Low Cost Computer Build

[Puppysmith]

Need some help for sound.

This is what I am thinking about ordering for a ~ $500 system sans HDD, monitor, sound card and operating system. All prices are from either New Egg (video card) or ClubIT (the rest).

Not a hard core gamer but do do a lot of video work.

Any thoughts?

I am thinking I will switch the e2160 for a quad when the prices drop. Have considered a CPU cooler, but OCing the e2160 to 3.0GHz really does not call for one, so will save $$ until I get a quad.

PSU:

CORSAIR HX CMPSU-520HX - $99.99 - $80.99 after MIR

Motherboard:

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA775 Intel - $98.99

Memory:

OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 - $79.99 - $44.99 after MIR

CPU:

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 - $77.99

Case:

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 Black ATX Mid Tower Case - $49.99

DVD Burner:

LITE-ON LH-20A1L-06 20X DVD±R Dual Layer + DVD-RAM SATA Black - $35.70

Video Card:

MSI GeForce 8600GT OC 256MB 128bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video - $109.99 - $89.99 after MIR

...or

SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 - $134.99

Thanks for your help.

 

[OverlordXenu]

nVidia cards: eVGA
ATi cards: Cheapest one you can find.

Don't go quad core unless you're running a Windows server OS (2003, 2008), OS X, or Linux. Regular versions of Windows cannot handle more than 2 cores correctly, aka no smp threaded application support for more than 2 cores, so a quad core is useless unless you do a lot of cpu-intensive multitasking.

 

[Chu]

How strict is $500? Toss some fans in there that you're going to need and you're already over budget (including rebates). Add shipping and you might be as much as 20% over budget already.

 

[Puppysmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu /img/forum/go_quote.gif How strict is $500? Toss some fans in there that you're going to need and you're already over budget (including rebates). Add shipping and you might be as much as 20% over budget already.

Not trying to hold it below $500 if there are better components required for this build. I think I don't need the 520W PSU, however if in a year, I upgrade to a quad when they fall below $150 and at the same time upgrade to an 8800GTX card which should be in the $150 range by then, I will need it. I am thinking I will go with the 8600GT video card and upgrade later when prices fall.

As far as fans, the case comes with two, an 80mm and a 120mm. I don't think I would require more given the set-up.

Most of the shipping is free from ClubIT, ZipZoomFly and New Egg.

Which sound card should I purchase?

 

[Chu]

By the way, at this price level, it's very hard to beat prebuilt systems. I'd look around fatwallet and see what computer deals they are this week.

I took a quick look and all I see is the dual quad xeon deal for $800, but I didn't dig into the "flyer" posts.

 

[Puppysmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverlordXenu /img/forum/go_quote.gif nVidia cards: eVGA ATi cards: Cheapest one you can find. Don't go quad core unless you're running a Windows server OS (2003, 2008), OS X, or Linux. Regular versions of Windows cannot handle more than 2 cores correctly, aka no smp threaded application support for more than 2 cores, so a quad core is useless unless you do a lot of cpu-intensive multitasking.

Thanks, I thought so and am happy to OC the e2160 to 3.2GHz.

e2160.html]Overclocking the e2160

An Overclocker's Dream: Pentium Dual Core Runs 3.2 GHz

 

[Puppysmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu /img/forum/go_quote.gif By the way, at this price level, it's very hard to beat prebuilt systems. I'd look around fatwallet and see what computer deals they are this week. I took a quick look and all I see is the dual quad xeon deal for $800, but I didn't dig into the "flyer" posts.

I check the Dell deals all the time and you are right, there are great Dell deals out there plus you can sell all of the unwanted parts on ebay and reduce the price of the "prebuilt" system considerbly. 19" monitors sell for around $200 and a 320GB HDD is $80 in a quick sale. Subtract that from $800 and you have a really cheap "prebuilt" system.

