Under a budget...What can i cut down for this new build?

[naknak]

I've never built a computer before, so this is my first one. I'm getting into researching various parts online and some stuff look really awesome... and I want it all... Unfortunetly I have a budget, so I really need to get a machine that I need rather than a machine that I want *siGh*

So what I mainly use it for is multi-tasking between CPU intensive programs for work (mainly used for data analysis and modeling)

In my spare time, I'd like to edit videos, watch movies, watch/record TV, draw with my wacom...play some RPGs...live the good computer life.

I have mouse, keyboard, CD/DVD burner, sound card (sound blaster live...i think?), monitor (47" DVI input 1080p)...and that's about it. I think I even have a floppy drive....

What I still need/want to get:
CPU: E6600 (or Q6600 after 7/22) -- $250
Motherboard: Not sure yet...but i give it $250ish ?
Memory 2GB: $200
Harddrives 200GB: $150
Power supply 400W : $100
Video Card: 8800 GTS (320 MB): $300
Tower: ? The P182SE looks amazing and it'll look super cute my room...but it's also 250 *falls over from the cost* Though the P180 Silver looks nice...but i don't know if it has that mirror finish the SE has...

1250 + Tower cost... 8O

that's about 250+Towercost over my budget

Are there any suggestions where I can cut down the cost to about 900 ish 1k ish?

 

[Daredevil_8]

Motherboard: $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200280 107172277&bop=And&Order=PRICE

PSU: Dont know..Try to get a 500w+ for about that price though.

Memory: $95 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034

Harddrives: 2x$70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144701

CPU: E6600 for $224
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115003

Thats over $200 saved already.

 

[naknak]

ok...ball parking this again...

CPU: E6600 (or Q6600 after 7/22) -- $224
Motherboard: $200ish ?
Memory 2GB: $100
Harddrives 200GB: $140
Power supply 400W : $100
Video Card: 8800 GTS (320 MB): $300
Tower: ?

1064 + Tower cost...(i *really really* think the p182se antec is amazing...which is 250 dollars )

Should I get a lower end video card? 8800GTS costs more than my CPU *yikes*

 

[haywood]

Case - Thermaltake Armor or Armor Jr. Both nice cases, I got my Armor Jr for under $100 from case-mod.com. Either would be big enough for you.

 

[scryer_360]

Unless you want to later SLI the thing, I would not buy a $200 MOBO. And if you were to do SLI, then for a decent board, one that will run both in x16 instead of x8 mode, it'd be more than $200 anyway.

Try this one:
$95 MOBO that does what you need
Its a 650i, which is considered reliable across the board, costs $100, and has plenty of connectivity. Also it supports up to a 1333 FSB, so if you want to do some overclocking or you will later get a new Bearlake processor, then it has some upgrade paths open. There is no Firewire support, but I havent heard anyone but myself cry about that.

Next for a 200 GB harddrive, you dont need to spend $140. Take this:
250 gig harddrive for $63

Next the power supply. OMG. That is way to little power, and you will need to spend some money here. But wait, $100? For a 400W PSU? Psshhh:
Mushkin PSU for less
Right now its only $70. 550W with 2 12 volt rails at 20 amps. That will run the system (note: unless you want SLI. But again if you go SLI, then for a good MOBO its going to be over $200, and the PSU? $130 for a good one, roughly).

2 gigs of memory for $100? Again, to much.
Corsair XMS2 2 gigs, for $70

As for the case, I agree all your choice looks wonderful, but for us budget people, nothing beats spending $20:
Its Glossy black, so it will look good, and it has a blue LED!

So lets total this up:
E6600: $224
MOBO: $95
Memory:$70 (good memory too! has C4 latency! since you wont be running a 400 Megahertz FSB, you dont need DDR2 800)
Harddrive: $63
PSU: $70
Video Card: $284 (did I forget to mention that? here you are:8800GTS for less than $300)

So the total cost is: $806. You already have your CD/DVD Burner, Sound card will probably trump the onboard (which, your SBL will need one of the 3 PCI slots the board has). you could splurge an extra $100 for a 2900xt HD from Radeon, and get HDMI output for your 47" screen to work with.

 

[scryer_360]

ARGH does anyone else have Joe's cover of "when He cheats" stuck in their head?!?!?!?

 

[naknak]

i have both Joe's cover and the original one stuck in my head gahhhhhh!!!!

Thanks everyone! I think I have a good list of the parts I need. (I don't know what SLI is so i probably won't do it ^_^; ) Maybe if i'm lucky...i might splurge on that mirror tower =D it's too purty!

Are there any compatilibility issues I should look out for when I go through these specs? I was just talking to a friend and he was saying something that various brands of memory may conflict with the motherboard etc...gotten me quite worried =)

This site is like a maze...but i dunno, the more i randomly click on things, the more i find out...it's almost like wikipedia @_@.

Oh...another question...for the E6600 vs the Q6600...my room is usually hot..people don't believe in AC in the middle of 80 degree weather...would the Q6600 be a bad idea...or should i invest some time in some nitrogen cooling system or something @_@... I remember my last computer was my heater through the winter...saved a lot on electricity during the cold nights...but doesn't seem that great during the summer @_@

 

[prof_chaos]

I would go with the Q6600 on July 22nd

CPU: Q6600 - $266
Motherboard: GA 965P DS3 - $130
Memory: 2GB PC2 6400 - $100
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 320GB - $80
PSU: 500W - $50 - newegg
GPU: 8800GTS 320MB - $250
Case: Antec P180 - $130

Total = 1,000.
Some of your prices are pretty insane. I suggest you try www.newegg.com. Their prices will be up to %50 better than in store at times and it's more convenient.

Edit: Liquid nitrogen cooling might be a bit of overkill. :lol: Air cooling will be fine. As for your room temperatures I suggest you open a window.

 

[naknak]

I was just kiddin about the nitrogen cooling...tho it would be pretty awesome.

Looked up what SLI is...it sounds pretty awesome IF i knew how to do it. I think baby steps for now...and maybe one day (if i don't fry anything)...i'll pimp my box...

dang those prices are lot lower than the estimates I got from the dude who I usually buy parts from... 8O...

How hard is it to set everything up? I've been searching through the website looking for a guide on how to configure bios, etc...and my co-worker keeps talking about RAID thing which I don't know if it's a good idea or not. Is there such a guide?