Best Rig for the budget

Addnan · 11-16-2008, 05:18 AM

I'm making a PC for my cousin for £350 - £400
Need to know if this is the best I can get.

Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...SATA+II%2c+ATX

CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo, E7300
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...lier%2c+Retail

GPU
512MB XFX 9500 GT
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...+D-Sub%2f+HDTV

PSU
500W Silverstone ST50F
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...an+Dual+%2b12V

Memory
2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...c+CAS+5-5-5-18

HDD
320 GB Samsung HD321KJ Spinpoint
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...2c+9+ms%2c+NCQ

Case
Antec 300
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=811571

This is just for everday word processing, listening to music, watching videos etc. NOT GAMING

Is this the best I can get for the money, or is there something I can improve

There is a seperate budget for OS, so no worries there

**wrench97** · 11-16-2008, 05:28 AM

Looks good you have some good choices there.
Depending on the Bios version on the board when you get it you may have to flash it to support the E7300 but that is really not a worry it should fire up and accept the flash.

Addnan · 11-24-2008, 12:14 PM

Stupid question, but its important!!
The power supply says 8 pin CPU +12v, but the motherboard has 4 pin??

**wrench97** · 11-24-2008, 01:10 PM

Yes you can usually plug it in leaving 4 pins hang over the socket, Silverstone doesn't use the 4x4 connector that most manufacturers do or switch the model to the ST50EF
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=355398

Addnan · 11-24-2008, 01:47 PM

Thanks mate, its good to know. I actually can't swap the power supplies anymore as I am currently in the middle of building.

Addnan · 11-29-2008, 05:48 AM

The PC does not power up, when press the button nothing happens. All the cables are plugged in correctly

**wrench97** · 11-29-2008, 06:10 AM

Try jumping the 2 pins on the motherboard connected to the case power button by disconnecting the front panel connector and momentarily touching the 2 pins together with a small screw driver.
If you get nothing still then do a bench test with 1 stick of ram CPU heat sink/fan and video card> How to Bench Test Your System

Addnan · 11-29-2008, 09:04 AM

Thanks its working

11-16-2008, 05:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Addnan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Best Rig for the budget I'm making a PC for my cousin for £350 - £400 Need to know if this is the best I can get. Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...SATA+II%2c+ATX CPU Intel Core 2 Duo, E7300 http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...lier%2c+Retail GPU 512MB XFX 9500 GT http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...+D-Sub%2f+HDTV PSU 500W Silverstone ST50F http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...an+Dual+%2b12V Memory 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2 http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...c+CAS+5-5-5-18 HDD 320 GB Samsung HD321KJ Spinpoint http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...2c+9+ms%2c+NCQ Case Antec 300 http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=811571 This is just for everday word processing, listening to music, watching videos etc. NOT GAMING Is this the best I can get for the money, or is there something I can improve There is a seperate budget for OS, so no worries there Last edited by Addnan; 11-16-2008 at 05:28 AM.

11-16-2008, 05:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,595 OS: Win7	Re: Best Rig for the budget Looks good you have some good choices there. Depending on the Bios version on the board when you get it you may have to flash it to support the E7300 but that is really not a worry it should fire up and accept the flash. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-24-2008, 12:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Addnan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Re: Best Rig for the budget Stupid question, but its important!! The power supply says 8 pin CPU +12v, but the motherboard has 4 pin??

11-24-2008, 01:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,595 OS: Win7	Re: Best Rig for the budget Yes you can usually plug it in leaving 4 pins hang over the socket, Silverstone doesn't use the 4x4 connector that most manufacturers do or switch the model to the ST50EF http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=355398 __________________ Power Supply and Selection Last edited by wrench97; 11-24-2008 at 01:11 PM.

11-24-2008, 01:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Addnan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Re: Best Rig for the budget Thanks mate, its good to know. I actually can't swap the power supplies anymore as I am currently in the middle of building.

11-29-2008, 05:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Addnan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Re: Best Rig for the budget The PC does not power up, when press the button nothing happens. All the cables are plugged in correctly

11-29-2008, 06:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,595 OS: Win7	Re: Best Rig for the budget Try jumping the 2 pins on the motherboard connected to the case power button by disconnecting the front panel connector and momentarily touching the 2 pins together with a small screw driver. If you get nothing still then do a bench test with 1 stick of ram CPU heat sink/fan and video card> How to Bench Test Your System __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-29-2008, 09:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
Addnan Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Vista Ultimate x64	Re: Best Rig for the budget Thanks its working