Hello I am looking for some help to figure out a good setup for around $400 USD. I was wondering if anyone could post a newegg build of everything I need. This will be my first build and I am looking to build for software performance more than anything. I don't need a video card because I will not be using this for gaming unless there is something cheap that uses hdmi for my screen "then I would be interested". I mainly want this for music recording software etc. Can anyone tell me a decent setup for around $400 or less? Thanks.
$400 budget build help.
- Thread starter rapid
- Start date
Benny Boy
Active Member
What do you need exaclty?
If it's just the tower and it's components, you're ok.
If you need Windows 7, that's $100 alone.
wolfeking
banned
the following parts are just starting off the CPU list looking at the cheapest dual core. Happens to be an intel celeron.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116264. Celeron dual core. 775 @ 2.5GHZ. 49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157173. Asrock mobo. socket 775 and GMA 3100. 40.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207. 4GB DDR2 800 ram. 57.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289. DVDRW. 17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113. 250 GB HDD. 42.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371029. Antec 400W PSU.
This all comes to 254.94. If you are fine with the built in GMA, then this will do you. Case decision will be up to you. you should be able to get a good case for 140.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116264. Celeron dual core. 775 @ 2.5GHZ. 49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157173. Asrock mobo. socket 775 and GMA 3100. 40.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207. 4GB DDR2 800 ram. 57.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289. DVDRW. 17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113. 250 GB HDD. 42.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371029. Antec 400W PSU.
This all comes to 254.94. If you are fine with the built in GMA, then this will do you. Case decision will be up to you. you should be able to get a good case for 140.
Thanks for your reply. That does seem decent enough but do you know of a good motherboard to go with this that has hdmi? I am willing to go over $400 if I have to. I am just looking for the best possible setup I can get in the $400 to $500 range. I also do not need a fancy case or anything so any suggestions for a cheap but good case would be great also. I have been looking into a lot of amd stuff and it almost seems I can get a better amd setup but then again I do not know much about building computers. I just really want to make sure that I have the performance I need to run my music software that is usually a 2 gig ram minimum to run and also some video editing programs. any more help and info is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Benny Boy
Active Member
Ok, I have a build here. Take a look. After seeing that you can go over a bit, I'd recommend a 550W ps if you think you may add a video card in the future.
And change the hdd to a Samsung F3 or F4.
This setup will be over $400 by a bit, depending on the case you choose. There are some good cases with nice features in the $50 range.
Unless Intel has came out with some great new IGP, and I don't think they have, this 4290 is like the king for that. Can do 1080p/2 monitors/BR/ and game a little depending on the game. The mb and ps can handle a vc upgrade as well as 6.0 for ssd and has usb3.0
ASRock 890GM PRO3 AM3 AMD 890GX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X4 840 Propus 3.2GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor HDX840WFGMBOX
SILVERSTONE ST50F-ES 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model AX3U1600GB2G9-2G
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
Looks like $371 after shipping and $10 rebate.
That seems nice. I am liking that. I found this case. do you think it would work? I want to make sure size and such is correct. Also will I need to buy anything else like fans and such besides all this or would i be good to go? I plan on following the build tutorial on here.
forgot to post the link http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
Benny Boy
Active Member
^ That case, altho appealing on the outside, lacks any features inside for your components.
Here's a couple cases with good features. See if you like any of these. If not, We'll keep lookin'.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050002120&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&CompareItemList=7%7C11-121-096%5E11-121-096-TS%2C11-147-144%5E11-147-144-TS%2C11-147-153%5E11-147-153-TS
And if you don't mind the extra $20, I'd probly recommend this hdd instead. Nothing wrong with the 7200.12, but i think this WDB is a bit better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
Here's a couple cases with good features. See if you like any of these. If not, We'll keep lookin'.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583%2050002120&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&CompareItemList=7%7C11-121-096%5E11-121-096-TS%2C11-147-144%5E11-147-144-TS%2C11-147-153%5E11-147-153-TS
And if you don't mind the extra $20, I'd probly recommend this hdd instead. Nothing wrong with the 7200.12, but i think this WDB is a bit better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
From the reviews. I seem to like this case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153 and I will go with the better hd.
