PC for wife - need to shave $100-$200 off the price

[controlfreak]

Ok .. having just built my new rig, my wife is now giving me crap about her machine. I have a case, hard drives, O/S, and a 1280x1024 monitor.

The machine would be used primarily for email, internet, and MS Office, as well as remote connections to her work, but I'd like to be ok for some LIGHT gaming if she felt like trying WoW or something.

I've looked around here and come up with some parts, but my price is way too high, so I was hoping for help knowing where I can cut things down.

NOTE: I'm going with Intel

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P - This is probably somewhere I can save some $$$ - $134.99

CPU: Intel Core2Duo E7400 - Sticking with Intel, but just looking for a good deal - $119.99

Memory: Mushkin 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 PC2 6400 - seems pretty reasonably priced - $49.99

PSU: PC Power & Cooling PPCS500 500w - thinking 500w is plenty - $89.99

GPU: Sapphire 100245L Radeon HD 4850 - overkill for sure, but I don't know what's a good choice - $144.99

Optical Drive - Basic DVD R/W for $30ish

Ok .. that brings me to about $570, which is way over the $400 I told her I could do.

I really need suggestions on what corners I can cut without crippling the machine.

Thanks in advance,
CF

 

[bmuell]

Someone will probably beat me to it while I type this... go with the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L model, it's only $99. Only thing you really lose is crossfire and the new chipset heatsink which won't matter if you're not planning to overclock.

If you count rebates, this Corsair ram is $25 after mail-in-rebate: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

An HD 4830 would be more than sufficient with 1280x1024 resolution for WoW, and would save you another $50.

That's a $100 cut right there.

 

[Shadow703793]

Since it doesn't look to be a high end gaming build, I would drop down to a P45-UD3L or P45-UD3R (depending on if you want RAID). Swap out to a 4830 or heck may be even a 4670 (depending on what games you play) as your 1280*1024 isn't that intensive. If you want to keep the CrossFire option open for the future keep the UD3P. You could also drop to a E5200 (esp. if you are OCing)

 

[steckman]

For light gaming like WOW, even the 4670 would suffice. That's another $20 (over the 4830) you could save on the video card. And I doubt you need a $90 power supply. You could probably save another $40 at least there.

 

[controlfreak]

I just don't want to have to worry about the PSU. She's had some bad luck with PC's and I want this to be a "build-and-forget" machine for me.

I will not be overclocking this machine at all .. going with stock cooler.

 

[drippyfausett]

You could use this website to pick a good quality psu from tier 1 or 2 to drop the price. http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

Maybe something like this OCZ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012

 

[controlfreak]

Updated:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3L - $98.99
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 - $119.99
Memory: mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $49.99
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100255HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB - $75.99
PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS 500W - $59.99
Optical: HP 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black - $29.99

Total: 434.94 (would be nice to knock off another $35 .. but I think this could work)

Is there any problem if I have the old style interface hard drives but a SATA DVD?

CF

 

[bmuell]

This RAM is just as good: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

That's $55 before rebate and $25 after... Hard to count on rebates like that though.

Otherwise, these are VERY highly recommended for $47:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

I don't see where else you could cut the price, unless you start shopping around at other online stores/ebay.

 

[dirtmountain]

No reason not to go with a G31 motherboard at $53 for this build.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128357

 

[bmuell]

The only problem I see with the G31 is it doesn't have PCI-e 2.0, which is the interface for the HD 4670.

Also, no Raid, no firewire.

 

[xthekidx]

I wouldn't go quite that cheap as I think you would sacrifice a bit of stability with that board, but I do see it possible to drop the mobo to the GA-EP43-UD3L for $80.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380

 

[bmuell]

I wouldn't go quite that cheap as I think you would sacrifice a bit of stability with that board, but I do see it possible to drop the mobo to the GA-EP43-UD3L for $80.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380

+1. That has what you need including PCIe 2.0.

 

[kyeana]

The only problem I see with the G31 is it doesn't have PCI-e 2.0, which is the interface for the HD 4670.

Also, no Raid, no firewire.

PCI-e 2.0 = PCI-e 1.1 (x16) backwards compatible. For a 4670 or 4830 there would be practically no difference between them. Also for the price of this build i doubt RAID is going to be a problem.

The OP might need a firewire so that could be a valid point, but there are G31's with firewires so you might still be able to save some money there

 

[theAnimal]

Corsair VX450 is a better quality PSU and only $60AR.

 

[Shadow703793]

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3L - $98.99
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 - $119.99
Memory: mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $49.99
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100255HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB - $75.99
PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ500SXS 500W - $59.99
Optical: HP 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black - $29.99

Looks good.

+1 for the Corsair 450VX. That's much better quality than the OCZ.

 

[drdeathx]

Corsair XMS is $25 also your PSU is expensive you can easily save $30 there.