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12-17-2008, 08:34 PM
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#1 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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On the cheap...
Hi! I'm looking to do a first build with my daughter (12). She's got a 5 year old Gateway right now that dies at least once a month and we end up spending hours reinstalling Windows and her games. I've upgraded the ram, graphics, drivers, etc... and we're simply tired of it! We could have built a really nice system for her had I not spent so much trying to save the old one.
 Anyway, this is the system I've come up with that I can barely afford, but I'm thinking we could probably upgrade it a little at a time. Please, I'd like to know if everything is compatible and if there's anything I'm missing. We live in Hawaii (military) and shipping is expensive so I'd like to get everything in one shot. Also, can I use her old CD burner, media card reader, and hard drive out of the gateway in the PC we build? Or should she be good to go with just the new ones? I read somewhere it's easier just to stick with SATA? Also, does everything come with enough cords to put it all together? We'll be using her old 19inch CRT monitor, keyboard, and mouse too for a while. Sorry for sounding like such a noob. Everything has changed so much in the past five years! Anyway, looking to purchase... GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128347 Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072 Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL-S 600W ATX12V v2.01 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182062 CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 EVGA 512-P3-N954-TR GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130378 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148231 SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151171 SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Model MPF920 Black - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103116 RAIDMAX Tornado ATX-238WG Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156224 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 English for System Builders 1 Pack CD - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511 |
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12-17-2008, 09:00 PM
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#2 |
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I like me
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Tejas
Posts: 7,332
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Welcome to the Mech.
That's not a bad build there. You can use your old dvd, and hd, but it will usually be easier to have sata drives on new builds. Unless you actually need the floppy drive, you can probably leave that out. Look at asus or lite-on dvd drives. The only real problem i see is that power supply. That brand is no good. Read this for good brands: What Power Supply should I get? How many Watts? Who made it? Guide Inside OCZ had a good deal going before. Not sure if they stil do, but worth a look. EDIT: What is your budget, there are ways to get this build cheaper, but it would also depend on how demanding the games are graphically.
__________________
It's coming....just you wait. |
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12-17-2008, 10:10 PM
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#3 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Budget is about $550 for parts due to the high shipping. Thanks for pointing out the thread about the good and bad power supplies. I've looked through many of the recommended manufacturers and haven't found an LED power supply in the same price range from any of the good ones... My daughter really likes the lights.
 I'll keep looking. Hopefully there's one out there. 
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12-17-2008, 10:11 PM
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#4 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Oh... she's looking to continue playing Sims2 with all the EPs and SPs... and especially Sims 3 when it comes out in February.
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12-17-2008, 10:41 PM
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#5 |
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I like me
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Tejas
Posts: 7,332
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Might want to look at this motherboard as well: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288
Good budget motherboard. |
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12-17-2008, 10:59 PM
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#6 |
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Moderator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 3,791
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You did your homework, nice job, your choice would work... here is mine...
e5200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072 Foxconn M7VMX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186138 G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122 HIS Hightech H483FN512P Radeon HD 4830 512MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161260 GIGABYTE GZ-X2BPD-500 Black 0.6mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811233033 SILVERSTONE ST400 400W ATX 12V 2.2 Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256032 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3 English for System Builders 1 Pack CD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511 435.93 total before shipping, should be under 500.00, rock solid. |
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12-18-2008, 08:46 AM
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#7 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Garland, TX
Posts: 305
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Definitely go for the Asus P5KPL-CM over the Foxconn if you can. It's worth the extra $10.
__________________
-RobertC Current Build: Intel Q9450|4GB (2x2GB) Corsair PC6400|MSI HD 5570 1GB|1TB WD Blue WD10EALS|MSI P45 Neo-F Motherboard|Antec TruePower Trio 430W|Antec Solo Case| |
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12-18-2008, 08:59 AM
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#8 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Western PA
Posts: 691
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This is a good budget PSU- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...io%20goodpower
I have one in my build, Newegg lies it has 4 native SATA connectors.
__________________
Case...Cooler Master Centurion 5 | PSU...Corsair TX750 Mobo............Gigabyte GA-MA69G-S3H CPU..............AMD Athlon 64 X2, OC @ 3.0ghz RAM.............2gb Gskill DDR2 800 CPU Cooler...Zalman 9700 GPU.............Sapphire 4870HD Monitor.........22" Acer LCD Storage........500gb Seagate DVD.............Lite On DVD Burner Windows Vista 64 bit |
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12-18-2008, 09:19 AM
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#9 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,557
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I would also go with the MOBO that shadowpr linked to.
