Help me build my computer(s)

[Talcite]

Ok I actually have 3 builds that I need to be doing lol. First is mine. second and third are the same basically. I have to talk to them a bit more before i build.

My budget's $2000 cdn This PC doesn't have to be absolutely spectacular. I just want it to last 10 years without breaking down =p. I also don't expect to be play any games on
this... Well atleast I hope I won't be =p. It'll be running on conroe, so the mb and cpu are the last thing to decide. I'd much rather just alot a certain amount of cash for those components and decide after the 23rd. Oh and noise is a factor, so i want to keep it quiet.

1. Palm Tx
Palm tx + keyboard $321.38 + 49.92 @ NCIX Purchased 6%

2. HDD. 250g Maxline III $102 @ infonec 14%

3. Vid card. gigabyte 7600gt silent $223.90 @ NCIX purchased 6%

4. Case. P180 $145.47 @ Logic purchased 14%

5. PSU. Seasonic S-12 430w $83.99 cdn @ NCIX purchased 6%

6. UPS. apc br900 127.38 @ APC directly purchased 0%

7. RAM. ocz pc6400 $113 after MIR @ Logic purchased 14%

8. cpu HSF.scythe ninja $39.99 @ NCIX purchased 6%

9. 5 x Yate Loon 120mm $33 @ jabatech

10. dvd burner. Free. I'm salvaging my old ones =p.

NCIX---- : 786.82 --------------------------= 786.82
Logic---- : 294.66 - 12 (MIR)------------- = 282.66
Jabatech : 37.62 + 5 (customs)---------- = 37.62
APC----- : 127.83 ------------------------- =127.83
Infonec-- : 116.28 ------------------------ =116.28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total $1351.21

$648.79 remaining.

MB: D975XBX $288.00 @ NCIX
CPU: C2D E6300 $247.17 @ NCIX
Monitor: NEC 70GX2 $198.63 x 2 @ NCIX
Subtotal: $932.43

Shipping : 37.49 + 12.49
Insurance : 20.98 + 6.99
GST : 48.70 + 11.92

Total (Me) : 733.80 + 107.17 = $840.97
Total (friend) : 198.63 + 31.40 = $230.03

Total : $1071.00

OK now for system number 2 0.o

cpu AM2 3000+ $84.99

mobo M2N-E. $114.99 cdn. @CC

vid card GV-NX66L128DP $94.99 @ CC

ram OCZ ddr2 pc4200 512x2 $102 @ CC

HDD wd 80gig sata $50.99 @ Logic purchased

dvd burner LG H-10N $38.99 @ Logic purchased

Case/Psu Antec Sonata II 450w $119.99 @ Logic purchased

Logic : 239.36
CC: 452.54
---------------------------
Total: $691.90

software... well we're all holding off until vista.

 

[Bobthelost]

Build 2 you could go with a 380W Seasonic and still call it a conservative choice.

Build 1 if you want/need to save a bit of money then think about a P150 instead of the P180. It's a quieter case than the P180 and comes with a decent quiet PSU. That frees up some cash. (around $145 by my rough reconing). It'll be enough and let you get a better conroe and motherboard. (Or take the NeoHE from the P150 and use it in build 2 if you're dead set on a seasonic)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129166

 

[Talcite]

I feel sorta bad just passing off a neoHE to my friend... friends don't let friends use antec PSUs =p

Any ideas about the UPS?

 

[Bobthelost]

No idea, i've no clue on UPS, a benifit of living in a developed country, my power lines are nice and reliable.

HOWEVER, i really would consider the NeoHe, check out the writeup at SPCR, not sure if jonnyGURU's gotten his hands on one i think so. I would have gotten one for my P180 if they hadn't had a compatablity issue with Asus motherboards (now fixed, all the faulty ones should be out the pipline by now i hope).

 

[Talcite]

lol, well i live in canada, i shouldn't have problem with power sags... but i do. It looks like this is going to cost even more than i orginally thought. I really need to reduce the cost.

 

[0roo0roo]

you don't need 500watts.
but if the price difference is small i guess go for it so you can upgrade later on.
p180 is good, and seasonic is good choice. can't go wrong there.
laptops/palm pilots are overrated for most college use. just use sticky notes and a notepad lol in theory you think you'll use both everywhere!! in practice..not so much.

 

[Talcite]

ahh well i'm going into political science / economics double major. It's major writing. I really have bad spelling, so I'd prefer to be able to write on the run. Thanks for the tip on the stickynotes. I'll be sure to get a party pack of them =p.

 

[Talcite]

mmm. I think i've looked at a few different parts for system 1.

Perhaps a 430w seasonic S12? it's $56 CDN less.

I was also wondering about the ram. I have 2 options. I could decrease the ram to pc4200 corsair value select. $208 - 164 = $44 cdn savings
On the other hand, I could step it down to 1 gig. $90cdn in savings. here's the thing. I could technically upgrade to more ram later if i had to using pc6400. But I probably won't need to upgrade at all if I use pc4200. Is the performance difference between the two of them justifiable for the price?

Is there anything I can do about the LCD monitor? I was thinking about the LG 1952Tx-Bf. I havn't seen any review anywhere on this. It's about 40 cdn cheaper, so I'd like to buy it if it's any good. Changing this is a last ditch resort. I like a nice monitor. I'd also be willing to change this and go with a audigy 2 zs as well.

mm... i'm also considering finding a different UPS because i'm really unsatisfied with the one currently selected. What i need though is to know what UPS i actually need. I've tried alot of UPS selection guides... but they always seem to give me VA and wattage ratings that are actually less than my psu 0.o Is that a problem? What if my computer is on full load and the power cuts? I'm just not sure... because even the APC UPS selector told me to get an 800VA ups. Any thoughts? I was thinking about an UPS that compensates for overvoltage and undervoltage. I'm just not happy with some of the specifications listed on the APC website, it's not nearly verbose enough for my liking. Any thoughts/feedback on all of this? Btw, I was looking at the Back-ups RS 800VA. It's 160, so that's a $40 saving. Would that be ok for this current build?

Anyways, total savings would be about 200 cdn. 471 seems enough to get a decent 965 mobo with an entry level conroe right?

Give me some feedback guys.

 

[Talcite]

I'm in love guys.... in love with the gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6 that is =p. 12 phase regulation, and all solid caps thoughout the board. I don't care if this thing costs 250. I'm totally getting it lol. It also turns out to be great for O/Cing, so that's what i'll probably do when i find the system getting a bit on the sluggish side. I'm still trying to find pricing on this. Anyone know?

Oh yeah, I'm also thinking of using the pc6400 1 gig. That way, I can overclock later if needed. I wouldn't mind buying 2x1g later when I don't have university debt =p.

 

[Talcite]

I can't believe this. APC has a trade-in program!! I'm going to get a 900VA backups RS for 129 cdn shipped!! Prices all updated on OP. If you need a link for the trade in program, uhh well email APC about it. I think it's a corporate customer program. You get assigned a sales rep and everything.