building a mid-range pc, suggestions?

[Lionhardt]

i want to build a new computer, mainly for gaming, mp3 playback, mabye some dvd's...

i am only 14, so money is the main issue here, i want to spend mabye at most $1000

i was debating between building my own, or just find an incredible mail in rebate deal and upgrade it, i have good knowledge on building them, but i have never actually done it...

give me any ideas on it, ur suggestions, or a good build plan, it would be greatly appreciated

it would prolly be agod idea to go with core 2 duo, and i know a lot more about nvidia than about ati, so idk... but thanks


~lionhardt

 

[sillywabbit]

Let us know: do you have any hardware from a previous computer you will be using for this new build? Keyboard, mouse, monitor? Or do you need everything?

 

[Lionhardt]

nah, the comp i use right now is the family comp:

p3 933mhz
256 ram
fx5500....

it sucks, and i wont reuse anything, so i need all new shtuff like:

montior( i was thinking a good lcd with like 12 x 10 or 16 x 12 native)
decently good sound card with decently good speakers
a solid combonatioin of keyboard and mouse (like microsoft)
dvd burner, u know.....

 

[sillywabbit]

Going with Conroe may put you a little over budget especially if you want 2GB worth of Ram:

E6300 $180
Gigabyte DS3 MB $146
2 GB of ram ~ $200 (pqi was running about $180 on newegg)
Seagate 250GB PRT HD $75
7600 GT video card ~ $120
Win XP $80
NEC dvd/cd burner $30

That all totals about $750 not including tax and shipping. Find a decent PSU and a case you like may put you out another $150 including shipping and tax. For another $100 i'm sure you could pick up some speakers, keyboard and mouse. Bug your parents for a decent LCD for Christmas and you're set

 

[rwaritsdario]

ECS P965T-A (V1.0) $73

E6300 $180

2x1GB DDR2 667 CL4 $175
PQI25400-2GDB

7600GT $110

barracuda 7200.10 250gb $75

lite-on or LG $35 0r $29
SHM-165H6S GSA-H10N

Antec SONATA II 450W SmartPower $100


Since your fonds are quite limited I wouldnt recommend a sound card for now. Get a good set of speakers and if you arent confortable with the sound (wich I highly doubt because onboard is HD nowadays) then get a sound card. The logitech X-530 are a good 5.1 set for a budget but if you arent that much into games look for a better set of 2.1 instead. These are $60.

Even that this is a good setup its not very overclockable due to its motherboard. If youre up for OCing or want to learn how to, the Gigabyte DS3 is a great motherboard for it that wont take all you money with it. I didnt post it in the setup because I would be going a too much over budget. There are ways to cut down on parts too even that I wouldnt recommend them.

This is a really good setup that will leave you alot of money for a nice set of speakers, a 12x10 monitor, and a mouse and keyboard. You can get a monitor for less than $150 and a m&k for $25.

Keep me posted on what youre thinking!

 

[Lionhardt]

well, let me ask u if building a pc is that tough? i mean ive installed a video card, and memory (which failed), but i have never really done stuff like install a processor or anything....

also, is there a big difference in performance between e6300 and e6400?
the price diffeerence is like 50 bucks...
it might just be a better idea to get a cheap MiR dell ands upgrade it....

im not sure.... any ideas are appreciated....

 

[enforcerfx]

well, let me ask u if building a pc is that tough? i mean ive installed a video card, and memory (which failed), but i have never really done stuff like install a processor or anything....

also, is there a big difference in performance between e6300 and e6400?
the price diffeerence is like 50 bucks...
it might just be a better idea to get a cheap MiR dell ands upgrade it....

im not sure.... any ideas are appreciated....

Dells are hard to upgrade. It would be best just to build your own. Difference in the 6300 and 6400 is ghz speeds, and cache size. I would go for the E6300 and o'c to the e6400 speeds.

 

[sillywabbit]

I agree: I would stick with the E6300 as the $50 is not worth the slight performance improvement you can easily make up for with a little OC'ing in the future.

 

[purdueguy]

Just a clarification. The only difference between an E6300 and an E6400 is processor speed. The E6600 has the 4MB cache. Both the E6300 and E6400 have a 2MB cache.

Go to www.monarchcomputer.com or something similiar. You can put in the components you want and it won't cost that much more to get it done. If you're up for learning on how to build your own, then go for it.

Otherwise, have someone else build it for now and learn more in the mean time so that you will be able to upgrade your current system.

This way you have a good case and power supply unit (PSU) to start with.

The system mentiond by rwaritsdario is what I would of recommended other than the mobo. I'd get the ASUS P5N SLI. It might be more expensive, but I think ASUS is better quality. And you want a good quality mobo. Upgrading CPU's, memory, video cards, etc. is easy. Upgrading a mobo is a pain as you will have to reinstall the operating system and every other program on your hard drive.

