~ $700 silent budget PC?

[gecko__bros]

Hello,

I'm trying to build a PC which can hook up triple monitors (1 30", 2 20"), play some games (hopefully Diablo 3 next year?) and is silent. Storage capacity is not an issue (might add some HDDs later) and I plan to keep it turned on 24/7.

I came up with the following build:

Case: Antec Three Hundred
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-450VX (should I go with 550W instead?)
CPU: Intel BX80580Q8300 Core2 Quad Processor Q8300
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD5750 GV-R575SL-1GI
MoBo: Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L
SSD: Intel 40 GB X25-V
Memory: Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C5C 4GB XMS2 PC2-6400
ODD: Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive IHAS424-98

This gives me a total of $680 on Amazon.

How would you evaluate this system?
Any suggestion/tips are welcome!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the 5750 will not manage your 30" screen with any games, and can't drive 3 monitors on its own.

a Core2 Quad and DDR2 is OLD OLD OLD technology.

try this on. Shoulds still be fairly quiet:

AMD Athlon II X3 445 and AS Rock 870 Extreme 3 Mobo: $168.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.547179
a 3 core processor will have plenty for gaming. The 870 Extreme 3 has 2 PCIe 16 slots doing either 16X single or 8x/8x dual. It also has USB 3.0 and SATA 3.0 for future expansion

Rosewill Destroyer case and IDE 24x DVD burner: $68.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.542816
The destroyer comes with 3 fans, and can mount up to 4 more. the IDE drive is a bit old-school, but the mobo still has an IDE slot. Might as well use it, and you won't notice the PATA 133 vs SATA on a DVD anyway. Extra fans aren't included, but can be picke dup for $4-5 each, or a $14.99 4 pack of blue LED fans is available from newegg.

G.Skill 4 GB Kit DDR3-1333: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396
Inexpensive, reliable. What's not to like?

Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB Hard drive: $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
Big enough for most needs. a 1 TB version is $20 more.

2x HIS HD 5770s: $279.98 ($139.99 ea. with a $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
These two in crossfire shoudl handle what you throw at it, including the three monitors. You'll only get 1 of the 2 rebates however. As an Alternative, you can throw in a Gigabyte model for the same price and rebate. But put it in the second slot as its van vents into the case. In the first slot it will overheat the second card.

Seasonic 520W 80+ Bronze PSU: $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094
Solid and reliable PSU, and able to handle the two graphics cards with ease

Total: $687.92
Shipping: $14.22
Grand total: $702.14

 

[simon12]

^ +1 that looks alot better, you could consider a single Radeon 6850 leaving the option to upgrade to another later butm the 2 x 5770s will be better performance in most games.

 

[Onus]

That's a nice build, but a key point was silence, and I'm not sure a typical low-end case with a lot of fans will qualify; even with decent fans my CM-RC690 is not at all silent.
You could go for something like the Antec Sonata III, which includes a 500W Earthwatts PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
This case is very quiet, although you give up some cooling capacity. Simon12's suggestion of a single HD6850 may be better in that case.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

+1 on the Antec Sonata III 500. I've used this case and it's very quiet.

You might want to look @ this: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article75-page5.html

 

[gecko__bros]

Thank you so much, everyone! You guys are awesome!