Low End System

[piasabird]

I am getting ready to build a new low-end System.

I want to build an Intel System Either Celeron or Core 2 Duo around $400 - $500

I never Overclock either.

This is what I was thinking:

Intel Executive Series BOXDQ35JOE with GMA X3100 Integrated Video DIGITAL/VGA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121094

Seagate 80 Gig Serial ATA Harddrive $ 49

Crucial 2 X 1 Gig Ram 1.8 vlt Value Ram $ 50?

DVD Writer or CDRW DVD RAM - I want to use something that is SATA? Have you got a brand or model you like best that is quiet? I dont have a clue there are so many. I have used Asus, LG, Light-On before. $40?

Processor Intel Celeron 420 or some slightly better CPU $50

Most of my gaming is like Age of empires Age of Kings, Dune 2000 or some old game like that. May watch a lot of Youtube for Animes do office work or maybe listen to some songs.

I am considering a video card around $100.00 or so as a possible option.
Non ATI Nvidia 7200, 8600gt? $75-$140
Might be worth it to get the video card and use a diff Motherboard.

Power Supply < $100 Maybe a case if it is cheap enough with a good 500 watt power supply. I saw a Sonata 3 case with antec 500watt earth source power supply at www.directron.com That might be worth it. I like the Quiet no frills type of case.

Operating System
I am considering Vista or XP both of which I have available at work through a MS Group License.
Already have MS Office 2007.

The pitiful thing is I have an old AGP 9800 ATI All-In-Wonder Video card I will not be able to use. I Might sell that on E-bay. It has a remote Control. It is the real ATI Brand.

[Alaron]

Fine start to me.

Lite-On DVD drives are usually recommended because they come with software. But for quiet, I found my Asus drive was the better choice. I believe they can be found with Nero as well.

If you're gaming, no need for a mobo with onboard video. The Asus P5K is only a bit more, certainly worth a look. But Intel boards are great too. The 8600GT would be a far superior choice to the Geforce 7200.

The Antec Sonata III is a great choice. Winning case and PSU together.

[glc]

The Intel equivalent to the Asus P5K is the DP35DP (no onboard video). Note that it does not have a floppy controller, if you ever need a floppy you have to use a USB floppy drive. If you are going with a 800 FSB Celeron-L or Pentium-E, buy DDR2-667 value ram, Crucial is fine, I like Corsair. The best Nvidia card under $100 is the 8600GS.

[piasabird]

Thanks for the reply. I have been considering going either way. If I can afford it I will try to go cheap on the processor and get a GT8600 or 7200. Is there a brand OF VIDEO CARD that you guys prefer or are most of them about the same with the same GPU. I have used Visiontek and a couple others in the past but might use something like XFX. I have had good results with the video cards I have purchased. If there is a model that comes with free stuff that is also an option. Use to be you could get free games sometimes. My son is more interested in the games than I am. I have an ATI 8900 All-In-Wonder I might just sell that. It is a shame to have to get rid of it.

I have not used a floppy on my last couple of builds. I try to avoid them. I figure I dont need the extra wires running around in my case. They oftem make a racket when you start up the computer as well. I might just use XP.

I might have gotten one of my old AMD computers working. I still have to find an old hard drive to use with it. I have a good 200 gig IDE Hard Drive but I want to try to get some files off of it.

[Alaron]

We generally recommend eVGA branded Geforce cards. They have a good reputation.

Just a note, you can usually disable floppy seek on boot in the motherboard BIOS to keep them quiet.

[whubbard]

For you needs it seems like you would want to go higher on the processor and lower on the video card, but I could be wrong. Most new video cards can easily take care of non-gaming applications, and unless you need some of the applications that require a strong video card, there is no reason to spend more on it. While on the flip side, the processor does just about everything...

Also, I have used XFX, there good. But eVGA is usually recommended.

[piasabird]

I would like to go higher on both the processor and the video but I am just waiting to see what kind of a budget I am looking at. Some things I look at is heat and power consumption and possible future upgrades. Actually I am just too cheap sometimes.

Ideally I would like to have something like a 8600GT and a Core 2 Duo, but that would push it into the $600 range or just below that.

I was looking at prices around this range and trying to decide.
$125-$140 Core 2 Duo
$75 P4 Dual Core 2140?
$54 Celeron 420

So have you tried Vista yet?

I use Office 2007 and found it to be pretty good. Some people say it is a bit goofey, but it grows on you. We have Group MS Licenses for OS and Office suites so I can install it one computer at home. Lately MS is making everyone pay for the Ofiicial copy of Media for home use because they want people to have an official real copy. MS sells the media for like $5 - $10. The real deal is MS does not want us to make copies. They might have some DRM junk on the copies.