed . . . but for some reason Newegg appears to like me better than him, or something, and it's about half as much money. Not sure what's going on there. Nevertheless, I think this list would be a good starting point:

Originally Posted by coreywhite My thoughts: Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $44.99 Power Supply: XClio 450BL ATX 450W Power Supply - Retail - $39.99 Motherboard: ASUS P5B Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $134.99 Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6300 - Retail - $182 Graphics Card: eVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail - $179.99 Ram: CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - Retail - $199.99 Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $89.99 Optical Drive: LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHW-160P6S-04 - Retail - $31.99 Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk w/Upgrade Coupon for Vista - OEM - $89.99 Total: $998.92

Good luck!

[ComputerDragon79]

Thanks. Another question. My firends old computer came with windows XP (it was store brought). Since that computer is getting dismantled and harvested for parts (looks around innocently), will I be able to install windows using that disk, or will he have to buy Windows XP disk?

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by ComputerDragon79 Thanks. Another question. My firends old computer came with windows XP (it was store brought). Since that computer is getting dismantled and harvested for parts (looks around innocently), will I be able to install windows using that disk, or will he have to buy Windows XP disk?

You should have no problem if you have a store bought copy of XP. I have installed, or re-installed, for various reasons, my copy of xp 6 times on 3 different systems. There should be no problem if he has the disks. If you install it too many times they make you call a number and explain why you keep installing it, but you just need to explain that you are upgrading or decommisioning the old system and all is good.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by ComputerDragon79 Thanks. Another question. My firends old computer came with windows XP (it was store brought). Since that computer is getting dismantled and harvested for parts (looks around innocently), will I be able to install windows using that disk, or will he have to buy Windows XP disk?

What kind of disc is it? A genuine MS Windows XP installation CD or a recovery CD? If it's a branded recovery CD you won't be able to use it on the new build.

Cricket