Pentium D 3.4 $750 build - opinions?

[Squibbles]

Hi guys,

I got a deal on a P5LD2, and then realized it's the earlier version which doesn't support Core2 Duo proccessors. So here's my thought... Build a decent, but not top-of-the-line home sysstem. All prices below are Canadian $. (Please forgive the typos, they are to avoid the automatic hyperlinks)

Anttec NSK 6500 with 430W PSU, brochure $118
ASUS P5LD.2 1.x $100
Intel Pentium D 3.4 (or 2.8) $203 ($128)
ASUS Exxtreme AX1600 Pro TD 256 $107
Seagate 'Cuda 7200.10 250Gb SATA 3.0Gb/s $103
2x512 Corssair Value Select DDR2 $158
LG 52x CDRW-DVD $ 33
FDD, peripherals -- stock --

This is for... interrnet, DVDs, downloaded music & video, a little gaming (not much), word processing & general home use.

Option #2 would be to return the P5LD, spend an extra $50 and get a basic P5B board, and go for an C2Duo E6400 2.13 with 2MB L2 cache for about $280. I might use my old Raedon/ATI 9250 128, or the onboard video, for a bit just to stay under a grand. I see this as being slightly more expensive now, but with more possibilities to upgrade in the future (versus the PentD setup).

Thoughts?

-Duncan
Ottawa, ON

[newbuilder14]

Looks good to me. I would go with a P5B and an E6300 as it will give you a better value at this point.

Make sure the memory is DDR2-667, good choice on the Corsair ValueSelect.

[jer888]

you can get a Lite-on drive of similar specs for cheaper

LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5MB Cache IDE Combo Drive

good choice on the hard drive

are you saying you already have that motherboard? if not, go with what new builder said and get a Core 2 duo

[Squibbles]

Hi guys,

Yes, I returned the P5LD and got a P5B basic, and the core2Duo 2.13/2MB L2. They didn't have the LG in stock, so I went with an all in one CD/DVD R-W which was about $10 more. I'm building it now, just about finished... I'll post pictures and a few comments when I'm done.

-D

[Squibbles]

Oh, forgot to mention... I went with the GeForce 7600 GS, in keeping with the upper midrange spec and emphasis on quiet running.

It booted up the first shot, no problems, automatic BIOS settings looked good, and it's partitioning the drive as we speak. Runs very quiet, can hardly tell it's on. So far, so good, total outlay for all new parts in retail boxes, about $1100 Canadian, so about $900 USD.

-Duncan

[newbuilder14]

Congratulations on the completion. The 7600GS is a good choice as a placeholder for DX10. Some pictures would be nice.