Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > General Homebuilt > Budget (but reliable) CPU, PSU and mobo for PC upgrade

Budget (but reliable) CPU, PSU and mobo for PC upgrade

Forum Homebuilt Systems : General Homebuilt - Budget (but reliable) CPU, PSU and mobo for PC upgrade

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Psycho Savager   10-11-2009 at 06:24:00 PM

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Between now and Christmas

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Reading Word/Excel files and checking emails. Pretty much nothing else. BUDGET RANGE: <£300

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (Case, HDD, DVD Drive, Graphics card, Mouse, keyboard, speakers, monitor)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (Not bothered)

PARTS PREFERENCES: Motherboard must be ATX, have integrated graphics and have a PATA slot. Modulated PSU. Operating system will be XP unless anyone can give me a REALLY good reason why I should get Vista or 7.

OVERCLOCKING: None whatsoever. SLI/Crossfire: I don't even intend to get a GPU.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (1280x1024)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I've already built a gaming-quality PC so I have experience, I'm just looking to get a better motherboard, processor and PSU.

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HundredIslandsBoy   10-11-2009 at 07:03:16 PM
- 0 +

A basic G31 chipset mobo (comes with integrated video) and and e5200 CPU, 2 gig RAMS should do the trick.

Reply to HundredIslandsBoy
GhislainG   10-11-2009 at 07:16:26 PM
- 0 +

Most motherboards with on-board video are micro-ATX. Your requirement for ATX limits your options.

Reply to GhislainG
Daggs   10-11-2009 at 07:19:10 PM
- 0 +

what memory do you use? you haven't mentioned it anywhere

Reply to Daggs
Psycho Savager   10-11-2009 at 09:59:00 PM
- 0 +

Ah, sorry, I will need RAM as well.

 

Will a micro-ATX fit in an ATX case?

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by Psycho Savager on 10-11-2009 at 09:59:31 PM
Reply to Psycho Savager
GhislainG   10-11-2009 at 10:11:32 PM
- 0 +

Psycho Savager wrote :

Ah, sorry, I will need RAM as well.

Will a micro-ATX fit in an ATX case?

Yes it will. As HundredIslands said, a basic G31 motherboard meets your requirements.

ASUS P5KPL-CM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131288

E5200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116072

G.Skill DDR2-800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231087

That motherboard (as most micro-ATX) only has 2 memory slots. If you ever plan on using more than 2 GB, then I would recommend this excellent 4 GB kit: G.SKILL PI Black http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209

Reply to GhislainG
Daggs   10-11-2009 at 11:10:34 PM
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MB: Gigabyte-GA-MA785GM-UD2H http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Gig [...] ro-ATX-VGA at 63.02
PSU: Antec-EarthWatts-500w http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Antec-EarthWatts-500w at 54.19
CPU: AMD-Phenom-II-X2-550-BE http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AMD [...] 85W-Retail at 74.73
memory: 2X2G Corsair-TwinX-XMS3-DDR3-PC3-10666 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/4GB [...] S-9-9-9-24 at 72.57
total 264.51 euro.

Reply to Daggs
Psycho Savager   11-09-2009 at 08:28:24 PM
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I like the look of the ASUS P5KPL-CM and the E5200.

Do I really need a 500W PSU though? The one on my gaming PC is 520W..... and I doubt I'll need more than 1GB RAM. I am building this PC for someone who will use it about once or twice a week, and not for gaming, downloading, watching movies or any resource-heavy software.

Reply to Psycho Savager
Bronze Home Brew badge obsidian86   11-09-2009 at 08:49:17 PM
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you could use the antec 380 or 430 watts

Reply to obsidian86
Psycho Savager   11-22-2009 at 10:57:13 PM
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The Asus mobo appears to be out of stock wherever I look. Can someone suggest another one?

Reply to Psycho Savager
GhislainG   11-22-2009 at 11:21:45 PM
- 0 +

It was still available when I suggested it, but it has now been retired.

ASRock G41M-GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157166

BIOSTAR G31E-M7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813138145

GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128357

ASUS P5QPL-VM (G41 chipset)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131387

GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2H (G41 chipset)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128396

Reply to GhislainG
batuchka   11-23-2009 at 01:28:17 AM
- 0 +

Your budget is more than enuff to hit an enrty level DDR3 platform with integrated video decent enuff in case blu ray becomes mainstream and even 1024 x 768 light gaming hehe

 

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/kfjj.jpg


Message edited by batuchka on 11-23-2009 at 01:29:07 AM
Reply to batuchka
Psycho Savager   11-23-2009 at 08:28:22 PM
- 0 +

The person I'm building this for is a complete technophobe and will not be doing any gaming or DVD watching at all, just checking emails and writing Word documents.

I'd like to buy all from one UK site to make it convenient. How's this:-

Kingston 1GB ValueRAM DDR2 800Mhz
£14.74
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5300 2.50GHz 'Wolfdale' 2Mb Cache LGA775 (800 Mhz) £40.86
Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L Intel G31 Video/Sound Socket 775 mATX Motherboard
£27.82
Corsair CX400W 400W Power Supply
£35.77

Inc. postage & VAT = £145.06

Reply to Psycho Savager
GhislainG   11-23-2009 at 08:45:11 PM
- 0 +

I'd go with 2 GB of memory. It helps when working with large Word documents.

Reply to GhislainG
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