I'm looking into an inexpensive new build using LGA 775(w/E2200?) or AM2 socket using 2 GB DDR2 and with PCI-E for graphics. I will still use my existing speakers, LCD monitor, optical drives(DVD ROM and CD-RW) and my case and I won't need an operating system(using XP Home edition) but I will need everything else. Any recommendations on a mobo/dual core proc. combo with good onboard sound for a very tight budget? I won't need a super large HDD either-about 120 gig SATA will do. Also, about $100 for vid card is in the plan too. I'm not an extreme gamer, but I do enjoy playing America's Army quite often and would like to play it on pretty high settings. I guess I'll need a decent PSU too. My budget will only go for about $300 to $350 total. Don't need SLI nor real expensive ram. Would this be any good? Biostar P4M890-M7 TE Socket 775 Barebone Kit - Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 2.20GHz OEM, 256MB Video Card, 160GB SATA HD, 2GB DDR2 PC4200, ATX Mid-Tower Case, Clear Side, 400 Watt Power Supply at TigerDirect.com Any thoughts? Thanks.
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VERY tight budget PC build
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Get a motherboard which supports ALL core 2 duo cpus, e.g any P35chipset such as Gigabyte P35-DS3L---this MB should be less than 100$ if u shop around.
Try upping ur RAM speed to DDR2 667...it should not be much more expensive than 533. <40$.
For a graphics card ~100$ is a pretty tough choice. Try to find an 8600GTS or 8600GT if ur budget doesnt extend that far.
160GB HDD's should only be ~50$ so ull b fine in storage.
I suggest trying to save up more money to buy a better comp otherwise ull need so many upgrades in the future.Asrock P55-Extreme
Core I5 @ 3.2GHZ
2x2GB G.skill Ripjaws DDR3 1600
ASUS HD5850
1TB Samsung SATA II
Corsair TX650W PSU
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Okay, saving up more money, HA! More money in hand won't be going to a PC build when you're trying to support a family of five with the price of food and gas nowadays. Anyway, an E2200 dual core with a micro atx board from a proven brand seems okay to me. They can be had together for around $130-$140. So now, how about the psu? I have a 360 watt but it's a 20 pin. Will that still work with a newer MB? Thanks.
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Replace the PSU as it won't cope for long, if at all, and personally I'd go with an Intel chipset but I'd stay away from Gigabyte mainboards as far as possible.
As for those optical drives, if they're not SATA then get yourself a SATA DVD burner and forget about your "old" ones.
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Originally posted by wayout44 View PostReplace the PSU as it won't cope for long, if at all, and personally I'd go with an Intel chipset but I'd stay away from Gigabyte mainboards as far as possible.
As for those optical drives, if they're not SATA then get yourself a SATA DVD burner and forget about your "old" ones.
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Oh, here's a treat for you. I scanned Ebay
QX9770 Yorkfield 3.2Ghz Quad Core Intel Processor (That's Core 2 Extreme, top of the line)
The current bid are $5.00 with free shipping.
QX9770 Yorkfield 3.2Ghz Quad Core Intel Processor - eBay (item 320254938848 end time May-24-08 13:23:21 PDT)
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Originally posted by Aguiluz View PostOh, here's a treat for you. I scanned Ebay
QX9770 Yorkfield 3.2Ghz Quad Core Intel Processor (That's Core 2 Extreme, top of the line)
The current bid are $5.00 with free shipping.
QX9770 Yorkfield 3.2Ghz Quad Core Intel Processor - eBay (item 320254938848 end time May-24-08 13:23:21 PDT)
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
how about the Tiger Direct special.
Biostar P4M890-M7 TE v7.0 - $49.99
PowerUp Mid-T Case - $39.99
Intel Pentium DC E2200 2.20GHz OEM - $69.99
Crucial 2048MB DDR2 - $43.98
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160GB Hard Drive - $49.99
ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro 256MB PCIe - $39.99
Total Price: $259.99
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Originally posted by DigitalDD View Posthow about the Tiger Direct special.
Biostar P4M890-M7 TE v7.0 - $49.99
PowerUp Mid-T Case - $39.99
Intel Pentium DC E2200 2.20GHz OEM - $69.99
Crucial 2048MB DDR2 - $43.98
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160GB Hard Drive - $49.99
ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro 256MB PCIe - $39.99
Total Price: $259.99
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Originally posted by catdug View PostOh, now that's cute. $999 buy it now. 3 days left, I'm sure it'll stay @ $5.00. C'mon guys I'm serious. I'm thinking of going with this: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards , Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 460W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply 115/ 230 V RoHS, CE, FCC, TUV, cUL, RoHS - Power Supplies , Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives , Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E2180 Allendale 2.0GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors , Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory , Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Considering the piss poor advice you received, you did real well picking out the parts yourself. I don't see anything that could have been improved upon.
As for SATA DVD/CD drives, they are not true native SATA devices yet. They have a built in IDE to SATA converter so you would not gain a single iota of speed out of any current SATA DVD drive.
The difference in speed from your PC listed in your sig is gonna blow your mind, enjoy!GIgabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
AMD FX8120 @ 4GHz
Patriot 1866MHz EL series 2X4GB DDR3
Powercolour HD 6970 2GB w/XFX 8800GT 512MB Hybrid PhysX
Creative X-FI titanium HD w/Technics class A 300W amp and tower speakers
PC P&C 500W PSU
2TB Seagate
Coolermaster 690II w/Corsair H100 tucked under the hood
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Re: VERY tight budget PC build
Thank you casecutter for your reply. I have finished with my new PC build. Everything went well and she's running very smooth and much cooler(cpu @30C idle) than my sig. build. Soon, I will run some benchmarks and also tweak my bios settings some more. So far I am very pleased. Any bios tweak suggestions? Thanks, Doug...
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