Cheap Build - Basic/Gaming

[phasmantis]

So I threw together a cheap build for my girlfriend (she's running off a 7 year old AMD system that was used for basic use back then, so you can imagine it's a dinosaur) for internet, word processor, and games like The Sims 3, Age of Empires 3, and possibly up and coming MMO games, so I wanted it to have some power. I'm almost 100 percent positive I've made it as cheap as I can, which would be $410 (Because of combo deals with the Motherboard/OS, DVD Burner/CPU, and HDD/Case) after shipping.

Note that the power supply is not included because her old system has a two year old 400 watt power supply I bought her for her upgraded video card.


Here's the list;

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=12268491

Yes, I know the DVD burner went out of stock .

Here's what I want to know; Do you think 400w will be sufficient (Antec PS calculator recommended 260 watts).

Also, is there any way I could make it cheaper for the same parts/similar performance (not a hard hit on the VC please)

Also, minus 1 or 2 dollars here and there helps (keep in mind shipping costs too, the case is 2.99 shipping and the ram is 0.99, everything else is free shipping)

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

If possible move up to any AMD chipset mobo. Also, drop down to one of the triple-cores, no need for that. Check out the HD 5570's they're a bit faster.

Other than "why such a small HD" nothing else really jumps out at me. Besides generally questioning the quality of the PSU.

 

[phasmantis]

The PSU is this; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256032

She doesn't need much storage space also, so the 250gb isn't a big concern.

Okay, after taking your advice. I was able to get it down to 399 after shipping. 3.1ghz triple core (because of combo deal with dvd burner it's cheaper than the lesser x3, dropped the OS to windows 7 32-bit for a -15 dollar combo instead of a -10 dollar combo on the 64-bit os, and the DVD burner is also different in the combo.

I guess one more question, is the 64-bit OS worth the extra 5 dollars?

 

[Timop]

If you can spend a tad more, heres another setup with a PSU:

Athlon X3 440 + Win7: $165: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCombos.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843&SubCategory=343&SortField=0&PageSize=10&page=1
ASRock 880G board: $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157199
HD 4870+ 4GB DDR3 1600RAM: $170AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.499281
Rosewill mATX case: $33: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111
Seagate 500GB + OCZ 500W PSU: $70 AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492756

Total: $498AR

 

[phasmantis]

Well I already have a PS for her, so it saves money. Also that's 100 dollars more so it's not much of a help, the original build is 389 after MIR. You also left out a DVD Burner in the build, so we're looking at 520 for that one, which is way out of her budget.

I've been trying to talk her into a new computer, because whenever she plays any game her PC locks up after about 10 minutes (and it runs off AGP cards, so why invest in it when it's 7 years old anyways). She always says 500 dollars is too much, so maybe 400 won't be. I mean 400 dollars for that system is pretty awesome, and even if I did throw in a PSU we're like at like 430 dollars.

 

[sp12]

IMO that 520$ build looks a whole lot nicer for that 100$.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the Silverstone supply is a good unit, and should be ok for a few more years, so that's OK.

Timop's build has a solid base to it.
We'll start with the CPU & OS and the Motherboard, same as his:

CPU & Win 7 64 bit: $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.437518.19-103-843

Asus 880-GM motherboard: $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157199

This is one of the fastest mechanical drives around, and a great deal:
Samsung F4 Spinpoint 320 GB HD: $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244

4 GB of DDR3 RAM: $80 w/ free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
(Theres some others at $77, with $3 shipping, so no difference really)

512 MB DDR5 HD4850: $100. Up to 1680x1050, the 512 is plenty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102834
It also has a $15 mail in rebate

total $447.94 + $7.06 shipping, for $455 even. $440 after the rebate.

 

[Timop]

the Silverstone supply is a good unit, and should be ok for a few more years, so that's OK.

Timop's build has a solid base to it.
We'll start with the CPU & OS and the Motherboard, same as his:

CPU & Win 7 64 bit: $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.437518.19-103-843

Asus 880-GM motherboard: $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157199

This is one of the fastest mechanical drives around, and a great deal:
Samsung F4 Spinpoint 320 GB HD: $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244

4 GB of DDR3 RAM: $80 w/ free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
(Theres some others at $77, with $3 shipping, so no difference really)

512 MB DDR5 HD4850: $100. Up to 1680x1050, the 512 is plenty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102834
It also has a $15 mail in rebate

total $447.94 + $7.06 shipping, for $455 even. $440 after the rebate.