I read where the LAN didn't work on the ECS board for one user. Well, I had an ECS board where one of the USB ports quit working. And it only had 2 ports to begin with. I then upgraded to an ASUS board and have been extremely pleased with it.

 

[Lionhardt]

wait so a cpu installation is easy?
so whast tough? thmobo... yeah, but what else
i couldnt imagine a psu tough, or any of the easy stuff listed, what about hdd?
and dvd drives dont seem too tough at all...
idk, any more thoughts are really appreciated...

 

[Lionhardt]

omfg, wtf monarch's deals are like the freaking worse, they have a machine i configured almost exactly like the ones u guys made, for like $1500...

that sucks, but what about dells, or like gateways hp's or whatever being unupgradable?

is it because they use shitty parts like toshiba ram?(its in my 5 year old dell)

i dotn really know, if u were 14 and knew a lot about comps but were unsure about building them, would u? i dont have tons of money and if i build one and fuck up, then im screwed and just lost a whole fuck load of money...

so any thoiughts are good.

 

[rwaritsdario]

Forget about buying any prebuilt sh!t. Were being man here and we'll build our own from scratch, from the ground up. The only thing you need to do to feel confident is to RESEARCH. Theres nothing better than that.
Find detailed pictured modern guides about building your own PC and read all the "beginner's guide" articles in tomshardware you can. You'll find out that installing just about anything is equally easy (not hard, easy).
The only place where you will waste you money is if you give it away to any PC building company...

As for my motherboard recommendation. Since you want something thatll be rock stable and with amazing features, something thatll never fail on you. Go for the Gigabyte DS3, its about twice as expensive but its worth it. Great OCing mobo too.

Even with the same stock cooler you can match the E6400 speeds on a E6300. They have the same amount on cache. But further than that I would recommend an aftermarket HSF. The Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro is a great one without breaking the bank. Itll outperform any HSF in its price range.

 

[reader850]

I build a new computer every 12 to 18 months, so I'm not a polished pro. And I remember my first build, about 6 years ago. It was a little confusing. I plodded through it very slowly and very carefully, without much confidence, but when I finished and it worked, I felt great. Since then, I sometimes still have to research a problem (such as putting my current system together -- the bios in my DFI board was very complex to set up and OC), but that just makes the experience that more satisfying.
I'd say the physical installation/connection of the parts is really easy if you have a decent case. The challenge is to install the OS and set up your hard drive partitions like you want, and then install the drivers, virus program, etc in the right order to avoid problems. Not hard, just takes some planning. Then you spend hours downloading/installing updates for the OS and all your favorite programs. Finally, you research some more, and get knowledgeable enough and brave enough to overclock it. You can do it!

 

[lunyone]

I build a new computer every 12 to 18 months, so I'm not a polished pro. And I remember my first build, about 6 years ago. It was a little confusing. I plodded through it very slowly and very carefully, without much confidence, but when I finished and it worked, I felt great. Since then, I sometimes still have to research a problem (such as putting my current system together -- the bios in my DFI board was very complex to set up and OC), but that just makes the experience that more satisfying.
I'd say the physical installation/connection of the parts is really easy if you have a decent case. The challenge is to install the OS and set up your hard drive partitions like you want, and then install the drivers, virus program, etc in the right order to avoid problems. Not hard, just takes some planning. Then you spend hours downloading/installing updates for the OS and all your favorite programs. Finally, you research some more, and get knowledgeable enough and brave enough to overclock it. You can do it!

Very well said! I'm considering my first OC soon! I've built about 8 systems in the last 3 years and I'm finally considering an OC on a AMD 64 3200+ on a ASUS MVP motherboard, but still cautious about it, since it's only 3 month old (warranty issues).

 

[angry_ducky]

Finally, you research some more, and get knowledgeable enough and brave enough to overclock it.

I would not recommend overclocking a first build, especially if you're 14, and dont' have money to replace stuff if you fry it.

the bios in my DFI board was very complex to set up and OC

I feel your pain. And I don't even have a LanParty board.

The challenge is to install the OS and set up your hard drive partitions like you want, and then install the drivers, virus program, etc in the right order to avoid problems.

IMO, the hardest part is to put all the hardware together. One silly mistake, and (if you're lucky), the computer won't boot. If you're unlucky, then you fry something.

