Sub-$400 PC

C

Chambered

New Member
Building a machine that will be mostly used for internet use, with a little light gaming (HL2/Source Mods) thrown in.
Needs to be under $400, but I'm trying to get it closer to $300-350.
Advice and tips, please!

Processor - AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Orleans 2.4GHz Socket AM2 62W Model
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103631
Update: Intel Dual-Core E2140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116037

Motherboard - MSI K9VGM-V AM2 VIA K8M890 Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130542
Update: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100172-64L Radeon X1550 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814102704
Update: HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PROp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ightech+H165PRF512N-R+Radeon+X1650PRO+512MB+1

Power Supply - SPARKLE FSP300-60ATV ATX 300W ADA3800CNBOX
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817103915
Update: Antec earthwatts EA380 ATX12V v2.0 380W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005&Tpk=Antec+earthwatts+EA380+380W

RAM - G.SKILL 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model F2-6400PHU1-1GBNR
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231085
Update: A-DATA Extreme Edition 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211174

Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144122
Update: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...agate+ST380815AS+80GB+7200+RPM+8MB+Cache+SATA

CD/DVD - SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151153

Computer Case - COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119115

Total here is $312.92
Updated: Total is now $367
I'm considering cutting back a little on the RAM. I intend to use Windows XP, I don't think a full GB is really needed.
I've had a little trouble finding any real information on the X1550, maybe there's a better card out there for a similar price?

Thanks for any help.
 
Last edited:
CPU: E2140 ($75)
MB: Gagibyte GA-P31-DS3L (prefered $79)/ ASRock ConRoe1333-D667 R1.0 ($50 cheap)
RAM: A-DATA Extreme Edition 2 x 1GBDDR2 800 ADQVD1A16K ($39 after rebate)
HDD: Seagate ST380815AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA ($44)/ EXCELSTOR ESJ8080S 80GB 7200 RPM SATA ($37 cheap)
PSU: Antec earthwatts EA380 380W ($15 after rebate)
GPU: HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PRO 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail ($45 after rebate)
 
Last edited:
daisymtc said:
CPU: E2140 ($75)
Click to expand...

I was a little disappointed when I first read it was only a 1.6GHz, but the reviews show the OC potential to be very high, awesome!
I've never overclocked before, do you think the stock cooling will be enough to run stable at around 2.5/2.7? A lot of people were going to and above 3.0GHz, but this is a gift going to someone who doesn't know much more than how to turn the computer on, so it really needs stability.

Suggested cooling if not stock?

Also, you have the GIGABYTE GA-P31-DS3L listed, but would the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L ($89) be a worthwhile way to go instead?

Thanks again!
 
Last edited:
oscaryu1 said:
But horrible. Asrock is a low company... use that as a last resort.
Click to expand...
Thats true, but for a budget board it's pretty good. I've use a few ASRock boards and although you can't really overclock with them, they are fine if you just leave everything on "auto".
 
Chambered said:
I was a little disappointed when I first read it was only a 1.6GHz, but the reviews show the OC potential to be very high, awesome!
I've never overclocked before, do you think the stock cooling will be enough to run stable at around 2.5/2.7? A lot of people were going to and above 3.0GHz, but this is a gift going to someone who doesn't know much more than how to turn the computer on, so it really needs stability.

Suggested cooling if not stock?

Also, you have the GIGABYTE GA-P31-DS3L listed, but would the GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L ($89) be a worthwhile way to go instead?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

I personally prefer P35 chipset. But again, it all depends on your budget.
If you are not going to overclock. AMD may be a good choice
BIOSTAR NF520-A2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane 2.5GHz Socket AM2
 
[-0MEGA-];825698 said:
Thats true, but for a budget board it's pretty good. I've use a few ASRock boards and although you can't really overclock with them, they are fine if you just leave everything on "auto".
Click to expand...

Same with my PC Chips and my ECS...

All good motherboards. Even though VIA, give me fair overclocks. Great quality, still getting dissed be people.

Update: Intel Dual-Core E2140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116037
Click to expand...

$40 can get you a better GFX or even a CPU... Start with a E2180...
 
Taking in some of the various suggestions, this is where I'm at right now:

Processor - Intel Dual-Core E2140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116037

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128059

Video Card - HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PROp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...RO+512MB+1

PSU - nMEDIAPC Mute Power MP-500 ATX12V 500W
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817129003

RAM - A-DATA Extreme Edition 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211174

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2bCache+SATA

Computer Case - COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811119115

About $406 before rebates, $342 after rebates. Does this system look like it will fit well together?

Thanks!
 
Yes, but a P35-DS3L is unneeded. I'd got for a P31-DS3L in this situation.

PSU looks horrible... "Mute" sounds like a passive PSU...

And none of your links work...
 
Whoops, forgot to include this different PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153028

I'll fix the links, guess the copy paste didn't work right.

Processor - Intel Dual-Core E2140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116037

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Video Card - HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PROp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ightech+H165PRF512N-R+Radeon+X1650PRO+512MB+1

Thermaltake W0093RU ATX 12V 2.0 Version 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153028

RAM - A-DATA Extreme Edition 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211174

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...agate+ST380815AS+80GB+7200+RPM+8MB+Cache+SATA

Computer Case - COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119115
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top