Budget Build suggestions appreciated

DayTrader

DayTrader

Weaksauce
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
90
As you'll see in my sig, I have my own system. This one is for a 50yo co-worker who really wants it just to play one game. I'm just not well read or up to speed at all on most of the budget gear out there so any input is appreciated.


1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
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This build is for a buddy, he'll be hooking the pc up to a 19" monitor for now but will be upgrading down the road to a 24" wide-screen (1900x1200 +/-) down the road. He'll ONLY be using this pd to play iRacing (system requirements below) as he'll be using his beloved Macs :confused: for day-to-day use.
System Requirements
# Windows XP or Windows Vista
# Hyperthreaded Intel CPU, AMD Athlon 64 CPU, or any dual-core CPU
# 128MB Pixel Shader 2.0 (ATI 9700Pro or nVidia 6600 or better); 256 MB Pixel Shader 3.0 (ATI X1600 or nVidia 6800 GT/GS or better recommended) graphics adapter
# 1 GB system RAM
# 3Gb free hard disk space
# Steering wheel and pedals required
# Microphone optional, required for voice chat

Internet Browser Requirements
# Firefox 1.5, Internet Explorer 6, or newer
# Javascript enabled
# Cookies enabled
# Flash Player

Internet Connection Speed
# 56K dial-up at a minimum, Broadband (DSL or Cable) highly recommended. Satellite broadband excluded.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
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<$500 including shipping

3) Where do you live?
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Michigan - USA

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
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case, mobo, cpu, graphics, ram, cd drive (to install os), PSU and a HD..... basically the box and everything in it. NO NEED for any perennials or software.

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
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N/A

6) Will you be overclocking?
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I might do a minor OC of it's feasible.

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
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19" initially but will likely upgrade in several months to a 24"

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
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next couple days/weeks

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
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wired internet connection and 1 hd big enough to hold the OS and that one game
EDIT.... I'll have to double-check this, he 'may' need wireless capabilities.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
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yes

The case will be "tucked away and out of view" so pre-owned/used case and/or gear would be okay too.
 
This should work for your friend if he really wants to spend all $500:

AMD Athlon X2 7750 & Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H combo - $140
G.Skill F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ 2 x 2GB DDR2 800 RAM - $40 FS
Sapphire Radeon HD 4830 512MB PCI-E Video Card - $90
Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $75 FS
Pioneer DVR-216DBK SATA DVD burner - $23 FS
Antec Sonata III ATX Case with Antec Earthwatts 500W PSU - $100 w/ Promo Code "EMCLPMV35"
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$468 Plus tax and shipping.

Though if you want to save some cash, swap out the HD4830 for this cheaper and slower but still decent enough HD 3850 card:
Sapphire HD3850 512MB PCI-E Video Card - $60

EDIT: Added Sonata III Case. Order the case w/ promo code TODAY!!!!! Also, sign up for the email newsletter just in case they don't let you use the promo code.
 
Thanks Danny... I couldn't get him to act quickly enough to snag that case deal but I'll find something soon enough. He prob. doesn't mind kicking in an extra hundred or so if need be.

That said, he asked if I could go Intel instead of AMD on the cpu/mobo. Any suggestions along that line?

** Hey nurd! howya doin?
 
While I'm at it Enginurd...... what if I took that Antec PSU off your hands for $80 and grabbed one of those $5 cases?? For $5 (I know, PLUS shipping and handling and happy endings and......) how bad are they?
 
Sup... how's that beast working out for you? we never saw pics of your build, btw. :p Unfortunately, I actually can't ship the freebie cases, since I don't have time to find boxes, sorry. :( The PSU is a bit overkill for your needs as well. Lets browse the hot deals...

Even if AMD goes out of business, he still has his chip, so I don't get the concern? :confused: CPUs rarely die after the first 90 days anyhow, and I don't see AMD dying that soon.

The E5200 and 7750 are comparable chips, OC'd or not. (stock speeds, 7750, OC'd, e5200, still perform on par with each other)... so it doesn't make FAR more sense.


//edit:

$50 - Cooler Master Elite RC-332-KKN1-GP Black ATX Mid Tower (Free Shipping)
$45 - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower (Shipping NOT included)

$55 - Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified (Free Shipping) ($10MIR)
$60 - PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS420X 420W ATX12V 80 PLUS Certified (Free Shipping)
$68 - BFG Tech LS SERIES LS-550 550W ATX12V 2.3 80 PLUS Certified (Free Shipping)

$90 - Antec NSK4480 Black/Silver ATX Mid Tower w/ Earthwatts 380W PSU

Hopefully others can find better deals...
 
Didn't have any time this weekend to even look at this stuff. Managed to talk him into an AMD based system though so I'm back onboard with Danny's cpu/mobo recommendation. I hope to do some looking and ordering this week though. Need to lock down a decent case/psu and I think that's about it.

thanks for all the help guys!
 
DayTrader said:
Need to lock down a decent case/psu and I think that's about it.
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$50 - Cooler Master Elite RC-331-KKN1-GP
$55 - Corsair 400CX 400W PSU
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Total: $105 shipped

Doesn't offer as much power as the Sonata III case but it's significantly cheaper.
 
CPU i7 920

Asus P6T DE

GF295 SLI

Ocz 12 /1600 Triple Channel DDR3

Seagate 1TB

ThermalTake ToughPower 1200

SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Serie

Coolermaster Cosmos 1000

Logitech MX5500 Combo

Vista Ultimate 64bit
 
Thanks Danny and Nurd..... bought the parts you suggested and everything went smooth as silk. That case is pretty darn nice (considering my only install experience is on a Silverstone TJ07). Thanks for the suggestions!
 
DayTrader said:
Thanks Danny and Nurd..... bought the parts you suggested and everything went smooth as silk. That case is pretty darn nice (considering my only install experience is on a Silverstone TJ07). Thanks for the suggestions!
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You're welcome :)

So no pics? :D
 
nicky.82uk said:
CPU i7 920

Asus P6T DE

GF295 SLI

Ocz 12 /1600 Triple Channel DDR3

Seagate 1TB

ThermalTake ToughPower 1200

SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Serie

Coolermaster Cosmos 1000

Logitech MX5500 Combo

Vista Ultimate 64bit
Click to expand...

Totally <$500.
 
You guys are always lookin for pics aren't ya? I didn't take any because I didn't think it was anything too impressive. I didn't do any case mods, aftermarket fans or heatsinks, etc. I did try to keep the cables moderately neat but that was about it. I even offered to do a mild overclock and the guy I built it for said, "no, no thanks...I'm sure it's fine the way it is." (What's WRONG with some people.....Who wouldn't want more speed? ;) )

And BTW, has anyone got a good way to route front panel audio wires all the way over to the opposite side of the motherboard without just going right across the face of the mobo? Mfrgs need to add about 18" to those cables so I/we could at least run them up and around or down and around the motherboard OR (preferably) just get those darned audio jacks somewhere over by the SATA ports please.

I brought it into the office today so the guy I built it for can take it home. If he wants to unpack it from the box (I put it back in the big bag, packing and box that the case came in so it'd be safe and sound in the car), I'll snap some extra sexy shots for ya and post em up. :)
 
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