Cheap PC Build, Your Thoughts?

N

Number1SuperGuy

New Member
I'm looking into getting a new computer because my old one is showing its age with all these new high end games coming out. I don't need much, I usually find that spending $3000 on a brand new computer only gets you a few months ahead of the people who spend 1/3 of the price. In other words, I'm just looking for the best bang for my buck. Do you guys think I've achieved that?

Here's the build, just shy of $600 (doesn't include peripherals such as monitor, speakers, keyboard/mouse, etc. which I already have):

ASUS V3-M2A690G AMD Socket AM2 AMD Athlon X2 / Athlon 64 FX / Athlon 64 AMD 690G Barebone - Retail - $160

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Processor Model ADO4000DDBOX - Retail - $62

MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E-OC GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail - $130 (after rebate)

Kingston 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2N5K2/4G - Retail - $90

HITACHI Deskstar T7K500 HDT725050VLA360 (0A33437) 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $100

ATRIX PSCI-500BLK ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail - $28 (The barebones comes with a 300w power supply, I figured this would be necessary)

So there you have it. I think I've done a fairly good job getting nice parts while keeping the cost down. It scores a 17.1 on the UT3 System Score Calculator which I don't think is bad at all considering how cheap it is. So do you guys think I've goofed anywhere? I basically want the best bang for my buck so if you know of cheaper parts that would achieve the same goal, please list them!

Thanks for looking!

EDIT: Added prices right next to the products... might be useful since this thread is all about cheap computers *sigh*
 
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Thanks for the input, got my eye on that 450w one. Do you really think it's worth 2.5 times the money for a supply that *might* last longer? Not that I don't trust your judgment, I'm just trying to go the cheapest route and I don't really have money spare for a security blanket. (I realize that sounds kind of sarcastic, I don't mean it to be, I really appreciate your input :D)
 
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Number1SuperGuy said:
Got my eye on that 450w one, do you really think it's worth 2.5 times the money for a supply that *might* last longer?
Click to expand...

No it will last longer and yes because if yuor psu goes you have a pretty good chance of other hardware dying with it. Psu is never good to crap out on ive seen to many systems fail because of that very reason.
 
hpi said:
No it will last longer and yes because if yuor psu goes you have a pretty good chance of other hardware dying with it. Psu is never good to crap out on ive seen to many systems fail because of that very reason.
Click to expand...

(btw I edited my last post before you responded)

That's a good point about other hardware going too, that would suck to lose my other parts because of a faulty PSU. You think the 450w will power everything ok?
 
Hm it seems like it can handle it but Il leave that up to the more knowledgeable members on power consumption so I don't mislead you.
 
I will go for a intel setup...
E2180
GA-P35-DS3L
2600XT/ 8600GT
cheap 2 x 1GB RAM DDR2 800, like Adata Extreme/ Team Xtreem DARK
WD/ Seagate 320GB HDD SATA 16MB Cache
SATA DVD burner
Rosewill RP500-2 PSU
Very Cheap cases like Rosewill R218-P-BK
Vista preminum 64bit OEM
 
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015
179.00

ASUS P5VD2-VM SE LGA 775 VIA P4M900 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131199
47.00

pqi TURBO 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141211
49.00

Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118002
30.00

Foxconn 8600GTS-256 OC 700/2200 GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814186029
155.00

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074
80.00

Rosewill Stallion Series Single 12cm Ball Bearing Fan RD500-2-SB ATX V2.2 500W Power Supply 115V/230 V UL, CSA, TUV, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182076
45.00

Rosewill R222-P-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147095
15.00

OKGEAR 18" SATA II Cable Model GC18ARM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812123163
3.50


total: 603.50 (i didnt include shipping or rebates)
 
Number1SuperGuy said:
I don't really have a budget, but the cheaper this computer gets, the better :D
Click to expand...

