I'm back from Dell Hell and I need a computer

[MattRiddle]

Well, I thought I had the best computer for the price from Dell and then it got delayed, and delayed, and then canceled. I didn't even have any say so in it's cancellation. Oh well. I'm looking to build the same computer or better for the same price or cheaper. Here are the specs of the Dell computer:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 5000+
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 4DIMMs
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT-DDR3
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
48X CD-RW/ DVD Combo Drive

All together, with the case and everything was $809 (after $350 rebate from Dell offer).

I want to build this computer (the entire thing, case, fans, everything included) for the same price if not cheaper. If we can get a better motherboard and processor or video card, let's do it. If not, that's fine too.

Any help is SOOOOO appreciative after the hell I've been through.

Matt

 

[WR2]

Does that include a monitor of any type?
Also what do you plan to use the system for? That 8600GT is pretty weak for gaming.
My neighbor ordered a Dell Inspiron 530 last Thursday and it was delivered yesterday. I was over to watch him set it up and he was up & running in a hour (which included a long peek inside the case). His was $825 with shipping and a pretty nice 20" widescreen monitor.

 

[MattRiddle]

It was without a monitor. I don't need a monitor.

I used an online calculator for the ut3 game and I imput the computers stats and it said I would be able to run the game on high graphics. So I was happy with that.

My computer was a Dell Inspiron 531.

Is there anyway to get the a full computer (w/o monitor) with the hardware above for the same price? Or better hardware even?

 

[WR2]

Should be no problem working up a better system since you don't need a monitor. No reason not to look at that tasty ATI 3850 video card its not that much more expensive than the 8600GT. You never know what game you'll be playing next year.

 

[MattRiddle]

Since I am totally clueless on where to begin...where should we begin? I need all the pieces to a computer? I can see where to buy a video card, a processor, motherboard, memory, and case, but does the fans and heatsinc and cables come with all that? Or do I need to buy all that seperately?

 

[WR2]

Just to get you started look over the article @ Anandtech
Its a budget builders guide to AMD and Intel systems.
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3148

 

[MattRiddle]

She lists this as a budget gaming PC:

AMD Athlon X2 5000+ $110
Biostar TForce TF570SLI $88
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 PC2-6400 $90
PNY GeForce 8800GT 512MB PCI-e 2.0 HDCP $260
Samsung SpinPoint T Series HD321KJ 320GB 16MB 7200RPM SATA 3.0GB/s $75 -
Samsung 20X DVDRW/DL SH-S202G $28
APEX TU150 Black Steel ATX with 400W $59
Acer 20" AL2016WBbd 5ms Widescreen DVI(1680 x 1050) $200
Logitech X-530 70W RMS 5.1 $55
Logitech LX-710 Laser Black USB $55
Microsoft Vista Home Premium OEM $112
$1132

I don't need the speakers or monitor, and I'd rather not get Vista yet, so that saves $367, and the final total is $765

Would the above (minus the parts I don't need) be worth the $765?

 

[monsterrocks]

Yes, but do NOT use the included power supply, trust me. Get a good PCP&C or Corsair; it's worth the extra money for a a stable, safe computer. Running a tier 4 PSU could cause huge damage to components...

 

[rockyjohn]

If you do not get Vista, what operating system will you use and have you added that in to the price?
For PSU I would suggest this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007
Antec Earthwatts 500W energy efficient power supply on sale for only $35 after rebate - with free shipping. A better, larger, more efficient unit for a lower price.

 

[MattRiddle]

I went on newegg and came up with the following list of items:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADX6000CZBOX
$159.99

BIOSTAR TForce TF570SLI AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
$87.99

Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT12864AA80E
$67.99

PNY VCG86GTS5XWB-OC GeForce 8600GTS 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
$209.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$69.99

Rosewill TU-155 Black 0.8mm SGCC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 400W Power Supply
$44.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack
$89.99

Antec earthwatts EA500 ATX12V v2.0 500W Power Supply
$74.99

Total: $833.75

I went with a better processor since I want this computer to last as long as it can. I didn't need Vista and XP Home will do. I got the extra power supply (500W over 400W). I found a cool tower (hopefully it works). The video card I wanted was sold out so I got another one.

If I order the items above, will I have everything I need to build a computer? (cords, fans, etc)?

 

[MattRiddle]

Looks like I need a heatsinc for the processor and the gluey stuff for the area between the two items. So I added the below to the items:

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
$19.99

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
$5.99

Not to expensive.

Any other items needed? Will the case come with fans? I'm guessing the hard drive will come with the cord to hook it up to the motherboard with.

 

[WR2]

The retail boxed Athlon 64 X2 6000+ comes with the stock AMD heatsink fan and thermal compound.
You can easily do without the AS5 and AC Freezer 64 Pro HSF. If you DO think you might want to overclock the CPU then the upgraded thermal compound and HSF make sense.

