Thoughts on a budget AMD x2 Build

M

minkyboodle

n00b
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Dec 13, 2006
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I finally convinced a good friend that it was time to upgrade his old Dell P3 to a newer system. Seems like a great time to build a budget system. He is not a gamer so I'm basically looking to get the best I can for cheap, I doubt he will be moving off XP for quite some time so VISTA isn't in the game at the moment. It seems like an AMD x2 would be a good option. I'd love to hear any thoughts/critiques of this build. I normally build the most quiet system I can but on this one I'm just going for budget and not too loud. As far as overclocking I'm not counting on it but given the success rate these days I will certainly try to get any bonus speed I can with the setup (seems like there is great potential).

BIOSTAR TForce TF7025-M2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 Micro ATX
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 Processor
- Newegg combo $125 shipped
OCZ 2GB DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz CL 4-4-4-15 / Platinum / Revision 2 /
- Fry's $80 shipped
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro
- ewiz $30 (probably not needed but the quiet factor is calling me)
Case Antec 3700AMB
- Free old case I can give, nice roomy interior basically a 3000B but earlier model (I have various fans I can use in the system already)
Hard Drive (Any SATA or SATA 2 over 200GB)
- Looking to spend around ~$50-60 waiting for a deal or I may go used
Fortron AX400-PN ATX12V 400W Power Supply
- Newegg $48 shipped. This seems like a well reviewed budget Power Supply that should fit my friends needs, he will never game and I can't see him running anything other than 1 optical and 1 internal hard drive. Once again I'd love to hear if anyone has a better deal this was basically what I came up with hunting around the Egg.
IDE Optical DVD Burner
- Under $40 haven't decided on the make/model yet

So unless my math is wrong (which it often times is) that puts the system (monitor and OS are covered) at about $375. Again I'd love to hear thoughts or improvements, budget is what its all about here :)
Scott
 
Well you could go with an Enlight case with 350 watt power supply for around $54 if you don't mind the "classic" case looks. But it looks like you already have a case. The power supply is a Delta according to the UL number and the case has very good cooling characteristics. I have a similar system that you listed, and has performed perfectly hardware wise. Am using the Asus M2A-VM with the Ati onboard video. No complaints at all about the video for every day tasks

For a burner, check out the Lite on 20x burner, I bought the retail version for around $38 because it included Nero 7. Oem is around $32 IIRC.

I am impressed with this burner, fast and quiet
 
I'd go with the XClio GoodPower 500W instead of the FSP, for the same price ($50). It, too, is a good budget PSU that can handle a little more than the FSP AX* model.

Go with a SATA Optical drive as well. Fry's had some 'cudas on sale last week. I picked up 2 of the 300GB models for $60 each, they were 7200.10 models, too.

If you can find some DDR2-667 for $65, go with that instead. The odd half stepped multi of the 3600+ makes DDR2-800 somewhat useless, lol, IIRC.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, that is some very useful info. Especially about PS and RAM (was thinking that might be the case). Now I just gotta convince him now is the time :D
Scott
 
minkyboodle said:
Thanks for the replies guys, that is some very useful info. Especially about PS and RAM (was thinking that might be the case). Now I just gotta convince him now is the time :D
Scott
Click to expand...

Check this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811190050 Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144107 HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813130064 Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827101131 Dvd Rom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820220089 Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103760 CPU
-----------
Total: 267.74 shipped. Dual core. DDR2.
-----------

Hah, I bet he'd go for that price eh?
 
Sounds like a good solid build.

The forton power supply is nice and quite, Im pleased with mine. The only issue Ive had with it is not booting a 7800GTX and 3 SATA drives, resolved that by moving 2 drives to another pc.

For the harddrive, Id look at the Seagate 7200.10s. You can find good deals on them frequently at Frys and Buy.com.
 
practal said:
The forton power supply is nice and quite, Im pleased with mine. The only issue Ive had with it is not booting a 7800GTX and 3 SATA drives, resolved that by moving 2 drives to another pc.
Click to expand...

The XClio Goodpower I threw into my homie's system is powering a BFG 7800GTX, 4x HDDs, 2x opticals, and an X2 3800+ OC'd to 2.4Ghz, all in an Antec P160 (yes, its an old system. he previously had a trueblue from antec in there that died a few months after the 7800GTX was plugged in, lol).
 
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