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$1000 budget. Pls help me spec a system

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pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
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76
I've wanted to build my own system forever, but every time I ended up buying a Dell LOL. But this time, I'm determined to build one! So pls help me spec a system for $1000 (monitor NOT included). I do programming, *some* FPS gaming, web design, plus the usual PC stuff (office, email, blah blah). I'd like the following:

1) quiet system. Doesn't have to be silent, so no need for fancy water cooling, but must be quiet as I hate noise.
2) 1G RAM (or more) a must!
3) prefer 64bit as I upgrade once every 3 yrs.
3.5) a nice attractive case (what I hate about dell: so fugly). nothing flashy or overdone, but functional and attractive.
4) I already have an external dvdrw, so just one internal dvd reader, and 160G or bigger HD.
5) a 6600GT or 6800GT class video card for the occasional gaming. quietness is important!
6) don't care about sound so on-board sound is fine. on-board wifi too?

Is this doable? I'm in CA so if newegg, have to make room for tax.
 
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jdport

Senior member
Oct 20, 2004
710
0
71
I'll do my best to answer here... beyond saying check the stickied thread :)
Others can comment on my opinions if they wish, but they are only my opinions so take it for what it's worth:

First off I'd go with an AMD64.. the highest end ones are way too expensive, but the 3500+ is around $275 and the 3200+ is like $180... I don't know what all you do with your machine but if you are looking to keep the cost down < $1000 like you said I'd go with the 3200+ (or even the 3000+ but the price drops get less and less significant).

From everything i've read here on these forums, high end performance Ram isn't so important for AMD64's and again you are looking to keep cost down so I'd go with the Ram I just bought for my own new build, the Corsair Value Ram... 512MB*2 for 1GB of RAM costs about $120 at Newegg or Zipzoomfly.

for Noise, you can buy bigger fans to reduce noise but this isn't an issue I know a ton about. The bigger fans will move the same amount of air as a smaller fan with less RPM's, thus they can cool more quietly. On my rig, I bought the Thermaltake Shark case. It's very slick looking and from every account I've seen it is very cool and quiet... but I can't really vouch for the quietness of the case until I actually get my system built (all the parts are currently on order). The case is pricey , so you might want to go with another option if your bottomline gets too high... it costs around $150. You can get pretty good cases quite a bit cheaper, I just really liked this case and heard a lot about it and based on that I recommend it if it fits your budget after everything else is said and done... but if overall cost is getting to high then by all means I would go with a cheaper case.

For video I'd definately go with the 6600GT rather than the 6800... the 6800GT costs $400-450, and compared to the $200-250 for the 6600GT. It's still pleanty fast , especially for "occassional" gaming. I'd assume it's quieter too, as it wouldn't output as much heat as the 6800 but I don't know that for sure.

There are a ton of inexpensive harddrives out there. I just bought a SATA Seagate 200GB drive for $115. You can get even cheaper if you don't go SATA. The otherday I saw a Maxtor 7200 RPM 300GB drive for $105... choose your favorite brand. I'd figure $100 or so for a drive that size, but you could very well get one cheaper.

I just got through researching primarily SLI motherboards... I don't know what motherboard to tell you to go with for a non-SLI system... You'll also have to research on your own the quietness factor of a decently quiet power supply.. but bottom line I'd guess:

$150 (very high estimate I for a good motherboard.. should be cheaper)
$120 1GB Ram
$180 AMD64 3200+ CPU
$250 6600GT (high end of hte price range)
$100 Power Supply (estimate.. might be able to get cheaper)
$100 Hard Drive

That puts you right at $900, leaving $100 for a case... if any of these items came up just a bit under the estimates (and it's highly likely they would) then you'd have $150 left over for the Thermaltake case... or you could go with a cheaper case. So yea, I think what you want is very doable.

-Jeff
 
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Wicked2010

Member
Feb 22, 2005
123
0
0
Motherboard recommendations:

If you want to go PCIe, then I recommend the DFI nForce4 Ultra for overclocking.... or even the MSI Neo4 nForce4 Ultra. One nice feature of the MSI board is the onboard sound is great... it's Sound Blaster onboard!!!

If you want to go AGP 8X, then I suggest the MSI Neo2 nForce3.

If you aren't into overclocking, then the latest Gigabyte board will do.
 
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DaveJ412

Senior member
Mar 3, 2001
257
0
0
I just built a $1000 computer a couple of weeks ago. Bought everything at Newegg because I'm too lazy to shop around. Let me give you the gist of it:

1) MSI 865PE Neo2 - $79
2) ATI AIW Radeon 9600XT - $190
3) Intel P4 3.0E - $181.50
4) Maxtor 200gb SATA - $114.86
5) Rosewill Case w/ 400w PSU - $49
6) Sony 16x DVD-ROM - $25.50
7) Samsung DVD+/-RW - $55.99
8) 2 80mm Thermaltake Fans - $4.75
9) 1gb PC3200 RAM - $181
10) 7-in-1 Internal Card Reader - $16
11) Logitech diNovo Cordless Desktop - $125.00

Now I had a 17" monitor lying around, so I didn't order that. Hope this helps.
 
