Best possible 600 dollar system?

[ejdj]

Hey all, I posted a day or two ago in the graphics section concerning a which monitor/graphics card to get, but I've decided this section might be better as I am looking to build my first homebuilt system. My current computer is a laptop with a 15" screen, and I've been looking to upgrade for a while as I enjoy games and use adobe photoshop. Therefore, it would be nice if it was good for both, if possible at that budget. (I've been looking at the 9800 GT for a while, any advice on that card?). Anyways, I was doing a lot of research but I figure you all's expert opinions would be better to choose each part, rather than me finding something and then just changing it. Any advice is GREATLY appreciated.

I'll be checking back frequently, thanks. (I know it's an extremely tight budget)

 

[snakej]

well i couldnt quite stay into ur budget unless you are re-using parts, i did research u a list u can buy for about 700 bucks without shipping cost. though if u already have a case or dvd drive u want to re-use with will be less but i didnt include a monitor either, it will be hard to get a good pc with a monitor for $600...here is the list:

DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Western Digital Caviar Black 500 Gb Hard Drive
EVGA GeForce 9800 GT 512MB
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
BIOSTAR TForce TP43D2A7 LGA 775 Intel P43
Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 Wolfdale 2.66GHz
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro

SubTotal:$703.96

For the total u just add the shipping cost that will be aproximatly $12 bucks with ups ground hsipping here in the U.S.A and that it...if u have any parts that u dont need like a dvd drive cuz u gonna re-used urs, u can get it out of the list and get a better board. I though u would like to know im selling the falllowing pc:

GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz
Rosewill RCX-Z940-SL 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB)
MSI 8600gt twin turbo
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
Ultra 500watt power supply
Seagate Barracuda 250gb 16mb cache

all rap into a atx tower black with gray case. All just for $500 negotiable and then u can get a 17inch or 19 inch in special monitor for 100 bucks. I just though you might be intersted..=)

 

[pshrk]

I'd get a 4850 if you can afford it and a P43 or P45 Mobo.

Hmmm, just a quick build on newegg...

$150 for ATI 4850
$150 for 22" monitor
$60 dollars for Antec three hundred case
$165 for E8400
$115 for GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R
$25 for SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F
$55 for Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB
$65 for OCZ Platinum 2x2GB OCZ2P800EB4GK
$95 for OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W
$20 for shipping

$900 dollars total (I originally thought this was $600 but i am feeling math challenged today)
$750 without the monitor

If you want quad core you can go with a Q6600 for 190. A nice addition to this system would be an aftermarket CPU cooler.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Here's another optoin:

Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 Wolfdale 2.66GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115132 $119.99

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128345 $99.99 - $15.00 MIR

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731 $45.99 - $20.00 MIR

ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121272 $149.99 - $30.00 MIR

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005615&prodlist=celebros $49.99

Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-three-hundred-atx-computer-case/q/loc/101/207906549.html $60.08

Corsair VX450W ATX12V & EPS12V Power Supply - CMPSU-450VX
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-450w-vx-series-12v-atx-80-plus-certified-power-supply-corsair/q/loc/101/205466485.html $69.99 - $10.00 MIR

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $24.99

Total - $621.01 - $75 MIR's = $546.01

The price of the case even includes shipping, so it ends up about $15 less than the same case from newegg.

 

[pshrk]

Your right!!! Actually $900 if i did my math right this time, think i forgot to add in the video card and monitor. I will edit the original post to show the actual total.

Nice build shortstuff, you forgot the monitor though...

 

[brendano257]

Take a look at Tom's recent System Builder's Marathon, they had a $625 and a $1250 build. I believe the $625 build focused on overclockability but I would take a look at it.

 

[Outlander_04]

brendano25 is on the money

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-graphics-overclocking,2082.html


I'd squeeze an e7200 into the budget but other than that its all good

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You're right, I left the monitor out on purpose. The OP wasn't really clear whether the monitor was supposed to be included in the $600 budget.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

brendano25 is on the money

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-graphics-overclocking,2082.html


I'd squeeze an e7200 into the budget but other than that its all good

The E7300 is the same price as the E7200. That makes the E7200 pretty much pointless until they lower the price.

 

[megamanx00]

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ BE Brisbane 2.8GHz $66.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103289

BIOSTAR GF8100 $59.99 (can switch to onboard video with a 9800GT to save power)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138119

EVGA 9800GT $114.99 (94.99 after $20 mail in rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130397

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 5-4-4-12 $45.99 ($25.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

Lite-On iHAS120-08 - Retail DVD burner SATA $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106264

SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152052

FSP Group Blue Storm II 500W $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104034

Antec Three Hundred Black $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Acer X173WB Black 17" 8ms Widescreen LCD $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009128

Which comes out to $618.91 before any rebates or shipping and with the $40 of mail in rebates it's $578.91. This is assuming you have a copy of windows you can use. If you need a new copy of windows the only way to stay under budget would be to get a good case with a modest PSU such as the Aspier X-Dreamer, but then I would recommend you don't use a video card that uses more power than a Radeon 4670. I suppose you could also cut $13 by going with an ASRock N61P-S based on the 6150

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157147

which would cause the loss of the hybrid SLI power saving feature of course, and another $34.99 by going with a Raidmax Similidon with the 500W PSU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156098

Giving you an extra $47.99 which would allow you to buy Vista Home basic and only go $20.91 over your $600 budget, with those mail in rebates of course, while still letting you keep that 9800GT. The 500W PSU should be more than enough for one 9800GT, but I wouldn't recommend using it for a more powerful card, or for trying to SLi them .

