Struggling...Budget Build - Intel or AMD?

[bryanW1995]

e2180 definitely.

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: bmwme
[Well I'd love to but I'm encountering wierd problems...either I have two completely different SATA drives with the exact same problem or some wierd motherboard issue with SATA. I first replaced the drive thinking it had failed...same problem. Then I replaced the SATA controller with a PCI one. It worked for a month then same problem. I'm having bad data corruption. Right now I'm posting from said computer but running a PATA drive and everything seems to be ok...

It is just wierd and I don't like it! lol I just want to be able to run my 600gb of SATA hdd's without issue!

I know the ram is ok, I know the cpu is ok, but it just doesn't jive when I'm using SATA. I just want to be done with this motherboard but can't afford to do it right.

Same here.

I have a 2-year old MSI MB with a VIA chipset and the onboard SATA controller is junk. I added a PCI SATA, it was better but neither would allow me to burn a solid DVD from the SATA HDD, always corrupted. I could get a good burn from a IDE HDD. However, I refuse to buy anymore IDE HDD's.

I just recently got new Compaq with a ECS MB, the SATA DVD burns were flawless. I got a second ECS MB with 2-DDR & 2-DDR2 slots and like the first flawless SATA burns.

Get a new MB!!!

Hermit

 

[bmwme]

Hey how much power would be needed to properly run a dual core CPU like a e2160?

I have a coolermaster 450w...

 

[lyssword]

Originally posted by: bmwme
Hey how much power would be needed to properly run a dual core CPU like a e2160?

I have a coolermaster 450w...

Prolly same or less than a-xp2600+

 

[Denithor]

That's plenty for a rig like you're putting together.

Just reuse your DDR400 unless you have less than 1GB, in which case buy a 1GB stick of DDR2 and add another later if you need it.

 

[bmwme]

Is there an AMD board that accepts DDR1 and AGP?

 

[21stHermit]

Originally posted by: bmwme
Is there an AMD board that accepts DDR1 and AGP?

Use Newegg's Advanced Search and select the relevant parameters.

I did this for S939 and AGP and no hits. No doubt you could find an older MB on eBay, but kind of pointless given your SATA problems.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: bmwme
Is there an AMD board that accepts DDR1 and AGP?

There are no AM2 motherboards that support DDR1.

Before you spend your money you should read the latest post here at AT covering performance with the new UT3. They cover the impact of cache size, number of cores, and AMD vs Intel cpus at equal clock speeds. To summarize, the more cache and more cores you have the better off you will be going forward into the future.

After reading the article I would recommend going with the e4400 for $135 and the ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 for $66 and reuse everything else you have currently. This will put you a measly $6 over budget with the best upgrade options going forward and a fairly powerful system that should last for at least a couple of years.

I would jump on this deal on DDR2 once you can cover the initial buy as 2GB of memory is nice (and cheap after MIR).

Next year you could replace the 7800gs with an 8800gt and eventually you could replace the e4400 with q6600 (as needed).

 

[frizzybang]

Originally posted by: Cogman
Wow, AM2 + AGP motherboards are rarer then I thought. Either way, here is what I came up with.

MSI K9MM-V AM2 VIA K8M800 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $47.99

Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2N5/1G - Retail $24.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Processor Model ADO4000DDBOX - Retail $69.99

Total
142.97

Thats probably the cheapest you will get (unless you go for a sempron), You might think about doubling the ram

This system that he quoted is great. If you can spend $60 more then you need to get the 5000+ brisbane. Just changing the multiplier can get you to 3.2 on air and it will be stable.

 

[Denithor]

But the e4400 is better than the 5000+ for gaming (linkage)and the AM2 motherboard doesn't have a pci-e slot so he won't be able to upgrade the video card without a complete system refresh.

It also looks like this board will support fsb up to 266mhz which would let you OC your e4400 to 2.66GHz for a nice speed boost (probably have to buy DDR2 to OC at all).

At this time I would have a hard time recommending anyone spend equal amount of money for an AMD system when they could get a better Intel rig for the same cost. Perhaps this will change when Phenom launches but for now, Intel is the better way to go.

 

[Jester666]

Originally posted by: SerpentRoyal
- $71 after rebate Abit IP35-E. P35 board with full 45nm quad (Peryn) support. No problem pushing a capabable Intel CPU north of 3.6GHz.

- $20 after rebate (1GB x 2) HP/Crucrial 1.8V DDR2 667.

- E2160, E2180, E4400, or E4500. Look for sale @ $80 or less. Most will hit 3.2GHz with a few north of 3.4GHz.

$171 total or less. Use the extra $ for a new GPU. You can upgrade to Peryn quad down the road.

This rig can easily hit 3.2GHz if you don't happen to come across a bum CPU.

