Cheap Build...

[jbmx4life]

I am looking to do an extremely CHEAP build. Here is what I have found on Newegg.com so far:

MSI MBOX 945GM3-F Barebone
Intel Celeron D 347 Cedar Mill 3.06GHz 512KB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
WINTEC AMPX 1GB DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Pioneer DVR-111D
NEC Floppy Drive Model FD1231H-302

Total = $300.23 shipped

I figure with this route I am able to upgrade it some once I got more cash flow. The on-board video would be more than enuf for now. I also found an AMD setup:

MSI MBOX K9N6SGM-V Barebone
AMD Sempron 64 3200+ Manila 1.8GHz 128KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor
WINTEC AMPX 1GB DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Pioneer DVR-111D
NEC Floppy Drive Model FD1231H-302


Total = $291.13 shipped

I would also be able to upgrade this setup once I get some more cash. This AMD setup is able to handle more memory than the Intel setup but I doubt I will ever get to 4GB with one of these anyway. Yes I know that everyone thinks having/buying a floppy drive is a waste but I don't have an extra laying around and I like for "just incase" instances.

Any and all input is appreciated. If there are other suggestions, please link to them and I would prefer to keep it all with Newegg.com but not a must I would like to keep this $300 or under.

Thanks!

 

[tcG]

Just save your money.

 

[Nick5324]

Hard drive? Do you already have one or are you looking for suggestions? How about an OS?

I like the Intel option, NOT b/c I like the celeron better than the sempron, but b/c you can drop in a C2D down the road.

If it was me, I'd get 1GB of RAM in a single DIMM, this way you can add a 1GB DIMM down the road, instead of having to pull both 512MB DIMM's and replace them.
Get this, same price, 1GB in 1 DIMM, and DDR2 667.

 

[jbmx4life]

I do already have 3*40GB SATA hard drives laying around so 1 or 2 of those will be in there. No OS needed cuz I already got that. How bad of a hit would it be to go with the single channel memory for now? That was my only reasoning for the 2*512 kit and then sell it later.

Here is how I am looking at the machines and why I am posting this:

Intel Rig:

PROS: Awesome upgrade path, better cpu as of right now (Cel D)
CONS: Crappy graphics, only supports 2GB of memory

AMD Rig:

PROS: Better integrated graphics, supports 4GB of memory
CONS: Lesser upgrade path, and crappier Sempron CPU

I am going to be waiting a bit before I go for any of this stuff so some things might change. I know that Fry's has a case for $10 shipped after MIR and a FREE after MIR PSU but those deals will prolly be dead before I get the money. I will keep my eyes out for any other deals like that cuz then I might be able to get something a bit better than either one of these. Appreciate your input tho Nick!

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: tcG
Just save your money.

I would wait unless you really need it right now. Then you can put together a more complete system to your liking.

 

[Nick5324]

The performance hit would be small going with the one DIMM; I haven't looked into dual vs. single channel lately, but I remember benchmarks awhile back that showed some things were next to nothing, other things were under 10%. For me, the ability to just throw in another 1GB DIMM later is worth more than a slight increase in performance, an increase you may not even notice in real world use.

I didn't consider the graphics side much, since someone who is building a rig with price as their top priority aren't looking for graphics performance. You are correct though, the AM2 board is a much better option for on board graphics. If you go with the Intel build, it would probably be worth it to go with this. $45, send in the $10 MIR. Most 6200's have that damn turbo cache, this one doesn't look like it does. I don't remember the 6200 being speced for a 128 bit memory interface, but this one is. I'm thinking this is a 6600 that has 4 of it's 8 pipelines disabled in the firmware.

 

[jbmx4life]

Isn't there a chance tho of the RAM being incompatible once I do decide to upgrade to 2GB? I have always bought the "kits" of dual channel memory. I have never had a problem with these either (prolly just luck there). I have seen alot of horror stories about RAM incompatibilities when upgrading like that and then it creates the headache of "is a stick bad, is a slot bad, are they incompatible?". I really don't want to deal with that. There are alot of options and things change way too fast to take a chance on that I think.

 

[justly]

Originally posted by: jbmx4life

Here is how I am looking at the machines and why I am posting this:

Intel Rig:

PROS: Awesome upgrade path, better cpu as of right now (Cel D)
CONS: Crappy graphics, only supports 2GB of memory

AMD Rig:

PROS: Better integrated graphics, supports 4GB of memory
CONS: Lesser upgrade path, and crappier Sempron CPU

Are you sure about this?

I can't find a direct comparison between these two, but what I can find doesn't support your claim very well.

 

[jbmx4life]

Well I did find a direct comparison between the 2 and they seem pretty much equal. The major differences between them that I looked at was the 65nm vs 90nm process and the 512k cache vs the 128k cache. Those were the 2 main reasons for my thinking/reasoning without searching.

Direct comparison:
http://www.pcpop.com/doc/0/169/169422.shtml

Translate w/ Chinese-sim:
Babelfish/Altavista

 

[magreen]

Go with AMD and get a socket 939 motherboard and case separately, instead of the AM2 barebones you mentioned. Because 939 CPUs are a lot cheaper than AM2 CPUs and DDR is a bit cheaper than DDR2... and there's no real increase in performance with AM2 with the switch to DDR2, and the 939 also has dual channel ram.

So you can get a real Athlon 64 for $55, which kicks the Celeron or Sempron you mentioned.

Here's what I mean:
Foxconn 6100K8MA-RS Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 for $54.
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail for $57.
Or a faster cpu OEM:
AMD Athlon 64 3400+ Venice 2.2GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - OEM for $56 and buy a $5 heatsink.

And just get a cheap case with PSU for $30 that's as good as the MSI case you listed.

And CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 for $75.

This way you stick to the price you mentioned, but get a much better system. And you get your GeForce 6100 integrated graphics.

 

[jbmx4life]

OK this is what I have decided to do instead. I am going to upgrade the main computer in the house and then deal with the POS that I got downstairs for now (til I can afford an entire new PC).

Here is what I am planning on ordering (these are what you'll be critiquing):

Motherboard: ABIT IB9 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
RAM: Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: jbmx4life
OK this is what I have decided to do instead. I am going to upgrade the main computer in the house and then deal with the POS that I got downstairs for now (til I can afford an entire new PC).

Here is what I am planning on ordering (these are what you'll be critiquing):

Motherboard: ABIT IB9 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
RAM: Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Good cpu. Get the Biostar TForce965PT mobo instead. Or if you're not overclocking then get a $50 mobo. And unless you're overclocking to 3.6 GHz (which you definitely weren't with that Abit) then that fancy DDR2 800 memory is overkill. Get CAS4 DDR2 667 memory like this which is good to go up to 3.0 GHz cpu speed on the e4300.