Yep, need help making a budget PC.

[nisallik]

Ok, I read several of these threads for building a PC under $1000 trying to get an idea on how everything works. The PC machine I am trying to make is a gaming machine. The only problem here is that I have to buy TWO of them, since my wife is an avid gamer and wants something decent as well. =p

So I was wanting to try and build the cheapest PC possible around the Geforce 8800GT.

Please give me tips and more efficient/cheaper builds!

EDIT: I updated my system a little further down in this thread and just changing what it was up here.

PHILIPS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SPD2413BM/17 - OEM $26.99

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

HITACHI Deskstar 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $48.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822145124

EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512MB $239.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130318

Rosewill RP550 ATX V1.3/ EPS12V 550W Power Supply $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817182010

OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227089

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128059

Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116036

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler $26.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186134

TOTAL : $726.91

 

[Gravemind123]

Do not use the power supply that comes with the case. Raidmax is junk for power supplies.

The rest of the system looks pretty good, but if you don't have money to go SLI now, you might as well save the money and buy a P35 chipset motherboard. SLI is not a very good option, as an 8800GT will last you until something better is out for the same price as a second 8800GT will cost you any time in the near future.

As for power supply, look at all these:

Antec NeoPower 500W($50 after $30 mail in rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103940

Corsair VX450W($70 after $10 mail-in-rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

PC Power and Cooling Silencer 470W($75)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703011

Of those 3, the Corsair is going to be the best. They are all of SeaSonic internals, the NeoPower has 38 amps over 3 +12v rails, the Corsair has 33 amps on 1 +12v rail, and the PC Power and Cooling has 26 amps on 1 +12v rail. Of the three listed, I would go with the Antec if you don't want to spend a lot or want modular cabling(a nice feature in my opinion), but the Corsair if you can afford all 3. The PC Power and Cooling is underpowered on the +12v line compared to the other two, so it should only really be considered if you can find it for cheaper elsewhere or want to have the name brand recognition it carries.

 

[akhilles]

NeoPower hands down is the best bang for the buck out of the 3.

Go with P35 if you overclock. P5K, DS3L, IP35-E, etc. Otherwise, anything socket 775 for cheap will do.

 

[mayor_mccheese]

afaik, an overclocked e2160 would do the job for gaming just as well as an e6750, and for half as much.

 

[nisallik]

Ok, I've been doing a lot of editing to what I originally planned.

PHILIPS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SPD2413BM/17 - OEM $26.99

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

HITACHI Deskstar 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $48.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145124

EVGA GeForce 8800GT 512MB $239.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

Rosewill RP550 ATX V1.3/ EPS12V 550W Power Supply $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182010

OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227089

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler $26.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

TOTAL : $726.91

Thanks for the advice on the motherboard and processor, should I switch out the power supply I picked out for one of the ones you guys recommended?

I kept looking around on cases on newegg and I finally found one that everyone seemed to love... It is a little expensive, but I am wanting to OC the ram and the processor. Is that a little overboard going with that case? Pretty funny reviews about the cooling this case puts out. =p

I would love to drop the price a bit more, is there anything else I can do? Would love to have the processor hit 3GHZ and the ram 1000 MHZ, but any recommended changes from some tech gurus would be great! =p

 

[akhilles]

Switch out the psu. Any tier 1/2/3 is good:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088

 

[orangegator]

Get one of the better PSUs mentioned. Get the Antec P182 case for $60AR shipped from newegg using coupon code EMCACAJBH. Great case, great price. You need to subscribe to the newegg newsletter to be able to use the code.
I'd also get different ram. You can easily find 2x1gb 4-4-4-12 ram for the same price or better AR.

 

[chuckm]

Get 2 of these;
http://www.buy.com/prod/Corsair-VX-450w-Power-Supply/q/loc/101/205466485.html

This ram may work better, not had very good luck with OCZ;
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16820145034

If you want ram with Micron chips go with these;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

You could save some more with either of these cases, both have 2X120mm fans;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811147083