Is this $300 system destined to fail? Need real advice

Status
Not open for further replies.

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
BIOSTAR A880GU3 AM3 AMD 880G USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660292
$150

G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394
$40

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

APEX TX-373 Black Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case 300W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154079
$35

Recertified: Western Digital AV RFHWD3200AVJS 320GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal AV Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136811
$20


Need to turn this into a homework / 720P HTPC machine. Let me know if I am reaching too much.
 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
That really is a pretty awesome deal and I am seriously considering it for $200, but it looks like I still need fans and stuff for the case. I don't know how to do a search like that on NewEgg, so thanks.

I am interested in making sure I do those things without any problem for a couple of years, so I want to have some power, but not spend any money ( ;) ). I am thinking of using USB 3.0 for a tv tuner or something, if that seems like a possibility.

Essentially, am I going to be happy with just an Athlon dual-core to handle using this as my main video output for my home theater? Real basic, no DVR or anything, just watch TV on a 32" Vizio and maybe upgrade to a BLU-Ray player.

Apparently I need to add a heatsink or fan for the processor. What does that mean? What do I need?
 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
The previous heatsink/fan question was about this build:

AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor
BIOSTAR A880G+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660253
$90

G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394
$40

LITE-ON Black 4X BD-ROM 8X DVD-ROM 32X CD-ROM SATA Internal 4X Blu-ray Reader Model iHOS104-06 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106325
$55

APEX TX-373 Black Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case 300W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154079
$35

Recertified: Western Digital AV RFHWD3200AVJS 320GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal AV Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136811
$20


Upgraded to a BD-ROM and used the advice to settle for a dual core Athlon II. Now I am trying to make it happen for $240 plus S&H. What other cooling options do I need? Or outside of monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and OS; what do I need?
 
First -- I would not really trust a 300W power supply that comes included with the case. Those are notorious pieces of junk; it's really just not possible to assemble a reliable PSU that's going to retail for $9. Tom's did an article about a month ago where they tested out some of these blatantly-made-in-China PSUs, and half of them bomb out right away for no good reason; it was really quite amusing to read. You wouldn't be putting much strain on it with this system, but the real El Cheapo PSUs don't need a reason to die - they just suck.

Hard drive is one component I also don't think is worth getting refurbished. Storage space is cheap enough to begin with that you're really not saving much, certainly not enough to make it worth the risk. Just spend $40 and you can get a better 500GB drive anyway.

 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
Right on, I completely agree. Considering the box is only $35, I can get a PSU and going from $20 to $40 is no big deal to get a Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB or something.


While looking at the specs for the CPU in the CPU/Mobo combo, I still am not sure what this means:

"Cooling device not included - Processor Only"

Do processors normally come with a cooling device? Do I need something else to get this running?


The case only has 1 x 90mm rear fan, but I really don't have that much going on. Do I need another?


 

Evan20x

Distinguished
May 2, 2011
127
0
18,690
Usually most of the time an OEM processor does not come with a Heatsink/Fan for cooling the cpu. Retail provides these. You will have to buy an aftermarket cooler for your CPU.

ARCTIC COOLING ACALP64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186035
You probably won't even hear this sinkfan running in your computer. Arctic cooling a trusted brand.

KINGWIN CF-012LB 120mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835124023
I recommend getting this for an intake fan mounted behind the front panel of the case this is ideal to keep your hard drive cool. It's 120mm means it moves good air while at the same time being quiet. 40 CFM at 19db.

These are my suggestions. Someone might find a better deal as I only browsed around on Newegg.
 

ikyung

Distinguished
Apr 17, 2010
566
0
19,010
If you aren't going to overclock, or use a discrete video card, you don't need much fans in your case. One is fine.

The combo you are buying doesn't include a stock heatsink for your processor. But if you think about it, spending 20-25$ on an after market cooler for a 50$ processor doesn't really make sense either haha.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.660251
Grab that combo or something close to that.

300W is fine for your build. But like what people said above, the PSUs that come with cases aren't really great or reliable. 90% sure the PSU that comes with that case doesn't support 24pin motherboard. I can be wrong, but I would take the safer route if I were you.

