Help with new, cheap build

Z

ZaCmAnIaC

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Aug 17, 2003
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Here is what I have so far:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 $119.00
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 $109.99
Pwr: XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W $49.99
RAM: Kingston 2gb DDR2 667 $64.99
Video Card: Sapphire X1950GT $129.99
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 250g SATA $69.99
Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion $39.99
Optical: Lite-on SATA Dvd Burner $30.99
Mouse: Logitech MX518 $39.99
Keyboard: Logitech Media Black $14.99
Mousepad: fUnc F-30R-17 $22.99
OS: Windows XP Home $89.99

Subtotal: $782.89

I was kind of hoping I could get a decent comp for running WoW at full settings for less than 800. Don't need a monitor obviously, just what's listed. Is there anything I can really go down on to get below 800? I plan on OCing the CPU but not the video card. Any help would be appreciated.

Edit: All I need now are minor suggestions and perhaps a suggestion for a better video card for my purposes. UPDATED AGAIN.
 
Get a lower end DX9 card if you don't need DX10. Also I would get the Gigabyte DS3 and the X-Clio Goodpower 500w
 
Do you have a recommendation for a DX9 card that can run it at full settings? The resolution will be 1680x1050.

Also, that PSU looks wonderful, the only problem is that I've never heard of the brand. Is it reliable? If so I would gladly get it instead.
 
Yeh that PSU is a really good budget one.

But you will have to wait for someone else to reccomend a DX9 card.
 
Excellent, then I'll get that one. The only thing I still need to adjust then is the video card? I'll edit the OP and hopefully someone else will come to confirm my choices and offer up more suggestions. Thanks!
 
That PSU is pretty reliable. I've recommended that power supply to many people here on the forums and have yet to hear of any problems related to it. I've also used that power supply myself in one or two builds.

A good way to save some money is to ditch that mousepad. A cheap $1 - $3 mousepad will suffice. Although if you really do need a "high-performance" mousepad, I recommend getting a Ratzpad GS for $15: http://www.ratpadz.com/

WoW is not that graphically demanding of a game. Blizzard had designed the game to scale pretty well on older and newer cards. So I think the old 7600GT might be right up your alley:
eVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB PCI-E Video Card - $90

Oh and here's a cheaper Coolermaster Centurion case:
Cooler Master Centurion 534 ATX Case - $35

And a cheaper SATA DVD drive:
LITE-ON LH-20A1S 20X DVD±R SATA DVD Burner - $31

Also, all you really need to OC the E4300 is DDR2 667 RAM. You can easily hit 3.0Ghz with the E4300 with DDR2 667 RAM. So I recommend this set of RAM:
Kingston KVR667D2K2/2GR 2x 1GB DDR2 667 RAM - $65

Hmm now that I think about it, if you take all of my suggestions except for the video card, you may have enough for this video card which will definitely run WoW at 1680 x 1050:
Sapphire 100199L Radeon X1950GT 256MB PCI-E Video Card - $130
 
To be honest, I'd prefer to buy everything from one site, and that's Newegg; is all of that stuff available on newegg for those prices?
 
I changed two things that you said; I went for the Kingston ram, which looks great, as well as getting a cheaper optical drive.

The func pad, I really like, I currently have one, it's just really worn out and I prefer it to any other I've used. I'd like to keep that.

And my "budget" isn't really 800, I can go up to 800, but I'm not concerned about sticking as close to that as possible. If I can go down while still being able to run WoW at max settings at that res, then that's fine. If you think the 7600gt can run it at maximum settings, at 1680x1050, with aniso but no AA, then I would go for that, but I just want to be sure to run it at max settings.
 
The Ratzpad and the case aren't on Newegg for those prices. Everything else however is from newegg.

Also, why order everything from newegg? It's not like everything from newegg will arrive at the same time. I've ordered an entire PC build from newegg and everything came in on different days. You also won't save any real amount of money on shipping either.
 
I'd just prefer to keep it as simple as possible, and only have to deal with one site. Just a personal preference. I'm not worried about the $4 on the case or the mousepad, so I don't think it's really a huge deal anyway.

The only thing left to change is the video card, I guess? Which video card do you think I SHOULD get? I was looking through the hardocp reviews of video cards, and even a 7300 GT Turbo, which is less than $100, can apparently run WoW at 1600x1200 with 16x AF and 2x AA. 1680 x 1050 should be even easier to run than 1600x1200, so could I even get that card, since I don't care about AA either? What do you think?
 
I'd go with the X1950GT or X1950Pro, whichever is cheaper. The GT can OC to Pro speeds easily with ATI Tool.

The XClio Goodpower 500W is a great budget PSU. Its supplied by CWT, so it uses fuhjyyu caps, but the cooling system in it (120mm near silent fan) keeps the unit cool enough.

Theres some Patriot LLK sticks at Frys.com for $40 per 1GB stick, $86 shipped to CA, if you're interested.

Get the Ratpadz XT... it'll make Kyle richer :p and you'll love it!
 
I say get the 7600GT just in case you buy newer games that the 7300GT will struggle with. Also, it's a pretty cheap card too.
 
Unless you can find the 7300GT for $40+ less than the 7600GT, stick with the 76.

30mins after Danny posts the kingston ram, its oos, lol. or was it oos already? hmm... cuz i didnt notice it yesterday, when i was ordering stuff, lol.
 
Hm, now the X1950GT is looking mighty good. Would it run WoW better or worse than the 8600GT I was planning on getting? Whichever is slightly better, I will get I suppose, I AM below my $800 limit and I may as well get as good as I can between the two. Which do you think?
 
WTF? It was still on sale when I posted. LOL!

Well since that Kingston RAM is current sold out, stick with your original G.Skill RAM.
 
I can wait three days to order, and it's supposed to be back in stock on the 17th, so no biggie. Video card is the only problem.
 
The X1950GT will definitely beat that 8600GT hands down.
 
Ok, I put that in then. Could you please just review it once more and make sure everything is compatible, then I'll order when the RAM is back in stock? Thanks!

Oh, also, that July 22nd price cut won't affect that cpu, will it?
 
There should be a rebate on the GT or Pro, it comes around every week or so. The AR price should be around $115.

Intel plans on phasing out the E4300, and the E4400 will drop to the E4300's price, according to what I've read so far.
 
Yeh but the e4400 gets the same overclock as a e4300 so don't hold your breath for the price drops.
 
RoBo's post was late, I guess... yes, they both have the same OC potential.
 
I don't think its way overkill, but even if it is, he may want to play some newer games.
 
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