300-400 dollar build for my dad

[lanrup]

My dad is running an old crappy dell pc from years ago, thought I would surprise him for his birthday with a new desktop computer. I appreciate any help I can get.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: asap probably 1-2 days

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: internet, movies, gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, windows xp 32 bit

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg or amazon, prefer amazon because there's no tax in California

PARTS PREFERENCES: probably amd/ati

OVERCLOCKING: no SLI OR CROSSFIRE: no

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: should be relatively quiet and hopefully able to play counter-strike source and team fortress 2 at lower resolutions(800x600,1024x768).

Thanks

 

[IH8U]

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147109
$30 Rosewill R223-P-BK (suggest replacing the fan/s)
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016
$59 OCZ ModXStream 500W (has a $20 MIR)
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379
$75 Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H 780G mATX (has a $10 MIR)(onboard GFX has plenty of power for those games, and Blu-Ray)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103253
$79 Phenom 8650 tri-core
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
$51 G.Skill DDR2 1066 2x2GB
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073
$57 WD5000AAKS 500GB
DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187
$27 Samsung 22x DVDR/RW

Total no OS: $378 + S&H (not counting MIR, combo/rebate)

 

[yoyojam55]

Intel E5200 and Biostar G31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.211191
4GB DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161183
Corsair 400CX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008
4650 DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102838
Caviar Blue 320GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074
Cooler Master Elite
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119189
Lightscribe DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136168
Comes to about $400 including shipping.

The E5200 is a great processor. I know you said no overclocking, but if you just do a small, easy overclock it will immensely help performance.

The 4650 should play those games at 1680x1050, who wants to game at 800x600 on a high res lcd?

 

[lanrup]

What do you guys think of this? I went a little over budget, but i think its pretty good.
Let me know if there is anything you would change, I will be ordering as soon as a get the ok from a few people.
Thanks much appreciated

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223B - OEM $26.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187

SAPPHIRE 100253DDR3L Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail $50.99 $10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102838

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail $58.99 $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail $50.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

Combo: $89.98
Rosewill R901-P BK Triple 120mm Cooling Fan, Mesh Design Front Panel, ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.215994

Combo: $154.98 $10.00 Mail-in Rebate
AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HD960ZWCGDBOX - Retail
GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.211613

 

[jbakerlent]

You could probably drop the graphics card and save $50. Also I would replace the processor with a dual core one which depending on his usage could be either a good Phenom II x2 550 or a decent, very cheap Athlon II x2 245. Other than that it looks pretty good. Maybe I missed it but what exactly is your budget?

Possible CPU/MOBO:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.211696

Cheaper CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103687

 

[lanrup]

originally 300-400

thanks for the options, i will take a look

 

[lanrup]

also, is there a reason the dual core is better?

Thanks

 

[jbakerlent]

If he doesn't do a lot of multitasking he should go for a faster dual core, if he does some maybe a 710 (triple core) would be better. The quad core 9600 is probably the worst quad core on the market (I understand why you picked it out though) which means a lot of the times a dual or triple core alternative could outperform it. Also, less importantly, that particular model has TLB errata problems, which I know very little about, so maybe someone else could elaborate on that topic...

 

[lanrup]

Wow thanks, glad you helped me fix that mistake

much appreciated

 

[lanrup]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.211629

AMD Phenom 8750 Toliman 2.4GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Triple-Core Processor Model HD8750WCGHBOX - Retail
GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

is this a good combo? or is there a better dual core/mobo combo for about the same price?

Thanks again

 

[lanrup]

oh, and as far as dropping the video card goes, your saying the onboard is just as good on the ASUS M4A78-E AM2+/AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail you posted earlier?

if that works out i would definitely spend the extra 50 bucks on that mobo/cpu combo you posted

Thanks

 

[jbakerlent]

No, the 4670 would offer better performance than the 3300 and you do have a moderately high resolution monitor but if he doesn't do much gaming I would take a faster processor and better motherboard first, see how it works, and maybe try to save up for a discrete graphics card in the future...

 

[lanrup]

He does play a lot of Counter-Strike/Day of Defeat Source and Team fortress 2, so I guess I will go over budget, not too big of a deal.

Final build, let me know if you would do any last minute changes

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223B - OEM $26.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151187

SAPPHIRE 100253DDR3L Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail $50.99 $10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102838

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail $58.99 $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341016

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail $50.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166

Combo: $89.98
Rosewill R901-P BK Triple 120mm Cooling Fan, Mesh Design Front Panel, ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.215994

Combo: $199.98 $10.00 Mail-in Rebate
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor Model HDZ550WFGIBOX - Retail
ASUS M4A78-E AM2+/AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.211696

Thanks for everything, you've been incredibly helpful

 

[megamanx00]

I like the build suggested by IH8U, and your AMD build wasn't bad but.... both the 8650 and the 9600 are low clocked original phenoms.

Going with an AMD Athlon II X2 245 or AMD Athlon II X2 250 for the CPU would be a better option. Just make sure you select a board that supports it without needing a BIOS update . The games your dad will be playing will benefit more from the improved architecture and higher clock speed than having more cores.

 

[jbakerlent]

Looks like a great build. Good luck!