Buy or Build

[udaman]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: July 31


BUDGET RANGE: US$600 - $650
note:


SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Graphic apps(photoshop), web dev IDE app (Netbeans, will run AMP (Apache, MySQL, PHP) locally for testing ) video editing.


PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Every thing except monitor. I am planning to buy 24 inch monitor later.


PARTS PREFERENCES: run quite, fast


OVERCLOCKING: Yes if possible


SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes if possible


MONITOR RESOLUTION: full full

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: A quiet and cool pc is needed.


I am pondering both buying one from ebay or build my self.

I found a used hp xw4600 on ebay and it has the following spec. It looks decent.

Core2Duo 3Ghz (Q9300)
250Gb SATA HDD
4Gb of DDR2/800 RAM
Nvidia FX1700 Video (512Mb)

I am wondering whether I can build a system with $600 budget to have a better performing system then the hp.

Or just would it be better off to buy the used one above.


Thank you so much for your advice.

 

[hunter315]

Well aside from the fact that that processor doesnt even exist, if its a core 2 its a quad not a duo, if it is a duo its not a Q9300 nor is it stock at 3.0GHz, i would suggest builiding it yourself. Its getting sold for a reason, and you have no way of knowing how it has been treated and what quality the PSU, motherboard and other parts are. And you can get a

 

[udaman]

The seller corrected that the CPU is Core2Quad (Q9300) and claimed that the system was perfect condition. Would this make a difference on your opinion?
Would I be able to build a better one if I build my own with the budget?
Thanks!

 

[hunter315]

the Core2Quad stock speed is 2.5GHz not 3GHz which means he bumped up the FSB to 400MHz, there is no way to know if the voltage has been increased above safe levels or if it has been damaged by heat accidentally. Also building your own gives you more control over the parts, HP motherboards have locked out bios's which limits what you can do with it.

You can get the majority of the build out of a single combo on newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213770

 

[udaman]

Wow, One shot to kill 4 birds! I am wondering why the seller claims the speed to 3Ghz.
Btw. Any recommendation on the case?

 

[thesupermedium]

Just skimmed through some threads, and I found myself at the same problem earlier... I needed a better CPU (I have an Athlon 4400+, works... but that's it.) and I looked at new computers. For a real performance based computer with not much modding, you'd be looking in the thousands range, mainly because of the labor costs. Building it cuts out labor, so I would go with Hunter's link for a good bargain, I've yet to find a better deal than that.

 

[hunter315]

because he likely overclocked it. I will throw together a full build for you, it should be pretty easy to stay under budget.

Alright here it is
CPU/Mobo/Ram/HDD $384
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213770

Case/PSU $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065

Optical Drive $26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

GPU $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102842

Total 570

If you want to game you can upgrade to a stronger graphics card and will need a stronger PSU but can still stay easily within budget.

 

[udaman]

Wow! This is awesome!

 

[hunter315]

Just be aware that newegg combos change drastically at the end of each month, you may be able to get better deals next month but you might not.

 

[thesupermedium]

because he likely overclocked it. I will throw together a full build for you, it should be pretty easy to stay under budget.

Alright here it is
CPU/Mobo/Ram/HDD $384
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213770

Case/PSU $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065

Optical Drive $26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

GPU $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102842

Total 570

If you want to game you can upgrade to a stronger graphics card and will need a stronger PSU but can still stay easily within budget.

You forgot the OS, which will add another $100 probably, unless you're going to use Ubuntu.

 

[udaman]

Yes. I have Vista Ultimate. I may set Dual boot to use Vista and Ubuntu. Thanks bunch for your advice. It really has helped me!

 

[OvrClkr]

Dont ever buy anything that has been built by someone else...

Read, learn and build yourself, in the end you will have the satisfaction that YOU did all the hard work and on top of that you have quality parts and not generic crap...

Once you have all the parts and you are ready to build, if you have ANY questions you let us know and we will make sure your build goes as smooth as possible..... [:jaydeejohn:5]

 

[udaman]

What a great advice!

 

[megamanx00]

If you build it, it will play.

 

[jtmoney528]

Build Build Build!