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Griffinhart

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2004
1,130
1
76
SN95G5: $241.60
AMD 64 3200+:$186
512MB of Crucial PC-3200 X2 (1GB Total) $118
MSI 6600GT (AGP) $214
Seagate 250GB SATA-HD: $161
Sony DVD-ROM drive: $26
WinXP Home: $93

Total Cost: $1039

You'd have a very Nice, Small, reasonably quite, good performer with room to upgrade a little. One PCI slot open and the ability to go to Dual Core later if you feel like it.

You could probably go Cheaper, but, I really like my Shuttle box. My Windows Media Center PC is using that box. You can drop the price, easily, by going with a 3000+ or a slighly smaller HD. Note, the CPU is OEM since you don't need the heatsink and fan in the retail box. The shuttle box has it's own cooling solution. A rather neat one too.

Edit:
Note, that includes windows XP Home. if you don't need to buy an OS you will easily get it for $1000 including Taxes. I've tested this box with the same video board and a 3000+ CPU. It runs WinXP 64 Extremely well with all of it's hardware supported.
 
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pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
0
76
wow thanks for all replies.

what I have so far: (I picked zipzoomfly cause it's a bit cheaper than newegg and they have free shipping on most)

CPU Athlon 64 3200 $190
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80701-2

Mobo MSI K8N NEO4-F nForce4 (NOT SLI) $95
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241163

**** Really wondering if I should spring for SLI. This board is cheap and MSI has good rep right? Googled and found only european sites. Maybe not a good sign? Anadtech has nforce4 roundup but not for non-SLI

Cooler Zalman CNPS7700-CU CPU Cooler Retail $47
https://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=373035

**** I want a quiet cooler, but maybe overspending here?

Memory Corsair VS512MB400 512MB DDR400 PC3200 CAS2.5 Value Selectl 2x$70 = $140
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-6-341805

**** will more $$$ ram make much of a difference?

Video MSI NX6600GT-TD128E GeForce 6600 GT PCIe $190
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=321916

**** Picked this one cause reviews say it's the quietest.

Case Antec Sonata $100
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=140025

**** A user review on newegg said PS not compatible w/ newer mobo. True? I wish it were lighter, and that you didn't have to slip that door to access the power button.

HD Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JD 250GB Serial ATA 7200RPM 8MB Buffer $150
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101220-1-316604

comes out to ~$900+tax free ship on all but case.

 
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Rapsven

Member
Jul 29, 2004
133
0
0
The heatsink doesn't make noise...the fan does.

Edit:

Your system is great. Go with it.
 
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pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
0
76
thanks Silversierra. (I was using zipzoomfly's site and missed stuff. newegg has a much nicer web site.)

that case looks small. how do you put the mobo in there? do you have to take out all the drive casing?

think I'll have a problem w/ a mini tower + msi nforce4 mobo?
 
Cerpin Taxt

Cerpin Taxt

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
11,940
542
126
Shop on Newegg for the ease of navigation, but prices will usually be lower at ZZF. Occasionally Newegg will beat ZZF, but not often.

I built basically the same system like 3 weeks ago, and it was my first build. I might suggest opting for one of the Aluminum/Copper Zalman HSFs -- a bit cheaper and just as good.

The case is going to be bigger than you think, IMO. You should have plenty of room to mount the mobo without removing the drive trays or anything like that.
 
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pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
0
76
HD question: does the HD Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JD 250GB Serial ATA 7200RPM 8MB Buffer have a "true" SATA interface or only a PATA->SATA converter? also, am I supposed to use 2 drives and run them in a RAID array, like with DDR RAM?
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
What he means is its basically an IDE and the IDE microcontroller is connected to a Sil3611 on the HDD'ss PCB.

And yes.
 
RelaxTheMind

RelaxTheMind

Platinum Member
Oct 15, 2002
2,245
0
76
FYI: There is no such thing as free shipping. If it actually exists somewhere please inform me.
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
Look at most of the links I justs posted.....
motherboard, processor, ram, video card, and hard drive == free 2nd day.
 
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pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
0
76
ribbon13: your spec is pretty close to mine. Is it a built and working rig? How is the Gigabyte mobo better than the MSI?

relaxthemind: yeah there's no "free" anything. bottom line is zzf's bottom line is a bit lower than newegg's. that's all I'm saying.
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
http://badcaps.net/
^
That, and personal preference I guess. I've seen more MSIs with em that Gigabytes.

Also, if you like quietness I'd take my case/psu combo i listed
While I'd agree the Sonata is a great kit, its PSU can't touch the Seasonic in performance.

 
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pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
0
76
how's the stock hsf on the amd as far as noise goes? do i really need the zalman
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
Zalman is a waste of money. Stock is fine even for some overclock, and serious overclockers wouldn't use air anyway.

Also note the Sonata's PSU is 20-pin and the motherboard is going to be 24-pin. That confuses a lot of neophytes.
 
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pctwo

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
397
0
76
ribbon13: I probably won't o/c. it's the NOISE I'm worried about. how much noise does the stock fan generate under normal load?

I like the dual dvi on the xfx, but again, I picked msi b/c I heard it's the quietest of the bunch, No point in having quiet case and psu when the video and cpu fans run like a vacuum cleaner
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
Very little. Also for the XFX. I've setup dual XFX 6600GTs for a quad LCD rigs for a few of my dev friends, and there was no complaints. I highly doubt you could tell the difference between the two. I've tested a bunch of em with one of these and the difference were with 2.1db(A). It takes 3db for the human ear to distinguish.
 
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