Critique/Advice; can I do better for $675 shipped?

C

Cabanaboy

New Member
Hey guys, I come to you on behalf of my parents. They need a new computer as their current computer of 6 years is worthless. Basically, it takes 20-25 seconds to open Explorer 6, errors out on Firefox, and just generally sucks and it terribly slow. Despite using various tools to try to clean/ speed it up, nothing works. So they want something new.

My goal is good performance for the casual user for an extended amount of time. I'm looking for it to stay relatively quick for atleast 5-7 years. Use is Email, internet browsing, light gaming, video playback in HD. Most important to me is that it stays quick over time instead of dying slowly and painfully as the current rig has. I know this won't be hard since technology has really advanced in 6 years, while useage demands haven't increased nearly as much.

Limit is $700 shipped per them at this time.

Ok, here's what I came up with:

CASE: Antec 300 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
MOTHERBOARD: Biostar TA890GXB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138194
PROCESSOR: AMD Athlon II X4 640 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871
VIDEO CARD: Powercooler AX5570 1GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131342
RAM: Wintec 2 x 2GB DDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279
HDD: Seagate Momentus XT 250GB Hybrid 2.5" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148593
PSU: Rosewill RG530 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182199
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
DVD: 2 x Lite-On iHas http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106334

Comes to 676 shipped, and has some mail in rebates. I know the Seagate is a 2.5" drive but I love the concept of a Hybrid SSD/HDD for snappier response and I couldn't find a 3.5" version. I'll just buy extended screws to make it fit tight in the bay.

Please let me know if I can do better for cheaper. Some of it may be overkill but it should ensure snappy use for several years, plus Win7 comes with MSE security which I love on my Vista rig.


Thanks for any advice, my real confusion is if AMD or Intel is better bang for buck and what Vid card is best bang for buck.
 
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For $660 inc shipping (all prices inc. shipping):

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163168 $65

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130290 $70

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808 $145

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161296 $114

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251 $54

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181 $55

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094 $75

DVD Drives: 2 x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106334 $44

Win 7 Home Premium OEM - $100

With that you get a much, much better, higher qualit power supply, better CPU, better case, higher quality memory, more powerful graphics card, much higher quality motherboard, only thing less is the hard drive, but a Samsung F3 is still super quick, not as fast as a hybrid drive, no, but still very quick.
 
Hmmm, much nicer definitely! Thanks. However, I'm coming up with $722 dollars? It may very well be worth it of course, and it's just barely over their price range so they might be able to do it.
 
That case is $65 shipped, and is a re-branded HEC 6B chassis. You can get basically the same thing with a different front panel from a much cheaper one. (for example, the HEC Blitz, Aerocool VX-9, or Thermaltake V3)

The cable management sucks on that design, though. Here's a better case than all of them for $40 shipped:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

That'll take you down to $707.


edit2: Also, I wouldn't put a 125W CPU on that motherboard. It has a 4-phase power section with no VRM's, so it really won't hold up well to that. There have been several instances of MSI boards catching fire due to the VRM's being overloaded, though it's mostly with the Thuban chips. HardOCP has a whole club for people who've had that happen.

I'll throw try my hand at a build in a minute...
 
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870 extreme3 mb = 95.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198
955 + crd r/w = 144. here they pay you $1 to to take the crd r/w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.412439
GSkill CL7/1600 = 75.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303
XFX/XFX =177.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.562860
F3 = 70.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
about 563. + optical = $585. after mir's etc... combo 7 with the case if you can, which is usually.
if no crossfire, then dont need 650w but find a better deal?

EDIT:here it is with dren's case...130. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.546483.11-146-061
 
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Here we go. Total comes to $707 shipped, $692 after rebates. Should play most any game on high, and when it starts to fall behind, you can OC the CPU and add a second 5770.


CPU + eSATA Bracket: Phenom II 955- $137 ($15 discount on $5 bracket bracket, lol)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.412235

OS + Mobo: Win7HPX64OEM + Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H- $213 (will support a second GPU later on)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.552650

RAM: 2x2GB Team Group 1600- $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313081

Case: NZXT Gamma- $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

PSU: Antec EA650- $74
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

GPU- Powercolor Radoen HD5770- $120 ($15 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131330

DVD burner: Lite-ON iHAS424-98- $24
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

HDD- Spinpoint F3 1tB- $51 shipped with code: HOLIDAYCHEER
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...-F3-HD103SJ-1TB-SATA2-7200rpm-32MB-Hard-Drive
(don't worry about buying from Superbiiz...they're good. BBB accredited and everything. Got mine from there, had it in 3 business days.)
 
nice finds on those discounts.loll

that way brings the price on the one I did to under 700... i think I like mine better,, at least till you tell me why not :)

edit: but i loose the crd/r/w
 
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That is actually a very good build. My only major nitpick is with the motherboard. It only has a 1-year warranty and a 4-phase CPU power section, which won't overclock well and definitely won't play nice with a Thuban chip. I'd recommend that board without hesitation to someone looking for an Athlon II-based rig (or even a 95W PII) that will be upgraded eventually, but for a PIIX4BE rig that needs to last 5+ years and has a good chance of being upgraded to a Thuban, I'd have to give it a pass.

