Final tips for an inexpensive build

C

CSMRaider

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Dec 26, 2007
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First, a little background:

My desktop is used pretty exclusively for gaming. Nothing incredibly intensive, as I'm mainly an MMO player. Currently unsatisfied with my performance in WoW, and I want to be prepared for Warhammer and Conan when they come out. My current desktop is about 3.5 years old.

My budget is $500-$550. Lower is much better, as I'm mainly funding this with holiday gift money and trying to use a little of my own as possible.

I plan on reusing my Antec Sonata2 case, my Dell 2407 monitor (1920x1200 resolution), my keyboard, mouse, DVD drive, and speakers.

I've been reading build threads and parts reviews some both here, on newegg, and on the anandtech forums. No real brand preferences, though I do plan on OCing my processor and possibly my videocard.


So here's my thoughts on build:
Intel Pentium E2140 Allendale 1.6GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail, $72 at Newegg
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $94 at ClubIT
Antec earthwatts EA430 ATX12V v2.0 430W Power Supply - $60 on newegg
Transcend 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $86 on newegg
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $65 on newegg
Windows Vista Home 64-bit Ultimate Edition - I have a good friend at that works at Microsoft, so I plan on getting this at a tremendous discount. Not positive on price, but $30-$40 is my guess at this point.

I'm at a complete loss as to what video card I should go for. MMO's aren't terribly reliant on video cards, but I'd like DirectX 10 support and something that will last me awhile. I could really use some suggestions here for something that will offer DX10 and solid performance at high resolutions while not breaking my budget.

I know I can get some better prices than newegg, though I'm not sure where. I may start serious looking in the FS/FT forums, but I'd love some other suggestions on where to shave off some more dollars.
 
here are some of the other favorites.

zipzoomfly.com
buy.com
clubit.com

i also check out these bargain finder websites:
techbargains
bensbargains

for video vards, one of these should fit your needs:
ATI HD3850 512mb
ATI HD3870 512mb
NVIDIA 8800gt 512mb

since your overclocking and all, just to be safe I would think about getting a better power supply. such as these corsair power supply. alot of ppl get the 520hx or the 620hx

running at that high resolution makes it a must for a 512mb+ video card if you want performance. I myself plan on upgrading my videocard that came with my system, since its a ATI HD2400 128mb on a 1680x1050 resolution. only game i play right now is counterstrike, but i want to play call of duty 4: modern warfare as well. those three video cards should last you for quite awhile unless you become a hardcore, detail hungry gamer.
 
You could purchase the processor and motherboard from Mwave:

Intel E2140 - $68.50
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L - $89

For a power supply, may I suggest the Corsair 450VX ($75.50 with free shipping), which can perform as well as some 500 watt PSUs.

If you really need to save money, you can get away with using just 2GB of memory. NewEgg currently has the best prices for quality RAM -- you could get a 2GB kit from A-DATA or G.Skill for under $50.

For your monitor, your best options are either the 8800GT or the 512MB 8800GTS. Unfortunately, the price of the 8800GT alone would eat up over half your budget. If you really needed to cut corners, the HD 3850 could play your MMOs on your monitor, but it would offer poor performance with newer games such as Crysis or CoD4. It may even cause you problems if/when you get Warhammer and/or Conan. My advice is to save up and get one of the 8800 cards.

As for Windows, that's a huge X-factor. The 64-bit OEM copy of Vista Home Premium costs around $112 elsewhere, so it's a great thing that you can get it for so low.
 
Looks like the best prices I'm finding on processor/mobo (after shipping) are from ClubIT. Updating my OP with prices.

I'm thinking about swapping to the far less expensive Transcend memory to save up some dough instead of using the G.Skill memory. URL now in the OP.

I guess I may just be forced to look at upgrading my video card again later, particularly for Conan. For now, a GeForce 8600GT 512MB from newegg would only run me about $130 AR, which fits much more nicely into my budget. EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
It's at least 512 MB, and can play directx 10 games.

