Need Ideas for Build

[inmylrg]

I already have a built computer but I'm thinking about upgrading. I don't play games on it, just daily use, internet and movies and such. Budget is around $500.

I already have the following:

Antec Solo Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129018

Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU ATX 12V 2.0 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153052

Creative Sound Blaster Sound Card (not sure which one exactly)

Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard

I'm thinking about upgrading to the following:

Asus P5K or P5K-E Motherboard
Corsair or G.Skill 2x1Gb Memory
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (open to suggestions)
SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (open to suggestions)
Video Card (i just need something thats decent and not too expensive)

Does everything look good or am I missing something?

Thanks!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by inmylrg I'm thinking about upgrading to the following: Asus P5K or P5K-E Motherboard!

Good choice.

Originally Posted by inmylrg Corsair or G.Skill 2x1Gb Memory

Go with the Corsair XMS DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) CAS 5 1.9v RAM.

Originally Posted by inmylrg Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (open to suggestions) SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (open to suggestions)

E6750 is the sweet spot right now.

Originally Posted by inmylrg SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (open to suggestions)

Seagate 7200.11 or 7200.10 SATA 3.0 hard drive.

Originally Posted by inmylrg Video Card (i just need something thats decent and not too expensive)

ATi or Nvidia?

Originally Posted by inmylrg Does everything look good or am I missing something?

Do you already have a good IDE or SATA optical drive?

Cricket

[inmylrg]

Hard Drive: Is it worth it to get the 7200.11 over the 7200.10 considering the extra cost? The only difference I see between the two is the cache.

Video Card: I'm really open on this one, but just to make it easier, Nvidia.

I already have an IDE DVD burner and a DVD ROM.

[Katreat]

the 7200.11 should be about the same price, but I think it only comes in 500 GB and larger. If you dont need that much storage stick with the 7200.10. There is an improvment in seek times with the larger cache but for what you are using the computer for it would probably not be noticed.

I would recommend an 8600 GT which is a very nice card in the $100 range. It actually may be more than you need though. I am not sure how to build a computer that does NO gaming

The P5K and most newer MB have no Native IDE support. It does IDE but it is a thrid party set up. Some people have found IDE support problomatic on newer boards and some have had no issues at all. I generally recommend you pop for a new SATA burner when you build new just because for about $30 you eliminate a potential problem. But, you may have no problem at all so it is your call. if you buy new look at Lite-on retail burners. They are very reliable and if you buy retail you get a free copy of Nero for about $3 more than buying OEM.

Your overall choices look good. It is going to be one screaming computer for the uses you intend......


Kat

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Katreat I am not sure how to build a computer that does NO gaming

LOL...it's basically the same as a gaming rig except you don't have to use a very powerful CPU or video card. The basic computers I build use on-board video and sound, 1 to 2GB of RAM and a CPU that is anything from a Celeron D, Celeron Dual-Core, Pentium Dual-Core, Allendale or Conroe C2D (whichever fits the budget and needs best). Most computers I build are under $800 without monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. I rarely build gaming rigs.

Cricket

[Masaki 7-11]

Here's a reference list, it has the parts Cricket has suggested in it, as well as the video card; if you're not gaming, and you use your computer for watching movies, ATI is better, here's the list:

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136074
$74.99

POWERCOLOR AX3450 256MD2-S Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131083
$44.99

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590
$54.00

ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131180
$134.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115029
$189.99

Subtotal: $498.96

[amdalex]

Don't forget the video card, A GeForce 8600GT would fit the bill for about $120. Also a GeForce 8800GT does not cost $100.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by amdalex Don't forget the video card, A GeForce 8600GT would fit the bill for about $120. Also a GeForce 8800GT does not cost $100.

Video Card is included in the list- HD3450 (Powercolor) There isn't that much room in the budget to get a mid-range or higher card if the recommended parts are used (P5K, E6750, Corsair XMS, HD), since this computer will not be used for gaming, and will be used for watching videos, the low end ATI video cards are the best choice.

[amdalex]

Oh, I didn't see it.

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by Cricket LOL...it's basically the same as a gaming rig except you don't have to use a very powerful CPU or video card. The basic computers I build use on-board video and sound, 1 to 2GB of RAM and a CPU that is anything from a Celeron D, Celeron Dual-Core, Pentium Dual-Core, Allendale or Conroe C2D (whichever fits the budget and needs best). Most computers I build are under $800 without monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. I rarely build gaming rigs. Cricket

Well, perhaps I mis-spoke. I understand the principal of lower end computers but when people start throwing in E6750 and MB with no on-board video I am at a loss as to which video cards to suggest. I have just never followed the non-gaming market enought to recommend lower end components.

Originally Posted by amdalex Don't forget the video card, A GeForce 8600GT would fit the bill for about $120. Also a GeForce 8800GT does not cost $100.

You are absolutly correct. The price I stated was for the 8600GT which you can find as low as $100 at some vendors. I corrected the reference in the post above.

Kat

[inmylrg]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, but couple questions though.

Does the brand for the hard drive matter that much?
Is Powercooler a good brand for video card? Other than this, is there any other decent card under $100 for the use I intended?
About the DVD burner, I'll just stick with what I have right now. I'll upgrade in the future when the needs come.