 

[duthoy]

ok,
if you want to stay in budget it looks to me it ain't possible to go for a C2D and a decent LCD with native 1600 x 1200,
the LCD alone, should set you back like 350$
keyboard & mouse: 50$
ok, still 600 to go for a case, PSU, CPU, RAM, video, HD,..

checked my local store:
this what i came up with:
case
Thermaltake Matrix VX Black VD3000BWA € 82.50

mobo
Gigabyte 945PL S3 C+-ore2Duo S775 € 85.00

CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 - 2,13Ghz € 235.00

cooling:
stock

RAM:
OCZ DDR2 1Gb KIT pc6400/800Mhz Gold XTC € 184.00

sound:
onboard

HD:
SEAGATE 250Gb S-ATA300 7200RPM 16MB € 84.50

video:
XFX GEFORCE PCI-E 7600GS 256Mb DDR2 € 123.50

total: (no screen and keyboard): +/- 795 €

this the best i can do with the components from my local retailer,
maybe it's expensive around here, and the components aren't 100% compatible, didn't had the time to check, but it should give you an idea, what this will cost.
maybe wait a little until AMD could pressurize the prices of intel; or wait until December, with the holidays, prices may go down?

 

[sillywabbit]

drop the E6400 down to the E6300 and save $40

 

[Lionhardt]

just keep on speculating about this sh!t guys, itsa really helping, and im getting closer to thinking i should build a comp, but i am just 14, and i dont wanna lose money, so just keep talking about it...

 

[hebus]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106013
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119118
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148111
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824222024
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814102052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820227072 (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813157092
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115005

Total: $997.38 (with taxes and shipping, no keyboard/mouse, pick those up at your local walmart cheap)

Not the most top of the line system, but pretty admirable. Enjoy

 

[reader850]

Good try, but... I would get an ASRock 775 Dual MB only if moving your old DDR memory and/or AGP graphics card from an old maching to the new machine. If buying DDR2 & PCI Express, there are better choices. (See earlier suggestions.) The power supply with that particular Cooler Master case is weak and doesn't have two 12V lines; I'd get a better one. It is REALLY hard to build a good gaming machine for $1000 including the monitor. I like the suggestion that you put the monitor on your Christmas list - I'd ask Santa for a 19" LCD. Look for a used monitor real cheap for now (if you build before December). Then use it as a second screen when web surfing or doing homework so you can keep more windows visible. With that savings, you can get an E6400 and not feel as much need to OC.

 

[hondacr123]

haha you guys are so bad at giving advice. If I read correctly he siad he wanted a MID RANGE comp, and also said he wasnt going to be hardcore gaming. So why would you recomend 2gb of ram. He will never need 2gb of ram. If you disagree look at his current system. lionhardt Id suggest only 1 gb of ram. Also the e6300 because that is more than enough, mybe even overkill. Id go with this vid card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130062 . Seeing as its not overkill if you do light gaming.

 

[reader850]

No, he said "mainly for gaming". (I must be blind, because I can't see where he said it wasn't going to be hard-core gaming. Maybe you were reading a different thread?) I doubt a 14 year old who says he wants a new computer mainly for gaming is thinking "light gaming". The amount of RAM depends on the games he will play. If he plays BF2, he'll want 2 Gb. His current system is no indication of what he wants -- he said it "sucks". I'm thinking it indicates he'll be using this new computer a long time, thus better to start off with a little more power than he may need today. He'll be getting new games right away, I'm sure.

 

[Lionhardt]

well, actually i want this to be mainly for gaming...
u know, umm quiet, so i could watch some porn at like 2 in the morning without my parents knowing....
the 7600gt is the perfect card for now because of the awesomeness of it
and 2 gigs of ram might not be a bad idea...really....
so uhh yea, just keep on speculating, but i think the hardest part will be the mobo, case, and psu cause i mean this sounds good so far:

e6300 ~180
7600gt ~110 after eebate on some cards
2gb ram ~200 (dont know what kind or brand)
mouse and kb ~25 microsoft combo
nice 19" lcd ~200 ish
250 gb hdd ~60 after ebates
i mean, what else is there mobo, case and psu might cost al together like about 200 so isk, just keep on talkin guys, keep on talking

and yes this wil be mainly for gaming, and porn

 

[toasty2]

19" Wide screen LCD: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824009092
$189

You might consider X850XT PE, it could support dual monitors and its very competitive with the 7600GT, and in some benchmarks its competitive against even better cards. It doesn't have the rebates, but it's only $129. I'm buying one soon. It's a great mid-range card.

If you want to lower your price by about $50, you could get a X800GTO, they're pretty impressive for the price, and compared to a 7600GS, much better.

Just a few options, pick what's good for you.

A good PSU
People have recommended this PSU to me, it's $49, reliable, and 450Watt.

 

[reader850]

Porn is a bad idea. It will make it more difficult for you to do well in the real world, and have real relationships. It will warp your view of women -- those actresses are paid to do what they do and pretend. Don't get caught up in that addictive fantasy world. Instead, sleep at 2AM so you can be rested and alert when real life is happening.