Swapping to the Corsair power supply puts me very slightly over budget (assuming a $40 OS cost - if it's more than that I'll just get XP again which I know I can get for less than $35). But I can certainly swallow that extra $5 if I won't have enough power otherwise.
 
One thing: The E2140 at ClubIT is an OEM model, meaning that you'll only get the processor -- no heatsink -- and it comes with a 30-day limited warranty (compared to the three-year warranty that comes with retail processors).
 
Oops, nix that then. I want the retail heatsink for now. And won't complain about the extra warranty.

Newegg beats out mwave after shipping to NC.
 
Does WoW have any issues with 64bit Vista? 32bit Vista Ultimate at the MS store was $45 a few of months ago when a friend let me have a $300 shopping spree there.

Because of the budget I'd consider 2gb for starters too, even the cheap stuff down in the $20's area.
 
Going by WoW's Tech Support forums, it doesn't seem to have any problems with Vista 64-bit.

I'm used to running XP with a gig of ram. Vista is obviously a little more demanding, will I notice the lack 4 gigs of RAM? Not having enough memory for my OS drives me mad pretty quickly. I guess it's looking like a necessary evil to make budget though.
 
The bigger problem for you would be in graphics performance, since you have a large monitor. 2GB is more than enough for most everyday tasks, including gaming. The main reason people have been recommending 4GB is because it's been so cheap lately.
 
Seagate 250 gig ----I like seagate never had a problem yet.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261
65.99

MSI 8600 GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127286
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $99.99 = 79.99

Cooler Master 550W ps
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171016
$40.00 Mail-in Rebate $59.99 = 19.99


gskill 2x1gig set
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
$48.99

evga 650i MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188017
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate $94.99 = 74.99

processor E2160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
$81.99

total is:
451.94 before rebates
371.94 after rebates.

This is what I would go with and all from the same place for that extra simplicity
 
@ CSMRaider
First of all, For $5 less than the Seagate hard drive you chose, you can get 70GB of more storage and still get a fast drive. Though buy now before the sale runs out:
Maxtor 300Gb SATA Hard Drive (Rebadged Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA Hard Drive) - $60

Second, don't bother with the 512MB version of the 8600GT. The extra VRAM is utterly and totally useless. The 8600GT isn't fast enough to use all of that VRAM. If 512MB didn't make a difference with the 8600GTS, a much faster card than the 8600GT, then 512MB won't help with the 8600GT. Check out this link to see why that 512MB won't help:
http://hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTM4OSw5LCw=

So basically, just stick with the base 8600GT model which can be had for around $100 now. It should be fine for WoW. Though for the other games, you will need a much much better card.
 
Buy this PSU. It won't give you any trouble even when overclocking:
$50 - Antec earthwatts EA380 ATX12V v2.0 380W Power Supply - Retail ($30MIR)

And DO NOT BUY THE 8600. Buy the 3850 instead. Skimp on the RAM, Skimp on the mobo, Skimp on anything but get the 3850.
 
Abu Som3a said:
And DO NOT BUY THE 8600. Buy the 3850 instead. Skimp on the RAM, Skimp on the mobo, Skimp on anything but get the 3850.
Click to expand...

You're missing the fact that he has a 24 inch monitor (the Dell 2407), and that he wants to play better games (Warhammer, Conan) in the future. The reason why we're recommending the 8600GT right now is because he has to save up some money in order to get the 3870/8800.
 
if your going to save then gett a better video card later like within 90days then get like a 8600gt/gts then step up to a gt or w/e. gt's are supposed to or should get cheaper after nividia requested it to be.
 
Yeah..errrm...okay...Well, if he is buying shortly, then he would rather save $100 and go onboard, or if he is buying after a long while, then add $70 and buy a 3850, which can be replaced later. Spending $100 for a half-assed 8600GT is not a good idea, unless all he wants to play is WoW (the 8600 will handle it nicely)...

