$500 General Use Build

[raybob95]

All this PC really will be for is small general use. MS Office, AVG, Firefox, and a couple other small apps are really all that will be on it.

How does this look?

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397 $98
RAM: G.SKILL 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-3GBNQ - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231224 $66
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649 $125
HDD: OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX30GXXX 2.5" 30GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393 $95
ODD: LITE-ON Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model iHDS118-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106276 $20
PSU: Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030 $71
GPU: GIGABYTE GV-R465OC-1GI Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125253 $67



Also, if I got rid of the standalone GPU I could make my budget of $500. Is it really necessary? The onboard video should be enough if the most intensive game I play is Grand Theft Auto Vice City shouldn't it? Especially when my monitor runs at 1024x768.

For those of you saying I'll never have enough HDD Space, keep in mind that it ill be running XP x86, has almost nothing on it, and that I will have another 80GB IDE Hard Drive for overflow storage.

I will also be keeping the same old monitor and Micro-ATX case, so don't suggest for those.

 

[MothMusic]

All this PC really will be for is small general use. MS Office, AVG, Firefox, and a couple other small apps are really all that will be on it.

How does this look?

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397 $98
RAM: G.SKILL 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-3GBNQ - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231224 $66
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649 $125
HDD: OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX30GXXX 2.5" 30GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227393 $95
ODD: LITE-ON Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model iHDS118-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106276 $20
PSU: Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030 $71
GPU: GIGABYTE GV-R465OC-1GI Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125253 $67



Also, if I got rid of the standalone GPU I could make my budget of $500. Is it really necessary? The onboard video should be enough if the most intensive game I play is Grand Theft Auto Vice City shouldn't it? Especially when my monitor runs at 1024x768.

For those of you saying I'll never have enough HDD Space, keep in mind that it ill be running XP x86, has almost nothing on it, and that I will have another 80GB IDE Hard Drive for overflow storage.

I will also be keeping the same old monitor and Micro-ATX case, so don't suggest for those.

Tri channel memory for AM3 cpus is a no no. Get a 2x2gb set of ram instead. You can drop the gpu if you want, and you can get a cheaper psu, too. The 520w is really for demanding graphics cards, so for your use you can just get 400-450w psu for less money, try something from Antec, they have good prices.

 

[raybob95]

Tri channel memory for AM3 cpus is a no no. Get a 2x2gb set of ram instead. You can drop the gpu if you want, and you can get a cheaper psu, too. The 520w is really for demanding graphics cards, so for your use you can just get 400-450w psu for less money, try something from Antec, they have good prices.

I'll look that stuff up and be back in a minute.

And I need somebody to really tell me if I'll see a difference in the onboard/standalone Video if like I said, I only run very old games, and at 1024x768.

 

[raybob95]

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253 $93

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003 $70


And so after moving to that stuff I'm at $568 total. Which means that if I get rid of the GPU I'll be at or around $500 exactly. I think I'll get rid of the standalone GPU if someone can confirm it's a good decision. Like I said, I run 1024x768, and very old games. And in all I really don't game even old games too much anyway, as this is my secondary PC and I'd really only use it to run games that are too old to run on my new 64-bit PC, so I guess I wouldn't even be playing Vice City.

 

[amantonas]

You most likely would see a difference, but not at the games you're playing, only in something like CoD or HD video. If you're playing games at 1024x768, then the onboard HD 4200 should be fine.

If you're really worried about the onboard video, I would pair this up with the 4650 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

It's a very popular motherboard.

And like MothMusic said, triple channel isn't the way to go, go ahead and try and find a dual channel, preferably 4gb.

 

[MothMusic]

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231224 $93

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030 $70

And so after moving to that stuff I'm at $568 total. Which means that if I get rid of the GPU I'll be at or around $500 exactly. I think I'll get rid of the standalone GPU if someone can confirm it's a good decision. Like I said, I run 1024x768, and very old games. And in all I really don't game even old games too much anyway, as this is my secondary PC and I'd really only use it to run games that are too old to run on my new 64-bit PC, so I guess I wouldn't even be playing Vice City.

The G.Skill memory and the Corsair psu are good.

And if you want to save cash then just drop the gpu. Its funny that you say that you want to play GTA:VC, because I play that same game on my laptop which uses Intel integrated graphics, so I have to play it at 1000 res. It plays smoothly even when there are dozens of cars and people running around, so the Radeon HD 4200 will do fine.

 

[raybob95]

You most likely would see a difference, but not at the games you're playing, only in something like CoD or HD video. If you're playing games at 1024x768, then the onboard HD 4200 should be fine.

If you're really worried about the onboard video, I would pair this up with the 4650 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

It's a very popular motherboard.

And like MothMusic said, triple channel isn't the way to go, go ahead and try and find a dual channel, preferably 4gb.

Yeah, I think I'll stick with the onboard GPU since the most GPU intensive thing I'll ever do would probably be watching YT videos.

And as such, that wraps up my build exactly $500.

Any last minute suggestions?

 

[raybob95]

my guess is get a lower psu u dont need as much as that 300-400w will do, also the onboard gpu is definately the way to go for you http://imagehoster911.co.cc/imgs/signature_YellowSmile.jpg

How about this?

It's only $40.

Or this? (If it's good quality, looks like it is)

 

[raybob95]

I'm gonna go with this Power Supply.

ENERMAX Liberty ELT400AWT-ECO 400W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Compatible with Core i7 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

 

[amantonas]

Don't settle for $80 bucks on something you don't necessarily need. Get the corsair, unless you really have your mind set on modular.

 

[raybob95]

Don't settle for $80 bucks on something you don't necessarily need. Get the corsair, unless you really have your mind set on modular.

I really would like modular, especially when it's the same price as the 450W Corsair,

 

[amantonas]

I really would like modular, especially when it's the same price as the 450W Corsair,

Oh, haha I didn't see the rebate. Go for it then xD.

 

[raybob95]

Oh, haha I didn't see the rebate. Go for it then xD.

And so I shall.

ANY other advice? Anybody surprised I went SSD or Triple core?

 

[amantonas]

Well, if I were you, I would go less cores higer cache and speed, so I wasn't very surprised about that, but why go SSD? They're very expensive for just improved hard drive performance...

 

[MothMusic]

And so I shall.

ANY other advice? Anybody surprised I went SSD or Triple core?

The 720 is just as good at gaming as any quad. SSD is nice for the OS, or some game/program that you always use.

 

[MothMusic]

Well, if I were you, I would go less cores higer cache and speed, so I wasn't very surprised about that, but why go SSD? They're very expensive for just improved hard drive performance...

The only application that I can think of that benefits from a higher core to cache ratio would be Left for Dead. It won't make any noticeable difference in everyday use. The OP would be better off with a tri or quad cpu rather than the 550 if the pc is mostly going to be used for general, everyday stuff.

SSDs do make a difference if you have a specific program that you use constantly, and its only bottleneck is hdd read speed.