My first build...be gentle

[beartrkkr]

I'm trying my hand at this computer building thing. Anyway, impulses got the best of me and I've ordered the following from Newegg and TigerDirect.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Today

BUDGET RANGE: $400 (Before Rebates/Bing Cash Back) w/o monitor, keyboard, mouse.

SYSTEM USAGE: Just general home use, maybe a couple videos, some light gaming for the kids - nothing real graphics hungry though.


Here we go:

Case: Thermaltake v3 black mid-tower $45 (plus $10 rebate) =$35 (Tiger)
PSU: Diablo-Tek PHD350 350W PSU $20 (Tiger)

Mobo/CPU Bundle: MSI 760GM-E51, AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz AM3 95W $100 (plus $10 rebate) (Egg)

HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB $50 (Egg)

RAM: Crucial 2GB 2 x 1GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 $58 (Egg)

Lite-On IHAs22406 Internal DVD 24X Lightscribe OEM $25 (Tiger)

Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit OEM $99 (Tiger)

Sata Cable $4

Shipping $6

Total before rebate= 408
rebates $20
Bing cash back = $30

Total = $358


Anyone see any red flags? How about potential video upgrades for the near future?

 

[JE_D]

No Red flags.
As for video upgrades I would get 4GB ram before I would buy a Video card
But that all depends. what do you want to do with this system?

 

[beartrkkr]

This system is to replace a nearly 10 year old Dell Dimension 2350 desktop ($1000 back in the day - ha!) which may be wiped clean and become a Internet device for the kids.

The build will be for mainly just a new family PC, with Internet use and watching streaming college football games on ESPN. Might see some VPN remote desktop work for the wife and I.

I'm a cheapskate at heart and wanted to see how much computer I could build at a reasonable price. Every time I start to price out a new computer with decent stats, the price starts to head north very quickly.

 

[Jankygoatsmugla]

What would be the point in 64 bit if your only going to have 2gbs of ram?

 

[darasen]

For the uses given you could likely save some money on Windows and use Linux instead.

 

[beartrkkr]

Jumping off point. Gotta start somewhere.

Will likely add more in the future.....the mobo/cpu combo I bought seemed like a good deal at $90 after rebate. I'll keep my eye out for RAM deals and pounce on more when the time is right since this mobo has 4 slots.

As found out with some of my other "store bought" systems, having only 2 RAM slots and other older technology can become real bottlenecks in the future.

 

[shovenose]

well if you ever get 4gb ram and a graphics card you will need to upgrade the power supply.

 

[dirtmountain]

Comparable build. With an AM3 785G mobo and a AthlonII x3 440. $6 shipping to me $342 total price (check shipping on cases and PSUs, they can be high sometimes.

Case/ HD $59 - combo seagate 7200.12 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.413256

PSU/mobo combo - $87 Antec Basiq 430w and Biostar 785G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.411040

CPU/RAM combo - $160 x3 440 / OCZ RAM 2x2 GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.415407

burner - $26 less with promo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

mobo comes with 2 SATA cables

 

[beartrkkr]

well if you ever get 4gb ram and a graphics card you will need to upgrade the power supply.

Point well taken, thanks.

Being a novice, I simply looked for a cheap PSU that had good ratings and would power a rather simple machine until I got a bit more experience at fiddling with them.

 

[jsc]

The absolute cheapest that I would go on a PSU is the Antec 380 Earthwatts or the Corsair 400CX.

 

[shovenose]

The absolute cheapest that I would go on a PSU is the Antec 380 Earthwatts or the Corsair 400CX.

i agree...
i was wondering when somebody was going to say that

 

[leyshadow]

I see your MOBO has integrated graphics, won't it need another PCI slot for a video card?

 

[beartrkkr]

Should have a open PCI slot if I want to add one....


Anyway

Do any of you see a problem with adding a LITE-On 8x blu-ray reader and dvd burner combo drive (Model iHES208) to my build?

I already ordered a DVD burner, but found this on clearance at Wal-Mart for $44 so I couldn't just walk away from it. Original price was $120 (it's $100 on Newegg)

 

[yo_yo2400]

How does that PSU not throw a redflag isn't that a no-name brand?

 

[beartrkkr]

OK,

After reading various comments and researching a bit around the Internet, I have decided to take the advice of some and I just ordered a Corsair CX 400w PSU.

At first I thought it was the usual "you should only buy this brand or that" or it's junk Internet forum snobbery (this is not restricted to computers).

However, I did check some of the seemingly legit review sites that took some of these things apart as well as try to blow them up and was convinced that saving $5 ($29 after rebate, but before Bing cash back - another $6.59) was probably not the best way to go about my first build.

Thanks.