cheap computer

[pipelogger]

I am off work at this time with HUGE medical bills. I have very little money to spend but lots of time. Now you know why I won't to go this route. $200 limit.
I started getting parts together over a year ago. All that is really left is the mb and the cpu. Unfortunately I have a gforce ti 4200 agp video card. I would like to use the memory out of my other puter, 184 pin 512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM .
My dilemma, I wanted to go with the Intel pentium D 805 but almost all the "decent" mb don't use the 184 pin memory or have an agp slot. I can go with AMD but was really wanting to try my hand at overclocking the 805. I am wanting to use the ATX aslo not mATX since I have the huge Antec case. Hope I have given enough info. Thanks for any help as I am sitting here with my thumb in my ear.

[glc]

You are in luck.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131029

Yes, it's micro ATX but that's all you can find with a decent chipset, beggars can't be choosers. It's quite overclockable and it's Asus quality at a very nice price. It even supports Core 2 Duo for a future upgrade.

Before buying an 805, think about a 915 - it's 800 FSB and won't have to be overclocked to run very nicely. It's not much more than an 805 now. It also has a cooler running core and twice the cache.

Nothing wrong with a Ti4200 - it's an old card but it's not a dog. All you need is a decent 300w power supply.

[pipelogger]

Thanks I will check it out.

[pipelogger]

Did some checking and seems like alot of people are giving bad reviews on the ASUS P5PE-VM . Bad NICS from the start. I already heard to stay away from ASRock 775Dual-VSTA. I know as you said my choices are limited but which of the two to purchase. Seems the ASRock 775Dual-VSTA does have better reviews but not sure what to buy.
If I go AMD can you give me some advice in that area? Again I would like to try overclocking just to give me something to do. Thanks again.

[glc]

I'd get the Asus in a heartbeat. That Asrock has a Via chipset. If the lan adapter dies, either RMA the board or stick a $10 NIC in it.

The only way you are going to get just a motherboard and processor going the AMD route any more with AGP and 184 pin DDR is with a 754 rig unless you can find a NForce 3-based 939 - those are very scarce. The decent NForce 3 overclocking 754 boards are long gone too - only budget brands are left (Epox, ECS, Biostar) unless you can find a DFI Lanparty somewhere. You also will be restricted to Semprons and low end A64's - no dual core here.

You may find various 754 and 939 AGP boards out there - but a LOT of what's left is garbage - SiS or Via or ULi chipsets, built by PC Chips, etc.

Do you get the impression that all I care for is Intel chipsets for intel processors and Nvidia chipsets for AMD processors? That's all I will build with.

[pipelogger]

My eyes are bleeding have to quit for awhile. Guess I will go with the Asus. Wish it was a little better for oc but guess I could get the 915. One other alternative is sell the ti4200,still in the plastic, and get another vid card. Thanks for your time.
Don't know if you are bball fan or not but we'll see who wins on the 23rd. GO IU.

[glc]

Back to the drawing board. The P5PE-VM in fact does not have a manual FSB adjustment. I'll see what I can dig up.

The problem with going to a PCI-E chipset is you need a 24 pin ATX 2.0 PSU.

EDIT: Looks like the Asrock 775Dual-VSTA is the only game in town - it appears to overclock well in spite of the Via chipset.

[pipelogger]

Wife said go ahead and do it right, within reason. So I like the look of the intel D 915 except the overheating problem a lot are talking about. I suppose a better cooler will help that problem.
What mb, memory, low end vid card do you recommend? I don't game very much and just 1 gb memory at this time. Keep in mind I am supposed to do this within reason. Thanks.
I gave up on the Asrock 775Dual-VSTA idea after reading your post in another thread. Being my first build I don't need more headaches.

[glc]

The D915 has a cooler running core than the 8xx series. Stock cooling is fine until you start raising the core voltage to overclock.

How about onboard video with the option for a PCI-E card and a Core 2 Duo later? Asus P5B-VM. It *is* $125 though. 1 gig (2x512 kit) of DDR2-667 Corsair value ram is just over $100. This is gonna put you in the $400 range when you get a proper power supply.

