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05-27-2009, 02:02 PM
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#1 |
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Member (3 bit)
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7
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Critique this $500 build for my Parents
Hello everyone,
I'd like to know what you all think about this setup. I'm trying to build something that will last for 6 years. Thank you in advance! GOAL: I want to build a PC for my parents to replace their old, el-cheapo Dell and in order to compete with Dells deals, I would like to keep this all under $500. My #1 goal is speed over time. I want build a computer that will still be fast 6 years from now with only a minor upgrade or two (RAM, vid card...). I want the OS to load very quickly (important!), and for applications to start with a snap. They only ever use the computer for the internet, so the most processor-intensive situation would involve streaming video and the virus scanner (AVG), maybe even at the same time! I will load it up with Win7 RC and buy it about 9 months from now. TOTAL: $508 [$25] Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147112 (I would also add a $8 front fan) [$25] DiabloTek PHD350 350-Watt Power Supply - ATX, SATA Ready, PCIe Ready, 20+4 Pin http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...524&CatId=1077 [$72] ASRock A780GMH/128M AM2+/AM3 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157154 [$119] AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103648 [$22] OCZ Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227060 [$128] OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX30G 2.5" 30GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Disk This is for the OS only (indexing off) READ: Up to 230 MB/s WRITE: Up to 135MB/s (80 sustained) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227393 [$109] Acer X193Wb Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2000:1 ACM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009151 And I will reuse the mouse, speakers, DVD and IDE hard drive (for photos, browser, virus scanner). Thoughts? Concerns? Thanks again! |
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05-27-2009, 03:13 PM
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#2 |
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Forum Administrator
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I do not trust a DiabloTek power supply, look at FSP at Newegg.
I do not trust Asrock motherboards, go for an entry level Asus. Don't waste your money on a SSD. They are not ready for mainstream use yet. Get a WD Black SATA drive for half the price and retire the IDE drive. You don't need a front fan. Look at Hanns-G monitors, they are more reliable than Acer in the el cheapo price range. For PROPER performance with a Phenom II, I believe you need DDR2-1066 ram, and you should get 4gb. |
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05-27-2009, 04:07 PM
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#3 |
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Member (3 bit)
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7
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Thanks glc,
I've changed my mind on the case to this one, which includes a decent 585W power supply: HEC 6K28BBX585 Black 0.8mm SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 585W PS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ase-_-11121004 I'm also considering this HD instead of a SSD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320 |
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05-27-2009, 05:16 PM
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#4 |
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Avanzato Tecnico
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Illinois
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The case and PSU you are reconsidering are no good. The one thing you can not skimp on is a power supply. This is what glc is trying to tell you. I realize you want to save money but not with a power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Shopping/Shopp...82E16811147112 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104901 Here is the motherboard you want http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131384 spend a little more and save yourself a lot of hassle.
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Last edited by Khalil; 05-27-2009 at 05:22 PM. |
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05-27-2009, 05:59 PM
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#5 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: tfp
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To elaborate on Khalil's point, it doesn't much matter what case you choose (although micro-atx limits the amount of room you have to work with, and restricts which motherboards you use). Generally speaking, cases are a matter of personal preference.
Power supplies, however, are _not_ to be skimped on. A bad powersupply can cause system instability, or worst case die and take other components with it. Think about it as plumbing; even though pipes aren't a major "performance spec" for a house, you wouldn't put in lead piping just 'cause it's cheaper.
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System: ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe AMD Opteron Denmark 165 Sapphire Radeon 4850x2 2X1GB G.Skill DDR400 Ram Corsair 850W PSU Thermaltake Soprano case Seagate 7200.10 320GB |
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05-27-2009, 06:38 PM
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#6 |
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error post
Last edited by jdeb; 05-27-2009 at 06:42 PM. |
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05-27-2009, 07:19 PM
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#7 |
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Get a case that comes WITHOUT a power supply and get that FSP that Khalil linked. Currently, I don't think there's a case on Newegg that comes with a GOOD power supply for under $100. With onboard video, 350 watts is MORE than enough, but it has to be QUALITY watts. That 585 in the HEC case is complete garbage.
Good hard drive choice. |
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05-27-2009, 10:08 PM
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#8 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: eastern nc
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__________________
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ASUS P5Q Deluxe-Q6700-TRUE BE-Noctua Fan-Corsair Dominator C5DF-Sapphire HD4870T-WD Black Drives-CM690-Windows 7 - powered by PC POWER & COOLING - |
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05-28-2009, 08:19 AM
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#9 |
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Member (3 bit)
Join Date: May 2009
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This is fun.
OK, from everyone's comments I've got three PS's that are supposedly good. I'd like to get everyone's thoughts on which one I should get. KEEP IN MIND that later I will certainly upgrade the box with a video card. Knowing that, which PS should I go with: [$30] FSP Group ATX350-PA 350W ATX 12V (v 2.2) Power Supply - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104901 [$45] PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS370X 370W ATX12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703018 [$40] CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139008 When I get to the vid card, I'll most likely start a new thread, because I'm afraid there are as many opinions as there are cards... But here is one I would consider: [$50] SAPPHIRE 100236L Radeon HD 3650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102726 thanks again everyone |
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05-28-2009, 09:25 AM
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#10 |
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Avanzato Tecnico
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out of the 3 I would go with the Corsair if you plan on upgrading to a low power video card.
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05-28-2009, 09:28 AM
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#11 |
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Member (3 bit)
Join Date: May 2009
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What do you all think about one of these these Mobo's (and which has the best integrated graphics?)
[$75] ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard ATI Radeon HD 3100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131330 [$75] ASUS M3N78-VM AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard NVIDIA GeForce 8 series http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131318 [$65] GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard ATI Radeon HD 3200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128379 |
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05-28-2009, 10:33 AM
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#12 |
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Avanzato Tecnico
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Nvidia makes good products however if you are going with an AMD system I would rather see you stick to ATI and AMD chipsets. AMD owns ATI.
This said, this board out of the 3 is your best bet [$75] ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard ATI Radeon HD 3100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131330 |
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05-28-2009, 10:49 AM
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#13 |
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Member (3 bit)
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7
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thanks Khalil
So how does this combo sound? Can I do better for the same price range? ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131330 AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103678 |
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05-28-2009, 10:54 AM
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#14 |
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Avanzato Tecnico
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Excellent, those 7850s are blazing fast, your parents will be very happy.
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05-28-2009, 11:05 AM
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#15 |
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Member (3 bit)
Join Date: May 2009
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SO, here is my revised parts list:
[$75] ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131330 [$70] AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103678 [$59] Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042 [$40] CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139008 [$70] Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320 [$37] OCZ Blade Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227420 [$109] ASUS VW192T+ 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 4000:1(1000:1) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236056 TOTAL: $460 Last edited by mfaerber; 05-28-2009 at 11:31 AM. |
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05-28-2009, 11:22 AM
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#16 |
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Avanzato Tecnico
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Great list but this is the monitor you want http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236056
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05-28-2009, 11:29 AM
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#17 |
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Member (3 bit)
Join Date: May 2009
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oh snap, you're right
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05-28-2009, 04:43 PM
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#18 |
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nice build with the monitor that khalil mentioned.
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