Help me please my wife

[cheapfrag]

Approximate Purchase Date: By the end of June 2011

Budget Range: Under $500 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: MS Office (Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, Excel) , Internet (including Facebook, Farmville, Cityville), occassional gaming if kids want to play a game via local multiplayer

Parts Not Required: Mouse, Keyboard, 20 inch Monitor (1600x900), Storage HDD (WD 640 GB Black), OS (Windows 7), speakers, Video card (4 yr old 8800 GTS 320 MB)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: None (Note newegg charges tax to NJ so if I look at Amazon, Buy.com, zipzoomfly to see if they have comparable prices)

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Not sure if it would fall into my budget but I would love a SSD drive and a Quad CPU.

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1600x900

Additional Comments: My wife's Dell Dimenson 9100 PCs stopped working. The power button flashes amber and although the fans turn on, NOTHING else happens. Can't even open the CD drive. I did a little searching for possible easy fixes but it doesn't appear to be the short circuit USB issue so most likely either PSU or MB.

I was thinking about buying a pre-built system but thought I might also price out building one.

I have a Dell 20 inch monitor (1600x900), a WD 650 GB Black Hard Drive for storage and a 4 year old 8800 GTS 320 MB graphics card (should be enough power for ther monitor resolution especially since the PC will not be used for 3D games very often. Sometimes maybe. CIV5)

I assume a SSD will mean great windows boot up and loading of programs. If so, I would love to fit one in this built. Also a quad core CPU if possible.

My goals are: 1) fast PC for office applications and internet, 2) RELIABLE and 3) hopefully quiet.

 

[jerreddredd]

Love the thread title!

The MB has ATI HD 4250 integrated graphics which at least as good as your old video card, I would just scrap it. If you ever need to upgrade the graphics, just slap a PCIe GPU in, the PSU will handle all the cards under $300 easily. the Quad Core CPU has plenty of horsepower for your stated uses with plenty to spare. The SSD drives I selected are some of Tom's Best buys for the money (MAY) fast and reliable.

CPU AMD Phenom II x4 955 $115
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-HDZ955FBGMBOX-Phenom-3-2GHz-Retail/dp/B002TQYUAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307648126&sr=8-1

SSD: Kingston SSDNOW V100 $150
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Digital-Solid-State-SVP100S2-96G/dp/B004APRLTY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307647978&sr=8-1

MB get it from newegg $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130585

DVD/CD burner Get from Newegg (free Shipping) $17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

RAM get from newegg (cheaper) $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394

CASE and PSU $90 (put both amazon and newegg links
http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Tower-Bronze-Supply-NSK4482/dp/B002RL8J58/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1307648386&sr=1-1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129072

Total $482

if you still need to shave some $ off because of TAX or shipping then go with a smaller SSD
$105 -120
http://www.amazon.com/Lexar-Media-Crucial-64-2-5-Inch-CT064M4SSD2/dp/B004W2JKWG/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1307649261&sr=1-3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

 

[cheapfrag]

Love the thread title!

The MB has ATI HD 4250 integrated graphics which at least as good as your old video card, I would just scrap it. If you ever need to upgrade the graphics, just slap a PCIe GPU in, the PSU will handle all the cards under $300 easily. the Quad Core CPU has plenty of horsepower for your stated uses with plenty to spare. The SSD drives I selected are some of Tom's Best buys for the money (MAY) fast and reliable.

