Your opinions on build, please

[TossedSalad]

Hi, my friend just let me know he purchased a prebuilt computer from newegg for $599.99.
Here's the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16883102017

He's on a budget, ~$600.00, and once I found out he ordered this (just earlier today), I made a build myself. EDIT: I've edited this post a few times, making the appropriate fixes. Here's the specs:

COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $39.99, $29.99 after mail-in rebate.

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Rev. 3.3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard Retail - $114.99

GIGABYTE GV-NX73T256P-RH GeForce 7300GT 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $77.99, $67.99 after mail-in rebate

FSP Group (Fortron Source) ATX350-PA, version 2.2 RoHS, SATA, 350W Power Supply - OEM - $29.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4400 - Retail - $139.00

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model F2-4200PHU2-2GBNT - Retail - $79.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $64.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S OEM BK - OEM - $32.99

Subtotal: $579.93, $559.93 after mail-in rebates.

Seeing as how he just ordered the prebuilt system from newegg today, he still has some time to cancel it. He doesn't want to though, because he thinks my build isn't "a significant enough upgrade." Your opinions? Also, is there anything I should change with the build?
Any help would be very appreciated!

 

[Sdiver2489]

Originally posted by: TossedSalad
He's on a budget, ~$600.00, and once I found out he ordered this (just earlier today), I made a build myself. Here's the specs:

Rosewill R804BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 300W with 24 pin connector Power Supply - Retail - $25.99

ASUS P5B-VM LGA 775 Intel G965 Express Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $114.99

EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $109.99

FSP Group (Fortron Source) ATX350-PA, version 2.2 RoHS, SATA, 350W Power Supply - OEM - $29.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6300 - Retail - $167.00

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail - $73.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $64.99

SONY 18X DVD±R DVD Burner Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model AW-Q170A-B2 - OEM - $29.99

Subtotal: $616.93

Your "build" is a mess

That motherboard is not great for the money...a Gigabyte DS3 will do much better

http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA4830994

You need DDR2 ram not DDR. Get 2 gigs for $80 from Gskill

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231044

Decent choice on the power supply...I might bump it up to 400 watts for headroom

Pay a few bucks more and get a SATA DVD drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106070

Lastly, I would get the cheapest coolermaster case. It will outclass that rosewill.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115

Should only be a lil bit more

 

[TossedSalad]

Ok, I edited my original post including your recommendations. Thanks a lot.

 

[Sdiver2489]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104953

I would consider moving up to this. It would give him more room to upgrade if need be

 

[TossedSalad]

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104953

I would consider moving up to this. It would give him more room to upgrade if need be

Thanks, that's actually the PSU I have now. I'll ask him, but he's on a pretty tight budget, I don't think he plans on upgrading any time soon.

 

[Sdiver2489]

Originally posted by: TossedSalad

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104953

I would consider moving up to this. It would give him more room to upgrade if need be

Thanks, that's actually the PSU I have now. I'll ask him, but he's on a pretty tight budget, I don't think he plans on upgrading any time soon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015

For $1 more might as well...

 

[TossedSalad]

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489

Originally posted by: TossedSalad

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104953

I would consider moving up to this. It would give him more room to upgrade if need be

Thanks, that's actually the PSU I have now. I'll ask him, but he's on a pretty tight budget, I don't think he plans on upgrading any time soon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015

For $1 more might as well...

Thanks, good find.

Can I get your guys opinions on the current build vs. the pre-built machine he ordered? Is it a no-brainer? Should he definitely cancel his order now, and go with this build? I'd say the answer is an absolute yes.

 

[Sdiver2489]

Originally posted by: TossedSalad

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489

Originally posted by: TossedSalad

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104953

I would consider moving up to this. It would give him more room to upgrade if need be

Thanks, that's actually the PSU I have now. I'll ask him, but he's on a pretty tight budget, I don't think he plans on upgrading any time soon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015

For $1 more might as well...

Thanks, good find.

You should take into account rebates. The rebates on the Case and Video card are rather significant and reduce the build to pretty much exactly the prebuilt cost

 

[jkresh]

The machine you specked out is going to be considerably faster, but you didn't include the cost of an OS so its also a bit more expensive as even an oem copy of vista home premium is going to add $110 so ...

 

[TossedSalad]

Okay, I just learned that the absolute maximum he can spend (shipping included) is $600.00. Any suggestions on where I should start downgrading? I was thinking of knocking the ram down to 512MB x 2 and graphics card down to a 7300GT.
EDIT: I'd like to point out that he has the OS covered.

 

[Sdiver2489]

I would downgrade the proc to a 4400

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115014

 

[TossedSalad]

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
I would downgrade the proc to a 4400

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115014

Did so, and also downgraded to a 7300GT. This should be fine.

 

[Sdiver2489]

Originally posted by: TossedSalad

Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
I would downgrade the proc to a 4400

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115014

Did so, and also downgraded to a 7300GT. This should be fine.

is he going to game at all? If so I would consider buying 1 gig of DDR2(not 2x 512) and keeping some of that money in at least a decent graphics card

 

[imported_flounder]

Originally posted by: TossedSalad
Hi, my friend just let me know he purchased a prebuilt computer from newegg for $599.99.
Here's the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16883102017

He's on a budget, ~$600.00, and once I found out he ordered this (just earlier today), I made a build myself. EDIT: I've edited this post a few times, making the appropriate fixes. Here's the specs:

COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $39.99, $29.99 after mail-in rebate.

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Rev. 3.3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard Retail - $114.99

GIGABYTE GV-NX73T256P-RH GeForce 7300GT 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $77.99, $67.99 after mail-in rebate

FSP Group (Fortron Source) ATX350-PA, version 2.2 RoHS, SATA, 350W Power Supply - OEM - $29.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E4400 - Retail - $139.00

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model F2-4200PHU2-2GBNT - Retail - $79.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $64.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S OEM BK - OEM - $32.99

Subtotal: $579.93, $559.93 after mail-in rebates.

Looks great imo. Obviously gaming at this price point suffers but it will still be significantly faster than the integrated 6 series graphics he as. Good choice on 2gig of ram also.

Psu will have to be upgraded if he plans on ocing or getting a new gpu but since it appears he won't be able to upgrade any time soon it will be fine.

Also, what is "NVIDIA Quadro NVS 210S", I have never heard of it

 

[TossedSalad]

Thanks a lot guys, particularly Sdiver2489. You've been a great help.

 

[magreen]

I see he's not going to OC, since you're getting DDR2 533 memory. In that case, the DS3 mobo is extra money you don't need to spend. Get a 945P motherboard that runs great at stock speeds for about $60. Or since you're anyway comparing to a prebuilt box that has integrated graphics, then get a 945G miniATX mobo with integrated graphics, and save on the graphics card. Then you don't have to sacrifice the 2Gb of ram.

 

[Sdiver2489]

Originally posted by: magreen
I see he's not going to OC, since you're getting DDR2 533 memory. In that case, the DS3 mobo is extra money you don't need to spend. Get a 945P motherboard that runs great at stock speeds for about $60. Or since you're anyway comparing to a prebuilt box that has integrated graphics, then get a 945G miniATX mobo with integrated graphics, and save on the graphics card. Then you don't have to sacrifice the 2Gb of ram.

He wasn't going to sacrifice the ram

 

[magreen]

Ok, he was going to sacrifice something. Anyway, it's money he doesn't need to spend.

 

[TossedSalad]

My friend just got the system up and running, and he's very happy with it. Thanks everyone.