New build help needed please

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bball1523

Senior member
Jun 26, 2005
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I recently have had my computer break down (in my signature). I think it may be my motherboard. While I am trying to figure out what is wrong and trying to fix it, I have been thinking about possibly buying a whole new PC or at least some upgrade parts along with my current parts.

I will first list parts I have and need for an upgrade, then I want your input on an upgrade or new build.

Here is what I have so far:

1) 2 harddrives
2) videocard
3) dvd burner
4) floppy
5) LCD monitor
6) soundcard
7) speakers
8) 1 GB (2x512mb) RAM

Here is what I want/need:

1) CPU (preferrably Intel C2D)
2) Motherboard
3) PSU
4) new case*
5) New 2 GB ram sticks?
6) Preferrably quieter than my current PC or at least as Quiet
7) Doesn't generate so much heat as my current PC does not
8) reliable!

*I am guessing I need a new case, but I could just use my current one.

My budget I hope for is around $600, but I can expand it to $1000 or more if I really need to.

Here is what I will do with my PC:

- surf the web
- listen to music
- record music with guitar and keyboard/synths
- occassional gaming, but mainly stuff I have such as Oblivion, sims 2. Probably not Crysis.

Other than that I hope I can have a good upgrade path to the motherboard/cpu combo, in case I decide to upgrade to play higher end games or so.

So what do you people think?
 
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chinaman1472

Senior member
Nov 20, 2007
614
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Core 2 Quad - $270
Gigabyte P35-DS3L - $100
Antec 430 Earthwatts - $55
4GB Memory - $100 (Patriot, G.Skill, Crucial, OCZ, Corsair)
Antec P182 - $100
ATi 3850 - $160 would be optional

Here's a general setup for about $800 off the top of my head, not including tax, shipping, or rebates.

Upgrade path is sorta blocked since Intel will be switching sockets with their new CPU; so you'd have to wait until 2009.
 
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MarcVenice

Moderator Emeritus <br>
Apr 2, 2007
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Throw in a arctic freezer 7 pro to keep things nice and quiet. Perhaps e8400 instead of q6600. Corsair 450/550vx for 60-70$ ? P182 is going for 90$ at newegg right now, awesome case, very quiet, adequate cooling. Abit IP35-e for 60$ AR at newegg.com better hurry up with that one though!
 
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bball1523

Senior member
Jun 26, 2005
271
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76
What about this mini build:

1) GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3P LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Dynamic Energy Saver Ultra Durable II Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16813128083 $154.99

2) Antec earthwatts EA500 ATX12V v2.0 500W Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16817371007 $79.99

3) Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16819115029 $189.99

4) Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16820146565 $64.99

total comes to around $489.99 not including shipping and tax.

- I plan to reuse my sonata II case, benq dvd-writer, floppy drive, nvidia 6800GT 256mb videocard, soundcard and monitor.

- will the cpu/mobo yield low heat and quietness or do I need to get something else? Why is the e6750 cheaper than the e6400?
 
L

LOUISSSSS

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2005
8,771
58
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whats dynamic energy saver?

why not just get a cheaper ds3 motherboard or ip35 motherboard? they're all good.
 
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bball1523

Senior member
Jun 26, 2005
271
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76
I have no clue what dynamic energy saver is, but I heard this psu is quiet and works well for audio recording.

The reason I chose this motherboard is because it has firewire and the others don't. What do you think? I need firewire for my external m-audio firewire solo soundcard.

 
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chinaman1472

Senior member
Nov 20, 2007
614
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G.Skill 4GB (2x2) > Crucial 2GB (2x1) at the cost of $30 via newegg. Almost no reason to not get 4GB unless you have a really tight budget. And in any case, getting 1 stick of 2GB is better and expand to 4GB a few months later...

Microcenter MIGHT still have E8400 for $189. E8400 is still the better deal over a E6750 at $225. If you're trying to cut costs, an E4500 at $125 is better. IF you overclock, E4500 is plenty.
 
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bball1523

Senior member
Jun 26, 2005
271
0
76
well it would take 7-21 business days to ship the e8400 from microcenter. Also the e6750 is $189.99 at newegg.

Is G.Skill reliable?
 
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chinaman1472

Senior member
Nov 20, 2007
614
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No, I mean the E8400 at $225 is a better deal than the E6750 at $189. The chip runs faster, cooler, and uses less power. In the end, it is up to you.

G.Skill is quite popular around AT it seems, they use good hardware to build their memory.
 
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bball1523

Senior member
Jun 26, 2005
271
0
76
ok, so I bought the e8400 for $225 at Fry's. What motherboard with firewire (preferrably texas instruments FW), will work well with this cpu?
 
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Mr Fox

Senior member
Sep 24, 2006
876
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Originally posted by: bball1523
ok, so I bought the e8400 for $225 at Fry's. What motherboard with firewire (preferrably texas instruments FW), will work well with this cpu?
Click to expand...

The ASUS P5K-E or The MOBO that you speced earlier are both fine... The newer Gigabyte is well reviewed. Both clock well, and are very stable with Good Memory.
 
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bball1523

Senior member
Jun 26, 2005
271
0
76
sorry I mean Texas Instruments Firewire, it's a specific manufacturer of firewire devices. They are well suited and reliable for audio recording soundcards or external devices that use firewire. I've heard some say there are compatibility issues with firewire devices that are not made from Texas Instruments. That's why I want to play it safe and get a TI firewire.
 
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Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
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I mean when a company makes their own slight variation on something that has been around for ages so that people have to buy their variation to be compatible instead of making it all standardised.
 
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bball1523

Senior member
Jun 26, 2005
271
0
76
does the asus mobo allow me to plug and play with the e8400 instead of flashing/updating the bios? I really don't want to have to update the bios.
 
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