Building Your Own Core 2 Desktop Vs Buying

Peachesbackwards · 09-27-2007, 07:29 AM

I've retitled and reworded a thread I started about a week ago in the hopes of getting a better more specific answer. All I use a computer for is basic functions: Internet, downloading, burning CD/DVD/s, Word Processing. I do not game or do graphics work.

What would it cost me, best guess, to build my own Core 2 desktop assuming I could utilize anything from my HPm260N Pentium 4 XP system? What would a similar computer cost if I bought it retail? I do not need a monitor with this and I assume my motherboard and RAM could not be transferred into this new desktop. I do not want Vista.

Thank You for any help.

Bradan · 09-27-2007, 07:32 AM

well. it will probably cost about 2/3 of the cost of a prebuilt.

you also get exactly the parts and case you want, and you dont get useless bloaty software bundles.

ThatGuy16 · 09-27-2007, 07:36 AM

Depends on your budget lol. Its hard to say anything without a price in mind. I would say for speed and no gaming... something like a gigabyte P-35 DS3L (~$100), E6750 ($194), 8600GT ($120) or GTS (GTS cost more.. but your not gaming), maybe a $50 case, a 250 or 320gb hdd ($60-80), Optic drive ($35), 2gb Corsair or G. Skill (~$100), Power supply ($50-100), and Vista Home Premium, or XP OEM ($114)

Just some ideas... like i said hard to say without a price in mind

And i would also recommend a after market heatsink for the cpu

daisymtc · 09-27-2007, 11:12 AM

I will say depends on your knowledge on computer. If you have the knowledge to build and fix it when it have problems, then build it yourself.
Looking at the function you want, a slight upgrade of your P4 computer may worth considering.
What is your current spec?

trod · 09-27-2007, 06:58 PM

Why suggest a e6750 vs a e2180 if hes not gaming? I would like to know cause I am thinking a building a system for the same purposes.

ThatGuy16 · 09-27-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trod

Why suggest a e6750 vs a e2180 if hes not gaming? I would like to know cause I am thinking a building a system for the same purposes.

Alot faster at normal tasks, though like i said... its hard to configure anything without a price in mind..

trod · 09-27-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGuy16

Alot faster at normal tasks, though like i said... its hard to configure anything without a price in mind..

How about the E2180 overclocked for normal tasks? would there be any difference in an oc E2180 at 3.0 vs a e6750 at 3.0 for normal tasks? seems like you could save $100 this way.

**oscaryu1** · 09-28-2007, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trod

How about the E2180 overclocked for normal tasks? would there be any difference in an oc E2180 at 3.0 vs a e6750 at 3.0 for normal tasks? seems like you could save $100 this way.

Yup. FSB goes down, and so does cache (I think)

ThatGuy16 · 09-28-2007, 01:57 AM

I think the E6420 would be a sufficient choice...

09-27-2007, 07:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
Peachesbackwards Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 130	Building Your Own Core 2 Desktop Vs Buying I've retitled and reworded a thread I started about a week ago in the hopes of getting a better more specific answer. All I use a computer for is basic functions: Internet, downloading, burning CD/DVD/s, Word Processing. I do not game or do graphics work. What would it cost me, best guess, to build my own Core 2 desktop assuming I could utilize anything from my HPm260N Pentium 4 XP system? What would a similar computer cost if I bought it retail? I do not need a monitor with this and I assume my motherboard and RAM could not be transferred into this new desktop. I do not want Vista. Thank You for any help.

09-27-2007, 07:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bradan Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ontario, Canad'eh Posts: 1,052	well. it will probably cost about 2/3 of the cost of a prebuilt. you also get exactly the parts and case you want, and you dont get useless bloaty software bundles. __________________ The New Beast: Coolermaster CM 690 4x120mm Corsair 550VX - 41A 12v P5N32-E - 680i SLI Motherboard E7200/3MB Core2Duo@3.7Ghz- AC Freezer 7 Pro Corsair DDR2 6400 5-5-5-15 Asus 8800GT@700/1750/1900 Soundblaster Audigy 4 SE Western Digital SE16 500GB WD5000AAKS

09-27-2007, 07:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
ThatGuy16 Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Age: 99 Posts: 5,472	Depends on your budget lol. Its hard to say anything without a price in mind. I would say for speed and no gaming... something like a gigabyte P-35 DS3L (~$100), E6750 ($194), 8600GT ($120) or GTS (GTS cost more.. but your not gaming), maybe a $50 case, a 250 or 320gb hdd ($60-80), Optic drive ($35), 2gb Corsair or G. Skill (~$100), Power supply ($50-100), and Vista Home Premium, or XP OEM ($114) Just some ideas... like i said hard to say without a price in mind And i would also recommend a after market heatsink for the cpu __________________ CPU: C2D E8400 @ 4Ghz 1.24v HSF: Apogee GTX MB: Gigabyte X38-DS4 Ram: 2x2GB G. Skill DDR2-1068 HDD: 320GB Seagate PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700w OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit GFX: 2x HD4850 Crossfire LCD: LG 22" L226WTQ 3DMark06: 20826

09-28-2007, 01:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
ThatGuy16 Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Age: 99 Posts: 5,472	I think the E6420 would be a sufficient choice... __________________ CPU: C2D E8400 @ 4Ghz 1.24v HSF: Apogee GTX MB: Gigabyte X38-DS4 Ram: 2x2GB G. Skill DDR2-1068 HDD: 320GB Seagate PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700w OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit GFX: 2x HD4850 Crossfire LCD: LG 22" L226WTQ 3DMark06: 20826

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09-27-2007, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
daisymtc Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2,716	I will say depends on your knowledge on computer. If you have the knowledge to build and fix it when it have problems, then build it yourself. Looking at the function you want, a slight upgrade of your P4 computer may worth considering. What is your current spec?

09-27-2007, 06:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
trod New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4	Why suggest a e6750 vs a e2180 if hes not gaming? I would like to know cause I am thinking a building a system for the same purposes.

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