Budget PC Build

[Johnny5]

Im starting this thread cause i have to build a budget computer. I know how to build computers but im terrible at picking components. I already have a case, HDD, DVD-ROM, and Sound Card. This is what i got so far.. Budget under $850usd.

CPU: C2D e6750 $200
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 2GB DDR2800 (PC2 6400) $110
Video Card: HIS 1950pro 512mb $200
PSU: OCZ Gamestream 600watt $90
Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS9500 $49

TOTAL $794 shipped

How does this look so far? I want all the suggestions i can get. Again, I can build the computer but terrible at buying the right stuff.

 

[v-zero]

At this price range, drop the stupidly expensive Crucial RAM and get the cheapest 2GB set on offer. Then get an 8800gts 320mb instead of the x1950pro.

 

[Johnny5]

At this price range, drop the stupidly expensive Crucial RAM and get the cheapest 2GB set on offer. Then get an 8800gts 320mb instead of the x1950pro.

Isnt that ram good? Im going for best bang for the buck? Im $100 under my budget so far. Does that 8800gts out perform the 1950?

 

[v-zero]

Isnt that ram good? Im going for best bang for the buck? Im $100 under my budget so far. Does that 8800gts out perform the 1950?

The RAM is just too expensive, it is good, but any 2GB PC6400 set will do. The 8800gts is much better, yes.

 

[sneekypeet]

I would agree with the 8800 VS the 1950PRO altho the 1950 does ok...But if you plan to OC keep the RAM choice, as POOP ram is exactly that, POOP.

As for the Zalman its a bit pricey for what it can do, Im recalling from 939 but Ive seen cheaper and also better coolers at the same price out there.

Other than that looks good, but I would say as it stands with GFX and cooler I could see you putting more money into it shortly!

 

[DOM]

Is all this stuff from Newegg ?

 

[v-zero]

I would agree with the 8800 VS the 1950PRO altho the 1950 does ok...But if you plan to OC keep the RAM choice, as POOP ram is exactly that, POOP.

As for the Zalman its a bit pricey for what it can do, Im recalling from 939 but Ive seen cheaper and also better coolers at the same price out there.

Other than that looks good, but I would say as it stands with GFX and cooler I could see you putting more money into it shortly!

Cheap RAM is fine! People who buy performance RAM are idiots! you might get 1% extra performance for a lot of money. Just buy the cheapest stuff and use a divider - especially with DDR2.

 

[sneekypeet]

could be right there as Im talking from reading and not personal experience with DDR2. Altho with any system I would assume a 1:1 ratio on RAM to perform better.

 

[DOM]

I would keep that ram cuz if its from newegg there ($69.99 after $40.00 Mail-In Rebate)

and for Intel Chipset the higher the mem the better

I run my mem on 4:5

 

[v-zero]

could be right there as Im talking from reading and not personal experience with DDR2. Altho with any system I would assume a 1:1 ratio on RAM to perform better.

Yes, you're right there, but from a budget point of view you should never put RAM ahead of the graphics or processor when $120 RAM is so similar to $70 RAM...

 

[v-zero]

I would keep that ram cuz if its from newegg there ($69.99 after $40.00 Mail-In Rebate)

and for Intel Chipset the higher the mem the better

I run my mem on 4:5

In that case use the rebate...

 

[sneekypeet]

I guess my point is every budget build turns into an OC monster, spending for the good stuff up front only drops what you have to spend later. Altho this is comming from an avid OC'er

 

[keakar]

Im starting this thread cause i have to build a budget computer. I know how to build computers but im terrible at picking components. I already have a case, HDD, DVD-ROM, and Sound Card. This is what i got so far.. Budget under $850usd.

CPU: C2D e6750 $200
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R $130
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 2GB DDR2800 (PC2 6400) $110
Video Card: HIS 1950pro 512mb $200
PSU: OCZ Gamestream 600watt $90
Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS9500 $49

TOTAL $794 shipped

EDIT: without the HDD it comes to $849

How does this look so far? I want all the suggestions i can get. Again, I can build the computer but terrible at buying the right stuff.

these would be my choices: (all prices are from today at newegg & some include rebates)

CPU: Intel Q6600 Quad Core $279
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 $149
MEMORY: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $70
HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s $68
VIDEO CARD: EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB $270
PSU: APEX SL-8600EPS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power Supply $80
COOLING: no opinion here because whatever you like is what you like

CPU ------- $279
MOBO ----- $149
MEMORY --- $70
HDD ------- $68
VIDEO ----- $270
PSU ------- $80

Total ------ $917

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

these would be my choices: (all prices are from today at newegg & some include rebates)

CPU: Intel Q6600 Quad Core $279
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 $149
MEMORY: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $70
HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s $68
VIDEO CARD: EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB $270
PSU: APEX SL-8600EPS ATX12V / EPS12V 600W Power Supply $80
COOLING: no opinion here because whatever you like is what you like

CPU ------- $279
MOBO ----- $149
MEMORY --- $70
HDD ------- $68
VIDEO ----- $270
PSU ------- $80

Total ------ $917

Second this, but drop the quad core and get a cheaper dual core cpu (IE e6550)

 

[keakar]

Second this, but drop the quad core and get a cheaper dual core cpu (IE e6550)

i threw in a HDD he didnt mention needing so if you can take it out then it comes to $849

also IMO the Q6600 is an unbelievable clocker, it would be a bad move to pass it up

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

You make a valid point... but budget and quad core don't go in the same sentence.

