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Buying bare-bone system?

J

jeoff_b

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 29, 2010
Messages
133
Hey all, I'm kind of a novice when it comes to building computers. I built my first rig about 3 years ago and some pieces of it are now dying. I'd like to upgrade to something a bit more modern, but don't have a huge budget.

Basically I have noticed tiger direct offering these bare-bone systems for pretty cheap. I don't really need the case or hdd, but the package is quite a bit cheaper than buying it separately and I can always sell the unneeded pieces.

I'd just like your advice on whether this is a good way to go or not. Here is the link to the deal I was looking at. I think the deal is today only, so any quick advice?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=631827&sku=B69-1336

EDIT: Thought I should mention that I need the computer for all the basics (ie. email, websites etc.), Programming, Web development and a fair amount of gaming (call of duty series, Battlefield Series etc.)
 
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jeoff_b said:
Hey all, I'm kind of a novice when it comes to building computers. I built my first rig about 3 years ago and some pieces of it are now dying. I'd like to upgrade to something a bit more modern, but don't have a huge budget.

Basically I have noticed tiger direct offering these bare-bone systems for pretty cheap. I don't really need the case or hdd, but the package is quite a bit cheaper than buying it separately and I can always sell the unneeded pieces.

I'd just like your advice on whether this is a good way to go or not. Here is the link to the deal I was looking at. I think the deal is today only, so any quick advice?

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=631827&sku=B69-1336
Click to expand...

Not a good combo, especially since the PSU in those combos is extremely shitty - so shitty that I wouldn't even use it on even an old Pentium 4 system. DiabloTek's so-called "600W" PSU is in reality only a 230W PSU - and a very-old-design 230W PSU, at that. And from what I heard the manufacturer of the Diablotek PSUs is the same company (albeit with a new name) that previously manufactured the Powmax PSUs.

In other words, if you do get that combo, upgrade the PSU right away - and "throw away" the PSU that comes with the combo (as in send it to a component recycleing facility). That Diablotek PSU is not worth even $5, let alone the $30 price that it sells for on average.
 
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Another strike against that setup is the rather slow drive. Those Seagate drives are geared towards people who needs the lowest power usage possible, not performance. For the usage scenarios you've described, it sounds like you really do need the extra performance.

However, if you do not mind slow HDD performance or just need it as a storage device, that combo deal is ok even if you factor out the $1 shitty power supply. However you're really only going to be saving $30 (I don't factor in rebates) than if you were to get all those parts individually.

Again if you get that combo, don't use that shitty power supply unless you really really hate computers. As for PSU and GPU recommendations, please answer these questions:
1) What's your budget for the PSU and GPU?
2) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
 
I was planning on upgrading the PSU and already have a good western digital harddrive I can use.

I have a 23" Dell monitor and an old syncmaster 17". I eventually be buying another 23" or 2, but that wont be for a year or so.

I could probably budget around $500 - $600 for all of my upgrades including ram and PSU (and I'm not sure how good stock coolers are either, that might need to be upgraded as well...)

All I currently have that works is a case, Radeon 5770 and an OCZ 700W psu that I think still works.

EDIT:

Like I said I don't know much about processors and such. What is the general consensus on Phenom II x4, specifically

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition CPU
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-HDZ955FBG...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1307318484&sr=1-1
or
Phenom II x6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...851&cm_re=phenom_ii_x6-_-19-103-851-_-Product

Are these worthwhile upgrades or should I just save a bit more cash and go for an i7?
 
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For gaming, no difference between the two CPUs. If you're doing a lot of multi-threaded programming, maybe the Phenom II X6 would be a choice. But I'd honestly just go with the Core i5 2400 (if not overclocking) or Core i5 2500K (if overclocking) if you can wait.
 
There are always people who want to upgrade their PC or keep it running on the cheap. Sling any parts for a low price that you don't want post-upgrade and use that to increase your budget.

As for cooling reclaiming that CoolerMaster V8 I see in your sig for your new rig (switch that mobo set back to stock cooling) might be a good idea. You might have to buy a new bracket for your new chosen socket, but they're not that expensive if you can find one.
 
Danny Bui: so would it then be better to upgrade to an i7 for a comparible price?

Rokodo: Something happened to my current setup and I cannot get it to turn on anymore, so I'm going to probably take it apart and sell the pieces that still work, minus the parts I can use in the new system. Would it be worthwhile to keep the v8 or would a stock cooler work just as well?
 
jeoff_b said:
Danny Bui: so would it then be better to upgrade to an i7 for a comparible price?
Click to expand...
It would be better to upgrade to a i5, not an i7. Nothing you've said so far justifies an i7 over a i5. Note that the CPU in that barebones is the Core i5 2500K.
jeoff_b said:
Would it be worthwhile to keep the v8 or would a stock cooler work just as well?
Click to expand...

If you can find a LGA 1156 or LGA 1155 bracket for it for a relatively low price, then yeah, it's worth reusing if the case can fit it.
 
I have the stock cooler that came with the chip, so I should be able to use what came with that on my current system and keep the V8.

I guess I'll have to see if I can find a good deal somewhere on that i5 or something similar.

Thanks for your help all.

EDIT: I believe the V8 comes with all the brackets necessary for anything from my pc to an i7.
 
jeoff_b said:
EDIT: I believe the V8 comes with all the brackets necessary for anything from my pc to an i7.
Click to expand...
Wrong i7 CPU.

Last I checked, the V8 came out long before the LGA 1155 and LGA 1156 Core i7 CPUs. Your HSF did support the LGA 1366 Core i7 CPUs.
 
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