CPU AMD Phenom II x4 955 $115
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-HDZ955FBGMBOX-Phenom-3-2GHz-Retail/dp/B002TQYUAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307648126&sr=8-1

SSD: Kingston SSDNOW V100 $150
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Digital-Solid-State-SVP100S2-96G/dp/B004APRLTY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307647978&sr=8-1

MB get it from newegg $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130585

DVD/CD burner Get from Newegg (free Shipping) $17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233

RAM get from newegg (cheaper) $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231394

CASE and PSU $90 (put both amazon and newegg links
http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Tower-Bronze-Supply-NSK4482/dp/B002RL8J58/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1307648386&sr=1-1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129072

Total $482

if you still need to shave some $ off because of TAX or shipping then go with a smaller SSD
$105 -120
http://www.amazon.com/Lexar-Media-Crucial-64-2-5-Inch-CT064M4SSD2/dp/B004W2JKWG/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1307649261&sr=1-3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

Thank you for your response. With regard to the video card, according to Tom's hierarchy chart the integrated graphics ATI HD 4250 is 10 tiers below the NVidia 8800 GTS 320 MB, or is there something that I am missing?

Why the micro ATX motherboard?

I'm always a little leary of buying a case with a bundled PSU, but the EarthWatts is a decent brand, isn't it?

Thanks again for your input

 

[crewton]

antec earthwatt is a top tier psu. You won't have issues with it.

micro atx boards are smaller and cheaper but just as effective as their larger brothers. It also gives you more space in the case.

i3 2100 set up if you want to go intel vs amd. HD 2000 integrated chip and is faster than the x4 955. It is a dual core with hyperthreading.

http://www.amazon.com/Boxed-Intel-Classic-Motherboards-BOXDH61WWB3/dp/B004QDVCFO/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1307712871&sr=1-3 $70

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Processor-i3-2100-LGA1155-BX80623I32100/dp/B004JEVGMO/ref=pd_sim_e_1 $125

 

[jerreddredd]

Thank you for your response. With regard to the video card, according to Tom's hierarchy chart the integrated graphics ATI HD 4250 is 10 tiers below the NVidia 8800 GTS 320 MB, or is there something that I am missing?

Why the micro ATX motherboard?

I'm always a little leary of buying a case with a bundled PSU, but the EarthWatts is a decent brand, isn't it?

Thanks again for your input

the Antec earthwatts is a very solid PSU. (5 eggs)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033&cm_re=antec_380w-_-17-371-033-_-Product

you are right on the power of the 8800 GTS, for some reason I was thinking 8500 so I stand humbly corrected.

uATX is a good choice for simple computer builds. it takes up less space and you don't pay for a bunch of extras (slots) that you don't need. they are usually $20-50 cheaper than the full size ATX MB.

 

[cheapfrag]

Can anyone tell me the difference between these two Kingston SSDNow V+ 100 96GB SSDs:

SVP100S2/96G $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139408&cm_re=kingston_ssdnow_v%2b100-_-20-139-408-_-Product

SVP100S2B/96GR $174.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139412&cm_re=kingston_ssdnow_v%2b100-_-20-139-412-_-Product

Looks like the SVP100S2/96G for $159.99 has a $50 rebate but I can't seem to pull up the rebate form and would be a good deal at $109.99. EDIT: looks like the rebate expired on 6/10.

 

[cheapfrag]

I like the following:
CPU AMD Phenom II x4 955 $112
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-HDZ955FBGMBOX-Phenom-3-2GHz-Retail/dp/B002TQYUAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307648126&sr=8-1

SSD: Kingston SSDNOW V100 $112 (Buy.com has the $50 rebate, $162 before)
http://www.buy.com/prod/kingston-ssdnow-v-svp100s2-96g-96gb-2-5-internal-solid-state-drive-ssd/q/loc/101/218053994.html

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) $60 (Shell Shocker deal)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311

DVD/CD burner Get from Newegg (free Shipping) $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151233

But I think if I use my old 8800 GTS 320 MB, that the PSU may not be powerful enough. I think the 8800 GTS 320 MB recommends a 400W PSU.

Also, with the motherboard, since I am using my old GPU, I don't need integrated graphics and am concerned about the limited number of slots for memory and add-in cards. How aobut the MB from the Tom's March system builder article:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=BAC-TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16813157176&IsFeedbackTab=True&nm_mc=ExtBanner

Or should I get a MB with SATA 6.0 GB/s and USB 3.0 (or is that out of my price range?)

