Please your Advice on new Intel budget build

[Felix k]

CPU preferred: Intel.

Intel comparable board.

Parts I already have: HDD (80gigs) Floppy drive,PS (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 310 ATX) an old Compaq presario 5300us case.Not sure power and HDD led connector will fit new board.

Budget: Up to $380.00.

For my brother, for basic computing/less intensive processing.

I'm considering these but your advice is needed: Motherboard : $52.99 $ 7.59 shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20Micro%20ATX

CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072 • $72.99 free shipping

Ram: $39.99 free shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231122

OS: $89.00/$99.00 free shipping. Don't know which one to choose XP home 32bit,Vista home premium 32 or 64 bits? Not sure. Help.My brother is less technical inclined.

If Compaq case does not work? Perhaps this case: $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...el%20ATX%20Mid

What do you think? Thanks in advance.

[Alaron]

Good start. I'd go with the Asus P5KPL-CM over the Gigabyte: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288

To use all 4GB of RAM, you need a 64bit OS. Go with Vista, as XP x64 wasn't all that great.

That PC Power PSU is a great unit but unfortunately it doesn't have the 24 pin connectors that new motherboards need. Knock out two birds with one stone though and pick up that Foxconn case. The Delta PSU inside is good quality and enough power for a simple system.

[Felix k]

Originally Posted by Alaron Good start. I'd go with the Asus P5KPL-CM over the Gigabyte: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288 To use all 4GB of RAM, you need a 64bit OS. Go with Vista, as XP x64 wasn't all that great. That PC Power PSU is a great unit but unfortunately it doesn't have the 24 pin connectors that new motherboards need. Knock out two birds with one stone though and pick up that Foxconn case. The Delta PSU inside is good quality and enough power for a simple system.

Thanks Alaron, I have this PC Power & Cooling is sitting in front of me all along but never realized its 20-pin connector limitation with a new motherboard untill you pointed it out. More reason to come over here for help/confirmatioms even if you think you have figured it all out.

Regarding the Asus P5KPL-CM over the Gigabyte, any explainable reason ? I respect your expertise, however, a little explaination with someone with less computer technical knowledge like me will go a long way in learning.Thanks again.

[Alaron]

The boards themselves are basically the same, built around the same chipset. So performance isn't going to differ. I'd simply go with Asus because they are a higher quality brand. Gigabyte is ok, but I don't feel they are quite the same. Plus I know some other members here recommend the P5KPL-CM as a solid budget board.

[Felix k]

Originally Posted by Alaron The boards themselves are basically the same, built around the same chipset. So performance isn't going to differ. I'd simply go with Asus because they are a higher quality brand. Gigabyte is ok, but I don't feel they are quite the same. Plus I know some other members here recommend the P5KPL-CM as a solid budget board.

Thanks again,I truly appreciate your input,I was at Newegg.com reading all the reviews of the ASUS P5KPL-CM as well as all the GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard.

Based on what I read,it seems the odds favors the GIGABYTE motherboard a little bit but then again I was thinking that most people at this forum recommend the ASUS P5KPL-CM over most budget motherboards.

I was also reading about this motherboad: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186146

I've heard that FOXCONN made my DELL 8200 Dimension motherboard and my Dell is still functioning good since March 2002.

But nevertheless, I think I'm seriously going to act on all your advice for this build based on the technical knowledge of you guys.

I also need your recommendation selecting a budget DVD burner for this build.

Thanks.

[jdeb]

I have always used these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186145

and not had any problems.

The foxconns only have 2 sata though but for budget builds two is all you need. they do have pata ide hard drives though. The board is stable and soild. The gigabyte is a nice board and has a couple more sata. The Asus board is the normal recommendation on here and it is not the same board as gigabyte.

[Felix k]

Originally Posted by jdeb I have always used these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186145 and not had any problems. The foxconns only have 2 sata though but for budget builds two is all you need. they do have pata ide hard drives though. The board is stable and soild. The gigabyte is a nice board and has a couple more sata. The Asus board is the normal recommendation on here and it is not the same board as gigabyte.

Thanks jdeb,can you exaplain a little bit? You said the Asus board is not the same as gigabyte? How?

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Felix k Thanks jdeb,can you exaplain a little bit? You said the Asus board is not the same as gigabyte? How?

here you go

gigabyte
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/...ProductID=2889

asus
http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?mo...11&l3=563&l4=0

[Felix k]

[QUOTE=jdeb;1411188]here you go

gigabyte
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/...ProductID=2889

asus
http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?mo...11&l3=563&l4=0[/QUO



Thanks, I'm on it.

[not important]

I'd go with the Asus P5KPL-CM...... very nice budget board.

[Felix k]

Thanks guys. Would any budget DVD burner ok/conparable with this build?

[glc]

Any IDE or SATA burner is fine. I usually use Lite-On.

[not important]

Lite-On for all purpose.....LG if you want to burn movies.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by not important Lite-On for all purpose.....LG if you want to burn movies.

both very good overall, high quality, reliable.

[Felix k]

Thanks guys, I'm waiting for the above Foxconn case to become available at Newegg, that case is out of stock right now, I'm on their notification list when it becomes available.

[Felix k]

While waiting for the Foxconn case to begin the build, I'm reading through this Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L/ES2C Motherboard manual at their website.

According to this excerpt from the manual:

1/2) ATX_12V/ATX (2x2 12V Power Connector and 2x12 Main Power Connector)....... The main power connector is compatible with power supplies with 2x10 power
connectors. When using a 2x12 power supply, remove the protective cover from the
main power connector on the motherboard. Do not insert the power supply cable into pins
under the protective cover when using a 2x10 power supply.

Am I to understand that this board is compatible with 20-pin PS?

Not that I'll use 20 pin PS on a new board as Alaron explained earlier in this tread. However,Someone please explain/confirm to me for the sake of learning/knowing what this manual is saying. Thanks.

Sorry in case of double post,first posting page became blank after I clicked submit tab

[glc]

Yes, you CAN use a 20 pin, but a 20 pin is not going to have enough +12v to support a video card or a quad core processor.

[Felix k]

Thanks glc,for your super fast response its nice to know.