Budget build, $400 PC, how does this look?

[Matt_Smi]

Ok first off let me say that I know for about $100 more added to the price of this build I could get a 2.4 Ghz quad core and a 1 TB hard drive, but I have already been over this with the person I am building it for and he really doesn’t need anything that is “close to top of the line”, he is just looking to upgrade his 5 year old Dell and really does not want to spend much over $400. He does want to option to add another 2 GB of RAM as well as more storage in the future, so I want a board with at least 4 SATA ports, which is really only 3 because one is taken for the CD-ROM.

Also he already has a monitor, peripherals, an OS and will be using an Evga 7800GT courtesy of me as the video card, but he will not be gaming on this machine, he just wants to be able to run his 19” DVI display and output to a TV as well. So this is just pricing for the desktop and that’s it.


$100 - Case/Power Supply: Antec NSK4480 Black/ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129031

$80 - Motherboard: ASUS P5Q SE PLUS LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131347

$120 - CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 Allendale 2.4GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115032
Quick note here, I would go with a 45nm CPU, but I am not sure if this board supports it

$60 - Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136073

$20 - RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590
Will this work fine with that board?

$20 - Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106263


So this is a total of just $400 after rebates and before shipping, I would buy a lesser case, but I don't want to skimp on the PSU and go generic. Also the motherboard might seem a bit much for this build, but I really don't want to get a $50 board with only two DIMMs and two SATA ports, this one is still cheap and has room for expansion, which is what he wants, but any other similar board recommendations are welcome. Also I wanted to make sure that that RAM will be ok with this board.

Thanks.

[Masaki 7-11]

Everything looks good, the motherboard you picked out does support 45nm processors, so the E5200 may be a better choice to use than the E4600.

A suggestion for your build is to use a less expensive micro atx board, with a less expensive case/power supply combo (the quality of the power supply is as good or better than antec, but the price is about half, and instead of using 2x1GB of ram, use 2x2GB of ram, in the end you'll get more performance for a smaller price.
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811108073
Ram (recommendation, feel free to use other brand like corsair if you feel more comfortable with it, I've used Mushkin exclusively since I started building computers on a larger scale about a year ago, and have had very good results): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146692
E5200: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072

Overall the recommendations should take off $50+ and improve performance as well.

[Matt_Smi]

Originally Posted by Masaki 7-11 Everything looks good, the motherboard you picked out does support 45nm processors, so the E5200 may be a better choice to use than the E4600. A suggestion for your build is to use a less expensive micro atx board, with a less expensive case/power supply combo (the quality of the power supply is as good or better than antec, but the price is about half, and instead of using 2x1GB of ram, use 2x2GB of ram, in the end you'll get more performance for a smaller price. Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288 Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811108073 Ram (recommendation, feel free to use other brand like corsair if you feel more comfortable with it, I've used Mushkin exclusively since I started building computers on a larger scale about a year ago, and have had very good results): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146692 E5200: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072 Overall the recommendations should take off $50+ and improve performance as well.

Thanks, I will def consider that case to save $50, I will have to research the PSU a bit first tho, as for the board, it looks like it may work out ok too, since they support 45nm CPU's then I want to get this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115132

Do you see anything wrong with that? And is there a difference between the plain dual core and a Core 2 Duo? Or is it just two names for the same thing?

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by Matt_Smi Thanks, I will def consider that case to save $50, I will have to research the PSU a bit first tho, as for the board, it looks like it may work out ok too, since they support 45nm CPU's then I want to get this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115132 Do you see anything wrong with that? And is there a difference between the plain dual core and a Core 2 Duo? Or is it just two names for the same thing?

The In Win case uses a powerman power supply (which is a rebranded FSP/Sparkle power supply; good quality), however only micro atx motherboards works with it. The processor you linked to is good, it has a slightly faster FSB (1066MHz vs 800MHz), more cache (3MB vs. 2MB) and slightly higher frequency (2.53GHz vs. 2.5GHz).

[Matt_Smi]

Originally Posted by Masaki 7-11 The In Win case uses a powerman power supply (which is a rebranded FSP/Sparkle power supply; good quality), however only micro atx motherboards works with it. The processor you linked to is good, it has a slightly faster FSB (1066MHz vs 800MHz), more cache (3MB vs. 2MB) and slightly higher frequency (2.53GHz vs. 2.5GHz).