I've used 2 of those Lite-On blu-ray players before because of the cheap price. I ignored the comments and.. well.. I regretted. I'm sure there are ones that work fairly well, but the 2 I received had so much retarded problems like stuttering, read problems. I would NOT recommend these to anyone.
 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
ikyung:
I don't plan to OC or use a discrete graphics card (for now at least), so I am thinking that I do not need to buy another fan or get a processor cooler. I am pretty sure that most of the old Dells I have around that I have opened up only have one fan and nothing on the processor, but I would appreciate any more opinions out there.

Thanks for the info on the Lite-On drives, I was kinda wary, but it seems like they are the most common. Must be because they are cheap and not because they are quality.

Evan20X and ikyung:
Why do you guys see the Athlon II X2 250 as significantly better than the 245?
And thanks for the tip on that case, definitely the way to go for me.

addison:
Do you mean that all I should get is 2GB Ram or that I should get 4GB of Crucial?
 

ikyung

Distinguished
Apr 17, 2010
566
0
19,010
The 250 isn't noticeably better then the 245. The only reason I picked out that combo was because the 245 combo you were looking at didn't come with a stock cpu cooler.

I use this RAM in my cheap ol HTPC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396
Been running for around 18months with no hiccups. Cheap.

If you really want a blu-ray drive in your HTPC, I have used this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
It is out of stock right now though.. I have used 3 of these for my family and friend's builds and they don't have problems. I mean, I'm sure there are a lot of people satisfied with the Lite-on blu-ray drive but, I have used 2 and BOTH were very unpleasant experiences.
 

mightymaxio

Distinguished
Nov 9, 2009
1,193
0
19,360
Personally i would not recommend Biostar mobos, I have bought about 4 of them for dirt cheap and usually after 6 months of normal use they break. I still have one that is good for a cheap tower but in the long run I would recommend a better brand.
 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
Oh, I see that it has a cooler now and for only $10 more also a little faster clock speed. That's the RAM I was looking at as well, but others I telling me that 2GB is sufficient. If I went that route, shouldn't I get 2X1GB instead of a single 2GB stick?

I will look into that blu-ray drive, but you say "if I really want one", as if to imply that I should just go for a DVD reader like I initially was planning.
 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530


I had a Biostar a long time ago and it worked fine, but I was looking at ASUS initially and you recommended that I go that way. I do not want to go up much more in price, so I was looking at some 760G, 780G, 785G, and 790GX motherboards. Is there any reason that one of these will not work just as well for my needs?

 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530


I am looking at getting one of the cards that you mentioned, but that nullifies the IGP, right? Shouldn't I get a motherboard without IGP in that case or is this one of those cases where the graphics cards work together?

And also, (sorry for really bringing my ignorance to the forefront) what kind of HD will I be playing on this better graphics card without a blu-ray drive?
 

addison

Distinguished
Apr 10, 2011
621
2
18,995
Up to 1080P, just as long as your monitor supports it, Bluray drives have no part in hd video, just sending data to the motherboard, gpu,cpu, and to the gpu so it makes the visual mimage, the ati 4650 is good for what you need it for, it is mostly for gaming but Movies will look much better. It is one when just the video card works.
 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
So what do you think about these two combinations?:

BIOSTAR TA890GXB HD AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
$100, but has a Radeon 4290 IGP and I think I can use a bulldozer processor with it later.

OR

BIOSTAR TA880GB+ AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Bundled with:
SAPPHIRE 100293DP Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Low Profile Ready Video Card w/ Eyefinity
$120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.664989
 

striker410

Distinguished


I would not get biostar. Check out some Gigabyte or ASRock boards. Also, an IGP is just fine for 1080p playback. Unless you are gaming, the IGP will do a fine job.
 

bucpound

Distinguished
Jun 3, 2011
45
0
18,530
Thanks to everyone for all of the help so far. With that help, this is what I am currently looking at:

Motherboard: ASRock 880GM-LE AM3 AMD 880G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157199&Tpk=N82E16813157199
$55

Processor: AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor ADX250OCGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103903&Tpk=N82E16819103903
$60

RAM: G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396&Tpk=N82E16820231396
$40

HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701&Tpk=N82E16822148701
$40

DVD: ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E818A7T/BLK/B/GEN - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135224&Tpk=N82E16827135224
$20

Case: Antec Three Hundred + BP430 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065&Tpk=N82E16811129065
$85

Total: $300

I want to make sure that everything is compatible (especially the RAM) and that I will have everything that I need to have it running. Monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and OS are already covered. I am still thinking about getting only 2GB of RAM as suggested to cover some of the shipping and then getting more RAM and a discrete card in the future.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.