However with "prebuilt" systems you cannot OC the CPU with the stock low quality motherboard; the PSU is usually poor quality (probably a tier 4 308W unit), and upgrading either the CPU or video card might require a new PSU and motherboard.

I would love it if Dell offered choices in motherboard and PSU as upgrades and you could buy barebones systems with those options.

 

[Chu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puppysmith /img/forum/go_quote.gif I check the Dell deals all the time and you are right, there are great Dell deals out there plus you can sell all of the unwanted parts on ebay and reduce the price of the "prebuilt" system considerbly. 19" monitors sell for around $200 and a 320GB HDD is $80 in a quick sale. Subtract that from $800 and you have a really cheap "prebuilt" system. However with "prebuilt" systems you cannot OC the CPU with the stock low quality motherboard; the PSU is usually poor quality (probably a tier 4 308W unit), and upgrading either the CPU or video card might require a new PSU and motherboard. I would love it if Dell offered choices in motherboard and PSU as upgrades and you could buy barebones systems with those options.

When I say cheap, I mean considerably cheaper. Fatwallet has sub-$200 deals for computers with about the same specs in the op about twice a month. Every once in a while considerably cheaper, I've seen them as low as $30 after rebates and such.

Overclocking does change quite a few things though.

 

[Joeywhat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverlordXenu /img/forum/go_quote.gif nVidia cards: eVGA ATi cards: Cheapest one you can find. Don't go quad core unless you're running a Windows server OS (2003, 2008), OS X, or Linux. Regular versions of Windows cannot handle more than 2 cores correctly, aka no smp threaded application support for more than 2 cores, so a quad core is useless unless you do a lot of cpu-intensive multitasking.

Quads are good for gaming. As of now, few released games can us them...but Crysis is supposed to do very well with four core processors, as few as some other games.

A few DAW programs can handle the 4 cores as well. Considering the price they are at right now, and that the 45nm core chips are coming out soon (with even more ridiculously low prices) it's certainly worth a thought.

 

[Chu]

Looking over the computer in the OP, if all of those components are pretty much free shipping it's going to be pretty hard to beat. Just a few comments:

(1) You can save a few bits on the power supply if you really want to. Not really a big issue, and the fact most of this is free shipping complicates.

(2) The Video Card. If you are going to be gaming on this system, I strongly suggest that you try to scrounge up the extra money to get the 8800 GTS. I know this increases the budget by $150 which is a ton for a $500 system but there is an incredibly large difference between the 8600 and 8800. Without anything fancy it's, at bare minimun, a 20% fps increase across the board. The more you turn on the greater the difference. An extra 20-50% flat boost (and as much as 100-150% in certain real world conditions) for a 30% boost in your budget is amazing value at any price point. You can see some benchmarks here.

3. Sound. Ordinarly I would say forget it, but, well, this is head-fi. Really, the question is do you have a DAC? If you don't, then I would suggest $30 for an AV710 if you got something resembling a rig you are going to hook up. Anything else is going to blow your budget for very marginal gains.

 

[Chu]

Also, fair warning, P35 boards are very picky about memory. Read the reviews and actuially confirm that someone has stuck it into a P35 system and it worked.

 

[ttol]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OverlordXenu /img/forum/go_quote.gif Don't go quad core unless you're running a Windows server OS (2003, 2008), OS X, or Linux. Regular versions of Windows cannot handle more than 2 cores correctly, aka no smp threaded application support for more than 2 cores, so a quad core is useless unless you do a lot of cpu-intensive multitasking.

The XP etc. limitation is about actual physical CPUs, 4 cores is fine since it's still just one CPU. Though there aren't many applications that currently take full use of 4 cores.

 

[Chu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttol /img/forum/go_quote.gif The XP etc. limitation is about actual physical CPUs, 4 cores is fine since it's still just one CPU. Though there aren't many applications that currently take full use of 4 cores.

It's close enough on the horizon though it's worth considering. Within two years it's almost certain that every next generation engine will be able to.