New budget gaming build

[mrvertigo]

Hi, i'm considering the following for a new budget gaming computer:

- Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L motherboard
- Core 2 Duo E7300 3 MB processor
- Kingston ValueRAM 2 x 2 GB (dual) memory
- ASUS EAH4850/HTDI (512 MB) graphics
- WD Caviar Blue WD2500AAJS 250 GB hard drive

I'm unsure about the PSU, I'm looking for one at about 60 USD. Any recommendations?

Also I have an old ATX cabinet (it's approx. 7 years old) and I assume that i can still use this...?

So, tell me what you think?

 

[Guest]

Get a good PSU, i can't stress this enough. A cheap PSU where you get lots of ripple and switching under- and overvolting, is like playing monthly russian roulette. It just isn't worth it. Besides, a good PSU will pay for it self, with all the money saved on the electricity bill. A useless PSU will perhaps have a 30-50% efficiency - probably at most - means you will pay for a lot of nothing..it will require more watt from the wall outlet, to produce the watt you need. It is just wasted as heat, while a good PSU with a >80% efficiency will only waste some 20-15%, depending on the load.
If you wanna see bad PSUs in action, take a look here..
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=71
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=123
And a good brand like Seasonic and Corsair, have a 5 year warranty on the PSU, which is a good thing these days. Before when PC's didn't require so much, a useless PSU wouldnt be so stressed, but today most people have several harddrives and a videocard that requires extra power as well. It just calls for better hardware...I would recommend a Seasonic, Corsair, Fortron, Enermax, Silverstone to name a few. For the best information, don't just read here on toms or and Anandtech, as other sites like http://www.jonnyguru.com/ and http://www.badcaps.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=32 are more into it. Hardocp seem better as well to me.

While we are at it..take a Seagate harddrive, they are the only one with a 5 year warranty. I have had too many Western digital drives dying in me, and sadly you don't get a headsup before it happens. Seagate is a better brand, and they also prove it by showing the confidence in their hardware.

 

[techwizard08]

You might want to take a look at the SBM articles for the $625 rigs in december and november.

I could be wrong, but im pretty sure they clocked a 5200 further than they could push the 7300.

Maybe trying to fit an 8300 into the budget?

 

[50bmg]

the e5200 has a 12.5 multiplier, e7300 has a 10 multitplier. with good cooling both can easily hit 4G. I have a e7200 at 3.8G. I personally would get the e5200 if i were buying now. Get a good cooler and try 4G. That 12.5 mulitplier is to tempting to pass up.

And with the savings i would get a 4870.

 

[Outlander_04]

DONT get a seagate 7200.11 drive . Too many issues . Lots of dead drives and many are very slow . Seagate have screwed up badly with the 7200.11.
And since they havent replaced the drive I sent back over 6 weeks ago the 5 year warranty is words .
I wont be buying any more of their hard drives .

The WD se16 is a good price performance compromise and so is the samsung f1

Toms did oc the e5200 higher than they got the e 7300 to , but the bigger cache and higher fsb make the e7300 a better choice IMO . The oc result might just have been luck of the draw . At stock the e7300 are very fast . faster than last years e6750
And spending $40 - 50 on a cooler doesnt make the e5200 cheaper .

 

[joelg88]

Even though Tom's got the E5200 OC'd higher just stick with the E7300 and get a good cooler. Plus is has more Cache and higher FSB.
Kingston Value Ram? Get this instead. Corsair 4GB The value ram doesn't even have heat sinks from what I saw. The Corsair RAM is 25 bucks after rebate so it will be the same price if not cheaper.
And for the PSU a good 500W PSU should be more then enough power for that hardware. The PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500 500W is a good Choice. And its one of the Best PSU brands. There are cheaper 500W PSU's too though. This Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU 500W looks like a good choice as well and its half the price of the Power&Cooling PSU.

 

[techwizard08]

DONT get a seagate 7200.11 drive . Too many issues . Lots of dead drives and many are very slow . Seagate have screwed up badly with the 7200.11.
And since they havent replaced the drive I sent back over 6 weeks ago the 5 year warranty is words .
I wont be buying any more of their hard drives .

The WD se16 is a good price performance compromise and so is the samsung f1

Toms did oc the e5200 higher than they got the e 7300 to , but the bigger cache and higher fsb make the e7300 a better choice IMO . The oc result might just have been luck of the draw . At stock the e7300 are very fast . faster than last years e6750
And spending $40 - 50 on a cooler doesnt make the e5200 cheaper .

True on the part of the cooler. However, if you were going to OC any processor, I would definitely recommend getting a god quality cooler for the CPU.

As for theSeagate 7200.11, it's definitely a mixed bag. There are tons of people that are very satisfied. Now personally, I like WD, but it'simportant to keep in mind Seagate drives are still high quality, and with their warranty getting a replacement isn't a huge issue.

 

[mrvertigo]

Wow, thanks for all the replies.

I will definately buy a quality PSU (after reading a bit about them i see how important they are). I've more or less settled on the Corsair VX450W, it seems good at the price. I won't buy from newegg since I live in Denmark, so some of your suggestions are a bit pricey or not available here...

So currently this is parts:

- Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3L motherboard
- Core 2 Duo E7300 3 MB CPU
- Corsair VX450W PSU
- Corsair XMS2 2 x 2 GB memory
- ASUS EAH4850/HTDI 512 MB graphics
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250 GB hard drive

I'll stick with the E7300 since I don't plan any overclocking, but have switched to the slightly more expensive Corsair memory and a SeaGate hard drive.

Still a bit in doubt about the case. Since no one touched the subject is it safe for me to assume that I can use my 7 year old atx case?

 

[Guest]

It depends on the chosen motherboard, so yes
The GA-EP45-DS3L has an ATX Form Factor of 30.5cm x 21.0cm.

I think it looks very good, all of it. The E7300 has a very good performance, and a very low power usage. Gotta love that 45nm..Here you have it in a fresh review http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2duo-e7300-pdc-e5200_12.html#sect0

Good choice in harddrive, and people on newegg seem pleased as well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261

The PSU is all good too, not the best in the world, but certainly a very good unit.

Good motherboard, about the same that was picked in Anandtechs Buyers Guide from December, 29th..
http://anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3486&p=5
Also very good ratings on newegg.
Remember that Gigabyte has a lot of socket 775 motherboards (like Asus and MSI), but there is only a slight change between the units.
Use their comparison sheet if you are in doubt of what to choose..
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_ComparisonSheet.aspx
Eg. yours only have 6 X sata (plenty for most though), no firewire and no esata. But of course, if that is no use to you, then why bother with another motherboard. I'm just saying that you need to be aware of these differences.

Love the ram too..not sure whether those have a lifetime warranty but most Corsair ram has.

I think you will like it your new PC..

 

[mrvertigo]

I'm sure I will love it.... my current computer has recently passed the 8 year mark and is ready for retirement.

Thanks for all the help