[pipelogger]

Hope I didn't screw up but tired of sitting. Ordered the Asrock 775Dual-VSTA, Pentium D 915. While waiting for the shipment thought I would get the case out and look. Ordered Antec SLK3700-BQE on 6/21/05, has been awhile. I did not realize until now it has a "smart power" 350 in it. I see these are getting terrible ratings. I also have an ULTRA 500 v series I could use. I realize both are not that good but after the mb and cpu purchase the buying is over. Which would you suggest I use? Thanks.

[flanzig1]

The Antec could be OK, seems it's just been in the last year or so that the Smartpower had issues. The Ultra is no great shakes either.

[glc]

The Smartpower should run a Ti4200 fine. I was running a Ti4400 with a 300 watt Nspire with no issues. I assume that Smartpower is only a 20 pin? The Ultra V series is definitely shaky.

[newbuilder14]

I've never had a problem with any of the Antec SmartPowers that came in my Antec cases - and I've used probably around 4-5.

[pipelogger]

Thanks for the replies. I counted the pins on the antec and it has 24 but can remove 4 if need be. I really don't want to take the ultra 500v out of my hp (6835) mini tower. If you guys saw this setup you would laugh your a-- off. The ultra was the only ps I could find a good deal on. So I have a 6x6x5 in a 3x4x5 hole. Had to rework the metal case to fit. One inch of the ultra sticks out the side,good ventilation can't put the cover on, LOL. I only use it as a backup. Have a great weekend and thanks for all the help.

[glc]

Sounds like what we had to do to a Sony to use a standard power supply. Why a company puts a power sucking Athlon into a micro-ATX case with room only for a micro-ATX power supply is beyond me. Even at that time AMD recommended 300 watts minimum and 300 watt micro-ATX units don't grow on trees.

[pipelogger]

I have been reading up on memory for the Asrock 775Dual-VSTA, Pentium D 915. I was wanting to use the old memory from my other puter,184 pin 512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM . I see that it will work. Looks like just about anything will work in this mb. My question is if I go with something like ddr2 667 will I notice that much of a difference? Again I won't be doing much in the gaming area. Also thought pc4200 would be middle of the road or am I thinking wrong? Any help appreciated as ups just delivered the mb and cpu.

[pipelogger]

Found 1 gb ddr2 pc2-4200 for $70. after rebate. Any thoughts?

[Alaron]

Edit, my mistake. Thanks glc.

[glc]

Ron, that's a dual motherboard - you can use either DDR or DDR2, you just can't mix them.

I honestly don't think you will notice the difference no matter what you use. Stick your DDR400 in there and start building.

[The_YongGrand]

Just reuse your DDR400 sticks and get a 865 motherboard with a Pentium D since you are using AGP as well.

[pipelogger]

Thanks for the replies but I just couldn't wait. Got Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) . Now I just have to wait for the snail mail to get here. Have a good one.

[pipelogger]

Not sure where to ask this. I don't mind reading if you can point me in the right direction. Everything went smooth on the first build but. Sisoft states the burnin cpu temp at 38c on average. I went with intel pentd 915, Asrock 775Dual-VSTA,artic freezer pro. Isn't that a bit high? My concern is maybe not getting the artic silver 5 on properly or the heatsink fan on secure. It felt like all snapped into the mb secure. The highest the temp recorded was 42c. Keep in mind I would like to overclock but already seems high. What ya think?

[glc]

That is PLENTY cool enough. 42C under full load is EXCELLENT.

[The_YongGrand]

I think it's optimal for that kind of 65nm processor. 42 degrees is great, as GLC said. My Pentium 4 531's up to maximum 50 in peak mode, and the fan started whirring like mad.

[pipelogger]

OK. One more ? and I will leave you alone, don't laugh. Does sisoft burnin =full load. If I overclock what is the max temp I should stay under? Thanks and have a great weekend, colder than s--t here.

[newbuilder14]

Yes, a burn in stresses the system. When overclocking, you don't want load over 65-70c.