Budget Gaming - First Build

[MattJD]

I liked the rig from System Builder Marathon, Day One. However, I'm hoping to be able to upgrade the rig for 3 years and am willing to spend a bit more on the motherboard to allow for that.

I plan to use an old video card until I can buy a DX10 card in the fall. Only other preferences were 8GB of RAM on the mobo, and a firewire port. Please let me know if there are any bad ideas in this list.


Mobo: MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130081

Processor - Intel C2D E4300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

RAM - 2x1 GB DDR2 800 Wintec AMPX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820161229

HD - Western Digital 160GB from article
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136075

PSU - 400W Fortron from article
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817104953

DVD - Samsung DVD-R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151141

 

[gators1223]

I would say that if you are really going to upgrade the graphics card then it would be worth your monney to get a better power supply

 

[goldragon_70]

I would say that if you are really going to upgrade the graphics card then it would be worth your monney to get a better power supply

Agreed

 

[coldmast]

SLI board
with 400W PSU?

are you upgrading your old case as well?

and your going running a 64 bit-OS?

over clocking the the E4300?

BETTER BADDER PSU!
SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-650HT ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC - Retail
Antec is using SeaSonic to manufacture it's new earthwatts PSUs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151028

Enermax
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194004

 

[StringCheesian]

People will recommend ridiculously highly rated power supplies you don't need because they've had too much experience with power supplies that are literally overrated - with the crappier brands it takes a 450W power supply to power a 300W system. You won't have this problem with reputable manufacturers like Antec, Seasonic, Fortron, etc.

The 400W Fortron should be fine for the hardware you listed. It can easily handle one budget-midrange video card. You'll need more if the DX10 card you buy is as power hungry as an Radeon X2900 or a GeForce 8800, or maybe if you do SLI depending on the cards.

Here's a good guide for figuring out how many watts you actually need:
http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php

 

[MattJD]

Thanks for the posts everyone. The calculations on StringCheesian's linked site show I'd be fine with 450W, and is still easy on the wallet:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103937

I've also decided to go with the Gigabyte 965P S3 mobo that's recommended a few times on the forum:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

New case, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119094

Over-clocking is a strong possibility in the future, but not at first. Any issues with this build?

 

[MattJD]

Also, is it an issue that the chipset only supports 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 timing? I think this will still handle anything I throw at it, short of new games at high-res. Is this a reason to go with another board though?

 

[alcattle]

that chipset will work with most RAM. You don't need to O/C the RAM with a 650i, only the FSB

 

[MattJD]

Thanks Big Al. I'm going with a MSI 6PN 650i @ $120, or the open box at Platinum version at $114. Is buying an open box a bad idea for a first time builder? I know the manuals are available online and don't see any drawbacks to it.

I'm also considering this AMD build because it has onboard video, or I can get a video card and still be at about the same price point. Any thoughts?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 Processor - $69

JetWay JM26GTM-3SP Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Motherboard - Retail - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813153055

 

[Gary_Busey]

If you're looking to game, that onboard video won't cut it.

 

[MattJD]

Not even for an old game? I only play BF2 now and would buy newer games once I get a video card later.


I'm down to these two open box 650i boards. Both seem comparable, but the ASUS is quad core compatible. Any other budget recs are welcome.

MSI P6N SLI-FI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130082R

ASUS P5N-E SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142R

 

[MattJD]

Not even for an old game? I only play BF2 now and would buy newer games once I get a video card later.


I'm down to these two open box 650i boards. Both seem comparable, but the ASUS is quad core compatible. Any other budget recs are welcome.

MSI P6N SLI-FI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130082R

ASUS P5N-E SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142R

 

[MattJD]

Not even for an old game? I only play BF2 now and would buy newer games once I get a video card later.


I'm down to these two open box 650i boards. Both seem comparable, but the ASUS is quad core compatible. Any other budget recs are welcome.

MSI P6N SLI-FI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130082R

ASUS P5N-E SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142R

 

[Gary_Busey]

You could possibly get playable framerates in BF2 if you put the resolution to the lowest and turned off eye candy and shadows. At the very least, I'd suggest a 7600GT which still isn't a stellar performer, but would suit your needs. Here's one for $90 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

Another good budget card would be this X1950Pro, for $135 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161060

 

[Gary_Busey]

You could possibly get playable framerates in BF2 if you put the resolution to the lowest and turned off eye candy and shadows. At the very least, I'd suggest a 7600GT which still isn't a stellar performer, but would suit your needs. Here's one for $90 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

Another good budget card would be this X1950Pro, for $135 after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161060

 

[MattJD]

Alright, here's the current build. It's a bit more than I wanted to spend, but allows me to upgrade for a few years. Anywhere I can cut costs and still be able to have a serviceable rig with upgrades for 3-4 years?

Mobo - ASUS P5N SLI-E SLI 650i (Open Box)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142R

CPU - C2D E4300 Allendale 1.8 GHz, 2Mb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115013

RAM - G.Skill 2x1 GB, DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231098

Video Card - reuse from old system for a few months

HD - WD Cavair 160GB, 7200 RPM (could buy larger, but this is well rated)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136075

PSU - Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103937

Case - Coolermaster Centurion 532
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119094

 

[Eurasianman]

Honestly, if you can hold out, wait for the P35 to hit the market. It'll give you a better "3 year upgarde" track.

Also might want to rethink about the power supply and case.

Don't ever skimp out on the power supply. I've read bad things about the "SmartPower" power supplies from Antec. You're better off either with the TruePower II or a different PSU... preferrably around 600 WATTS :?

The case... that's a personal choice, but it seems that graphics cards aren't getting any smaller. Might want to find a case that can handle long graphics cards in case one day you wake up and feel like buying an 8800GTX or something :tongue:

Everything else should be adequate enough for your build.

Once again, the new Intel chipsets are around the corner (as in coming to the market). I'd suggest you wait a few. At the end of the summer, you can get a Quad Core (future proof) for around $270

 

[MattJD]

I'll be living off student loans in the fall, so I need to buy now while cash flow is still in the positive direction. Overclocking will have to work.

Interesting point on the cases, I hadn't realized that. How do I judge if the case will fit the longer video cards being brought to market? I've just been matching the mother board, making sure it had enough chassis slots, and assuming everything else fit.

 

[gators1223]

it will fit now but as for growing room for video cards i would say get a mid tower that is 20 or more inches deep

 

[alcattle]

never know about open box, Newegg is good but will you get all the cables that come in a retail box? Depends on the savings I guess.

 

[MattJD]

Alright, I'll stay away from open box for my first build. I'm going with the popular Gigabyte GA-965P, but can't decide on the DS3 or S3. The only differnence seems to be the lack of LPT and S/PDIF on the DS3 board, but don't think I need them. Any reason to choose either?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

Noted the IDE connectors and will likely reuse my old hard drive at first to keep the cost down.

Thanks for the case measurement, but I'll stick with the Centurion to save money, and hope being within 1/2 inch of the 20" mark is good enough.

 

[MattJD]

Thanks for the help everyone. I ordered the parts yesterday and am looking forward to building my first pc. Time to go research the bios setup.

 

[jaedaddy]

shame i couldnt find this post sooner... there was a reliable 600w ps that was free ar on a while ago... woulda helped ya in the wallet and elsewhere

jae
mlb

 

[MattJD]

No problem. I paid a bit extra to get the 520W Corsair psu because it's so well reviewed, and will handle any upgrades later.