I like this route. You shouldn't have much problem selling your 7800gs, also sell your ddr1 ram, you should have enough $$ to upgrade your GPU a little too.

 

[j0j081]

I am probably gonna do this upgrade to I never realized how cheap it could be.

 

[bmwme]

Just came into some $$ and no one is buying me computer stuff for Xmas so I need to do it on my own. I've been using my gf's laptop for a couple months and can't stand it anymore!

So any updates? What is a good sub $200 system? I need mobo, cpu, and video card (on board only if nvidia 7000 series). I bought 2gb of the HP DDR2 (just got my rebate check yesterday!) and I have the case and PSU.

thanks!

 

[BadRobot]

p5k se 67.99

e2140 73.99

x1950pro 134.99

This is what I would buy...if i could go 70 dollars over budget that is...

If you shop around at different websites it is possible to find things cheaper maybe.
Others might have better suggestions...

 

[bmwme]

Hey what would be better...

ASROCK mobo with AGP 7600GS or the evga 630i chipset mobo with onboard nvidia 7100?

 

[bmwme]

Originally posted by: bmwme
Hey what would be better...

ASROCK mobo with AGP 7600GS or the evga 630i chipset mobo with onboard nvidia 7100?

Also how is the lower end 8 series any good? I'm looking at a 8400GS for $32 AR or an 8500GT for $69 AR.

 

[Denithor]

If you are gaming at all integrated just won't cut it. Period. Here are some other options (the 8500GT I found is $15 cheaper than the one you are looking at).

EVGA 8500GT $54 after MIR
Leadtek 8600GT $70 after MIR
GeCube x1950pro $111 after MIR
MSI 8600GTS OC $131 after MIR
MSI HD 3850 OC $176

I wouldn't seriously look at the 8600GTS, if you can go that high definitely spend the extra $50 and get the 3850, which is about twice the card for 30% more cash.

 

[bmwme]

Originally posted by: Denithor
If you are gaming at all integrated just won't cut it. Period. Here are some other options (the 8500GT I found is $15 cheaper than the one you are looking at).

EVGA 8500GT $54 after MIR
Leadtek 8600GT $70 after MIR
GeCube x1950pro $111 after MIR
MSI 8600GTS OC $131 after MIR
MSI HD 3850 OC $176

I wouldn't seriously look at the 8600GTS, if you can go that high definitely spend the extra $50 and get the 3850, which is about twice the card for 30% more cash.

Well right now all I play is COD2 and my 7600GS has been ok. My buddy just bought COD4 and I can see myself eventually going over to that but not for awhile. Really I only have time for internet and COD2 so gaming isn't a huge concern. Is the 8500GT good? I like that it is HDCP because I'll likely throw this next card in a HTPC.

Thanks for your input guys/gals, keep it coming!

 

[Denithor]

Well, if you plan to reuse the video card you get now in an HTPC, go for this passively cooled XFX 8500GT OC that is $65 after MIR. That will be blessedly quiet for the HTPC and should also suit your needs right now for low end gaming.

Consider this for the rest:
Biostar P35D2-A7 $66 after $20MIR
Celeron 420 $43
Kingston 2x1GB DDR2-800 $42 after $10MIR
Antec Earthwatts 500W $35 after $40MIR

I don't know if you can salvage your HDD + optical drive or not but those are easy to find at low cost on newegg/zzf/mwave/etc. Throw it all in a cheap case, overclock that Celeron to ~3GHz and enjoy.

 

[bmwme]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Well, if you plan to reuse the video card you get now in an HTPC, go for this passively cooled XFX 8500GT OC that is $65 after MIR. That will be blessedly quiet for the HTPC and should also suit your needs right now for low end gaming.

Consider this for the rest:
Biostar P35D2-A7 $66 after $20MIR
Celeron 420 $43
Kingston 2x1GB DDR2-800 $42 after $10MIR
Antec Earthwatts 500W $35 after $40MIR

I don't know if you can salvage your HDD + optical drive or not but those are easy to find at low cost on newegg/zzf/mwave/etc. Throw it all in a cheap case, overclock that Celeron to ~3GHz and enjoy.

Great ideas!
Does this http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127297 look to be HDCP compliant? It is the same price as the XFX AR but is less initial outlay (incase the rebate fails) and has a large fanless heatsink.

 

[humanure]

that msi card is not hdcp ready

 

[GundamF91]

It does not take AMD to be a budget build. As long as you are willing to do rebate, the price is nice.

I got the IP35E for about $66, the E2140 for $66, DDR2-800 ram for $50, Antec power for $30, and x1950 Pro for $60. That's only about $280 or so, and you'll now have a very capable system. If you can reuse GFX card, then you'll save even more.

 

[bmwme]

Originally posted by: GundamF91
It does not take AMD to be a budget build.

So are you saying a current AMD system is typically the "budget" way to go?