Been a while.. help with a new build?

[ReBeagle]

Hello everyone,

It's been like 5 years since I chose parts to build a new PC from scratch without basing it off someone's recommendation. My budget is preferably under $500-600 but I may be willing to go higher if it makes a big difference for the future.

I don't need help with software/mouse/keyboard/harddrive/optical drives/monitor/etc and I am not too brand loyal (after all, the brands I used probably are vastly different in qualit than they were). I'm not a hardcore overclocker, but have dealt with minor overclocking in the past (my main PC right now is a mobile processor that is overclocked with nothing more than a better HSF). I'll consider overclocking if it doesn't require anything extreme like liquid cooling.

The PC would be my main gaming PC but I don't need to be bleeding edge and run the latest games on the highest settings. The PC would also be used to encode/transcode video and play videos through my TV. Excessive noise while idling would be a concern if it would be distacting but noise during heavy usage/play would be fine.

What I would like recommendations on would be:

Motherboard - I have no special requirements that I can think of.

CPU - I have no current preference, but I do like the experience I have had with my laptop's dual core

RAM - I'd prefer 4GB. Current memory timings are something I don't have knowledge of.

Video Card - This is where I'm a little pickier. I'd prefer one with HDMI output to display it on my 47" TV. The TV unfortunately does not have DVI, but if HDMI is not possible then I could also go with component. I also would like it to still be compatible with VGA since I may still use it on my old 19" VGA-only LCD. If there are no decent ones with HDMI -and- VGA, would there be an adapter that would allow VGA output?

Sound - No true preferences beyond it being able to output surround preferably through the HDMI cable unless anyone has an experience and thinks there's a better way.

Case/PSU: I realize these may bump the price up, and I'm fine with that. Outside of the budget, I'd like to just consider these. I'm not the type of person that will spend like $150+ on a case, though.

If anyone could help point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it. If I need to clarify anything just let me know.

Thanks

 

[DSF]

Can you be more specific about your level of gaming?

 

[ReBeagle]

Sure. Right now the only really potentially intensive games I would play would be multiplayer FPS like Valve's current/near-future offerings. Everything else is more lower end stuff that my current system could even handle (Adventure games like Sam & Max, etc). I mainly play everything else on consoles but some things really do need a mouse/kb interface. I'd like to be able to play Crysis/Bioshock/Mass Effect on a decent setting but it wouldn't have to be on the highest everything. Basically, I don't need to go overkill on current-gen games, but I'd like to be able to play them at least.

 

[Roguestar]

Basic thoughts for a cheap-ish system with a little overclocking and some mild gaming:

ATI 4850 graphics card $150 AR http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814125224
Gigabyte P43 DS3L motherboard $95 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128347
G.Skill 4GB DDR2-1000 (because it's really cheap and for extra headroom if you overclock a lot) $55 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231152
Intel E2200 CPU (great overclocker) $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116063
Xigmatec Rifle 120mm cooler $28 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003
Western Digital Caviar 640GB $85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136218
Antec Three Hundred case $60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129042
You should definitely be good for onboard sound on that motherboard.

I think someone else can recommend a good power supply that's on offer at the moment, I don't usually browse newegg so I'm not up to date in that area.

Also read through the "attention system builders" thread.

 

[ReBeagle]

Thanks, Roguestar. I think that'll definitely help. I'll probably go with most of those options unless anyone else gives me anything that sticks out. (I won't need the HD as I have a new one I'll be using.) Would there be a big difference going from the E2200 CPU to E7200 for $40? Particularly if I did OC. I'm willing to bump things up a little bit here now and then if they make sense.

 

[z1ggy]

Solid list of parts that roguestar gave you. You might not need a 640gb HD if you don't think you need it.. You coudl settle for 160 or 250 if you wanted and use the extra money to maybe get a better GPU or more RAM.

 

[ReBeagle]

Yeah, when it comes to HDs that's one thing I have plenty of I have a couple of 500gb Seagate SATA2's in my current system right now (and others in external enclosures.. Im addicted to harddrive rebate deals-- you can never have too much space.)


So far for the parts that I actually need to purchase I'm looking at:

ATI 4850 graphics card $150 AR
Gigabyte P43 DS3L motherboard $95
G.Skill 4GB DDR2-1000 $55
Intel E2200 CPU $80 (or maybe go for E7200 for $40 more.. any feedback?)
Xigmatec Rifle 120mm cooler $28 AR


And originally was not planning on it, but will add the following:
Antec Three Hundred case $60
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS PSU $80 AR

~548 total before tax/shipping and after rebate. Not bad considering I wasn't originally budgeting the case & PSU into it.


