dual core on the cheap?

[g-dogg]

i was wondering if someone could put together a list for me for basic components of a dual core system preferably under $400 basically all i will need is this:
cpu
mobo
ram
hdd
video card (very casual gaming so i just need it to have solid performance nothing spectacular)
dvd-burner

the rest either i have or can get for a cheap price locally
ps. Overclocking is in mind and i prefer AMD but intel will work too.

and thnx
G-dogg

[Cricket]

Do you already have the appropriate type of power supply? Is it ATX (20 pin) or ATX 2.0 (24 pin)?

Cricket

[g-dogg]

i have a 400 watt silenX 20 + 4 pin (the one with the extra 4 pins for the +12)

[glc]

That's not the point - does it have the ability to connect to a 24 pin main connector *and* the extra 4 pin? You will need that for any PCI-Express build, good AGP boards are almost all gone now. Dollar for dollar, PCI-E video cards soundly spank AGP. For 90 bucks, the best AGP out there is a 128mb 6600GT, but for the same price you can get a 256mb 7600GS or GT in PCI-E.

I'd wait till the end of April when Intel is reducing prices on all the Core 2's. The low end Core 2 Duos with 800 FSB are overclockable like crazy, look at the Core 2 E4300, right now it's $163 and it's going down to $113. The Pentium-E 2xxx series will be coming out soon, those are under $100, dual core, 800 FSB, 1/2 the cache of the E4xxx. AMD dual cores do not overclock all that well unless you go with an Opteron. It's not worth messing with a Pentium-D any more.

http://www.behardware.com/news/8579/...e-2-22-04.html

[g-dogg]

Originally Posted by glc That's not the point - does it have the ability to connect to a 24 pin main connector *and* the extra 4 pin? You will need that for any PCI-Express build, good AGP boards are almost all gone now. Dollar for dollar, PCI-E video cards soundly spank AGP. For 90 bucks, the best AGP out there is a 128mb 6600GT, but for the same price you can get a 256mb 7600GS or GT in PCI-E. I'd wait till the end of April when Intel is reducing prices on all the Core 2's. The low end Core 2 Duos with 800 FSB are overclockable like crazy, look at the Core 2 E4300, right now it's $163 and it's going down to $113. The Pentium-E 2xxx series will be coming out soon, those are under $100, dual core, 800 FSB, 1/2 the cache of the E4xxx. AMD dual cores do not overclock all that well unless you go with an Opteron. It's not worth messing with a Pentium-D any more. http://www.behardware.com/news/8579/...e-2-22-04.html

yeah i dont think mine has the 24 pin + extra 4 pin connection, honestly im not up with the computer parts since i have been away from building for the past year or two. Thanks for the heads up on the intel price reduction situation i dont mind waiting a few months since i still have to save up so far i have about 100 give or take (but can easily whip out 600 within a month or two, plus my birthday is April 28 so i can get some cash!). i'll be back next month, you can close this thread now.

thx
g-dogg

[Khalil]

I recommend for a good power supply the xclio 450BL is a great value and will easily handle a dual core processor for you. Here is a dual core rig that will fit your budget.
Xclio 450BL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189003 $37.99
Pentium D 820
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116213 $89.00
BIOSTAR 945GZ Micro 775 SE LGA 775 Intel 945GZ Micro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138049 $49.99 after rebate
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820144152 $61.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148212 $53.99
EVGA 256-P2-N445-LX GeForce 7300GT 256MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130025 $69.99
LITE-ON Black 18X DVD+R Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106043 $41.99
$404 total plus shipping
An AMD rig with the 3800 dual core will run you about $80 more