And how does the Antec 300 case compare to the Antec NSK4482?

Thanks!

 

[jerreddredd]

But I think if I use my old 8800 GTS 320 MB, that the PSU may not be powerful enough. I think the 8800 GTS 320 MB recommends a 400W PSU.

dont go buy what your GPU recommends, they base that on crappy PSU's. That PSU will hold all but the upper mid tier and high end Graphics cards.

Also, with the motherboard, since I am using my old GPU, I don't need integrated graphics and am concerned about the limited number of slots for memory and add-in cards. How aobut the MB from the Tom's March system builder article:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=BAC-TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16813157176&IsFeedbackTab=True&nm_mc=ExtBanner

Nothing wrong with that MB if you feel more comfortable with full ATX, then go with it, but ask yourself what kind of cards and how many you would be adding? on board sound is great, you shouldn't need a sound card, there is a GPU slot already (SLI/CF would be the only thing i could think you might want, but then you would need a bigger PSU and more $ for GPU's) maybe sling box card or something. I don't really come up with a lot of cards I would want to put in a computer. For Ram slots 2 is fine. 4 GB's of ram is plenty and you have 8Gb already on your list.
Tom's article on memory: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-memory-upgrade,2778.html

Or should I get a MB with SATA 6.0 GB/s and USB 3.0 (or is that out of my price range?)

not sure what your price range is anymore, you already upped it with the SSD (it is a great deal if you get the MIR)
the newest generation of SSD is the only storage device that will take advantage of SATA 6G, the second Gen SSD you have picked out won't be bottlenecked by SATA 3G. USB 3.0 is great if you do a lot of transfer to USB storage devices, but for everything else, 2.0 is fine.

And how does the Antec 300 case compare to the Antec NSK4482?

both are great cases. the 300 is bigger by 2" height and depth and more flashy (the illusion version) and slightly more noisy , its a gamer's box. by noise, I mean fan noise and moving air noise, but they can be set on low speed. I like them both. I do see that the regular antec 300 w/PSU is on sale at newegg for a good price, so it would be a better deal at $85 and $6 shipping vs the $90 and $15 shipping of the NSK 4482

Antec 300 with 430w PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065


hope this helps

 

[cheapfrag]

LG DVD Burner SATA GH24NS70: NewEgg: 19.99*1.07 = 21.39 (went with this one for free shipping)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333: NewEgg: 59.99*1.07=64.19 (Shell Shocker)
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition: Amazon: $111.99
Kingston SSDNow V+100 96GB: Buy.com: 161.98-50=111.98
Antec Three Hundred (non-illusion): Amazon: $59.82
CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W: NewEgg: 44.99*1.07+1.99-20=30.13
ASRock M3A770DE Motherboard: Amazon: $59.99

Total after $70 rebates: $459.49

Am I missing anything important? (Again, I will be using my old 8800 GTS 320 MB GPU and an WD Black 640 MB for storage.) I forgot to mention that I am using an existing PCI wireless card until I can get a hard wired LAN port.

 

[jerreddredd]

LG DVD Burner SATA GH24NS70: NewEgg: 19.99*1.07 = 21.39 (went with this one for free shipping)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333: NewEgg: 59.99*1.07=64.19 (Shell Shocker)
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition: Amazon: $111.99
Kingston SSDNow V+100 96GB: Buy.com: 161.98-50=111.98
Antec Three Hundred (non-illusion): Amazon: $59.82
CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W: NewEgg: 44.99*1.07+1.99-20=30.13
ASRock M3A770DE Motherboard: Amazon: $59.99

Total after $70 rebates: $459.49

Am I missing anything important? (Again, I will be using my old 8800 GTS 320 MB GPU and an WD Black 640 MB for storage.) I forgot to mention that I am using an existing PCI wireless card until I can get a hard wired LAN port.

Works for me.