You don't have budget? I though your budget is $600...
OK, If you don't have budget, a mid-high set up usually talking around $1500. And here is the most common list:

Q6600, if you not in hurry, get new 45nm CPU on Jan08
GA-P35-DS3R or MSI P35 Platinum/ MSI P35 Neo2-FR
G92 8800GTS 512MB (mid dec) > 8800GT 512MB > HD3850
cheap 2 x 1GB DDR2 800 RAM CL4, e.g. Team Group Xtreem Dark, A-DATA Extreme Edition Kit
WD/ Seagate HDD. SATA, min 16MB cache. 250GB-500GB
SATA DVD burner
Corsair 550W/ OCZ GameXStream 700W
Antec Nine Hundred/ Cooler Master Centurion 5/ Cooler Master RC690
Vista Preminum 64bit OEM
 
either a seagate or a western digital HD.
i personally prefer WD, they can take a beating and still work 100%

why not get vista ultimate 64bit?

dont forget about the X38 chipsets for mobos
 
jimkonow said:
either a seagate or a western digital HD.
i personally prefer WD, they can take a beating and still work 100%

why not get vista ultimate 64bit?

dont forget about the X38 chipsets for mobos
Click to expand...

Ulitmate is good, but most ppl don't need those extra function, why will you pay extra $70 for that?

IMO, The improvement of X38 chipset is not significant enough to convince ppl to buy it at the moment. And everyone know X48 is coming, why X38?
 
why x38?
for people who have so much money coming out of their asses (can i say that on CF?)that they can CrossFire cards that have a price tag greater than or equal to my monthly mortgage payment :P
 
jimkonow said:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015
179.00
Click to expand...

I don't really think it's necessary to spend $179 when I can get this one for $62:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Processor Model ADO4000DDBOX - Retail
The performance between the two would be basically identical. I always go with AMD processors because Intel charges way too much. Good savings on the motherboard and case, though.

daisymtc said:
You don't have budget? I though your budget is $600...
OK, If you don't have budget, a mid-high set up usually talking around $1500.
Click to expand...
The idea is to build a cheap computer that's almost as good as a $1500 one. I may not have a budget but $1500 is a lot to spend on a piece of equipment that will be outdated in a few months ;) I'd rather spend $600 to last me 2.5 years than $1500 to last me 3 years.
 
Number1SuperGuy said:
I don't really think it's necessary to spend $179 when I can get this one for $62:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Processor Model ADO4000DDBOX - Retail
The performance between the two would be basically identical. I always go with AMD processors because Intel charges way too much. Good savings on the motherboard and case, though.


The idea is to build a cheap computer that's almost as good as a $1500 one. I may not have a budget but $1500 is a lot to spend on a piece of equipment that will be outdated in a few months ;) I'd rather spend $600 to last me 2.5 years than $1500 to last me 3 years.
Click to expand...

whoa whoa whoa, a cheap computer will in no way be remotely close to a 1500$ custom built system. 1500$ can buy a wicked computer.
 
hpi said:
whoa whoa whoa, a cheap computer will in no way be remotely close to a 1500$ custom built system. 1500$ can buy a wicked computer.
Click to expand...

I agree, a cheap builld ($600) wouldn't be close to a $1,500 build, and it wouldn't last as long either.

However, it mostly depends what you are planning on doing with the computer. If all you're going to browse the web, look at email, and burn dvds...there's no point in spending a lot on a computer.
 
hpi said:
whoa whoa whoa, a cheap computer will in no way be remotely close to a 1500$ custom built system. 1500$ can buy a wicked computer.
Click to expand...

I understand that, but spending $1500 on a computer isn't logical for someone like me. I'll sacrifice $500 by stepping down from the quad core to the dual core and the 8800 to the 8600. I don't have any gaming gods to impress with my 120 FPS, I'll settle for 80.

And it's true that the $1500 computer will last longer than the $600 computer, but by the time my $600 computer needs replaced there'll be another $600 computer that I can use to pwn any n00b with. My last computer cost me about $600. I bought it 3 years ago and only now do I really feel the need to upgrade. And by the time I upgrade again the hardcore gamers will have already spent another $1500 cuz they gots itchy trigger fingers.

I'm not saying that the people who are buying $1500 computers are wrong, I'm just saying that there are those of us out there who don't need the hardcore-ultra-badass-up-to-date computers. And in the end we don't sacrifice much video quality by being a step behind the gurus.

But to get back on topic, I guess it would be a good idea to set a price cap of $600, so does anyone know of any hardware changes I could make to keep within the $600 range but still squeeze out more performance?
 
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