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making cheap barton system

B

bleed3r

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 30, 2003
Messages
391
I'm trying to go really cheap to get togethor a 2500 barton system, mainly needing the cpu, mobo, and ram to get going. But I also need a case... (Keep in mind that I am talking canadian funds unless otherwise stated)

For the case. I'm looking at the Antec SLK3700AMB (about $91). Any other recomendations for a good case and psu
(whether it comes with it or not) totaling under $100 bux?

The cpu is gonna cost about $125.

For the mobo, I'm looking for something around $100, I'm looking at an NF7 for about $105. Is it just as good as the NF7-S minus the onboard SATA? In overclocking terms? Is there anything else I should consider? What about like A7N8X-X comparing?
In the end, I might cut back on say the ram to get the -S... But then, at that price of $140, what other options should I look at?

For ram, I want dual channel 2x256. The decision lies between PC2700 and PC3200, and 1 or 2 sticks to start out with... But one factor is, will my cpu be locked? If the chances are too high, then I would just get 2700, but if its still pretty probable of getting an unlocked barton, I'd get 3200. Either way, the max per stick I wanna pay is about $70, or totaling $140 at the most for 2. Thats kinda around $50USD and $100USD. But I'm really leaning to get just 1 stick for now to keep my price down just to get up and running. Let me know any suggestions for RAM. Im thinking I might even go for a stick of level 2 or blue line mushkin 256 PC2700, would this ram oc well enough when eventualy buying a second one? Each stick is about $115 (level2) and $90 (blue)

About the locked barton, where can I look for a mobile 2500? It would cost practicly the same, but would be freakin awsome. I can't buy from newegg (canada), and I don't know where else I could find one.

All extras will come later, I just need the basics on a tight budget, and I don't want to cut back on things so it will be really good when I get money to buy new things.

I already have some HDDs (sig) I plan on using to save like $120 for now, along with a ti4200 I will use also. If I can't spend like $20 on a cdrom I'll just borrow one from another computer for now, and I got some floppys to use, although I don't know if I will need them other than flashing.

So say I spent, all this:

$90 SLK3700AMB
$125 2500+ Barton
$140 NF7-S
$115 x1 Mushkin PC2700 level 2 256mb
Total=$470 (eep) .....and if I buy local from Vibe, tack on 15% tax
$540

Hmmm, maby if I just got the NF7, I could get a SATA/RAID controller later on if and when I need it, as it would be better than onboard anyways. The only other things to cut down are the case and ram, but I don't seeing the point as each lesser thing is only like $20 away etc. (ie. going for cheaper ram @$60, well thats only $20 less than the blue line mushkin, well thats only $20 less than the level 2, so you see, but all hardware is like that, I just dont wanna have to replace it.)

So then with the NF7 replacing the NF7-S that saves it to $435, and $500 in the end.


Let's see what my dad will think of my preposition since he said yeah he would pay a couple hundred dollars to get me a new computer when I was showing him some $20 mobos/cpus I wanted to upgrade my POS system with off ebay.

I always seem to escalate it so much in theses situations, and he's gonna say "what can you cut back on", but I think I'm pretty basic here.

So pretty much things you can help me with: choice of mobos, the SLK2600AMB, if the level 2 pc2700 mushkin will oc enough to keep up with the fsb when OC'in the barton, the locking on bartons and availibility of mobile 2500, and any things you think would be better for the money or ways to go cheaper without borking the ability to upgrade and make it ownage later, along with any comments or your experiances.

Thanks, my thoughts are long, hope you can read it and give me advice :)
 
I bought from ncix.com 2 weeks ago, and my 2500+ was unlocked. If you decide to buy online though, from my experience, vibecomputers.com iis much better than ncix.
 
Another vote for ncix here.

My barton that I got from them maybe a month or so ago was locked though, guess I just got unlucky.

Looks like you're missing a video card there though.

If you plan on overclocking, I'd recommend picking up a cheap case, and an antec true power 430w power supply. A little more than you wanted to spend overall, but it will be worth it.

Can you actually find mushkin level 2 ram anymore? I'm sure if you could get a stick of mushkin level 2 pc2700 ram, it'd overclock with the cpu just fine; bump the voltage up, and it'll probably do a good amount over 200mhz fsb. The main thing you'll run into as far as overclocking goes is your cooling solution. Look to spend a decent amount on that, as well(like, for a good air cooler, maybe $60-70 canadian)

Edit: If you can actually find mushkin level 2 ram to buy right now, like, the kind with the bh-5 chips, BUY TWO OF THEM right now. I know it's expensive, but you'll be kicking yourself later if you end up buying one now, and then two months down the road you can't get it anymore, and you'll be limiting your overclock by your ram.
 
