Building a computer, can't make up my mind!

[Steve325]

well, to start, one is a Dell Inspiron 530 - Core 2 Quad. I can get it for about $375 shipped, but it needs a video upgrade which is going to cost $100 extra, so looking at $475 shipped. I was piecing together an E7400 build on Newegg for $510 shipped after MIR's. I'm not sure which route would be best to take. I will be doing gaming on this computer and buying a netbook for misc stuff, so trying to keep this at or around $500 excluding monitor.

Here is Newegg build

E7400 Build

then the Inspiron 530 includes the C2Quad - 2.4ghz which can easily be modded to 3.0ghz, 500 GB SATA II HD

 

[cusideabelincoln]

Do Inspiron 530 motherboards allow you to overclock? I thought on these mainstream pre-builts they keep that option out of the BIOS. Anyway, looks like the Dell would be the better deal, especially since it probably comes with an operating system in that price, right? If you do other things beside game, the quad core would come in handy, but an E7400 (especially overclocked) is going to smoke a stock Q6600 for gaming right now and for the near future. Also I wouldn't get that power supply if you did go with the newegg build. Go with the 400W Corsair, only $10 more, as it's more efficient and actually has more power on the +12V rail.

 

[polarbear6]

well i dont think that foxconn board can support you that much for overclock
how ever going by the market trend and the developers mood i feel the quad way seems to be the safest opt for a quad and oc it

how ever if u can strecthc a budget by say 120$ u can grab the q9400 or another 70$(120 + 70) and u get the q9550 and you re future is secure
i dont think you will be having issues with the 4830 but few bucks above and you can get a 8800gt or a 4850


THE INSPIRON IS A STEAL ALL THE WAY BUT MY FRIEND I THINK U SAW SOME THING wrong as i just went to the dell site there is no inspiron 530 for 500$

 

[Steve325]

there's a tape mod (covering up a pin) that actually increases the FSB of the system on the Dell bringing it to 3.0ghz. I actually owned the system in the past, but sold it off and did this very same mod to it. It's going to be mainly for gaming, maybe the occasional photoshop or watching media. I already have a copy of Vista from one of my previous computers, so operating system isn't a big deal.

 

[Steve325]

Originally posted by: ganesh1
well i dont think that foxconn board can support you that much for overclock
how ever going by the market trend and the developers mood i feel the quad way seems to be the safest opt for a quad and oc it

how ever if u can strecthc a budget by say 120$ u can grab the q9400 or another 70$(120 + 70) and u get the q9550 and you re future is secure
i dont think you will be having issues with the 4830 but few bucks above and you can get a 8800gt or a 4850

yeah, I don't have very much information on the foxxconn board, just going by Newegg reviews, which seemed to be fairly positive about the overclocking abilities of the board.

My budget is fairly tight, actually this is much more than the original plan of $400 excluding monitor. I'm trying to get away by not spending any money from the sale of my laptop which is on craigslist right now for $700, hoping to get $650. So I have ~200 left over for a 24" monitor

 

[syseng]

Your proposed build is very similar to my upgrade that I am ordering today - same CPU and RAM.

I suggest you take a look at the following:

ASUS V52 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - Item #: N82E16835101027
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - Item #: N82E16835100007
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Item #: N82E16813128359

I recently bought a Sapphire 4850 from NewEgg for about $110 on sale. There is a good bit of difference between the 4830 and the 4850.

As far as the Dell goes, your build will be better than the Dell once you have all the bugs worked out. I do some PC repair work and can tell you that systems such as the Dell are not meant for expansion nor are they meant to last more than about 4 years (yes, some do run longer but ??). My first build was 7 years ago and still running fine. One small cooling fan went out but that is it. The factory built sytems generally have PSU's that are just barely sized for the inital load. I have fixed many such systems when people added a power-hungry video card and often time the fix was just replacing the PSU.

Good luck with your build.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

The Dell would be the best option for you, then. And IMO a spare Windows key is always handy.

 

[syseng]

I'm trying to get away by not spending any money from the sale of my laptop which is on craigslist right now for $700, hoping to get $650.

Wow, that must be one great laptop but don't get your hopes up. A lot of new models are coming out next month and the prices are dropping like crazy. In addtion, companies are selling off their used equipment after laying off employees.


So I have ~200 left over for a 24" monitor

I bought a Samsung 2253LW in December at Sam's Club for $199 ($230 now at NewEgg). It is only 22" but plenty big enough for me. I really want a 24" but not with a TN panel so I will have to wait a while. If you find a 24" for $200 now, check it out real good.

 

[Steve325]

well, I went with the Dell. I had the same build before and was happy with it with a lower end video card. The CPU and HD almost make it worth the value as it is. I forgot if I bought a barebones I'd have to go out and buy a keyboard and mouse too, so that'd be another $50 on top of it and Dell just gives it to me.

I found a 24" debranded HP for $200, so I'm gonna go for this, not bad for a $700 setup