$500 SBM based machine

[Rainbow_Trenchcoat]

I'm looking to build a machine along the lines of the 500 SBM build, with a few changes for price drops- so I wanted to check those changes to make sure I wasn't overloading the PSU (most of the websites/checkers say to go with more power than the 380 watt PSU in the SBM for the X4 955 CPU, so I went with a 460W one).

CPU- Phenom II X4 955 Black Ed-$115
MB- ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard- $60
RAM-G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNS- $40
Graphics-Sapphire 100315L Radeon HD 6850 1 GB- $170
HD-Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"- $45
Case-Xigmatek ASGARD II B/S CPC-T45UD-U01 Black- $30
Power-COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply-$30
Optical-None.

Planning to figure out cables to connect everything to my laptop to use it as a monitor once I can actually see the parts- advice on that so I could order those at the same time would be appreciated as well. (I suspect it would be DVI-VGA, male-female, but I'm not sure).

 

[mgf derp]

A suggestion would be to not get that power supply as I have read bad things about CoolerMasters lower end power supplies. Also you could get a GTX 460 768Mb for $150 and invest the savings in a 500w power supply like the Corsair CX500 V2. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6870-radeon-hd-6850-barts,2776-10.html performance between the 460 768 and the 6850 would be comparable. I am referring to this GTX 460 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121390. Also check these Anandtech benches for a performance comparison 5850vs460 http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/156?vs=164 and 5850 vs 6850 http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/295?vs=291

 

[Rainbow_Trenchcoat]

This one-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027? Comes in under the limit after the rebate, so no need to mess with the card.

 

[striker410]

Planning to figure out cables to connect everything to my laptop to use it as a monitor once I can actually see the parts- advice on that so I could order those at the same time would be appreciated as well. (I suspect it would be DVI-VGA, male-female, but I'm not sure).

Derp took care of the rest, so I'll help you on this issue.

what you are probably seeing on your laptop is video out, not video in. I have never heard of a laptop accepting video in, but it's possible. Could you link you laptop please?

 

[mgf derp]

This one-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027? Comes in under the limit after the rebate, so no need to mess with the card.

Yes that is the one I was talking about. And as Striker said about laptops I too have never heard of a laptop with video in.

 

[Rainbow_Trenchcoat]

It's an Inspiron 6400- this is the info they provide:
Ports and Connectors


IEEE 1394a


4-pin serial connector



S-video TV-out


7-pin mini-DIN connector (optional adapter cable(s) with S/PDIF, S-video, composite video, and component video connectors)


Video


15-hole connector

 

[striker410]

Sounds like it's video out only :/

 

[Rainbow_Trenchcoat]

Eh, it was an idea. Thanks for the tip.

 

[mgf derp]

You could run an old school CRT until you can afford a LCD (assuming that is why it is not in the budget). Craigslist should be able to provide you with a CRT for free.

 

[Rainbow_Trenchcoat]

You could run an old school CRT until you can afford a LCD (assuming that is why it is not in the budget). Craigslist should be able to provide you with a CRT for free.

Good point- or I could find a lower-cost LCD. I think that's everything I need to know- thanks for the help!

 

[Rainbow_Trenchcoat]

Best answer selected by Rainbow_Trenchcoat.

 

[mgf derp]

Not a problem. Enjoy your build.

 

[mgf derp]

You could look at geeks.com for cheap lcd monitors. http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=MON