AMD non-gaming PC

[Avalanche941]

This is not a gaming oriented build. It might be used for gaming once in a while, but nothing that would have high-graphics needs. I wish to make this an inexpensive good all-around PC.

CPU: AMD X2 4600+
The next one is X2 5000+, and is around $200.
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16819103749

memory: XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB)
Fast. Compatible. What more could you ask for>
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

case: Sunbeam Transformer Case
I like this case. It has a lot of cooling options, doesn't cost too much, and looks good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811166004

hard drive: Western Digital Caviar SE 160GB
Cheap and large compared to some others.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136075

motherboard: ASUS M2N-E
Recommended to me by fellow PC mech members.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131022

GPU: Gigabyte 7300GT
Able to run Vista, and is okay in price and performance.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125036

PSU: Xclio 450BL 450 Watt Power Supply
Supposedly stable, and inexpensive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189003

Monitor: Hans-G 19" Monitor D-sub connection
Not sure about the D-sub connector, but its a good deal.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824254023

Keyboard: Logitech Keyboard
Cheap, with good reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126012

mouse: Logitech LX3
Good looking, and 1000 dpi
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826104019

OS: Windows XP Home
Better than Vista right now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056

Extra Fan to go in front of case: Silverstone 120mm
I think the case has extra room for another 120mm in the front.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811999344

Lite-on Combo drive-retail
Comes with nero, and can reads all sorts of stuff.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106058

Basically building from scratch. Will this work? Any suggestions?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

[pam123]

You won't be over-clocking and you're not building a hard core gaming system .
You don't need another fan, with the ones already in that case you've got plenty ( think of the noise!).
I would be inclined to go for one of Lite-On's DVD-RW drives but if you know your needs well enough that one's fine.
I would give myself a little more room with the power supply.
I like XClio, I've had the 480 watt model for nearly 2 years now, but with future upgrades in mind you might want to bump it up to 500 .
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189012
Do you have speakers already?
The ones that come with that monitor apparently leave something to be desired.
If you've no interest in ever using HD/Blu-ray then the fact that it's got no HDMI isn't an issue; the fact that it's analog could be but with the Dsub you can get around that should you update the video card in the future.
So yes, that's a decent budget system that can be tinkered with in the future if you decide to do so.

[Avalanche941]

Could I possibly over clock this system? This probably isn't the right forum to ask that, but I don't want to start a new thread. Also, what exactly is d-sub? I have heard of VGA, TV-out, and DVI, but until a few months ago, I didn't know it existed.

Also, since you have the 450BL, how many molex connectors are there? I know that the motherboard sometimes has some, but how many molex connectors straight from the PSU? THe Sunbeam Transformer case comes with 4 fans. Will it be able to support all of them, plus the front 120 mm fan? I want to get the fan because I want to overclock the 4600+ eventually. I have also found a PSU with an 8-pin CPU power connector. Would this fit on a 4-pin socket on motherboard, if you plug in half?


Thanks!

[flanzig1]

PSUs with the 8 pin connector, they generally can be seperated to make 2 four pin connections.
d-sub: type of connector for VGA.
As for the fans in the case, they probably have pigtail connectors so you can daisy chain them to 1 molex connector.

[pam123]

From wikipedia :

For video purposes, the DE15HD connector is being slowly replaced by DVI and HDMI connectors, although this transition is proceeding more slowly, since many analog CRT monitors are still in use and the digital DVI connector is not useful for those.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-submi...l_applications

To put it bluntly, d-sub is a dieing standard but it's going to be around for a few more years.
I have to ask again; are you sure you want that lcd monitor ?
Yes it's a good price but a Samsung just $9 more with the mail in rebate : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824001088

You'd have to buy speakers but that's all to the good.

edit : If you're serious about over clocking then the 450 watt power supply won't be adequate.

[Avalanche941]

I might switch to that Samsung monitor....

Could you recommend good power supply? The xclio 500 watt has a lot of bad reviews. My budget prevents me from having the power supply go over $80. Thanks for the info about d-sub, and daisy-chaining fans.

[Mr.Ferrari]

If you do not plan to heavily overclock the Xclio 450bl should be fine.