Any final feedback on this config? Particularly in regard to the CPU and if it's worth purchasing the more expensive one when it comes to simple overclockability/price..

Thanks for everyone's help so far, especially Roguestar for his quick and solid list.

 

[Roguestar]

I didn't realise the E7200 was that cheap. Hell if it's only $40 more, go for it if you have the cash! :thumbsup:

What's the wattage on that PSU? 600?

 

[ReBeagle]

Yea, the E7200 is only $40 more. It seems like a good deal, but I didn't know if the E2200 had something special about it.

And yes, that PSU is 610W. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...16817703005&Tpk=S61EPS

It's one of the recommended ones in the Attn System Builders thread.

Unless anyone notices any inconsistencies/incompatibilities between the Mobo/Cpu/Ram/GPU, I'll be purchasing this tomorrow. Does anyone see any issues with potentially OCing (but not extreme) with this combo?

Thanks

 

[DSF]

The E7200 will overclock higher, and it's built on a newer 45nm process. Clock for clock the differences won't be enormous, but if I'm not mistaken the 45nm chips have some minor tweaks to help with video work. May depend on what codecs/programs you use. I'm not the guy to ask about that.

Depending on how much of a concern noise is to you, I would consider going with this PSU instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...E16817139004&Tpk=550VX
It will have plenty of power for your system and should be noticeably quieter. The PCP&C unit uses an 80mm, which needs to spin faster and therefore produce more noise to move the same amount of air as the 120mm fan in the Corsair. Most PSUs in that price range are using the 120mm fans now, and I'm not sure why PCP&C doesn't. This is just speculation, but I believe that has something to do with the lower prices on PCP&C PSUs these days. That 610W PSU used to cost around $150, but when you can get a quieter PSU with similar build quality and power output for half the price, I imagine the PCP&C sales were taking a hit.

As usual, buy.com beats Newegg's prices on PSUs:
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsai...loc/101/206178324.html
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsai...loc/101/205852646.html

DDR2-1000 isn't necessary for overclocking the E2200/E7200 because of their high multipliers. Save a little money and get some good DDR2-800 like this Mushkin kit, which also has the benefit of running at 1.8V:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146731
It's out of stock right now at Newegg, but it usually comes back pretty quickly. If it doesn't come back, there are plenty of other 1.8-1.9V DDR2-800 kits from good companies like Corsair, G.Skill, Mushkin and Crucial.

 

[ReBeagle]

I tried looking at the info on RAM and timings, and I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of the best ram with the current deals for 4GB of DDR2-800 ram. The Mushkin 4GB DDR2-800 looked good but won't be in stock for a while (ETA is after the current rebate period ends). When it comes to timings & voltage, I was wondering if anyone had experience and could give me an idea on what to buy in today's market. I've gotten everything else pretty narrowed down.

Thanks

 

[ReBeagle]

I placed my orders but the video card that was recommended is now out of stock. (Gigabyte ATI4850).. Does anyone know how MSI's 4850 would compare? http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127359 I read that they have some heat issues, but it seems the Gigabyte does too. Any feedback on how this GPU compares? It's pretty much the last thing I need now.

Thanks

 

[DSF]

Don't worry too much about timings. They aren't important in an Intel system. Just buy whatever you get the best deal on, and if it runs at 1.8V like the Mushkin does that's a plus.

The difference between video card companies is mainly in the quality of customer service and warranty support. They're all using the same board design from ATI, or very nearly so. ASUS is a pretty good brand, and MSI should be fine. I believe they offer 3-year warranties on their video cards. VisionTek is the only ATI partner that has a lifetime warranty.

After you buy your card, read the little info papers that come with it. With some companies you have to register your card on their website before you can begin receiving warranty service, and if you haven't registered by a certain point your warranty becomes invalid.

 

[ReBeagle]

Thanks to everyone that helped me. I got all my parts and assembled it tonight. It was the first time I've built a system in a long time so I was stuck forgetting to attach the 12V connector to the mobo which didn't exist the times I previously built them silly me. But after some searching on the internet for better manuals its up and running memtest86 now to be sure I'm all good with mem and such. I just wanted to offer my thanks instead of simply disappearing.. I'll stick around and post more often--- I was just a lurker before but the help amazed me. It's too bad memory (mmm, tweaking's QEMM's results and such) and IRQs aren't a big issue.. those were my forte back in the day.

 

[Roguestar]

Good to see it all worked fine for you, thanks for coming back and posting your results .