$300 budget Build. Need suggestions.

[Synovia]

Okay, my graphics card just burned out, and I'm not buying another AGP card, so it looks like I need to rebuild.

I've got a nice case, and a 500w powersupply that has 18A on the 12v. Will this be enough for this build?

Chip:
Pentium D 805 65.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116249

Mobo:
GA-965P-S3 99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128017

Ram:
1gb DDR2 800 Patriot ram 59.99 (after $10 MIRB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220088

HDD
WD Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB 52.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144415

Graphics Card
MSI GeForce 6600 128mb 37.99 (after $15 MIRB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127192



Any suggestions? Am I missing anythign here?

 

[jeff_2087]

Decent budget build that's ready to upgrade but what else is in your old computer? Maybe some of it could be reused. I assume you're intending to upgrade to a Core 2 at some point, because otherwise you could get a cheaper and faster AMD setup.

 

[chief5286]

What he said.


Oh, don't know if you'd be interested, but I have a 6600gt I could sell you for around the same price as the one you're looking at. Much better card all around. And from what I hear, they OC like a champ. Just a thought.

 

[conroe]

The 3600+ and Biostar Tforce 550 combo is $22 cheaper. Either way you need to get a heat sink too. Newegg seems to be gouging bad on LGA 775 HSF.
$60 For Freezer7pro? http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50002107&Description=freezer%20pro&name=ARCTIC%20COOLING
$65 for Toniq Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154001
$22 for Freezer7pro http://www.svc.com/acfzp7.html
$53 for Toniq Tower http://www.svc.com/tuniq.html
I don't understand why the Freezer pro could be almost three times as much?

 

[Synovia]

Decent budget build that's ready to upgrade but what else is in your old computer? Maybe some of it could be reused. I assume you're intending to upgrade to a Core 2 at some point, because otherwise you could get a cheaper and faster AMD setup.

1333 mhz Athlon TBird
2gb PC133 Ram
40gb ATA133 7200rpm HDD
ATI Radeon 9800 (burned out....fan died and chip cooked itself)
Abit KT7A-Raid Mobo


So maybe the HDD is useful, but pretty much nothing else. I'm trying to stay Intel at this point, because they seem to have the cleaner upgrade path. IE the C2D is a better chip than the FX. AMD may have something in the future that beats the C2D/C2Q, but I've got no guarantee of that, and no guarantee that it'll stay on the same formfactor.

I tried to stay cheap on the VC because I'd rather buy something cheap, and then buy a budget version card after DirectX10 compliancy becomes widespread. I figure the chip will probably get replace in a year or two.

 

[Synovia]

Just found this guy for another $10


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143084

better option?

 

[chief5286]

Like I said, the 6600gt is a much better card. If you can pick one up for $10 more, do it.

 

[phyodabomb]

If you're looking at $300 right now, what is the possibility of you upgrading it to an uber machine in the near future. Reason I ask is that Intel builds tend to be a bit more expensive than AMD and especially in the lower end arena, I don't know if they will be worth the price for what you may want to do. Certainly, a $300 PC will not be a great gaming machine nor a workstation. So my suggestion is to stick to AMD but yes, I know, we can go on with the AMD vs. Intel argument for infinity. Here's my suggestion for a $300 build.

Use your case that you mentioned. Most cases/PSU for the following build.

Instead of your CPU and mobo, I'd use this.

Biostar TForce 550 Socket AM2 + AMD x2 3600+ combo
$135

And I would go for a slightly better card than what you mentioned.

I got my 7600GS for VERY CHEAP cuz of the rebate; $70 but I don't know if it's still available. If not, I'd get the 7300GT $70

That's the best recommendation I have for you for that price range.

 

[Synovia]

:"If you're looking at $300 right now, what is the possibility of you upgrading it to an uber machine in the near future."

I'm not worried about the near future. The Pentium D will be a huge upgrade over what I have now. I'm worried about 2 years down the road, when AMD is most likely on a different platform, and I can pick up a C2D, or better for $50.

 

[enforcerfx]

Keep what you have for motherboard and processor right now. Prices dont get much better than that. As for your video card, try this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814153030

Defintely worth the extra bucks, and is a hell of a lot better than a vanilla 6600.

Everything else looks good. Good luck

 

[Synovia]

How does that compare to the 6600GT at $49?


Also, has ATI improved their drivers any? I play around alot, and I remember my 9800 being an absolute pain to get running in Linux, as compared to the old Geforce 2mx card I had.

 

[runswindows95]

2 years down the road? Better off saving the money and building a new machine at that point. The way the rumors and facts of all the new hardware and even software coming out within the next two years, even the C2D's will be replaced by something. I mean Intel is already talking about 45nm chips!

 

[Synovia]

Again, I'm not a super power gamer anymore. I just need to be able to run common applications, run simple games, and compile code.

The last machine was built in 2001/2002, and I'd still be using it if a component didnt go. The only reason I'm replacing it is because essentially every single component in the machine is of an architecture that is no longer available. Its still fast enough to do pretty much everything I do on a daily basis.

I'm not worried that in 2 years I'll wanna junk it.

 

[fensus]

Good idea to go budget now tho, cause everythings gonna be replaced with new stuff in a year http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/31408/135/

8 cores 12mb l2 cache.. i cant wait