Is this all I will need to get me up and going? Is there anything I am missing? Thanks.
Benny Boy
Active Member
I've worked with that case and like it. Comes with plenty of fans, good cable management, filtered mesh, nice drive rail designs and about all you need is a screwdriver for the ps and mb.
That will do it.
The mb will come with 2 data cables, ODD/HDD.
And the ps will have the rest.
Here is what I have compiled and plan on buying if all is compatible etc.
Case
Rosewill CHALLENGER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
cpu
AMD Phenom II X4 840 Propus 3.2GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103921
mobo
ASRock 890GM PRO3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157192
hdd
Western Digital Caviar Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
ps
SILVERSTONE ST50F-ES 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061
ram
A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409
cd/dvd
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188
keyboard
LITE-ON SK-1688U/B Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823107128
mouse
Sunbeam FireLine MS-2011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826178003
monitor
ASUS VH236H Black 23"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059
Does this look good? should anything be changed? and will this be all the parts I need to complete this? I would like to order the stuff today so I am trying to figure out everything I need and if I should change anything. Thanks.
Case
Rosewill CHALLENGER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
cpu
AMD Phenom II X4 840 Propus 3.2GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103921
mobo
ASRock 890GM PRO3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157192
hdd
Western Digital Caviar Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320
ps
SILVERSTONE ST50F-ES 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061
ram
A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409
cd/dvd
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188
keyboard
LITE-ON SK-1688U/B Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823107128
mouse
Sunbeam FireLine MS-2011
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826178003
monitor
ASUS VH236H Black 23"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059
Does this look good? should anything be changed? and will this be all the parts I need to complete this? I would like to order the stuff today so I am trying to figure out everything I need and if I should change anything. Thanks.
Benny Boy
Active Member
np, your welcome and glad I could. It's all compatible and I think you'll be very happy with it, but to hear other peeps opinions is very helpfull. For peace of mind if nothing else 
.
I know the ps to be a litttle overkill. But for the price and qualtiy, there's not really much else with less wattage. And who knows, maybe a vc some day.
I don't really need one atm. As you can see, I have the same 4290, but I want one even if for no ther reason than the occasional game that requires it.
.I know the ps to be a litttle overkill. But for the price and qualtiy, there's not really much else with less wattage. And who knows, maybe a vc some day.
I don't really need one atm. As you can see, I have the same 4290, but I want one even if for no ther reason than the occasional game that requires it.
np, your welcome and glad I could. It's all compatible and I think you'll be very happy with it, but to hear other peeps opinions is very helpfull. For peace of mind if nothing else
I know the ps to be a litttle overkill. But for the price and qualtiy, there's not really much else with less wattage. And who knows, maybe a vc some day.
I don't really need one atm. As you can see, I have the same 4290, but I want one even if for no ther reason than the occasional game that requires it.
Awesome. I feel that this setup will be very nice for what I need. I will order it when I get some money into the bank and build it and report back to say how everything went "hopefully smooth" lol. Thanks again. It's nice to have knowledgeable people to help with this kind of stuff.
If we don't hear from you during the build, you could post a couple pics when your done, if you want. Always nice to get pics
It could be a couple of weeks before I get around to doing this but I will definitely at least post some pics when it is finished. This will be my first build and it seems simple enough as long as all my parts turn out to be good.
I will be ordering this build today and have 1 last question. Do I need to get a thermal compound such as this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007
Or am I good without it? This is my first build and I have read about the thermal compound and now it has me wondering.
Or am I good without it? This is my first build and I have read about the thermal compound and now it has me wondering.
Benny Boy
Active Member
The stock paste on the stock heat sink will work fine for this app.
But,, lol,,that AS5 is highly recommended by many, and it will keep the cpu cooler. If you ever oc the cpu then yeah get that paste.
If you want to do the $10, then just go ahead and get it, since heats the enemy and it is better than stock.
The stock cooler will work well also. There's 3rd party coolers that are better, but how much better depends on - if and how much - your going to oc it. A bit of oc can be done w/stock cooler.
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