My cheap computer!

[psycoshot]

Hey guys,

So I want to get a new computer for Christmas. My budget is around 600$ (Canadian). I use newegg.ca to find things.

Here it is:

CPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103272
GPU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150320
Mobo: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128335
PSU: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
RAM: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145
HD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

So yeah, around 600$ after 50$ case. The thing about the PSU is that I didn't want to cheap out on it. I plan on upgrading my computer as I get more money, things I was thinking about were;
Tri-core AMD
Another HD for (soft)RAID 0
10k RPM HD
The same GPU for SLI.

Cheers,

EDIT: I forgot to mention my uses. I basically want to use this to do some gaming. I want to play games like Fallout 3 and Left4Dead and Company of Heroes. Stuff like that. And I guess new games aswell.

 

[dokk2]

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

this psu is slightly cheaper and probably just as good,wait for the phenom II's
should be very interesting..

 

[psycoshot]

I definitely will wait for the phenom IIs but I don't know what their price will be.

Also for PSU I want to stick to Antec and Corsair brands. Unless anyone else recommends PC Power & Cooling?

 

[marcellis22]

Can't EVER go wrong with PC Power and Cooling...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703017

 

[Shadow703793]

The thing about the PSU is that I didn't want to cheap out on it. I plan on upgrading my computer as I get more money, things I was thinking about were

True. Well done. Unlike some people here you understand that a bad PSU is a time bomb.

@OP: Might want to hold out on buying a Tri-Core as the new X2 7000 might be better or cheaper. Also do you plan to OC? If so consider a better HSF and/or getting a Intel (E5200).

 

[dirtmountain]

Yes, the PC Power and Cooling is a good choice. A very good choice. I would spend an extra $10 to $20 (taking rebates into account) and get a 9600GT or a HD4830 graphic card. Yes a little more $$, but a good step in performance for the 9600GT and a BIG step in performance for the 4830.

 

[psycoshot]

I was going to OC but a HSF would be another upgrade. I don't have much money atm.

About the tri-core, I'd be upgrading that much after the 7000s so no worries then.

I'll look at the 4350 (I am a ATI guy )

And if you guys say so on PC Power and Cooling...

 

[chickeneaterguy]

I bought this mobo and it's been great ever since. Sadly, it's not in stock...but neither is your Gigabyte one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157139

Also, this RAM's cheaper but you may be getting the one you are for the frequency crap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

Lastly, this HDD is a lot cheaper than the one you chose. I bought this one and it works great. Runs cooler than my 2 Western Digitals and has 32mb Cache and transfers faster. Also gets 5.9 in Vista rating but that stuff doesn't matter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

 

[psycoshot]

I check benchmars and WD seems to be faster. It also has much better ratings.

I like frequency crap

And yeah, I'm adjustable with the mobo.

 

[Shadow703793]

Get this RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209


review: http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=3476&p=3

PI 4G DDR2-800 Kit (F26400CL4D4GBPIB) - We are starting to sound like a broken record here by having G.Skill in each of our categories so far, but they do offer compelling price to performance ratios on their products with an added bonus of good customer service and top notch warranties. We had planned to originally recommend the Silver PI series, but just picked up the new Black series a few weeks ago and have been impressed with it. Rated at 4-4-4-12 timings on 1.8V at DDR2-800, this kit features not only excellent timings but a price now at $50. The memory will POST at 5-5-5-15 timings in most boards but spending 30 seconds in the BIOS will get you the rated timings. We ended up with a final speed setting at DDR2-1020 with 5-5-4-15 timings on 2.05V. The sweet spot with our board/CPU combination was at DDR2-900 on 1.95V with 4-4-4-15 timings.

For HDD get the WD 640GB AAKS.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I don't know if you're interested in considering an Intel build. If you are, here's a build that comes in just above your budget:

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072&Tpk=e5200 $103.99

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128347&Tpk=ga-ep43-ds3l $99.99

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $62.55

POWERCOLOR AX4830 512MD3-H Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131129 $137.28 - $25.00 MIR

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300 $62.55

CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003&Tpk=450vx $87.52 - $10.00 MIR

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&Tpk=wd6400aaks $93.99

Total - $647.87 - $35 MIR's = $612.87

 

[psycoshot]

Hmm cool build. I've always been an AMD guy. But really, I've been sorta... meh no clue. Intel seems so be awesome at CORE 2 DUO. I think I'll wait and see how it does with phenom II...

Not so sure about POWERCOLOR brand.. The 4850s are supposed to be way way more powerful than the 4830s. Unless I am getting something mixed up.

Cool RAM find!

Also if I had RAID 0, a 10kRPM and possibly SLI/Crossfire, would 450W be enough?

EDIT: Just want a quick opinion.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102730
vs
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102073

Is it worth the 70$ or should I put that towards an upgrade later? (I know its AGP)

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Just because you've "always been an AMD guy" doesn't mean you shouldn't consider an Intel build. Intel currently makes superior chips. I don't have anything against AMD, I just buy what gets me the most performance at the time. The CPU market is a game of leap-frog. AMD had their time on top, but that ended with the introduction of the Core2Duo chips. AMD hasn't been able to catch up since then. I'm hoping AMD can come out with something great, but until they do I'll be using Intel chips.

No, 450W is not enough for a SLI/crossfire setup. I picked that PSU to keep it as close to budget at possible. That's also the reason I picked that particular GPU.

 

[Shadow703793]

^+1. AMD ruled back in the (socket 939) X2 era, but sadly AMD didn't market very well to the regular user during the X2 era. Many regular users believed a 3Ghz P4 is better than a 2.5Ghz X2.