Girlfriend PC Build.

[n666]

Hey all,

Let me know what you think of this. Basically the budget is about $500-$550. Mainly for every-day tasks. She's into digital photography and i think with this build handling photoshop will not be a problem.

In any case.. let me know what you guys think..

CPU
Sempron 64 3100+ $96
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=SDA31BXBOX

Motherboard
nforce3 gigabyte GA-K8NS - $59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128259

RAM
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a...145440&ATT=20-145-440&CMP=OTC-d3alt1me

CASE
Rosewill $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147020

VIDEO
eVGA Geforce 6800XT 128-P2-N367 - $149 ($129 AR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130257

HDD
WD 80gig SATA - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822135106

DVDR
NEC Black IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner Model ND-3550A - $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058

 

[fire400]

Sempron 64? You can get a Sempy for half that price, like she's ever going to utilize the 64-bit features.

nice cheap mobo

a gig of RAM sounds about right

the PSU doesn't seem like it's going to hold up to this machine

why don't you just get 2 DVD-RW drives, that way you don't have to swap media discs when you are burning? copy-on-the-fly is better and faster

lastly the video card: guy @ new egg sez it all, why not just get 6600????

"Cons: 1) This Card has only 8 pipelines, the same amount as the 6600 series, all other 6800 series' have 12 pipelines.
2) This card does NOT have GDDR3, the memory runs at only 600 mhz (2.8ns), much slower... More »
compared to a 6600GT @ 1000 mhz.
3) This card is not great for overclocking."

 

[CalamitySymphony]

Mac Mini. End of story.

 

[IeraseU]

I would probably get a motherboard with built in video like perhaps one based on the 6150 and drop the 6800XT, that saves you a bit over $100 right there. I would then spend some of that into getting her a really 'cute' case (probably SFF), that is what women enjoy, external asthetics in my experience. She'll be more impressed that you hand her a small cute good looking package then telling her about internal specs (whats under the hood). Shoot for form over function, and of course for reliability.

 

[n666]

solid points.. i'll look into diff CPU and Video

 

[MadOni0n]

6600 are ok, i'd reccomend 6600gt. I believe theres a current newegg price of $118 after rebate.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

id drop the 64 bit sempy if you can find a 32bit one for cheaper, but please keep it K8 (ie socket 754 or 939, on board memory control>northbridge memory control)

and if shes doing photo editing, why the need for a 6600 at all? a 6200 would be fine, even a passively cooled fx5200 (or anything of similar worth from ATI) would be good for 2D so you can save there. infact id go with IeraseU and vote for on board video solution of the 6150.

definately make sure you grab a high quality PSU, it doesnt matter what the budget, or what your building id always always try my hardest to budget for a quality PSU from the likes of Antec, enermax, fortron, seasonic etc

80gigs is a little low in this day an age....im a keen digital photographer and since summer this year i have roughly 5gigs of photo's if shes anything like me with photography that 80gig is gonna get full quick


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157084 thats a 754 mobo with the Nvidia 6100 onboard solution (6150 is definately worth it though if you can find it)

 

[eXx08]

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Mac Mini. End of story.

Exactly.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Opteron Guy

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Mac Mini. End of story.

Exactly.

make sure you get at least 512 ram in it. if not more

 

[n666]

no mac.

 

[Gerbil333]

Originally posted by: n666
Hey all,

Let me know what you think of this. Basically the budget is about $500-$550. Mainly for every-day tasks. She's into digital photography and i think with this build handling photoshop will not be a problem.

In any case.. let me know what you guys think..

. . .

VIDEO
eVGA Geforce 6800XT 128-P2-N367 - $149 ($129 AR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130257

Are you high? Get the cheapest card you can. Even a motherboard with integrated video would be fine.

 

[0roo0roo]

how about u add just a bit of money for a better case/psu. antec sonata or http://www.silentpcreview.com/article272-page1.html p150
i'm sure she'll appreciate the silence..and stability of a quality psu. guady cheap noisy case is just penny wise pound foolish. what you want is quiet stability.

and as said you are spending way too much for the vid card. use it on the case/psu. and forget sff, those trade too much functionality/noise for the "cute" size.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: IeraseU
I would probably get a motherboard with built in video like perhaps one based on the 6150 and drop the 6800XT, that saves you a bit over $100 right there. I would then spend some of that into getting her a really 'cute' case (probably SFF), that is what women enjoy, external asthetics in my experience. She'll be more impressed that you hand her a small cute good looking package then telling her about internal specs (whats under the hood). Shoot for form over function, and of course for reliability.

perfectly said

 

[Conky]

Heck, I'd make her buy a cheap Dell. It runs photoshop just fine. Plus, when you break up with her she won't tell everybody about what a POS system you built for her. :laugh:

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
Mac Mini. End of story.

Well if he wanted a POS system, then he should just go to a garage sale, pickup a PIII based system, fix it up, give it to her. Or he could build her this system, which will never see fully utilized to it's ability. I've used Photoshop on a PIII laptop 600MHZ, slow ass HDD, 256MB ram and it runs FINE, given she has sufficient amounts of ram, I also doubt she will be working with files that would have photoshop suck up amounts of ram in the 512MB range...

 

[GamerExpress]

rofl