[Katreat]

Brand is mostly about quality. Seagate and WD are usually recommended because they have a proven track record on quality. I generally prefer Seagate just because they give you a 5 year warranty instead of 3 years. I have never had a Seagate or WD fail yet though. You might get lucky with other brands but history has shown them to have more problems. So for proven reliablity those are the two brands I recommend to people.

I dont think the ranking of video cards makers is quite so clear. First of all they all use either a Nivdia or ATI chipset so unlike HD every card is basically the same. The only ATI cards I have used so far are the ATI home brand and Sapphire. I have had good luck with both and they likely make the same card you are looking at for about the same price. That is how the video card market works. I have heard nothing bad about Powercooler.

Kat

[inmylrg]

Thanks for your help, but aside from my original questions, I need help on something else.

I built a computer about 4 years ago and my sister had some parts leftover from her old built, so I decided to swap out some of my parts for hers, since hers are relatively newer (this year). I just thought it would be better than mine so might as well.

Parts I swapped to are the following:
ECS Elitegroup Motherboard
Patriot 2x1Gb RAM
Maxtor 1.5Gb/s HDD
Intel C2D Processor
ATI Video Card (not sure the model)

I also have a Thermaltake 500W PSU, DVD burner and ROM, and a Creative sound card from before.

So the problem I'm having is that when I try to turn it on, it makes a short whine noise and nothing happens. PSU is new so I don't think it would be that. I will try the "out of the case" thing when I get the chance. Meanwhile, any ideas?

[inmylrg]

Nevermind the previous post, I figured out what was wrong with it and now I think my HDD could be faulty.

Between these two HDD, is one better than the other? Which would you recommend?

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136074

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

[Dave21]

Personally thru experience I would get WD. However, seagate have devleoped the new 7200.11 drives with 32 mb cache compared to 16 mb cache. So you might want to check those out. This means slightly faster seek time on your drive. I think the minimum starting disk space for those is 500 gb for like 115 USD. A very good deal considering the disk space per dollar.

[inmylrg]

I guess I'll go with the WD 320gb one. Thanks for the suggestions but I really don't need that much space and I think 16mb cache is good enough for me.

[Masaki 7-11]

I've had bad experience with the Seagate 320GB in one of my computers (it crashed withing 6 months), however I've had another one which I've been using for over 1 year without any problems. I've been using WD drives in one of my computers for over 4 years without any problems, and I also have one installed in my laptop, also without any problems.

[Katreat]

I have had good luck with both Seagate and WD. Seagate gives you 5 year warranty where WD still has only a 3 year warranty so lately have been using Seagates. I had 3 Maxtor drives fail in one year so dont even go there anymore.

Failures are going to happen to some % of any computer component so alot of it is still luck. But both WD and Seagate seem to have the best track record so you should be good with either. I have also heard that both are very good with customer service if a drive fails so that is a big plus.

Kat

[inmylrg]

Thanks a lot! So I'll go with these replacement parts.

WD 320GB HDD
Asus P5K-E/WiFi Mobo
Corsair 2x1GB CAS 5 v1.9 RAM

For now, I'm just going to use an older CPU my sister was using before which is a Intel C2D e4600 I believe. Looks good?

[shadowpr]

Looks good.

[inmylrg]

I'm just one step away from buying the parts, but I actually need one more thing. I just need a solid suggestion as to what video card I should get. I don't play games on my computer. ATI was suggested as the better candidate for the use I intend, but which one specifically if not Powercoolor becaues I want to go with a more known brand.

[shadowpr]

I think this is the same version, but different brand: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102729

[inmylrg]

Yours looks good, but I'm looking at some other ones from Sapphire, I just can't tell which is better though. How is the HD 2600XT compared to the HD 3450? Here's a link of the ones I'm comparing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nd&Order=PRICE

[inmylrg]

Okay, I've finally decided between the HD 2600XT and 8600GT, DDR3, and 256MB. Which one though?! Thanks in advance!

[Masaki 7-11]

The HD2600XT is better for videos, and the 8600GT is slightly better at gaming, probably the HD2600XT is better for you since you don't game but you watch videos. If you want to save money, you can get a HD2400Pro or a HD3450 since they also have good video playback, but aren't meant for gaming.

[inmylrg]

I have another question about the P5K-E/WIFI mobo, there's a 8-pin CPU connector, but my PSU only has a 4-pin, will that work?

[inmylrg]

Just to update you guys, I finally bought the parts.

Western Digital 320GB 3.0GB/S SATA HDD
EVGA GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit Video Card
Corsair 2x1GB CAS 5 RAM
Asus P5K-E Motherboard

I will be using these along with:

Antec Solo Case
Thermaltake 500W PSU
Intel C2D e4300 CPU
Phillips IDE DVD Burner
LG IDE DVD ROM

I chose the nVidia card over the ATi one because it was about $30 cheaper and I'm pretty sure it would do just fine for me. Thanks for all your help!

Edit: Just realize that the CPU has always been an e4300. It's clocked at 1.8Ghz. Will upgrade later down the road.