building cheap computer - please check it out

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minigister

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Apr 26, 2008
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okay guys, Im building a cheap computer and I want this to last me for a year. I will be using this computer for school/work and watching anime/movies and tv. I have 2 19" monitors and a case and I will be using windoes xp. I want to setup dual monitors with this computer. $400 budget

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128078

CPU: Intel Pentium E2200 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116063

RAM: Patriot 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220088

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144122

GPU: EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600 GT 256MB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085

PSU: SILVERSTONE ST400 400W - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256032

$353 +shipping
 
cheaper, superior PSU. Newegg listing. HardOCP review.

edit: you have DDR[1] listed. Your motherboard supports DDR2 which is not backwards compatable. Here is a single 1GB stick, should be able to run in dual channel if you order two.

If your going with a single gig of ram stick with XP, or get vista home premium and black-viper the bejesus out of it.
 
MrWizard6600 said:
cheaper, superior PSU. Newegg listing. HardOCP review.

edit: you have DDR[1] listed. Your motherboard supports DDR2 which is not backwards compatable. Here is a single 1GB stick, should be able to run in dual channel if you order two.

If your going with a single gig of ram stick with XP, or get vista home premium and black-viper the bejesus out of it.
Click to expand...

thanks for the help man. I will be using xp, I will fix my first post.

how does everything else look?
 
Do you have a retail copy or an OEM copy of Windows XP? If it's an OEM copy, you may need to obtain a new license for this rig.

Though this might push you closer to your limit, I recommend 2GB of memory. Either buy one 2GB stick or go with a 2x1GB dual-channel kit. (I don't usually recommend that particular brand, but its prices are better than some of my more popular choices. If you want a better single module 2GB stick, you could find it here.)

Get the SATA version of the hard drive that you want, though I do believe that it's worth doubling your storage capacity for only $5 more.
 
I don't like the build. You can do better with a $400 budget. As well your component choices puzzle me a bit.

- You choose a mATX mobo but then add a rather crappy video card so it looks as if you won't need the integrated graphics. Why? Is it because you have a mATX case? Also, do you plan on overclocking your system at all?

- 8600GT is a rather crappy card if you want to game and a rather expensive card if all you want is dual DVI output capability. Do you plan on gaming at all? Do you need dual DVI?

- Save a few bucks and pick up an E2180 instead. $60 + shipping at Microcenter for retail box and put the money saved somewhere else.

- You want dual channel memory and you can get 2x1GB DDR2 kit for almost the same price as that single stick. So shop around a bit more.

- That HD is a poor choice. Even on Newegg you can get a 160GB SATA HD for basically the same price as that 80GB IDE. For $34 more you can get a 500GB SATA HD at Newegg which is what I would recommend.

- PSU is ok but overkill for what you want. Can save a bit here by going with say an Antec 380W and use the money somewhere else.

- No DVD drive?
 
You're right, the OP could do better with his $400 budget. However, the only alternative I see is for him to look for a deal on a Dell system (and save a bit extra for a video card with dual DVI outputs).
 
Toaster Oven said:
I don't like the build. You can do better with a $400 budget. As well your component choices puzzle me a bit.

- You choose a mATX mobo but then add a rather crappy video card so it looks as if you won't need the integrated graphics. Why? Is it because you have a mATX case? Also, do you plan on overclocking your system at all?

- 8600GT is a rather crappy card if you want to game and a rather expensive card if all you want is dual DVI output capability. Do you plan on gaming at all? Do you need dual DVI?

- Save a few bucks and pick up an E2180 instead. $60 + shipping at Microcenter for retail box and put the money saved somewhere else.

- You want dual channel memory and you can get 2x1GB DDR2 kit for almost the same price as that single stick. So shop around a bit more.

- That HD is a poor choice. Even on Newegg you can get a 160GB SATA HD for basically the same price as that 80GB IDE. For $34 more you can get a 500GB SATA HD at Newegg which is what I would recommend.

- PSU is ok but overkill for what you want. Can save a bit here by going with say an Antec 380W and use the money somewhere else.

- No DVD drive?
Click to expand...

exactly what I was thinking
 
tiraides said:
You're right, the OP could do better with his $400 budget. However, the only alternative I see is for him to look for a deal on a Dell system (and save a bit extra for a video card with dual DVI outputs).
Click to expand...

There's no need to go Dell. You just need to spend your money a bit more wisely. For example:

GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L - $98 shipped
Intel® Boxed Pentium® Dual-Core Processor E2180 - $60 + shipping
DDR2 2GB PC6400 DUAL BALLISTIX - $19 + shipping AR
Seagate 500GB SATA HD - $80 shipped
Antec NSK4480B with Earthwatts 380W PSU - $63 + tax
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3850 512MB - $87 AR

That puts you just a tad over $400 including tax+shipping but I also threw in a case which I'm going to guess is a lot nicer than what the OP already has. If not, you can save another $30 there. Altogether it puts the OP's setup to shame.
 
Toaster Oven said:
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L - $98 shipped
Intel® Boxed Pentium® Dual-Core Processor E2180 - $60 + shipping
DDR2 2GB PC6400 DUAL BALLISTIX - $19 + shipping AR
Seagate 500GB SATA HD - $80 shipped
Antec NSK4480B with Earthwatts 380W PSU - $63 + tax
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3850 512MB - $87 AR
Click to expand...
Very good choices, however, since the OP seemed to be more interested in a computer for multimedia use than for gaming, the video card could be downgraded to an HD 3450 or an HD 3650 to save a significant amount of money. Most HD3450's have one DVI, one D-sub, and one S-video connector on the back, but there is one which has 2 DVI connectors and one S-Video connector built-in and gives you adaptors for D-sub and component too. At $29 AR, it's hard to beat for a non-gaming machine. Most HD3650 cards have 2 DVI ports.

I would recommend choosing an ATI card since I think they have better image (video) quality.
 
Toaster Oven said:
There's no need to go Dell. You just need to spend your money a bit more wisely. For example:

[PARTS LIST]

That puts you just a tad over $400 including tax+shipping but I also threw in a case which I'm going to guess is a lot nicer than what the OP already has. If not, you can save another $30 there. Altogether it puts the OP's setup to shame.
Click to expand...

I'm going to assume that the OP wants to keep the build at under $400... getting things with mail-in rebates won't help since the OP would have to pay the full (before-rebate) cost first. Based on reading the first post, I have the impression that the OP has no intention on making this a gaming computer -- he would have otherwise said so. But you're right: Money needs to be spend more wisely.

But since there seem to be questions as to what the OP's intentions are with this rig, let's ask him:

- Do you have any intentions on gaming with this machine? If so, which games?
- Why do you only want this build to last you a year? Are you going to make any upgrades to this computer?
- Do you already have a TV tuner/capture card in place?
- Which (specific) monitors and case are you reusing? Are you reusing any other components?
 
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