 

[Johnny5]

I much rather have the quad core but this is a budget build and right now nothing that i do computer wise could tell the difference between quad or dual.

CPU: Intel E6750 $199
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 $149
MEMORY: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $70
VIDEO CARD: EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB $270
COOLING: no opinion here because whatever you like is what you like

all under 800

 

[Wile E]

I'd say that's a solid build. I also think it was a wise choice to stick with the Crucial. Mine goes to 1200MHz 5-5-5-15 on 2.4V. Currently running at 1000MHz 4-4-4-12 @ 2.3V. Let's see some budget ram do that. lol

 

[Johnny5]

I agree with wile. I'm a strong believer in reading reviews and the reviews for the cruical are outstanding plus $40 rebate. That seems hard to beat.

Now I have to wait for my newegg order to come in and ship it back because I ordered the wrong stuff

 

[DOM]

I agree with wile. I'm a strong believer in reading reviews and the reviews for the cruical are outstanding plus $40 rebate. That seems hard to beat.

Now I have to wait for my newegg order to come in and ship it back because I ordered the wrong stuff

what did you order wrong ?

 

[keakar]

I much rather have the quad core but this is a budget build and right now nothing that i do computer wise could tell the difference between quad or dual.

CPU: Intel E6750 $199
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 $149
MEMORY: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $70
VIDEO CARD: EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB $270
COOLING: no opinion here because whatever you like is what you like

all under 800

well if your sure certain you dont need the quad then you could go with:

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L board choice for only $100

Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2M shared L2 Cache for only $122

XFX PVT84GUDF3 GeForce 8600GTS 256MB video card for only $140 after rebate
(you dont get a 8800 unless serious gaming and definately not for a budget build)

that will save you around $250 and yet still be fast with good video capabilities.

also you never mentioned a case, sometimes these two sights have better selections on cases to choose from and occassionally do beat the egg. (geeks has some decent quality cases for only $20 shipped)

http://www.geeks.com/products_sc.asp?cat=103

http://www.xoxide.com/pccases.html

EDIT: i was just showing you how you could end up with a pretty high end system and still stay in your budget. thats why i went quad q6600 and the 8800gts gpu.

when comparing cpus dont put too much into the ghz numbers as its the cache that helps the speed but differences are so minor unless your really intense gaming you wont notice a 1.8 from a 2.4 processor but you just might notice the difference in a 2mb cache from a 4mb cache.

 

[Johnny5]

I want the choice to add a quad later. I use the computer mainly for games, bittorrent, and dvd burning. My games of choice right now are CS 1.6(HL1) and Source games but Bioshock and crysis look hot.

I dont need a case. Im going to use my old alienware case. As of right now im under my budget of 900.

 

[keakar]

I want the choice to add a quad later. I use the computer mainly for games, bittorrent, and dvd burning. My games of choice right now are CS 1.6(HL1) and Source games but Bioshock and crysis look hot.

I dont need a case. Im going to use my old alienware case. As of right now im under my budget of 900.

well then i suggest you use the Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz FSB800MHz 2M LGA775 for only $146
instead of the E6750 2.66GHz and it will save you another $50 to use next year when you will be buying the quad.

 

[Basard]

I see the motherboard you choose isn't SLI. You can save a few more bucks (which you can add towards the 8800gts) if you go with an AMD 6000+ (170 @ Newegg) and the Asus M2N-E (99 @ Newegg).

As for cooling... In my opinion you overypay when you buy a Zalman cooler, just because it says "zalman" on it. That zalman cooler you listed isnt even all that great. I'd say about 95% of $50 coolers out there are better than the Zalman. I cant seam to find any HDT (heatpipe direct touch) coolers on newegg, which is really lame, but if you look at the reviews of them here at techpowerup, they make the zalman look like an oem cooler--as far as performance goes.

 

[keakar]

ok johnny5 you talked me into a cooler suggestion lol.

my choice for you would be this ZEROtherm BTF90 92mm Silent UFO for only $30

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887002

or the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler for $26

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134

you will be very happy with either choice IMHO and getting one of these saves you another $30 since that ZALMAN CNPS9500 is going for $60 now at the egg.