Cheap microATX build suggestions?

[supaidaaman]

Im building a cheap computer with onboard graphics for my father to do internet and some random photoshop stuff.

Im thinking BIOSTAR GEFORCE 6100-M9

CORSAIR 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Value Select

x2 4600
(Im actually going to use this, and give him my X2 4200 i currently use)

WD SE 80gb sata 3.0gb

The rest of the parts will be reused from other computers around the house.

And i want a case that is cheap with a power supply, ive seen some 300w bundle ones, but does anyone have suggestions?

I figure around $550 or less depending on what LCD he gets.

 

[regnez]

Why not C2D?

 

[DaveSimmons]

The Biostar TForce-6100 boards only cost $5-$10 more than the plain 6100- and have higher owner ratings at newegg.

I've used the socket 939 version in a couple of builds and am very happy with it.

The Antec NSK4400 case runs cool and very quiet with the included PSU. I'm using it in one of the builds with an X2 3800+ and a Zalman 7000-alcu.

 

[supaidaaman]

Id buy the biostar TForce if i could find it in stock somewhere...my father has been pushing me to buy it within the week.

The Antec NSK4400 case runs cool and very quiet...

Looks like it doesnt support the micro atx though?

Why not C2D?

-well...ive spent so much time looking at 939 and am2 boards and CPU's that im totally lost when it comes to figuring out a C2D build. Id like one, but i dont feel like spending all the time and research into the new chipsets and what not...Ill switch to C2D in a few months maybe.

Unless you got some suggestions

 

[DaveSimmons]

ATX cases support both ATX and mATX. I did just say that I used it with the mATX TForce-6100

 

[regnez]

Originally posted by: supaidaaman

Why not C2D?

-well...ive spent so much time looking at 939 and am2 boards and CPU's that im totally lost when it comes to figuring out a C2D build. Id like one, but i dont feel like spending all the time and research into the new chipsets and what not...Ill switch to C2D in a few months maybe.

Unless you got some suggestions

You bet. Since the C2D build would be for you, though, are you still wanting an mATX board, or a full size board?

 

[boomerang]

Look at the Athenatech line of MATX cases. They're inexpensive without being cheap feeling. They are not the quietest as the grill for the rear case fan is somewhat restrictive. They have some models with more open grill areas. Look at the pics and you should be able to tell.

I've built quite a few systems around these cases.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: supaidaaman
Id buy the biostar TForce if i could find it in stock somewhere...my father has been pushing me to buy it within the week.

Keep looking. IMO the Tforce is worth it even if you don't overclock (and if you do, it is worlds better). It has solid capacitors for longer life plus has Smart Fan. Also, they overclock so easily that it's basically free performance.

Now, if you are buying CPU, board and memory, why not go socket AM2? I know that wouldn't upgrade your system, but if you're already thinking of going C2D, then don't bother with this temporary fix. For socket AM2, eWiz has the OEM dual core x2 3800+ in the $90 range. The Biostar Tforce6100-AM2 should be more readily available, or better yet the Abit NF-M2 Nview (something like that). That has faster Geforce6150 graphics, DVI output, Firewire, heatpipe cooling solution, SPDIF output... besides overclocking even better than the Tforce (I own both ). The AM2 x2 3800+ would probably be extremely easy to get a couple more MHz through overclocking. These chips that eWiz sells are the lower wattage 65W chips (versus 89W) so they run cooler and at a lower voltage. This means unless you are doing extreme overclocking, you can get by with an inexpensive HSF.

Of course your original solution, or even some random C2D solution... would probably all work exactly the same for your father.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

trust a stranger xD Foxconn G9657MA-8EKRS2H plus e6300 or E4300.
do it.

 

[engiNURD]

Whats your budget for a core2duo rig?

For you:
$180 - Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache
$105 - Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express
$200 - G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
========
$485 + tax and shipping

OC the CPU to 9*333 = 3.0Ghz on stock cooling. Give your dad the 4200+/A8N SLI/2GB, and buy the rest...

For your dad:
$40 - Antec SonataII Black ATX case w/ 450W SP2.0 PSU
$53 - WD Caviar WD1600JS 160GB 7200RPM SATA300 8MB Cache
$43 - Leadtek PX7300GS TDH 128MB Supporting to 256MB(128MB on Board) ($53 - $10MIR)
========
$136 + tax and shipping (after rebate)

If thats over your budget, I could shave $130 off by using a VIA chipset board (AsRock 775Dual-VSTA (-$30) and 1GB DDR400 for your dad (-$100)). Then you'd re-use your same ram, but have a very low end board that will reach about 2.7Ghz with the E4300.

Its too bad you need to buy it now, because in a couple months, the E4300 will be $113 instead of $180, hehe.

 

[supaidaaman]

when do you think the next core 2 duo price drop will come? Im not keen on overclocking a lower end 4300, because it will be an editing rig, so i was thinking of going all out and getting a 680i SLI 775 board and then a E6600 (and OC'ing it a little bit) but maybe thats overkill for the board...

Although my rig at the moment seems WAAY overkill for what he wants to do. I'd rather give him my 4 year old P4 then this thing...

decisions...decisions..

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

The price drop won't be for some time. When they release Allendale, it's only going to be a bit lower in price than the current lowball E6300. Possibly in six months the price might drop to ~$150 or so.

A better option might be to wait for the $79 deal at Fry's B&M for a Pentium D 805 and ECS P4M800Pro-M v2.0 combo (~$85 with tax). They run it every other week or so. Or you could go for an overclocked Sempron with a nice GeForce 6100 board. If you have a larger budget an E6300 would be nice, but then you'll also want an overclocking board--which means a dedicated video card. And at that point you'll probably want to take that for yourself and give him your old system.

 

[Zepper]

This Athenatech case is nice but you have to work on the cooling a bit. It comes with the nicest PSU for this size case - the new Sparkle 350 with active PFC and auto-ranging AC sensing.

A100SC-350

I have found that the HDD bays tucked in the corner get very warm so I rig some active cooling for them. I also beef up the exhaust with something like this: outside the box cooling. I used the frame/venturi off a junk 60mm fan as a spacer for a 60 to 80mm fan adapter.

.bh.

 

[programmer]

I am building a cheap computer for my daughter. Have scavenged most parts, including a power supply from older systems, and picked up an ECS RS482-M754 (yeah, a 754 board) from newegg for $47, a Sempron 754 3000 for $41, and 512MB Corsair ValueSelect for about $45.

I had built an identical system for my other daughter about 3 weeks ago and am so pleased with its performance and cost, I thought I'd build another exactly the same. You can't argue with the value of AMD single-core chips these days (since they are almost extinct). Oh, and the systems run very cool and virtually silent.

I am using a case I picked up at Microcenter. A nice mATX box they use for their own PowerSpec line. It didn't include a power supply but was a thrifty $24.99.

 

[yuppiejr]

I just threw together a media server and found this board was a superb purchase if you're planning to stick with the socket 939 platform.

For $7 more than the board you linked, you could move into a 6150 chipset based board:

- 2 extra SATA 3.0 ports and RAID 5
- Gigabit Ethernet
- firewire
- 1 extra PCI slots
- 8 vs 6 channel audio, better audio chipset (850 vs the 655)

Geeks.com has some good deals on cheap case and PSU's - (basic m-atx case & PSU) and I was able to pick up a socket 939 Sempron 3200+ and half gig of RAM for around $50 to round out my system via the trading forum here. Some good prices on fans here at SVC. Good luck!

 

[Zepper]

yuppiejr,

There is no SATA 3.0 - it's SATA 2 or SATA-300.

..bh.