First Build, do able?

[wasney]

So, I just finished doing my taxes, and realized, I can build a computer. The only thing that would stop my before was my difficulty in saving money. I am currently going to college, so saving is next to impossible (at least to the amount of a new computer).

I am planning on spending somewhere near $600-$750 on this. I need the whole computer, minus a mouse (have a decent USB I currently use with my old school laptop.) I have been reading through threads, and such, and decided to go Intel. I would like to overclock slightly. Nothing too risky.

The computer will be using Win XP, preferably. I have a legit copy of Pro, that is why I would prefer it. Unless someone can give me a strong argument for Vista.

I will be putting it together with a friend who has done several custom builds, so I am not afraid to put it together. Th computer is mainly for school work, internet browsing, word and such. But I would also like to play my copy of Oblivion with some good FPS.

I would like a build I can upgrade as I go. Something that could last me several years preferably.

This is what I have come up with, so far:

Antec Three Hundred Case - $49.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

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

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro - Free Shipping - $36.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - $6.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Free Shipping - $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 - Free Shipping - $144.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770

PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W - Free Shipping - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - Free Shipping - $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB - Free Shipping - $79.99 (Have to wait till it is in stock...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

LITE-ON Black Burner - Free Shipping - $21.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106263

Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - $22.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121014


Total (w/ Shipping): $787.86 - $75 MIR = $712.86

Then all I need is a monitor and such, right?

 

[aevm]

Yes XP 64-bit can use 4 GB of RAM or even more. With XP 32-bit you'd see 3.5GB, most likely.

Do you have a monitor, speakers, keyboard?

Are you in the USA, Canada, UK, elsewhere?

 

[wasney]

I am in USA, I have a mouse, that's it. I edited my post with what I have found.

Is the build I have workable with 64 bit? If not the RAM is pretty much wasted huh? Also, is the mobo crossfire compatable? I checked the posts, and it says it only has one PCI express 2.0 x16 slot, or what not...

 

[xthekidx]

Stay away from seagate drives. Go for the WD WD6401AALS. Its faster and more reliable, and the same price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Get this PSU instead, 750w. $5 more and much better, especially if you are considering 2 video cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

Arctic cooling MX-2 thermal paste is better and ceramic based so it has less risk of shorting your mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

 

[xthekidx]

The motherboard you selected only supports 1 video card. If you want xfire, look at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

 

[aevm]

Get a GA-EP45-UD3P ($115, Crossfire) and the S75CF PSU ($60 after rebate, it's a steal)

 

[xthekidx]

+1 although you will have to wait probably 6 weeks or so for those rebates to come, and you are kinda cutting it close to your budget if you still want to fit a monitor in...

Look on craigslist for a monitor, sometimes you can get some awesome deals there from people who overspend their budgets and need to sell stuff quick to pay rent or something. I saw a 22" acer for $100 yesterday. Shop around, newegg is great, but not necessarily the best place for deals.

 

[wasney]

Thanks alot guys, here is what I have switched it to:

Antec Three Hundred Case - $49.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

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

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro - Free Shipping - $36.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - $6.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Free Shipping - $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 - Free Shipping - $144.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770

PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W - Free Shipping - $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - Free Shipping - $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB - Free Shipping - $79.99 (Have to wait till it is in stock...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

LITE-ON Black Burner - Free Shipping - $21.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106263

Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - $22.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121014


Total (w/ Shipping): $787.86 - $75 MIR = $712.86


Is it possible that I can buy a lower processor, and overclock it safely? Such as this one: (E5200) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072&Tpk=e5200



If it is all worth it, I can spend more. The limit I set myself was just a ballpark. Now I will hunt around for a monitor, keyboard, and speakers.

 

[aevm]

If you're going to overclock, get this RAM because it has better timings.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231219&Tpk=G.Skill HK

Also replace the Freezer with a Xigmatek HDT-S1283. Same price, it will fit in the Antec 300, and it's a better performer.

 

[aevm]

There's a combo here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.155168

for GA-EP45-UD3P and E8400. It makes the E8400 only $30 more than the E7300, and it's worth it.

 

[xthekidx]

There's a combo here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.155168

for GA-EP45-UD3P and E8400. It makes the E8400 only $30 more than the E7300, and it's worth it.

+1
The E8400 is much better than the 7300 or 5200 and definitely worth the price difference. If the price you set was just a ballpark and you can spend a bit more for these upgrades, then I highly suggest you do it. Then if you want to overclock you could probably get 3.6 or more pretty easily out of that 8400 and you will have a very good midrange gamer.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

If you have to stay with the e7300 due to budget, you might as well get the e7400 since it's the same price.

Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206&Tpk=e7400 $119.99

 

[wasney]

Currently looking at:

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-04 - OEM

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBHK - Retail

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

Nippon Labs 15 ft. USB2.0 A/male to B/male cable Model USB-15-AB - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail



Now, my question is, since the harddrive and optic drive are OEM, I need to buy cables right? Just 2 SATA cables, right?

And then the expected mouse, monitor, speakers (might go headphones route for awhile, b*tchy room mate...), and keyboard.


ALSO, I have been reading reviews on the E8400, and alot of people say I will have to update my BIOS. I know how to do this on a working computer...but what would I do if I need to do this, on this computer? I have no other, lower CPU to use...What I am basically asking, if everything is put together right, it will work, without updates (aside from basic driver)? I am assuming the mobo and CPU will work together at the start, since they are a combo deal.

 

[aevm]

If you believe this picture here, the UD3P comes with two SATA cables. That means you're OK for one DVD and one HDD, no need to buy extra cables.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowI...E GA-EP45-UD3P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Headphones highly recommended if the roommate insists. He might paint you with toothpaste next time you sleep if you annoy him too much

I doubt that you need to worry about BIOS updates for the E8400. I searched for E8400 among the reviews of the UD3P at Newegg. The first 7 don't say anything about requiring a BIOS update. The 8th says "BIOS updates were a snap" and doesn't say he actually had to do a BIOS update to see the CPU. Maybe he just is the kind of guy who does BIOS updates anyway.

 

[xthekidx]

E8400 is fairly mainstream, most P45's should handle it without a problem.

 

[wasney]

Thanks guys. Now I wait for the tax refund to come in...Should have it in a week. To bad I don't have it now...Newegg is have a $20 discount on the graphics card...lol

 

[aevm]

LOL, you'll have your tax refund in a week. In Canada, I can't even file my taxes until March because that's when employers and banks send out the forms

Edit: when you buy from newegg, don't you use a credit card? That would give you a few weeks until you need to actually have the money and pay the credit card bill.

 

[wasney]

That sucks. I got my stuff from my jobs last weekend (4 days ago), and did the taxes online about Saturday. If newegg would just give me the line of credit I want, then I would get it all now...lol...

 

[aevm]

If they don't give you the line of credit, don't take it personally, OK? It's not you. It's the horrible economy. Credit is kind of hard to get these days.

 

[wasney]

Oh, don't worry, I know. I was told I have awesome credit by my bank, and my cell provider. I guess I can just wait. Heck, maybe there will be a better discount. Or maybe the hard drive I want will be in stock (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319)

 

[wasney]

So, quick question. My friend just called me up, and said he has a Radeon 1300, with 512mb...I have not heard of this card, thats all the info he gave me. Now, I an get one (from him) for free...Anyone know if this card is crossfire compatible, and if getting two of these would be a good, or better then a single Radeon HD 4850 512MB?



AND one more question...I was curious, and checked if I could do the bill me later option, and it said I could. Now, it says no interest for 90 days...I want to trust this, but I wanted to see if anyone else has used it. My main reason is because I have a few promo codes and special that expire soon, maybe before the tax money comes. Now, what I am thinkin, is do the bill me later, get my stuff with the sales, and then pay it all when taxes come. I would save near $75...

Anyone used the Bill Me Later, and had it work perfect? I would hate to buy it this way, and find out there was some loophole I didn't know, and get charged extra...I mean...Saving $75 would let me spend more on parts...But I would be mighty pissed if I get charged for doing bill me later, even tho I plan on paying it all in 2 weeks.

 

[xthekidx]

Lol. Buy your own card. Integrated graphics would give that card a run for its money.

 

[aevm]

I bet you haven't heard of the Radeon X1300 because you were too young at that time in history. I suggest you refuse the offer, politely but firmly. Friends don't offer that kind of card to friends

BTW, that card may be AGP, and then you can't use it at all. If it's PCI, you can use it, but it will stink big time in recent games.

It's hard to compare these cards because they're too many years apart. Just to get an idea, the X1300 has 105 million transistors on a 90nm fabrication process.
http://ati.amd.com/products/RadeonX1300/specs.html

The HD 4850 has 965 million transistors on a 55nm fabrication process. That's 9 times more complexity and a few generations ahead.
http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonhd4800/specs.html

Here's a sample benchmark:
Radeon X1300, Call of Duty 2, no AA, 1024x768, 28 fps
HD 4850, Call of Duty 4, 4xAA, 1680x1050, 78.2 fps
The comparison just doesn't make sense.

 

[wasney]

HAHA, ok then, thats what I thought. How about the whole bill me later? Have you had experience with that?

 

[wasney]

Also, I am considering grabbing this monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009127 . It has decent reviews, in my price range, and such. Plus, I can't find anything this price and worth my money locally...Free shipping as well.