The PSU also has an issue with heavy 5V loads, but that shouldn't be a problem in this rig.

Perhaps we can find a way to fit that Gigabyte mobo in? It has a $25-off combo with Win7...
 
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Sure, that $25 off w/ better board definiately. your 955 combo saves a few. and some could be had on my Ram. corsair/ a-data/team all save about 25$ for CL9
see what it stacks up like Dren.


Edit: i almost went with the 925 which would have been 95w and 15$ less,not sure about the .4 overclock, and cooler,,and for the + $15 you get .4 gigs and black, so the 955 would be the way to go.
 
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For the price difference after the bracket combo thing, the 955 is absolutely the better buy...the 925 on Newegg is a C2 chip.

So, at this point, we have:

CPU + eSATA Bracket: Phenom II 955- $137
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.412235

OS + Mobo: Win7HPX64OEM + Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H- $213
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.552650

RAM: 2x2GB Team Group 1600- $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313081

Case: NZXT Gamma- $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

PSU + GPU- XFX XXX650W + XFX 5830- $215 ($20 & $30 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.562860

DVD burner: Lite-ON iHAS424-98- $24
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

HDD- Spinpoint F3 1tB- $51 shipped with code: HOLIDAYCHEER
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...-F3-HD103SJ-1TB-SATA2-7200rpm-32MB-Hard-Drive

That's $728 shipped, and is the closest to $700 I know how to get it without dropping specs on something. It'll actually be $678 once the rebates come back. How's that look, TS?
 
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Wow, thanks for all the help guys! Now I feel terrible with my shoddy build in my OP haha. I'll be running this by my parents tonight to see how they feel about it all. From what is posted it will be great for them!

Just to make sure, the PCU and the MoBo will be safe together and reliable? The goal is long term performance. I doubt they will push the rig too hard, but I want to know the MoBo and components inside will withstand being on for very long stretches of time and not fail from heat build up. I like the Antec 300 for the air flow EDIT: NM, the NZXT has plenty of airflow!
 
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Well actually the NZXT only comes with one fan, but it has plenty of passive cooling....heat rises out the top very easily. However, the big difference between it and the 300 is this:

Gamma:
23uc5kz.jpg


300:
xgb6fl.jpg



edit:
And yeah, it's all compatible, and uses good quality parts. No worries man. :)
 
Sweet!

It looks like it will be a go. Just have to wait for their final word, but they seem to be fine with the price range. Can't wait to start building a PC again!

One question if anyone knows; with that case is the single fan provided quiet? One gripe with the current computer is that the single fan in the back is loud enough that they often turn it off at night to sleep.
 
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And a second one now; is it silly to use a 2.5" drive in a desktop. I'm hung up on trying out that Hybrid Momentus XT drive but they are only made in 2.5" form factor. I can easily make it fit, but I assume SATA for desktop is same as SATA for laptop? The Momentus says it is 3 GB/s but would it be more with the SSD or is it a cable limitation? What i am getting at is the MoBo listed has capabilities of 6 GB/s, would the XT be able to utilize the 6GB/s or does it have a limiting factor that keeps it at 3GB/s?

Hopefully that made sense! Also, thanks a ton for the help. I'm not completely lost but I'm not confident in my knowledge of these things to buy without help.

EDIT: OK, better idea.... how do you guys feel about this WD HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136544
 
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The caviar black performs about the same as the Spinpoint F3

At $120 for a 500GB, I'm not sure the momentus xt is worth it, but nobody's stopping you from giving it a shot.
 
Ya, I decided not to experiment with it this time. I'll just wait for the next time a building urge comes along and hopefully a 3.5" version will be available and cheaper. As for the 640, I just generally prefer WD since I've used all their drives worry free and they all seem snappy. However, reviews on Newegg seem to indicate the speed isn't much better than a standard 3GB/s drive. I'll just stick with the listed one for now.
 
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