This is a nice psu for $70.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189014

[pam123]

Originally Posted by Avalanche941 I might switch to that Samsung monitor.... Could you recommend good power supply? The xclio 500 watt has a lot of bad reviews. My budget prevents me from having the power supply go over $80. Thanks for the info about d-sub, and daisy-chaining fans.

Look at this one : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194015

[Avalanche941]

I really like the stable-power. But how exactly do you daisy-chain case fans?
EDIT: pam123, you posted right after I clicked the post button. Didn't read your post. But why is it 485 Watt but more expensive than stablepower?

[pam123]

Look on it as getting an extension cord but for the inside of a computer.
One end to the molex connector(s) and the fans attached to the connectors at the other.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Originally Posted by Avalanche941 I really like the stable-power. But how exactly do you daisy-chain case fans? EDIT: pam123, you posted right after I clicked the post button. Didn't read your post. But why is it 485 Watt but more expensive than stablepower?

We'll its a older model, but was very good for its time. I would prefer the Stablepower as its is more efficient, quieter, and maybe higher quailty.

You can pick either one, they are both quality powersupplies.

[Avalanche941]

Thanks Mr. Ferrari, I'll go with the Stablepower.

Pam123.... I can't exactly picture how to. Which molex connector on the fan plugs into which? I am utterly confused.

EDIT: and then there are the 3 pin connectors. Fans seem a lot of trouble.

[pam123]

Take a deep breath, you're making this much more difficult then it is.
Yes there are fan connectors on the motherboard, ignore them for now since the only one you have to use is the one the heatsink cooler fan for the cpu connects to.
The 6 pin connector is for pci-e video cards only and needn't concern you now either.
Now the molex connectors go straight back to the power supply, they don't connect through the motherboard. They're the ones labeled 4 pin molex connectors in the photos newegg shows you of the power supply, check you XClio photo.
A molex connector can take what is called a 'Y' adapter. It is an extension cord with more molex connectors at the end.
Plug one end of the 'Y' adapter into the molex connector on the power supply and plug the fans into the connectors on the other end.
Some extra fans, should you have such, can connect to the motherboard and don't have molex connectors.
In that case all you have to do is pull out the motherboard manual and check the diagram.
That will show you any spare ( not the cpu cooler connector, that's for the heatsink fan only!) connectors, they'll be labeled 'fan', and you can use those.

[Avalanche941]

I understand now. The stable power has 3 molex connectors. But since the Optical Drive needs a 4-pin molex connector, then I am left with two molex connectors, which, one with a Y adapter, so it will have 2 fans on it. The motherboard has two power sockets for fans, so 2 + 2 + 1 = 5 fans. So I don't need a Y splitter, it seems. When I want to upgrade, I will buy a Y splitter.

Thanks, pam123! I am no longer confused!

[Avalanche941]

The XMS that I had planned on ordering is still available at newegg, but has taken a huge jump in price, from $180 before $40 rebate, to $280, before $40 rebate.

Can anyone recommend a DDR2 800 2 x 1GB memory? Using 1/4 of my budget for just RAM isn't very good.

[pam123]

Looks like a mis-print.
Same ram here for $175 (down from $225 after $50 rebate) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034

[glc]

Use the C4 kit - this will work fine with an AMD build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034

[Avalanche941]

Thanks! I think it was a misprint.

Do you think there will be any chance of AMD lowering prices again? With the scheduled Intel price drops in April, AMD will lose even more. What could Advanced Micro Devices do?

EDIT: What does C4 mean?

[Mr.Ferrari]

Cas-4 timings. 4-4-4-12.

AMD has been focusing on ati and trying to regain some revenue from the 5billion dollar buy out. Its gonna also discontinue and lower the price of their models around the same time as the intel Core2Duo price drop.

New K8L and K10 architectures are also set to release mid to end of this year.

[Avalanche941]

How do the timing numbers work? What exactly are K10 and K8L? I read on Wikipedia that K10 was nearly dead.

[Mr.Ferrari]

When you click the specifications tab on newegg you will see 4 timings, those being 4-4-4-12. Basically how fast the ram will send data back and forth. The lower the better.

K8L is just a new architecture. Like core 2 duo. Thats what I know it as in the past. K10 is supposedly the new name?

[pam123]

Conservatism has its' points.
Do not fiddle with RAM timings until you get everything up and running.

[glc]

Ram timings should be the least of your worries in a general purpose PC - compatibility and quality is a lot more important.