UPDATED: Please evaluate this $880 build (for my father-in-law)

[davidc]

After seeing my system that I just built (E8400@4.1GHz, 880GTS 512, Abit IP35-Pro, etc, etc) my father-in-law wants me to build him a "scaled down" computer for him.

I know how to put together a mid-high end system but I'm not as confident in these lower end components.

What do you guys think? :

[strike]Intel Pentium E2180 Allendale 2.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052[/strike]

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103751

[strike]GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059[/strike]

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-DS3 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX All Solid Capacitor AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128081

[strike]EVGA GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130085[/strike]

XFX PVT88SFDF4 GeForce 8800GS 384MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150275

Antec NeoPower 550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103941

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (overkill but he like the lights on mine, lol)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Crucial Ballistix 4GB (4 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116204

Total Cost: [strike]$810[/strike] $880 before MIRs

UPDATE: Took advice of thread and moved to AMD / 8800GS based on benchmarks, etc.

Thoughts on new build?

 

[Silverion77]

are u going to overclock it?

Also, what does he want to do? Game, surf the internet, movies, etc?

 

[davidc]

I'll probably OC it a bit (w/o telling him ) but not enough to need a HSF. I've read the 2180 is a great OCer.

He does mostly internet, email, office apps. No vid editing or FPS games. Some older RTS games and kids play WoW over there some times.

 

[Silverion77]

Get the E2160 instead of the 80. The E2180 seems to be very power hungry and has a limit at a FSB of 300 .

Otherwise that build seems fine for his needs. I would say to upgrade that GPU because the 8600's suck, but its not required

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Also, might consider AMD if not doing too much overclocking, maybe a little more bang for the buck. Also, newegg has the 8800 gs for 149.99 I think, which I think you'd find would be a lot nicer card.

Also since it's a budget build, maybe Antec Earthwatts 500 watt PSU would be decent and save 15-20 bucks.


Maybe like this....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138102

Biostar AMD AM2+ board, 79.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103751

AMD Athlon 4600+ x2 71.99

Memory 2x2 GSkill PC6400(4 gb) 84.99


8800 gs 320 mb video card 149.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150275

How about this for a case? Never heard of the brand, but similar light setup to the Antec, and it's only 40 bucks...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811240002

Here's another case, I like this one maybe better than the other...But it's 65 vs the 40.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144151



So there are a few options for you to shave off some cash.

 

[g-paw]

Agree AMD would be the way to go. This mobo is more expensive but better quality than the BIOSTAR. The Antec Sonata III is a nice case with a good PSU. I'd stay away from cheap PSUs. I'd think twice about overclocking give you'll be support if anything happens. ADATA makes good RAM if you're not seriously overclocking. Given waht he's doing not sure he'll really need 4GB of RAM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128081
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129024
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211166

 

[amd_fanboi]

go with AMD if you're going for a low end CPU at stock... apparently they're better or cheaper; can't remember which

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Cheaper, good performance at stock as well. Also, I run my machine with 2gb of ram, and it's fast. I think 2gb would be fine, can always add more later.

 

[englandr753]

Shift the cost of the extra 2 gigs of ram into the video card upgrade, for sure...

 

[Noya]

READ PEOPLE, HE DOESN'T GAME!!!!

An 8400gs/8500gt would be fine.

 

[englandr753]

He does game some, just not high end gaming, yet. Games are evolving and if you are spending 800.00 period on something then you want it in your CPU and video card along with good quality components.

Just a suggestion to future proof for when Solitare fully utilizes multi core cpus and direct x 10...

 

[orangegator]

Looks good. Here's what I'd change.
1. Get the Samsung 500gb hd. Better benchmarks and reviews.
2. Get 2x2gb ram. If you're going to Vista 64, you might as well have 4gb
3. Get an Arctic cooling Freezer 7 Pro Heatsink, or similar or better and overclock the cpu to 3.0Ghz. Should be able to get it rock stable at this speed and still be nice and cool.

Video card looks ok for price and use. But if he doesn't game at all, you could get a fanless 8400gs for $35. If he does game a good amount, get a better card.

 

[davidc]

/bump because of updated components.

 

[orangegator]

For the same price as the amd build, you can get an e2160, DS3L, and ACF7P ($22.71shipped from ewiz) and overclock it. It will kick that amd systems butt. However, if you don't intend to overclock, then amd will give you the best value.

 

[zenmaster]

You don't even eed an after market cooler for the E2160.
It will do 3.0 to 3.2Ghz w/o a problem on Stock Cooling.

Some 3.3 and 3.4 is possible on stock as well, but it would likely run warm.

 

[troymscott]

for a little bit more money you could look at the newer 9600 GT vid cards. Specs look a little better than that of the 8800 GS. Just a thought.