Ok that makes me feel better about the PSU, but I didn't not notice that it only fits micro ATX boards, that is a bummer. But I will see if he will use that case/board and save $80 right there. I think I will go with the slightly faster CPU tho.

[not important]

I'm using a case like that in my bedroom ($49 at a local PC shop...front bezel has some silver mesh at the bottom) and it is a "nice" case. It is tight to work in and the screwless drive holders are real cheap but I wouldn't hesitate to use another one.
I assumed the PSU was junk so I replaced it. Now that I know it's a good one I'll drag it of the spare parts box.

[cantputt04]

My parents have entrusted me to build them a new budget computer for them for Christmas, and I think I might just use this build, with all of Masaki's recommendations.


However, I want to put a small video card into it. I notice it has a PCI-Ex16 in it, so that's a plus. But I'm not entirely sure what the 350w power supply that comes with the recommended care is capable of handling. Any suggestions?

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by cantputt04 My parents have entrusted me to build them a new budget computer for them for Christmas, and I think I might just use this build, with all of Masaki's recommendations. However, I want to put a small video card into it. I notice it has a PCI-Ex16 in it, so that's a plus. But I'm not entirely sure what the 350w power supply that comes with the recommended care is capable of handling. Any suggestions?

My friend had a 7950GT, running on the In Win 350W power supply and all it was running fine, I'm using the same power supply for a rig using a 9600GSO, so you can definetly use a video card with the power supply. You'll want to get a better power supply if you are overclocking or getting a really high power video card (the power supply should be able to handle any video card as long as it uses either a 6 pin pci-express connector or doesn't need an additional connector, cards with a 8 pin, dual 6 pin or 6+8 pin will need a better power supply).

[cantputt04]

Oh ok I was looking more towards a GeForce 8400 GS lol. Again, it's for my parents, who only use it for normal computer things, but my mom loved the Sims so I figure I could get her some Sims2 for Christmas if I put a lightweight video card into the rig. It would also take strain off the CPU and everything would work better.


Is there a better card I could get for 30-40 bucks?

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by cantputt04 Oh ok I was looking more towards a GeForce 8400 GS lol. Again, it's for my parents, who only use it for normal computer things, but my mom loved the Sims so I figure I could get her some Sims2 for Christmas if I put a lightweight video card into the rig. It would also take strain off the CPU and everything would work better. Is there a better card I could get for 30-40 bucks?

This is a better card you can get for about $30: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131115 (HD2600 Pro)

[cantputt04]

It's not in stock though =(

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by cantputt04 It's not in stock though =(

Wow, as soon as I post the link, it sells out... this card should work instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102064 (X1650 PRO)

[cantputt04]

Hmmm anything a bit younger than that card?

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by cantputt04 Hmmm anything a bit younger than that card?

This card is pretty new and has good performance: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127390 (HD4350)

[not important]

I recently put that MSI HD4350 into an Intel board I use in my bedroom the and the improvement was quite dramatic over the onboard graphics. No fan so it's quiet and it runs very cool.

[Matt_Smi]

Just a little addition, we decided to ditch the Antec Case and go with this combo instead...

Case - $45: COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119115

PSU - $50 CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139008

I like that PSU a lot and it leaves plenty of headroom for a nice GPU in the future, and the case seems pretty decent for a cheap one. My friend did not want to go the micro ATX route because that case only holds one 3.5 drive and he already has two, plus wants to add a third soon. Also the MB did not have as many features as he liked and he thought that the one I selected was worth the $30 more. But if my budget was around $300 I would def look at saving money by using microATX stuff...

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by Matt_Smi Just a little addition, we decided to ditch the Antec Case and go with this combo instead... Case - $45: COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119115 PSU - $50 CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139008 I like that PSU a lot and it leaves plenty of headroom for a nice GPU in the future, and the case seems pretty decent for a cheap one. My friend did not want to go the micro ATX route because that case only holds one 3.5 drive and he already has two, plus wants to add a third soon. Also the MB did not have as many features as he liked and he thought that the one I selected was worth the $30 more. But if my budget was around $300 I would def look at saving money by using microATX stuff...

Take a look at getting either this power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371016 ($55, free shipping, Antec 550W)
or this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015 ($60, free shipping, Antec 650W)
Both of these power supplies are high quality, cost similar to the corsair power supply and will offer much more headroom for upgrading.