best CPU & Mobo under $250

[blakegocoogs]

I've been researching different motherboards, chipsets, and cpus for a machine that I'd like to build fairly cheaply. I want to use my current AGP card and my existing ATA hard drives, although I'm not opposed to an SATA upgrade in the future. I'm pretty much thinking AMD, but I can change on that.

In my research I've put these combos together
AthlonXP 3200+ w/ MSI K7N2 Delta2-LSR = $200
Sempron 3100+ w/ DFI Lanparty nF3 250 Gb = $207
Athlon 64 3000+ w/ Chaintech S1689 = $217

I haven't built a machine since my Athlon 600Mhz and I've done a lot of research in the past couple of weeks but I'd like your input.

I'd like to stick w/ a MSI, gigabyte, asus, or other name brand board but the prices on some of these others that offer the same chipset are astounding. I also wouldn't look to overclock unless I went with the Sempron option. I'm basically thinking that I would build the test machine used in the Feb 2005 "Fast Computer On The Cheap" article.

Which of these systems would be fastest out of the box using dual channel 512x2 ram?

Thanks a lot,
Blake

 

[pat]

I just built one a computer for a friend that wanted some nice performance, but low price.

I went with a SOLTEK "SL-K8AN2E-GR" NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb (newegg 75$) and an AMD Athlon 2800+ socket 754 (120$ newegg). He is very happy so far and dont feel his computer being slow because of AGP, socket 754, single channel or having a 1.8GHz cpu..

That's going to be 195$, so you'll save 5$. I never had any problem with those motherboard, they are fast, rock stable and inexpensive.

The 2800+ should perform better than the 3100+ sempron because it has bigger cache and 64 bits extension for future 64 bits apps and OS. Dual channel is not really a performance + for AMD and while the 2800+ is single channel, it runs at the same speed that my 3000+ 939.. the difference maybe a gain of 5-7% due to the 939 being dual channel... So that 2800+ is by no means a weak chip.. But having 2x512 megs will make it running very good.

I owned one of those board with a 3000+ and 2x512 megs ram that I sold to a friend that had a problem with his old computer, and me wanting to experiment with nforce4 PCIe take the opportunity.

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[blakegocoogs]

If I do go the single channel route is one 1 gig dimm a better than 512x2? I'm planning on using Corsair Value ram or an equivalent. Unless you guys think the XMS series or equivalent RAM is better. Sorry for all the newbie ?'s.

-blake

 

[pat]

I would use 1 gigs of valur RAM or even samsumg memory with it.

<font color=red>Sig space for rent. make your offer.</font color=red>

 

[Rugger]

2X512 sticks of RAM should be good for your purposes. If you're going to be doing any heavy encoding/decoding work then go with 2GB of RAM, but I don't think that's your goal...correct me if I'm wrong!

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[pat]

If he goes the 754 vroute, since most board only has 2 memory slot, then this could limits his RAM upgrade in the future if he goes with 2. But it all depends of his need... If the price difference between the 2 x512 or 1x 1gigs isnt that big, I'll go with the 1 gigs now


<font color=red>Sig space for rent. make your offer.</font color=red>

 

[Rugger]

The difference isn't huge - typically $15-20 from what I've seen. If he's on a tight budget, then that may make the difference. 1Gb should last for a good while unless he's doing a lot of non-gaming, memory intensive work.

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<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[blakegocoogs]

Thanks for all the feedback. If I do go the 754 route I could afford the 1 gig dimm. Does anyone think that the 939 of socket a route would be better way to go?

I basically want a general use computer to get me through 2 years or so w/ minimal upgrades until I spring for a more expensive machine later.

 

[endyen]

S754 is the best performer right now. Look at the abit NF8-V or the Asus K8N.
Some here dont like Asus, but they are the only mobo maker that has a 3 year warranty. Even Abit's is only 2.

 

[Rugger]

s754 should easily get you thru two years. I agree with Endyen on the mobo choices - I would go with the Abit board.

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<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[blakegocoogs]

I'm just about to pull the trigger on buying the parts. Any particular reason you guys go with the Abit over the Soltek?

 

[Rugger]

^^^^^^^^^^^^
What he said.

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