New Build AMD or INTEL

[BW86]

My friend wants me to build him a computer so I put together a quick list on newegg to see what I could come up with. I put together a list for an AMD machine and a Intel machine. It's been awhile since I built a computer so tell me what you guys think. He'll be using it for light gaming, photoshop and of course web surfing/email. Also, he is getting his OS from his school.

AMD:

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
$32.99

COOLER MASTER Elite RC-330-KKR1 Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail
$59.99

MSI N8400GS-TD256 GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
$30.99

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$56.99

ECS BLACK SERIES A780GM-A AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$69.99

AMD Phenom 9650 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HD9650WCGHBOX - Retail
$109.99

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK - Retail
$71.99

TOTAL: $432.93


Intel:

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
$32.99

COOLER MASTER Elite RC-330-KKR1 Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail
$59.99

MSI N8400GS-TD256 GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
$30.99

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$56.99

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$79.99

Intel Core2 Duo E7500 Wolfdale 2.93GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7500 - Retail
$119.99

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail
$61.99

TOTAL: $442.93

 

[Blain]

We have no idea how your friend will be using this PC.

If he's web surfing and checking email... Your listed components are overkill
If he's video editing and heavy gaming... Your listed components aren't powerful enough

It's also odd that both lists are only $10 apart.
Does that mean your friend has a sub-$450 budget?

Is your friend going to be running a free Linux distro for his OS?

Make sure your friend saves up some cash for a PS in the future. The one included with the CM case isn't all that great.

 

[BW86]

He'll be using it for light gaming (cs, unreal) photoshop and web surfing.

His budget is ~$450

He can get an OS from his school which will be WinXP 64. Also I've been using the PS in that case for like 4 years now, went through 3 upgrades.

 

[masteryoda34]

WinXP 64 is bad. GeForce 8400 is a terrible gaming card. It'll run old games at low settings though.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
WinXP 64 is bad. GeForce 8400 is a terrible gaming card. It'll run old games at low settings though.

I have the 8400gs in my system - runs cs source and hl2 fine. The heaviest game hes going to be playing is probably UT2k4 I also have been running xp 64 in one of my systems for awhile now. Whats so bad about it? He can also get Windows 7 which I'll probably tell him to get.

 

[masteryoda34]

Originally posted by: BW86

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
WinXP 64 is bad. GeForce 8400 is a terrible gaming card. It'll run old games at low settings though.

I have the 8400gs in my system - runs cs source and hl2 fine. I also have been running xp 64 in one of my systems for awhile now. Whats so bad about it? He can also get Windows 7 which I'll probably tell him to get.

XP 64 has bad driver support. If he can get Windows 7 64-bit that would be a much better choice.

EDIT: Timewarp: OP below.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: BW86

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
WinXP 64 is bad. GeForce 8400 is a terrible gaming card. It'll run old games at low settings though.

I have the 8400gs in my system - runs cs source and hl2 fine.

What resolution do you run at and what resolution will your friend be running at?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Phenom 550BE / Gigabyte 770T AM3: $160 AR

Put the extra $20 toward your video card or purchase the $15 Forged Copper Heatsink for mosfet cooling to OC that black edition.

Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333: $75 w/free shipping

 

[jaydee]

Your AMD rig, but new Mobo/CPU/RAM combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.272124 $174 + $7.56 shiping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&Tpk=CT2KIT25664BA1339 $75 shipped

Use the onboard GPU, OC the core to 700mhz.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: BW86

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
WinXP 64 is bad. GeForce 8400 is a terrible gaming card. It'll run old games at low settings though.

I have the 8400gs in my system - runs cs source and hl2 fine.

What resolution do you run at and what resolution will your friend be running at?

1024x768 I think

 

[BW86]

thanks for all the advice

 

[Firsttime]

I would go AMD but get a combo more along these lines:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.271188

Edit: Or if the rig is just for basic use/gaming get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.273664

and then upgrade the video card to something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102824

That would trash what you have up there for gaming and be not far behind in photoshop.

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: BW86
1024x768 I think

Please tell me he isn't limited to this res for his photoshop work. I realise that there isn't room in your budget for a nice screen but, meh.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: betasub

Originally posted by: BW86
1024x768 I think

Please tell me he isn't limited to this res for his photoshop work. I realise that there isn't room in your budget for a nice screen but, meh.

already has 2 22'' flatscreens - I thought he was referring to what resolution I ran in-game.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

$120 for a c2d was a good price a year ago.
spend the extra $40 and get a q9550.

microcenter.
westbury long island.
you have one near you.
no excuse.