Trying to get the cost of a new build down

[nge123]

OK, I have been trying to get the cost of a new system build down as low as I can, while still having a gaming rig configuration that will last me till September or beyond.

I plan on upgrading often, and I am really looking at the new sockets coming out in the later half of the year, so anything that I pickup now and can use with the new sockets will be a big plus.

Because I will be getting a new socket MB, and processor in year or so, I really want to save money on them as much as I can now, but still be able to play new games that are coming out in this year.

COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119106

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059&Tpk=P35-DS3L

Corsair VX 550W Power Supply - CMPSU-550VX $67.99
http://www.buy.com/prod/Corsair-VX-550W-Power-Supply/q/loc/101/205852646.html

Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227231

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive – OEM $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148140

SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1(DC 3000:1) – Retail $319.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824001096

SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner – OEM $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151153

What I want to do is to build something that I can upgrade as I feel and over-clock to extend its performance.

Also I am trying to keep cost down on this, to justify building something that won’t be around for long. Basically right now I have a 2003 21" G5 iMac, and I am moving over to PC in order to be able to upgrade for today’s software and further down the road. So I need everything that it takes to put a system together, except Vista, I have that thanks to the university I attend.

Also as a specific question, the case I have picked out contains a power supply, or I can get the same case without the power for about $10 less, so in the interest of saving money, could I just run with the built in one and not be making a serious mistake? I tried for several hours to learn about power supplies, but I just am not getting it, a more personal explanation might help.

Any advice and help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[Shadow703793]

Unless you need RAID get a P35-DS3L. The RAM is very good but if you want to keep the price down go with some Corsair XMS RAM (2*1GB). (they had it for $25 after MIR @ newegg.). If you are willing to OC you can go by with a E21xx until you can upgrade.

 

[Shadow703793]

I plan on upgrading often, and I am really looking at the new sockets coming out in the later half of the year, so anything that I pickup now and can use with the new sockets will be a big plus.

When Nehalm comes out all current Intel CPU upgradability die.

 

[WR2]

What video card will you be using?

About the only areas where I think you can cut costs are the Case/PSU and HSF/Thermal compound.

You'll be able to use the stock Intel HSF for respectable overclocking.

Antec Earthwatts 430W PSU $30 after rebates
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006
CoolerMaster Centurion 5 case $20 after rebates
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

 

[Shadow703793]

^no. That PSU is cr@p. NEVER SKIMP ON THE PSU!

 

[WR2]

The PSU in the case you chose is fairly weak @ 22amps in the +12volt supply which is imporant to for CPU and video card support.

For comparison the Antec Earthwatts 430 I listed has something like 30amps of +12volts.

While the list is not being maintained this list of PSU's ranked by relative quality gives you some idea what people think about Raidmax PSUs for gaming systems: Toms Wiki Tiered PSU Listing

 

[fueled_by_ramen]

You can also save ~$50 by going with an E2160 and OC'ing it. I'm planning a build right now myself and I might go that route instead of the E6550 that I was thinking about.

Everything I've seen and read shows that OC'ing an E2160 or E2180 to 3.0-3.2 GHz is easy even on stock cooling.

Not sure if you were dead set on the 4500...but the only real difference between them is the extra 1 MB cache...which I just don't think is worth it. I was looking at the E6550 which has 4 MB of cache, that's where you miiight see some difference I think. But between 1 MB and 2 MB, it's not a big deal I don't think.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[nhobo]

DS3L $95
CoolerMaster Centurion case $45
budget RAM $45
ACER 22" LCD $220
WD 2500AAKS $70
use OEM cooling (saves $28)

That cuts your budget by more than $200. You're going to need a video card ...

 

[chuckm]

The corsair psu is cheaper here;
http://www.buy.com/prod/Corsair-VX-550W-Power-Supply/q/loc/101/205852646.html
I would not buy that case w/psu that you aren't going to use. This case is better and half the $$$;
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119106
As WR2 said, you need a video card.

 

[nge123]

Wow, great sugestions guys! Thank you very much!

As to video card, I forgot to add that one in,

SAPPHIRE 100222L Radeon HD 2900PRO 512MB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $159.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102717

 

[PsychoFanatic]

Good choice on the vid card though if you wanted you could cut that down to x1950 PRO for about $20 less

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241038

 

[Shadow703793]

@WR2: He has a Corsair 550VX in his list

 

[Shadow703793]

DS3L $95
CoolerMaster Centurion case $45
budget RAM $45
ACER 22" LCD $220
WD 2500AAKS $70
use OEM cooling (saves $28) <== Unless OCing of course the stock cooler should be fine if OCing a little

That cuts your budget by more than $200. You're going to need a video card ...

Agreed. The CM Centrino 5 is @newegg for $20 after MIR.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068&CMP=OTC-RSS&cm_mmc=OTC-RSS-_-Computer+Cases-_-Cooler+Master-_-N82E16811119068

Also I would recomend you get a very cheap graphics card and save up the money and go for the new dual GPU cards or a 8800GT.

 

[nge123]

thanks for the tips guys, I edited the opening post to relect these changes
the only one I didnt adopt was the RAM and the case, I am looking at RAMs right now, any exsact ideas?

So will the RAM, PSU, DVD-R, hard drive, and case be compatible with the new H socket?

 

[nge123]

OK the case kicks butt, and here is a RAM I like, the corsair rebate ends today, and I am not going to order for a few days more, I want to do price comparasions, but

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227231


Also just becuase I don't know should you use Norton with Vista? I remember that Norton was the biggest pain with my last PC, and M$ claims that it isnt needed anymore, just get virus protection.

Is there any other componets or software I really need? I was going to buy a mouse and keyboard for cheap.

 

[Shadow703793]

Thats good RAM. Also look at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565