Please evaluate two potential low cost PC builds

[TrickyD119]

This is my first post on these forums so I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong section.

Background:

My previous custom build ran into some serious hardware issues over the weekend. My video card along with two PCI slots on the mobo are dead. On top of that my processor had been reporting some serious temperature issues which may or may not be related to the previously stated issues and even though I was able to reduce the temperature I suspect it may have already sustained some long term damage.

Because I was looking to upgrade my ram on this computer in the near future anyway, I figure now would probably be the best possible time to do some upgrades.

What I'm looking for:

I will be bringing over a; digital LCD monitor, DVD Burner, 40gb HD, Antec Case and Antec 550w from my previous build. The rest is in regards to the additional components I would need.

I frequently do moderate multi tasking with non to moderately memory intensive programs and light gaming such as Warcraft III or Civ 3. Civ 4 and maybe WOW are the only current or soon to be games I'd have any interest in.

I'm on an extremely limited budget right now so cost is a major concern. If I go ahead and spend nearly $400-500 I'd really like it to be on something that will do everything I need it to do for 2-3 years without upgrading as that is when I expect I'll be in a better financial position. Preferably I'd like to be assured the system would run Longhorn well enough when it is eventually released.

If that isn't possible in that price range then an extreme budget system in the $250-$400 range is my next choice.

Help I need from andandtech.com

I've done some legwork on two potential systems, 1 budget and one moderately mid range. I have included two video card options with each build, one with VIVO and one without. VIVO is a feature is prefer, but can live without due to budget constraints if it is unwise to spend so much just to get it.

I'm not in love with any of the components listed below, if there is a better choice for a reasonable difference in price, please let me know. Also, I've never overclocked, but I'm open to the idea so if there is a component that would better for overclocking and you wish to mention it, please do.

Budget
AMD 2800+ Palermo Socket 754 Processor
Biostar NF325-A7 Socket 754 nForce3 Motherboard
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512mb) PC3200 Dual Channel Kit Ram
MSI NX6600-VTD256 Geforce 6600 256mb AGP w/VIVO Video Card or EPoX EV-A955SD8 Radeon 9550 128mb AGP Video Card

For more detail on each item listed, including price, I have saved a wish list on NewEgg (Link).

Moderate Mid Range
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester Socket 939 Processor
Chaintech VNF4 Ultra Socket 939 nForce 4 Ultra Motherboard
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512mb) PC3200 Dual Channel Kit Ram
MSI NX6600-VTD128E 128mb Geforce 6600 128mb PCI-E w/VIVO Video Card or Sapphire Radeon X700 Pro 128mb PCI-E Video Card

Again, for more detail on each item listed, including price, I have saved a wish list on NewEgg (Link).

Please feel free to recommend a change of any component, just please give respect to price. Thank you in advance.

 

[TrickyD119]

Thread got burried so a quick bump in hopes someone may have some feedback.

 

[piasabird]

If the last system overheated, maybe you need a case with better air circulation. Using SATA Hard Drive might help with air circulation.

Can't say I like either motherboard. Gigabyte might be better.

 

[imported_Kensai]

The later build.

 

[TrickyD119]

Originally posted by: piasabird
If the last system overheated, maybe you need a case with better air circulation. Using SATA Hard Drive might help with air circulation.

Can't say I like either motherboard. Gigabyte might be better.

The case is an Antec Full Tower. It has a 6 fans in it right now (might be overkill I don't know) but it seems fairly open. I had not properly maintained a clean environment so that probably played a factor, but do those cases have a history of running hot?

I'd love a SATA HD though, perhaps I will try to squeeze one in the budget somehow.

What is the benefit that Gigabyte offers? Are they more stable? Better features?

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Shlong]

Isn't a sapphire 9800 pro going for $120? Don't know about benchmarks but isn't performance of this card better than 6600 vanilla? I'm pretty sure you can flash 9800 to an XT bios too. (for first build) Second build seems better, 6600GT for a few bucks more.

 

[shoRunner]

either build would run longhorn when it is released(unless huge changes are made), but the second build would give you the ability to upgrade to a dual core processor in the future. the x700 will be better in basically every game compared to the 6600 but it won't have the vivo feature.

 

[TrickyD119]

Originally posted by: Shlong
Isn't a sapphire 9800 pro going for $120? Don't know about benchmarks but isn't performance of this card better than 6600 vanilla? I'm pretty sure you can flash 9800 to an XT bios too. (for first build)

In regards to the first build, the only reason I have that particular 6600 chosen is that it has VIVO. Unfortunately the only 9800Pro I saw on NewEgg was the All in wonder and that was going for almost $100 more.

If I don't go with a VIVO card on the budget system, I'll most likely go with a budget card. If you have any recommendations for a better card than the 9550 (for similiar $) though I'd love to hear about it.

 

[TrickyD119]

Originally posted by: shoRunner
the x700 will be better in basically every game compared to the 6600 but it won't have the vivo feature.

Would the performance difference be significantly noticable? More pricisely would it be a crazy decision to take an inferior card for $30 more just for VIVO or is that feature actually that expensive to implement?

Also if it matters, I use a flat panel 19" digitally at a resolution of 1280x1024.

 

[shoRunner]

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20041222/vga_charts-04.html