Actually after second thought, he could easily include a 512MB 8800GT with his $500-550 budget.
$60 - AMD 3800+ or 4200+ (will OC)
$20 - cooling
$60 - mobo
$40 - 2GB RAM
$60 - 320gb drive
$50 - cheap good PSU

Totals at around $300 He can now fit a 3870 or 8800GT
 
I plan be able to step up the video card again (if I want) within about 6 months. Conan might be out before then and Warhammer would just be coming out. And really, I doubt I swap over to either immediately. So the 256 MB 8600 GT is looking best. I'll keep playing with items to try to squeeze in a 3850 or 8800 though.

I pulled the trigger and got the on sale 300 GB drive from Fry's. $67.17 after shipping.

The $550 max budget includes both the cash gifts I've been given for XMas and my own money. Sigh, if it got me a 512 mb 8800 GT, I might dig up an extra $50. Which I think I could if I got the Antec eathwatts 380W.

I'm a little confused on power supplies these days (since watts isn't everything). Will the earthwatts 430 (or even the 380 that Abu Som3a mentioned) handle everything I've listed and a 8800GT?
Cooler Master 550W ps
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171016
$40.00 Mail-in Rebate $59.99 = 19.99
Click to expand...
Where can I find this rebate? Or was it at newegg and I missed it?
 
CSMRaider said:
I'm a little confused on power supplies these days (since watts isn't everything). Will the earthwatts 430 (or even the 380 that Abu Som3a mentioned) handle everything I've listed and a 8800GT?

Where can I find this rebate? Or was it at newegg and I missed it?
Click to expand...

The 380W will handle everything you've listed and an 8800GT. Also, don't bother with the Coolermaster PSU. It's of supreme crap IMO.
 
Yea don't buy that Coolermaster PSU. Newegg had the 430 watt earthwatts psu for $30 or $40 after MIR a few weeks ago, maybe that deal will start again.
 
CSMRaider said:
Where can I find this rebate? Or was it at newegg and I missed it?
Click to expand...

Looks like the rebate is gone. It's not a great PS but for 20 bucks it's good. They always have really good deals on PS if you can afford to wait for one.
 
Sigh.

Got everything (snagged a late gift card from a relative which got me a 8800GT 512MB!). Put it together.

Power on, processor fan turned about a tenth of a rotation and then just sat still. I quickly powered it down. As it was powering down the fan made one more hiccup in movement.

Waited a bit, made sure the fan connector was seated properly, tried it again, and got the same response.

Quick diagnostic help - dead fan is my assumption. Time to return it to Intel (yay retail purchase)?
 
Sounds like a short to me.

/*------------- <cut n paste> -------------*/
If you have both the 20/24 pin main ATX connector plugged in, AND the 4-Pin (or 8-pin) ATX12V P4 CPU connector plugged in, then the board should boot fine (unless it requires more power connectors from the PSU). You could try clearing the CMOS.

You could test the PSU. Jump start it (on the main atx connector, short the green wire with any black wire, using a paperclip), and see if it stays on. If not, then its probably a faulty PSU. If it works then you can proceed with the suggestions below. ***NOTE: The paperclip trick is a simple test for those that do not have PSU testers, multimeters, nor a spare PSU to test with. It is not a 100% conclusive test of the PSU.

Setup everything outside of the case, with the mobo on top of its cardboard box. Plug in only the essentials:
- PSU (namely: main 20/24-pin ATX connector and 4-pin ATX12V P4 CPU Connector)
- CPU w/ HSF
- Single stick of ram
- Videocard if there is no onboard video (along with its power connector, if it has one)
- Monitor
- Keyboard
- System speaker/buzzer

* Use a screwdriver if your board doesnt have an onboard power switch. Jump the two power switch leads to turn the power on.

If it won't post, try different RAM slots. If it still won't post, pull out the ram (so no ram in the system) and listen for error beeps. If none, pull the vidcard and listen for error beeps. If none, re-seat the CPU and HSF, then try again. Report back with results if you're still having issues.
/*------------- </cut n paste> -------------*/
 
Thanks so much Enginurd!

Clearing the CMOS didn't work and jumping the PSU didn't work. Tossed in an old PSU to the system and it POSTed just fine.

Time to RMA a PSU.
 
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