Today tigerdirect is selling some of there AMD mobos for 10$ after rebate. :eek:
 
not sure why you would get 2700 instead of 3200 if you think your cpu is going to be locked.

You would want better ram to increase the fsb if it was.
 
Originally posted by misfitsfiend
what do people mean when they have a "locked" barton or processor?
Click to expand...

The multiplier is locked, meaning the only way to overclock them would be to increase the fsb.
 
along with a ti4200 I will use also
Click to expand...
Vidcard

The level 2 mushkin is at vibecomputers http://www.vibecomputers.com/index.cfm?loc=iview&if=n&vID=169031 is it bh5?

Cooling etc will come later, I just need basics as I said to get a base system to add on later.

not sure why you would get 2700 instead of 3200 if you think your cpu is going to be locked. You would want better ram to increase the fsb if it was.
Click to expand...
The multiplier is locked, meaning the only way to overclock them would be to increase the fsb.
Click to expand...

Ok, that was confusion for me, for some reason I thought it locked the multiplier and fsb so there could be no OC'in at all so thats why I would only need 2700. D'oh. So yeah, your right ullyeus, but if the level 2 2700 goes easy to at least 200fsb its all good.

But Spewn, vibecomputers has always had the level 2, if its with bh-5 does that mean they just have a finite stock so it could be gone at anytime with no more to come? Because they don't make the bh5 ne more right? I would like to get 2, I'll have to see.
 
Originally posted by Spewn
If you plan on overclocking, I'd recommend picking up a cheap case, and an antec true power 430w power supply. A little more than you wanted to spend overall, but it will be worth it.
Click to expand...

I duno, aren't the psu's in antec cases sufficient and of good quality?
 
Originally posted by bleed3r
I duno, aren't the psu's in antec cases sufficient and of good quality?
Click to expand...

I didn't look much into that specific case. If the case comes with an antec true power PSU, then that's good. If not, I'd recommend it, as keeping your power rails within stricter guidelines will help keep your overclocks stable.
 
350W SmartPower ATX12V power supply
- for AMD? & Intel® systems
- SmartPower runs cooler and quieter

That's the psu with the Antec SLK3700AMB...

?
 
Originally posted by bleed3r
350W SmartPower ATX12V power supply
- for AMD? & Intel® systems
- SmartPower runs cooler and quieter

That's the psu with the Antec SLK3700AMB...

?
Click to expand...

Without shelling out another $60-$150 you won't get anything better than that...

Antec makes some of the best PSU in the world - the only alternates I would go for are:

PC Power and Cooling
Enermax 400w+ PSUs
Antec True Power
- All which will cost nearly if not more than the case itself. ;)
 
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

From mushkin.com

256MB PC2700 222 - Black Hi Perf Level II $ 69.00
512MB PC2700 Level II Dual Pack (2x256MB) $ 123.00

256MB PC3200 222 Special < new product $ 96.00
512MB Dual Pack (2x256MB) PC3200 222 Special < new product! $ 177.00
(CAS 2-2-2 @ 400mhz "Mushkin's newest PC3200 product. Lowest latency PC3200 found on the planet today")


What the hell, on vibecomputers for $215 canadian (which is like $160US) is the 2x256 PC2700. I'm definatly ordering from mushkin.com

That "Dual Pack (2x256MB) PC3200 222 Special < new product" looks tempting. Its BH6, but less overclocking pc3200 with a 2500 barton eh? But the BH5 2700 dual pack should OC to be just as good as the 3200 pretty much? What do you think? Is the new 3200 dual pack worth $50 more than the level 2 2700 dual pack?
 
Originally posted by Flipside
Without shelling out another $60-$150 you won't get anything better than that...

Antec makes some of the best PSU in the world - the only alternates I would go for are:

PC Power and Cooling
Enermax 400w+ PSUs
Antec True Power
- All which will cost nearly if not more than the case itself. ;)
Click to expand...

Funny, I got my antec true power 430w(so, 80w more max power) for $104. Pick up a cheapo case for $20, and there you go. It's up to you, but if you plan on overclocking, having a high quality(and higher power) PSU is key.
 
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