How is this for a cheap budget build?

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loki5667

Member
Dec 11, 2006
102
0
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My friend had an old dell machine that finally died. He asked me to build him a replacement and gave me a budget of $300. I'm pulling his 160gb 7200rpm maxtor drive to save him some money. He doesn't play games but I added a cheap video card.

His old specs

Dell 4600
P4 2.6ghz 533fsb
512mb pc2700
soundblaster live 5.1
older nvidia fx card
160gb maxtor drive
dvd
cd



For $296.14 this looks like it will be a huge upgrade for him.

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM Item #: N82E16827151171

Foxconn TW-080-300W Black Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case 300W Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16811153110

SPARKLE SFPX94GT512U2 GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814187036

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail Item #: N82E16820231098

ASUS P5KPL-CM LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131288

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5200 - Retail Item #: N82E16819116072
 
exar333

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
91
That 9400GT is a horrible video card. If your friend doesnt need a lot of graphics power, I might suggest getting a AMD MB with an IGP. You could get a great deal on a X2/780G AM2+ build that they can later throw in a PII, if needed.

I built a similar computer for a friend, and they love it.
 
L

loki5667

Member
Dec 11, 2006
102
0
0
I don't know much about the amd stuff. Are the triple core cpu's good?

How about swapping in these:

AMD Phenom 8450 Toliman 2.1GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Triple-Core Processor Model HD8450WCGHBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103254

OR

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600 Brisbane 2.9GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5600DOBOX - Retail




ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131324

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231122
 
F

Flipped Gazelle

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2004
6,666
3
81
Originally posted by: loki5667
I don't know much about the amd stuff. Are the triple core cpu's good?

How about swapping in these:

AMD Phenom 8450 Toliman 2.1GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Triple-Core Processor Model HD8450WCGHBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103254

OR

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600 Brisbane 2.9GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5600DOBOX - Retail




ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131324

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231122
Click to expand...

The PhII triple cores are very good. The old Toliman ones are not. Intel e5200 > AMD X3 8450.

Nvidia 9400gt is not a good card, but still better than IGP. Since your friend doesn't play games, it doesn't matter anyway. Maybe an Intel board with IGP...
 
O

o1die

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
4,785
0
71
Dell deals today has a vostro 220 with e7400 and 19 inch monitor for $399. I believe it comes with 2 or 3 gigs of memory.
 
F

Flipped Gazelle

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2004
6,666
3
81
Originally posted by: loki5667
Did I post in the wrong section?
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is "Motherboards", yet you are asking about a complete system build, which should be posted in "General Hardware". But, since you're here already, may as well stay the course.
 
N

NXIL

Senior member
Apr 14, 2005
774
0
0
Hi,

based on what your friend uses his PC for, on board graphics should be fine.

Recommend for motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...8113%2CN82E16813138105

$75 to $95 or so.

CPU: great time to buy a budget CPU: these were better than top end CPU a year or two ago....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...nufactory=1028&bop=And

I recommend 4GB of memory, and yes, with 32 bit os, some will not be accessible, but, it is so inexpensive, recommend you max it out:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ue=523%3a15794&bop=And

All of the above are standard 1.8V JDEC plug in and go, no hassles. Should just frakkin work. iF you need to save a few bucks, 2 x 1GB is OK.

As for his Maxtor hard drive: it is old, and sucks balls. It needs to be replaced.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...8261%2CN82E16822148335

The DVD drive you listed is fine, case is fine, though power supply a bit tepid.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...7055%2CN82E16811147093

HTH

NXIL
 
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