Budget AMD PC

[Terry Tate]

Hello everyone. I'm looking to put together a budget PC that will last me more than 5 years. This PC will mostly be used for productivity, not gaming. I'll likely dual-boot XP and Linux. Here are the parts I've picked (prices from newegg.com):


HEC 6K28BSOH48D Black / Silver 0.8mm SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 485W Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121049

49.99



ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131330

74.99



EVGA 512-P3-N954-TR GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130378

65.99



AMD Phenom 9950 Agena 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor Model HD995ZXAGHBOX - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103291

148.00



G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL6D-4GBNQ - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231226

47.99



Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075

41.99



LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech Black SATA Model GH20NS15 - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136149

21.99


TOTAL: 450.94

Will these parts work well together? Are there any discrepancies/incompatibilities? Also, if I'm concerned about the upgradibility of my setup, is there a better motherboard or tower case I can pick?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Proximon]

Only use the HEC PSU if you want to lose your investment

Get this 780G MB and drop the extra GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324
That's enough GPU if you are not gaming.

If you are running 64-bit Vista, then OK on the memory. Otherwise downgrade to 2GB.

Now perhaps we have made enough room to get a decent PSU.

Case:
Cooler Master Elite 330 - cheap but roomy, not great cooling but OK for stock speeds and no gaming video card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703018
PC P&C 370W - High quality part that won't blow up or become unstable.

Alternate combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129032
Antec NSK4480B - this comes with a quality PSU, but the case isn't quite as roomy. You might like the footprint of this case better though and your board is small.

 

[fshaharyar]

go with ASUS M3A78-EM it has full feature of upgradability later on to Phenom II X4 810 with maximum tdp of 140 watts and it has full solid capacitors
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324
and cut down on the Graphic card 3200radeon will be more than enough for the work of productivity and for Vista x64 bit version with Aero full on.

cut down on the processor with Phenom X4 9850 which is a Black Edition processor costing $143
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103249
with best wishes

 

[Terry Tate]

I've actually looked into the ASUS boards with integrated Radeon 3200 video, thinking it would be enough for my needs, but I've seen lots of forum posts from people having problems using it with Compiz in Ubuntu. Are there other integrated video solutions out there that would run Compiz well?

Also, what are your thoughts on this case?

APEVIA X-QBOII X-QBOII-NW-AL/500 Black / Silver SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144229

I'd like to stay with the MicroATX Mini Tower form factor.

Thanks!

 

[Proximon]

You really can't do that

The only cases that come with good PSUs are Antec, and even they have been known to put some lower grade PSUs into cases on occasion.

The Antec NSK4480B I listed is 1.4" taller than the one you linked. Is that too high?

Here you go then:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129035

 

[batuchka]

Hi a similar priced config - the Phenom 2 is way better and more power efficient too

The Foxconn 780G has a 1.0 and 2.0 version - i checked the 2.0 at Foxconn's web site and its definitely tested by their engineers with the Phenom 2s hehe

 

[Terry Tate]

One more question....If I decide to go with the Antec NSK3480 as recommended above ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129035 ), will its PSU be enough to power the setup in the original post (replacing the Phenom 9950 with the Phenom 9600, and the tower case and PSU, of course)?

 

[Proximon]

Yes that's enough as long as you don't add a lot of stuff later. Your actual peak load should be less than 300W, so that should leave enough margin.