The Rosewill case looks nice and it will hold everything fine. It only comes with 1x80mm fan though. I'd suggest 1x80mm fan for the front of the case - Rosewill 80mm case fan $5 with speed cntrl
More info about that case: Rosewill TU-155 case

That video card 8600GTS @ that $210 price is a big Uhh Ohhhhh! For the SAME price (or $10 more after rebate) you can get a XFX 8800GT 256MB The OC model is just $10 more after rebate. Much more powerful GPU.
It's roughly 1.5-2x as powerful as the 8600GTS. (ps- grab it quick)

All the rest looks OK if you already have keyboard, mouse and DVD.
The motherboard and PSU will have all the Sata data and power cables.

 

[MattRiddle]

I added a $12 DVD drive (they are so cheap now). The total comes to $878. Not too over my original budget. Here are the items:

Rosewill TU-155 Black 0.8mm SGCC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 400W Power Supply - Retail
$44.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$69.99
BIOSTAR TForce TF570SLI AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
$87.99
XFX PVT88PUDF4 GeForce 8800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
$209.99
ASUS Beige E-IDE/ATAPI CD-ROM Drive Model CD-S520B
$11.99
Antec earthwatts EA500 ATX12V v2.0 500W Power Supply
$74.99
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
$5.99
Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT12864AA80E
$67.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADX6000CZBOX
$159.99
Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B 1 Pack
$89.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
$19.99

Is that all I need to make the entire computer?

 

[MattRiddle]

I took out the heatsinc and gluey stuff and put in another fan of the size you mentioned. It's all blue and cool. LOL

Is that all I need? Does the motherboard have the right slot for the video card? Processor too?

 

[WR2]

Motherboard and CPU are both AM2 - you're good to go.
Motherboard and GPU are both PCI-e - you're good to go and even add a 2nd 8800GT for SLI if you ever need it.
The PSU will power everything including a 2nd 8800GT if you even think you need the 2nd GPU.

I'd make a grab for the Video Card right now. It wont last long.
Here is a review of both XFX cards.
http://firingsquad.com/hardware/xfx_geforce_8800_gt_256mb_xxx_review/default.asp

 

[WR2]

Hmmmmmmm I'd go for a DVD drive instead of CD - a lot of newer games only come on DVD.

 

[Wolfshadw]

The Power supply comes with all the cables needed to provide power to the motherboard (which powers the CPU, graphics card, and RAM) as well as all your peripherals (Optical and Hard Disk drives, case fans, graphics card, etc).

The case has cables/wires for connecting the front USB ports, audio ports, power/hdd activity lights and power/reset buttons.

The Motherboard will come with all the necessary interconnecting cables (SATA/IDE) for connecting the drives to it.

One thing I noted is that you say you added a $12.00 DVD drive, but in your list, you have a $11.99 CD-ROM drive (and EIDE at that). I would very seriously consider spending the extra $15-$25 to upgrade that to a Combo Drive that reads both DVDs and CDs and writes to CDs. It should also have a SATA interface.

This one will do.

-Wolf sends

 

[Gundam1s]

May as well get the Crucial Tracer ones. imo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148076

 

[MattRiddle]

Wow, I thought that was a DVD rom. Okay, so I changed that. I changed my memory to the crucial one too.

I need to buy the video card now? I read about it being hard to get online. Maybe I should.

 

[WR2]

There arent a lot of 8800GT/256MB models out at the moment so they will go fast. Even if you dont order the rest right awat - I'd grab the video card you want right now.

 

[MattRiddle]

Okay, well I'm going to grab all the items minus the windows xp disc now. I have the money for that and will have the money for the xp disc when I get my next check (tomorrow).

If anybody sees any problems, please speak now or rest in peace...

 

[Shadow703793]

@OP: Welcome from Dell Hell

I recommend that you drop the X2 6000+ and get a E6550 or better (or lower if willing to OC). Also go with a DS3x (P35 chip set recommended) like the P35-DS3L. The new Intel chips OC very well even the low end CPUs can gain substantial performance gains from a relatively easy OC. If you don't believe me look below:

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=ftenwyjdddn&thumb=4
http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=dodzmgtgxlw&thumb=4

Plus, the way the way AMD is going right now is not good....(K10 any one?http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/f...rint=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0)

Later when money permits you can upgrade to a Quad core. (Q6600 is selling at $280 now and will be cheaper by mid of next year)

 

[MattRiddle]

I will think about that, when I have money again.

I just ordered all the items minus the xp cd. $788 after shipping. Looking forward to building a computer for the first time. Take all that experience I have with installing video cards and hard drives to the next level.

Thanks guys (and gals) for all your help! Dell Hell is over and now I'm in Hardware Heaven!

 

[WR2]

Give us an update and let us know how things go.

 

[lghtmup98]

Good luck with you're first build! Looks like a good setup. You should be happy.