help sped my $$$$ all $800ish worth of it

[Jambodan]

Hey guys,

I've been reading up a lot on building my own system the last couple weeks and feel I'm enlightened enough to put up my first query w/o appearing completely wet behind the ears.

I'm building my first system, (have a techie friend who will help but he's making me learn by doing)

I like games but am far from hard core, I want this system to be somewhat future proof, able to play the latest games (not necessarily with uber quality or anything like that)

just basic vid editing "windows movie maker", some Photoshop for my digital camera (Cannon Powershot S2, my baby).
and general home office type use.

I'm pretty set on the E6300 b/c it sounds like the most future proof and a really good budget to value ratio if you OC. But feel free to sway me if you like.

Here is what I've got so far (compiled from various "Budget System" Articles.
Please tear it up - add, remove, change I want the most out of the little money I'm putting out $1000 ish taxed and shipped.

CPU:E6300
$180

MoBo: Gigabyte D/S3 $144.99 Still debating DS3 or S3? Any other suggestions w/in my price range? This seemed the best I could find on various reviews etc.

RAM:A-Data 1gb (2x512) DDR2 667 PC2 5300 dual channel $114 (Need some advice on this, it was a good price for the specs but don't know if it is quality or not.)

GPU: EVGA GForece 7600GT 256mb GDDR3 $132.99 (From my research this seems like a good card for my budget, able to play the latest games (not at great quality but still . . . able) Suggestions??.

Monitor: Acer AL1717 17: 8mss LCD $159.99

HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 160 7200 rpm SATA 3.0gb/s $56.99

Optical: LG 16x DVD +- R super multi DVD burner w/ 12x DVD Ram $30.99

OX: XP Home $89.99

case: Antec B-stock SLK1640B $44.00 taxed and shipped
O ya, it comes with a PSU 350W smart power 2.0 atx 12v

Random keyboard and mouse $20-30

which comes to a grand total of $1062.00 (really don't want to go higher than this! But if I have some fatal error in the build I just mentioned maybe i'll have to rethink my build

Thanks for all you suggestions in advance I really appreciate the help and hope that I did enough foot work on my on to not be one of the guys that walks in here and says " hey I need a new computer where do I start).

Ahh . . .if $$ was of no importance.

 

[Bobthelost]

AM2 single core. You'll be able to get a better overclocking board and a cheaper CPU for the money.

 

[myocardia]

If you have any intentions of getting any decent overclock out of that E6300, get the DS3 motherboard. Of course, if you're really poor, you could skimp, and get the S3, which is about $40 cheaper. Everything else looks good, for the money you have to spend.

Just remember that XP OEM is for one motherboard only. You can't change motherboards later, and take your $80 copy of XP with you, so get the motherboard that you plan on having for awhile, unless you like filling Bill's pockets.

 

[Jambodan]

Just remember that XP OEM is for one motherboard only. You can't change motherboards later, and take your $80 copy of XP with you, so get the motherboard that you plan on having for awhile, unless you like filling Bill's pockets.[/quote]

Wow! I completely had no idea about that, thanks a TON.

 

[Jambodan]

Originally posted by: Bobthelost
AM2 single core. You'll be able to get a better overclocking board and a cheaper CPU for the money.

well this is the first I've heard of this?? everywhere I've been reading seems to point to c2d, at at a minimum a dual core something or othere (be it amd or intel) It seems not far downt eh road single cores will be in museums.

will the single core really be able to hold up to the newer games and such?

 

[Jambodan]

 

[Jambodan]

If anyone knows of some decent guides to building an inexpensive (600-800 give or take) c2d system or know ppl who have built sometihg similar to what I'm looking at I'd appreciate the links,

And how about memory for my systiem? I was thinking DDR 2 667, again future proofing, but as to a brand ???

Thank for all the help.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: Jambodan

Originally posted by: Bobthelost
AM2 single core. You'll be able to get a better overclocking board and a cheaper CPU for the money.

well this is the first I've heard of this?? everywhere I've been reading seems to point to c2d, at at a minimum a dual core something or othere (be it amd or intel) It seems not far downt eh road single cores will be in museums.

will the single core really be able to hold up to the newer games and such?

I know of one game that makes good use of dual core CPUs. Another few that benifit from it, none that can't be run (with high performance settings selected) on a single core A64 @ 2.4Ghz. Use and need, the first is rare, the second is non existent.

You're not going to be CPU limited on that graphics card.

 

[bwatson283]

Just remember, you get what you paid for. EX: buy a 44 dollar case and it will be a pain to use and work with. My own rule of thumb: dont buy cheap parts, they have not lasted me worth a s***.

 

[Jambodan]

I agree with you, but this is only a "cheap" case b/c it is a rutrned item, the list price is actually $80, while it is nto top of the line I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with it.

thanks for the concern though.