Building a budget PC guide

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The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
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I'm just putting out this guide for people who are planning on building a low end PC (after all, $700 is pretty low end).

I'm doing some research for my friend and I came up with a list of parts to fit his budget.

Feel free to disagree, and please post your opinions and suggestions.

PCI-e Setup

Case Antec Solution Series Quiet Black Mid Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "SLK2650-BQE" - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-148&depa=0
$70.50

Processor AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache, Socket 939 64-bit Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-501&depa=0
$146.00

Motherboard SOLTEK "SL-K890Pro-939" VIA K8T890 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-180-068&depa=0
$115.00

Hard Drive Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD, OEM Drive Only
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-135-106&depa=1
$64.75 - -$5.75 = $59.00

RAM Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, (Twin Pack) 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-450&depa=1
$162.00

CD/DVD Burner Sony Internal 16X DVD+/-RW Black Dual Layer Drive, Model DW-D26A, OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-131-251&DEPA=1
$59.99

Floppy Drive SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-103-116&depa=1
$10.50

Graphics Card Sapphire ATI RADEON X300 SE Video Card, 128MB DDR, DVI/TV-Out, PCI E, Model "100586DVIL-GN-B" -Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-513&depa=1
$62.00

Summary
Quiet Antec Case - $70.50
Athlon 3000+ - $146.00
PCIe Motherboard - $115.00
80GB SATA HD - $59.00
2x512MB RAM - $162.00
DVD Burner - $59.99
Floppy - $10.50
ATi Radeon X300 - $62.00
-------------------------------------------------
$684.90

I have a feeling that some of you might disagree with the board especially :). Understandable. The main reason I chose this board was becuase it has a 20-pin connector unlike other PCI-e boards.

Can someone clarify if the Abit AX8 has a 20-pin connector as well?

My friend has XP and a monitor and doesn't plan on gaming (hence, the budget). He's relatively a newb, and this is a computer for his parents so he doesn't plan on overclocking (hence, the soltek board).

Please post your opinions.

-The Pentium Guy





 
Q

qbek

Member
Mar 12, 2005
110
0
0
For $700 you could go with IGP board like MSI RS480M2-IL. That would save you some 100$ (that you could use to buy a bigger HD for example) and still offer some upgrade path in the future.
I believe that onboard video isn't much inferior to X300.
Also, scale down the RAM. You can buy 1Gb Value RAM for well under $100.
 
K

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
Change mobo to Chaintech VNF4 and RAM to something much cheaper. Value RAM is fine. I'd also get the NEC burner.
 
L

leedog2007

Senior member
Nov 4, 2004
396
0
0
Yeah, lower the ram to the value stuff, and get a nforce 4 chipset please. With cheaper ram you can fit a 6600gt into the budget witch is a very nice midrange card.
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
Thank you for the tips, the main reason we decided not to go for the MSI is simply because this is his first build - I think he wants something that's basically "Tried and true" - we've heard lots of positive things about the Soltek

I think you're right about the Value RAM - he's not going to play games anyways... and he's not going to overclock. Good point.

Thanks for the input.

Edit: Right after I posted I got leedog2007's response.

The only thing that's keeping us away from nforce4 is 24-pin power supply. He's not going to build for another 2 months, and antec is coming out with a new sonata (supposedly with a 24-pin connector) soon. So that could change in the near future :p.

qbek - he specifically mentioned that his parents aren't going to use any more than 20-30 GB, and he said that 40GB is borderline, but 80GB would be playing it safe.

-The Pentium Guy
 
C

chaudharymic

Member
Apr 3, 2005
94
0
0
How mainstream will PCIe be in 4 years?
If you buy over a few months, you could do something like...
Summary
Quiet Antec Case - $60.00
Athlon 3000+ - $130.00
PCIe Motherboard - $90.00
80GB SATA HD - $35.00
2x512MB RAM - $80.00
DVD Burner - $50.00
Floppy - $10.50
ATi Radeon X300 - $62.00
-------------------------------------------------
$517
Which leaves some for a bigger HD, a better power supply, mouse, keyboard, monitor.
Just watch the deals and do better. ;)
 
Q

qbek

Member
Mar 12, 2005
110
0
0
Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
he specifically mentioned that his parents aren't going to use any more than 20-30 GB, and he said that 40GB is borderline, but 80GB would be playing it safe.
Click to expand...

Then upgrade the CPU or save the money.

