Need help building new Intel system under 700 $

[n000b]

Hi everybody!

I'm building a new system for myself. The budget is around 600-700, the cheaper - the better 🙂 Main tasks to perform: listening and mixing music (Ableton, Adobe Audition), web-design (maybe some Photoshop), watching videos, some games (Football Manager 2007, nothing requiring real good video card).

So far I came up to the next setup:

1. 122-126$ Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115013"]E4300[/URL] or http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ors-_-intel-_-19115014"]E4400[/URL]

2. 114$-10 MiR Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/...Intel-_-MSI-_-13130082"]MSI P6N SLI-FI[/URL] (I'm taking 120 Gb harddrive and Sony cd-rom from old system, as this one have 2 IDE connectors 🙂)

3. 110$-15 MiR Video http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ogy+Limited-_-14102068"]Sapphire Radeon x1650XT [/URL]

4. 104$-40 MiR Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/...XMS+Series)-_-20145034"]Corsair 2x1Gb DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) XMS2 C4 4-4-4-12 2.1 v[/URL]

5. 66$-10 MiR Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119077"]Cooler Master Centurion 5CAC-TO5-UW[/URL] or http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...=PWATCH&CMP=OTC-PWATCH"]Cooler Master Centurion 5[/URL]

6. 100$-10 MiR Power Supply http://www.buy.com/prod/corsai...loc/101/203270716.html"]Corsair 520W CMPSU-520HX[/URL]

Total: 616-620$ - 85 MiR = 531-535$

Later, may be next month I'm planning to add some more stuff to the system:
- Sata DVD-RW
- SATA 2.0 harddrive 750 GB
- LCD 22'' monitor
- cooler, something from Zalman (9700?), because I want to overclock the system, that was one of the reason to choose Intel, another one is to score on Quad upgrade, when available on cheap price (may be in 2 years from now).

So, if beeing not a big specialist in hardware area I have next questions to ask:

1. Are my system components compatible and should potentially work good with each other?
2. What processor should I choose for better overclocking: E4300 or E4400. I'm looking at 3,0Ghz level.
3. Do I need to buy a cooler right now or it will be fine before overclocking?
4. Any components replacements suggested?

Thanks in advance for your time and help!

 

[gtsing]

Sup n00b. 😛

Some advice:

Go with an Intel E2160 for a processor to save $50. Virtually, you won't notice any difference between E2160 and E4300 or E4400.

Motherboard looks pretty good. Although, you could consider a GA-P35-DS3L unless you need the SLI.

X1650XT is pretty weak these days. I know you're not an intense gamer but still, I'd get a Sapphire HD 2600XT Lite Retail.

RAM's a good choice.

Case is fine if you like it.

Power Supply is good.

There you go. 🙂

EDIT Just saw the questions at the bottom...

1. Yes, I don't see why they wouldn't work 'good.'

2. E2160.

3. I'd suggest an aftermarket cooler for overclocking. Even for $20 you can get a decent Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro that's way better than stock cooling.

 

[n000b]

Originally posted by: gtsing
Sup n00b. 😛

Some advice:

Go with an Intel E2160 for a processor to save $50. Virtually, you won't notice any difference between E2160 and E4300 or E4400.

Motherboard looks pretty good. Although, you could consider a GA-P35-DS3L unless you need the SLI.

X1650XT is pretty weak these days. I know you're not an intense gamer but still, I'd get a Sapphire HD 2600XT Lite Retail.

RAM's a good choice.

Case is fine if you like it.

Power Supply is good.

There you go. 🙂

EDIT Just saw the questions at the bottom...

1. Yes, I don't see why they wouldn't work 'good.'

2. E2160.

3. I'd suggest an aftermarket cooler for overclocking. Even for $20 you can get a decent Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro that's way better than stock cooling.

Hey gtsing! Thank you for reply. I checked the feedback @ newegg and seems that people love overclocking E2160 🙂
What you think about new one: E 2180E2180? It's just 10$ more than E2160.

About motherboard I was measuring between GA-P35-DS3L and MSI one, but think MSI will be better decision. First, I have more trust in MSI boards and then it has 2 IDE connectors up to 4 devices, so I can hook up my old hard drive and CD-ROM right away. If I take Gigabyte, then I have to buy optical DVD-RW right away.

 

[gorobei]

you can run two ide devices off of the gigabyte port. two ports means you can run 4 ide drives. the only reason to go with more ide ports is if you are trying to run a raid array with some older ide drives.

2) the e21xx chips should be fine for the stuff you want to do. should get you to 3.0ghz
3) stock cooler will be fine at stock speeds. at 3.0ghz overclock, you might want something better. svc.com had coolermaster hypertx for $2 after rebate for a while.(back up to $14 now)
4) yeah, unless you really need/want sli, go with a p35 chipset motherboard(better overclocking assuming the bios is designed for it).

 

[n000b]

Originally posted by: gorobei
you can run two ide devices off of the gigabyte port. two ports means you can run 4 ide drives. the only reason to go with more ide ports is if you are trying to run a raid array with some older ide drives.

I don't want to hook up harddrive and CD-ROM on the same port, because HD is only 5400 rpm and it'll be working really slow that way. Also I have an old 60 GB HD, not sure if it's working though need to reformat it first, if it does, I'll put those two on one port and CD-ROM separately on the second.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

everything you buy in 2007 should be SATA... and all your ATA stuff should be replaced. Hdd's are cheap, DVD burners are cheap...


EDIT: ATA