Get a Samsung F3 500GB instead, 5 bucks for 180GB is worth it to me: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=Samusugn_F3-_-22-152-181-_-Product'

For the GPU, if he really wants costs low, this 4670 is better than the one he had, while being only $5 more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102855&cm_re=HD_4670-_-14-102-855-_-Product

 

[phasmantis]

Get a Samsung F3 500GB instead, 5 bucks for 180GB is worth it to me: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&cm_re=Samusugn_F3-_-22-152-181-_-Product'

For the GPU, if he really wants costs low, this 4670 is better than the one he had, while being only $5 more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102855&cm_re=HD_4670-_-14-102-855-_-Product

I'll agree on that GPU suggestion. GDDR3 will help a lot more than GDDR2.

As for everything else, I think the build will be solid enough, as I can always throw in an X6 down the road and another 2gb of RAM if need be (if I chose to go with 64-bit Vista, which I probably will, bringing me to around 410 dollars.

As I said, I need to make it as cheap as possible, not as awesome as possible for 50 bucks more . Girlfriend saves up a lot of money, complains about her computer, but won't buy a new one because she think 500 is too much.

BTW guys, the wish list is not what the price is. The price is 403 after the 30 dollars worth of combo discounts I get, not including the MIR.

 

[Timop]

I would say go get the Samsung HDDs, quite a bit faster than the Seagate for not much more. The HDD is probably the slowest link in most PC components, and it would improve "responsiveness" by quite a but.

Also, save $3 and get a 440, 100Mhz is nothing: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843&cm_re=Athlon_X3-_-19-103-843-_-Product

 

[phasmantis]

I would say go get the Samsung HDDs, quite a bit faster than the Seagate for not much more. The HDD is probably the slowest link in most PC components, and it would improve "responsiveness" by quite a but.

Also, save $3 and get a 440, 100Mhz is nothing: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843&cm_re=Athlon_X3-_-19-103-843-_-Product

Thing is I save 4 dollars because I get 7 dollars off my DVD burner with the other X3, the 440 does not offer a discount with a dvd burner =).

 

[calguyhunk]

Your build can change a bit for the better even within your $400 budget, IMO

CPU : $75 Athlon II X3 440

Mobo : $60 ASRock 880GM-LE

RAM : $98 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB)

HDD : $55 SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3

ODD : $21 LG SATA DVD Burner - Bulk LightScribe Support

Case + PSU : $60 Rosewill R101-P-BK-450W

Total = $369 +100 OS = 469.

If you wanna save a bit, swap out the CPU for the AMD Athlon II X2 240and keep your Seagate HDD. You'll save $35 that way.

So new total = $434 including Windows 7 HP.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

calguy:

thats basically our build, except you add the PSU he doesn't need, and take away the GPU he does



Also the 4850 I recommended was DDR5, not DDR2!

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

Huh, when did the F4 model come out?

 

[Timop]

^ Around August, though the only 2 Models are the 320GB which is on par with the 500GB F3 and the 2TB Eco drive that uses 667GB platters.

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

So 3 platters? Nice, I'll keep that in mind if I need another large drive.

 

[calguyhunk]

calguy:

thats basically our build, except you add the PSU he doesn't need, and take away the GPU he does



Also the 4850 I recommended was DDR5, not DDR2!

My bad, really. Read only the OP before posting. Kinda assumed the old PSU was no good. But the Silverstone is plenty good. So obviously the PSU stays.

Also get a gfx card according to your budget. For a lower budget, a 4650 might work. At a $100 budget though, you should go with a $105 - ASUS Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5

And here are a couple of case options ---

Option 1. - $30 GIGABYTE SECC ATX Mid Tower Case

Option 2. - $40 & much nicer COOLER MASTER Elite 310

 

[phasmantis]

Here's the thing with the HDD though, I get 15 dollars off the NZXT GAMMA case with a combo deal with the HDD.

 

[calguyhunk]

Really no reason to change then. WDC is very good. Dunno 'bout NZXT, but looks alright, that thing.