Also, MSI RS480M2-IL is the best socket 939 IGP board out there. I wouldn't worry about its stability.
 
n yusef

n yusef

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2005
2,158
1
0
MSI is tried and true. It'll save you a few bucks, and be easier to set up, with good upgradability. The ATI chipset on the RS480M2-IL will give better performance than the VIA chip on that Soltek board, even better than NF4 in some benchmarks. Whatever floats your boat though.
 
A

airfoil

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
1,643
0
0
Originally posted by: qbek
For $700 you could go with IGP board like MSI RS480M2-IL. That would save you some 100$ (that you could use to buy a bigger HD for example) and still offer some upgrade path in the future.
I believe that onboard video isn't much inferior to X300.
Also, scale down the RAM. You can buy 1Gb Value RAM for well under $100.
Click to expand...

My thoughts, exactly.
 
V

valkator

Member
Apr 6, 2005
115
0
0
Originally posted by: qbek
For $700 you could go with IGP board like MSI RS480M2-IL. That would save you some 100$ (that you could use to buy a bigger HD for example) and still offer some upgrade path in the future.
I believe that onboard video isn't much inferior to X300.
Also, scale down the RAM. You can buy 1Gb Value RAM for well under $100.
Click to expand...



Yea i agree, the x300 se is junk anyways. I mean really when they slap the se on there that pretty much means sh1tty edition. Right next to onboard video and that horrid smell coming from your fridge.
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
Smell? Oh well.

Check this out guys and let me know what you think.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case Chenming Black Entry level server case with side arcylic window, Model "CMUI-601AEB-W" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-148&depa=0
$60.50

Power Supply XCLIO 450W ATX Power Supply, Model "XClio 450BL" -RETAIL (24-pin PSU)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-189-003&depa=1
$52.50

Processor AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache, Socket 939 64-bit Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-501&depa=0
$146.00

Motherboard GIGABYTE "GA-K8N Ultra-9" NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-283&depa=1
$142.00

Hard Drive Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD, OEM Drive
Only
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-135-106&depa=1
$64.75 - -$5.75 = $59.00

RAM Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=1
$86.67

CD/DVD Burner NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3520A BK, OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-152-035&depa=1
$53

Floppy Drive SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-103-116&depa=1
$10.50

Graphics Card ABIT ATI RADEON X600 PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, PCI Express, Model "RX600PRO-128 PCIE" - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-123-142&depa=1
$96.00


Case - $60.50
Power Supply - $52.50
Athlon 3000+ - $146.00
PCIe Motherboard - $142.00
80GB SATA HD - $59.00
2x512MB RAM - $86.67
DVD Burner -$53.00
Floppy - $10.50
ATi Radeon X600 - $96.00
-------------------------------------------------
$706.17

Post your thoughts here. The reason I didn't recommend him the DFI LanParty was that there was a lot of problems with that and the Corsair Value RAM. I think the Gigabyte should do for him :).

-The Pentium Guy
 
I

Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
2
76
Get the Chaintech VNF4U ($100), the Sonata case ($100 shipped), 6600 GT ($180). Very close to the same price after shipping.
 
mechBgon

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
0
For long-term quietness, I'd get a hard drive that's guaranteed to come with fluid bearings, such as any Seagate. Also, how about getting the equivalent BenQ burner, which comes with OEM Nero software, rather than a bare NEC?

You might also find out about their network and security situation. Do they have a router (if not, slap on a Netgear RP614 or Linksys BEFSR41 or D-Link DI-604)? If they have wireless, are they skating on thin ice on the security aspect? And don't forget some good modern antivirus software ;)

If they need some application software, Newegg's got the Works Suite 2005 OEM for $46, it's got useful stuff including full-version Word 2002.
 
RussianSensation

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
If they wont play games and it doesnt seem like they upgrade often, why not go with S754 and save even more money. Just a thought.
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
We discussed that, he does want some form of upgradability. I'd rather have him get the latest stuff, he's relatively new into computers... but later on once he learns I don't want to have him feel as if he can't upgrade *anything* on his pc. You sort of get what I mean?

Edit:
mechBgon - I didn't see your reply.
He's got all the software he needs from his other PC anyways :).

You're definately right about fluid bearing - I completely forgot to look for that.
I think I'm going to go grab one with NCQ:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-040&depa=1

-The Pentium Guy
 
T

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
1
0
I heard it's pretty risky to do that - some guys have fried their board :eek:.
For a first time builder anyways, I woudln't recommend that to him.
 
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