Haven't built a system in 4+ years, and after the divorce, I got stuck with an even older hand-me down. Most usage will be internet/email, multimedia (music/CDs, pictures, video), MS Office 2007 (Access, Excel, Word), and maybe a few games. My budget is around $500 US. I would like a stable/reliable system since I won't be upgrading for 4-5 years. No need to OC, but will test it anyway just for grins, and I'm ready to build now.
Hear's what I'm keeping... 19in LCD monitor (not Hi Def), 320GB USB2.0 external HDD, wireless keyboard and mouse, and a Brother b/w laser printer (parallel port only).
Afer reading various threads and buying guides, here is what I'm thinking about:
Case:
1. COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119068 ($49.99 + $18.99 ship)
or
2. Rosewill R5604-TBK 0.8mm Japanese Cold Rolled Steel Screw-less Dual 120mm Fans ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811147033 ($56.99, free ship)
<<<Is either significantly better?
PSU: Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16817371006 ($29.99 after $30 rebate, free ship)
Mobo: BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G M2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813138105 ($69.99 after $10 rebate + $8.97 ship)
CPU:
1. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane 2.5GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO4800DOBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103212 ($58.99, free ship)
or
2. AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH4850DOBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103255 ($79.99, free ship)
<<<What do I really get for $20 with a lower wattage CPU? I've read about faster boots and lower temps, but is it worth it?
Memory:
1. CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail Item #: N82E16820145184 ($66.50 after $20 rebate, free ship)
or
2. OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK - Retail Item #: N82E16820227267 ($56.99 after $35 rebate, free ship)
or
3. 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 ($79.99, free ship)
<<<Is it worth saving some $$ by going with 2GB? Is there any real difference between the Corsair, OCZ, and G.Skill? These prices are really nice!
HDD:
1. Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822136218 ($89.99, free ship)
or
2. Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822148136 ($79.99, free ship)
or
3. Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822148262 ($59.99, free ship)
<<<Considering the 320GB external drive I have, is the 500GB or 640GB worth it?
Optical: SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM Item #: N82E16827151154 ($26.99 + $6.99 ship)
OS:
1. Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD - OEM Item #: N82E16832116485 ($109.99, free ship)
or
2. Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM Item #: N82E16832116488 ($109.99, free ship)
<<<Should I go for the 32-bit or 64-bit? What do I need to have in order to buy/install from a system builders version?
If I pick the most expensive options, I come to a total of $571.89 including shipping and $485.88 with the least expensive options.
Are there any cables or utility software that I need to consider?
TIA for your responses and for all the help, via posts etc., to get me this far. :beer:
Edit - added links (thanks for the constructive criticism boomerang)
Hear's what I'm keeping... 19in LCD monitor (not Hi Def), 320GB USB2.0 external HDD, wireless keyboard and mouse, and a Brother b/w laser printer (parallel port only).
Afer reading various threads and buying guides, here is what I'm thinking about:
Case:
1. COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119068 ($49.99 + $18.99 ship)
or
2. Rosewill R5604-TBK 0.8mm Japanese Cold Rolled Steel Screw-less Dual 120mm Fans ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811147033 ($56.99, free ship)
<<<Is either significantly better?
PSU: Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16817371006 ($29.99 after $30 rebate, free ship)
Mobo: BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G M2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813138105 ($69.99 after $10 rebate + $8.97 ship)
CPU:
1. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane 2.5GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO4800DOBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103212 ($58.99, free ship)
or
2. AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH4850DOBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103255 ($79.99, free ship)
<<<What do I really get for $20 with a lower wattage CPU? I've read about faster boots and lower temps, but is it worth it?
Memory:
1. CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail Item #: N82E16820145184 ($66.50 after $20 rebate, free ship)
or
2. OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK - Retail Item #: N82E16820227267 ($56.99 after $35 rebate, free ship)
or
3. 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 ($79.99, free ship)
<<<Is it worth saving some $$ by going with 2GB? Is there any real difference between the Corsair, OCZ, and G.Skill? These prices are really nice!
HDD:
1. Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822136218 ($89.99, free ship)
or
2. Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3500630AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822148136 ($79.99, free ship)
or
3. Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822148262 ($59.99, free ship)
<<<Considering the 320GB external drive I have, is the 500GB or 640GB worth it?
Optical: SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM Item #: N82E16827151154 ($26.99 + $6.99 ship)
OS:
1. Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD - OEM Item #: N82E16832116485 ($109.99, free ship)
or
2. Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM Item #: N82E16832116488 ($109.99, free ship)
<<<Should I go for the 32-bit or 64-bit? What do I need to have in order to buy/install from a system builders version?
If I pick the most expensive options, I come to a total of $571.89 including shipping and $485.88 with the least expensive options.
Are there any cables or utility software that I need to consider?
TIA for your responses and for all the help, via posts etc., to get me this far. :beer:
Edit - added links (thanks for the constructive criticism boomerang)