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12-18-2008, 09:55 AM
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#10 |
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Member (6 bit)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 45
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If some of the suggestions above have freed up any space in your budget, you may want to consider a small upgrade in the processor.
The e5200 is in the sweet spot for it's price range, so it's definitely a good buy. The next sweet spot up the ladder is the e7300, for $37 more. Performance is about 10-20% better, depending on application. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115132 |
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12-18-2008, 10:48 AM
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#11 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Ok... chose a different power supply. No fancy lights, but it's a neat color and the kid approves.
 FSP Group Blue Storm II 500W ATX 2.2 SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104034 Also, is there a reason I shouldn't go with the Gigabyte mother board? I'm sure the one linked to is the best functioning for the price, but I am kind of trying to think of future upgrades also since we're being so cheap about this now. Think I'll stick with the e5200 processor for now. I can always upgrade her to a quad core in a year or two... and I'm sure she'll want a faster graphics card by then too. |
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12-18-2008, 11:14 AM
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#12 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Ok, this combo puts me $101 over budget. But, I'm thinking it would last a heck of a lot longer and actually save me money not upgrading the processor later. I can swing the extra $100 if we just wait a couple weeks before ordering... so, is this a good idea? Thank you all so much!
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.147900 One more question... is this PC building stuff going to become an addiction? I'm all ready thinking that I'll start planning on building myself a new PC after I get my daughter's finished... and then I should build one for my mom because she's still running Windows ME on a celeron! |
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12-18-2008, 11:27 AM
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#13 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,557
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You will need a graphics card with that MOBO.
Personally, I would go with an Asus MOBO. The P5Q series are very popular. It sounds as though you have got the building bug already.
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12-18-2008, 12:23 PM
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#14 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Yeah, I have this graphics card picked out for starters... Will it work?
EVGA 512-P3-N954-TR GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130378 Off to look at the Asus MOBO. Thank you so much for the help.
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12-18-2008, 04:09 PM
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#15 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,557
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Your link to the graphics card didn't work. Is this it? If so, it will work.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130378 |
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12-18-2008, 05:35 PM
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#16 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Yep, that's it! Sorry about the link. And thank you again!
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12-20-2008, 06:27 PM
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#17 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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I ordered the case so far. Had it shipped to my mom for the free shipping and then she'll priority mail it to me in Hawaii. (Hawaii is like living in a different country as far as shipping costs go.)
Two changes I made... First, the Geforce 9500 would work with the system, BUT Sims3 minimum requirements were recently posted on EAs website and that card is not supported. So, we're going with the GeForce 9800 instead. Even though it's more expensive, it'll probably be a while before I need to upgrade it. Second, we decided to scrap the floppy drive and put in a media card reader/writer instead. Oh, and I'm pulling the CD drive out of her old computer so she'll have two... it's got an IDE connection, but from what I've read it should be easy enough to install and have both CD drives work. Oh, and I ordered a round IDE cable so we'll still have great air flow! That's about it! We should have this thing built sometime in January. My daughter (12) told me this morning that she wants to do all the work and for me to just watch and help her...
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12-20-2008, 07:24 PM
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#18 | |
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Moderator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 3,791
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Quote:
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12-20-2008, 07:30 PM
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#19 | |
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Moderator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 3,791
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Quote:
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12-24-2008, 05:19 PM
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#20 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Would someone mind explaining how the 4pin 12V power supply will work in the 8 hole 12v 2x4 on the motherboard? I've been reading the manuals online and I'm thinking these work together... but I'm confused. Or is there some adapter I should get? Or a different power supply with the 8 pin 12V? Thank you again so much!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104034 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359 |
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01-08-2009, 02:25 PM
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#21 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 14
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Yeah! It's all built and works great. I ended up using the $65 Gigabyte motherboard, E7300 PSU, and 4gb (2x2gb) A-data ram, and Vista.
Only problem I had was when I first loaded the OS, I had one sata DVD drive hooked up. Later, I added an IDE DVD drive and for some reason windows wouldn't boot. I searched the internet and tried to fix things in BIOS and all that, but the only fix was to reinstall Vista... which worked! Oh, and I broke the 1st sata port on the motherboard while running cables. I barely knocked it, and that thing is dangling! But, everything still works... I ended up just leaving that port empty to avoid future problems with it. |
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01-08-2009, 05:41 PM
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#22 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,557
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Congrats. That will be a great PC for the Daughter.
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