 

[wardy22]

cd/dvd drive- LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM

case- SIGMA ORCA ORCA-B Black/ Silver SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

hard drive- Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

keyboard and mouse- Logitech 967973-0403 Black PS/2 Standard Deluxe 250 Desktop - OEM


thermal grease- MASSCOOL Stars-700 Silver thermal grease - Retail


memory- G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPI-B - Retail


Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM


power supply- Thermaltake W0093RU 500W ATX 12V 2.0 Version Passive PFC Power Supply - Retail

video card- EVGA 512-P3-N956-TR GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

processor- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail

motherboard- GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail


the video card and power supply are in a combo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.147192

the mobo and processor are in a combo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.147899

after rebates and shipping $624.48



p.s. not sure if this as all 100% sound so do your research

 

[curnel_D]

Pentium Dual core E2180 (Overclock this!!!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052

Coolermaster Hyper TX2 (For the overclocking)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103031

MSI p35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130095

G.Skill 4gb (2x2gb)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207

ATI 4830
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161260

Seagate barracuda 250 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261

Lite-on dvd burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106263

Cooler Master Centurion 5 with 430W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119153

And, An acer 19" widescreen
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009151
--------------------------------------------------------------
Total price is $602.91
With rebates: $582.91

 

[ejdj]

Wow thanks for all the builds, a monitor would be nice but its not absolutely necessary I suppose; I have an old lcd I could use. So ati 4850 over nvidia 9800 gt? Just curious, any more advice is greatly appreciated, I really have no clue what I'm doing. Also, is overclocking difficult? I've never done it before and it seems like it might be a little risky. Thanks for all the replies and any more builds.

 

[pshrk]

Hard to screw up, biggest mistake I've made in the past and most people make is to go with a cheaply made PSU (Don't buy an Aspire or a Rosewill).

4850 is better than a 9800GT. Go with a 4850, if you can't afford that then i'd go with a 4830. Nvidia is competitive too so you don't have to go with ATI but i wouldn't get anything lower than an Nvidia 9600GT (8800GT would be better) or an ATI 4670.

From what i remember 4850 is about the same performance wise as a 9800GTX+.

 

[dieseldre2k]

what resolution is ur "old" monitor? u might not need a 4850, and that can help u get within budget.

 

[ejdj]

I'm not sure about my old monitor, I'll have to look. I know it's 15.4 inches if that helps, are there any problems with megaman's build that includes the monitor? (I plan to upgrade my monitor anyway, so it would be nice to have a capable graphics card). That looks pretty darn good at the moment, but I'm going to keep researching. Also, the 4850 is better than 9800gt? How low do you guys think I could find the 4850, and do you recommend sites like ebay for buying parts?

Edit: Reading back on the posts, I realize I could save lot of money with a smaller hard drive, and a less expensive case/power supply. Also, how important is ram for gaming performance? And if I got a dual-core now, would I be able to upgrade it to a quad later? I'm not sure which parts are upgradable. I don't need a mouse and keyboard at all, if that helps. Basically, it would be great if the system had a lot of upgrade potential, but I understand the graphics/lcd are pretty important for gaming. Thanks again.

 

[megamanx00]

A good quality PSU is of the utmost importance. When you're dealing with video cards that draw a significant amount of power, like an nVidia 9800 series or Radeon 4800 series, putting in a cheap PSU can cause all sorts of problems. The worst that can happen is that your cheap PSU blows and takes your motherboard and other components with it. You may want to take a look at this

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

The list isn't completely accurate or too informative but it's a good starting point. Basically don't get something below tier 3 . The PSUs that come with the Aspier X-Dreamers (and are also included with many of their other cases) are only 420W and don't have any PCI-E connectors. That PSU is my Athlon 3000 with it's 1950GT and while not excellent (it of course has slightly higher voltage fluxuations than my Blue Storm) it does a pretty good job and is pretty stable. I wouldn't trust my current build to it though .

Most of the PSUs included with Raidmax cases are junk. Interestingly the Amps on the 12v rail are different on different colors of the same scorpion case . The PSU on the SIMILIDON is decent, but the new version and the old version come with different PSUs (note that is a version without a PSU). I recommend the older model as the PSU on the newer model is the one with LED lights in it and more people seem to have problems with it as it seems to be made rather cheap, compared to semi-decent on the previous SKU .

 

[megamanx00]

Here is a video review on the Raidmax
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8461260412254804698H

If you have a local CompUSA or Tiger Direct store you may want to consider one of their Ultra Cases with a PSU since they are usually priced decent and you won't have to pay for the shipping on them . Just do your homework on the different models before you buy one so that you don't get a case you are unhappy with or a PSU that doesn't have enough AMPs on the 12v rail.