budget build for friend

redenvy · 11-06-2009, 08:38 AM

ok so im building a rig for a friend who is on a budget and he has absolutely nothing to start with. he is sick of playing games on his laptop with integrated graphics. I need suggestions to make this build a little bit cheaper. I'm going as cheap as i can but I want to retain quality and as much longevity as I can. Heres what I have so far:

Case:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Monitor:

Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor

DVD Drive:
Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM

Hard Drive:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive

GFX Card:
EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400

RAM:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ

MOBO:
ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard - Retail

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Keyboard:
Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard

Mouse:
Logitech 910-001259 10 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB Wired Gaming Mouse G500

CPU Cooling:
ZALMAN CNPS9900LED 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

Thermal Paste:
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

redenvy · 11-06-2009, 11:42 AM

btw current total is $1,040

Phædrus2401 · 11-06-2009, 11:53 AM

You need a more powerful PSU. The Corsair CX400W is an excellent unit, but for a 9800GTX+ or comparable card you need at least a 550W power supply. Now the Corsair VX550W seems to be either out of stock or price way higher than normally no matter where I look, so I'm going to have to suggest a unit we normally don't:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-010-_-Product
It's a decent power supply, a few small flaws, but acceptable. It adds $20 to the price, but a much longer build lifetime and stability.

Go for this mobo to save money, it overclocks just as well as the P5Q Deluxe:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-359-_-Product

This graphics card will get the same performance as the 9800GTX+ for $25 less:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-297-_-Product

If you aren't going to be overclocking then drop the Zalman. If you just want to overclock to ~3.5GHz then go for this cooler:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ezer%20Pro%207
If you want to overclock higher, something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-020-_-Product

**Tyree** · 11-06-2009, 02:14 PM

I like your build as is with the exception of the PSU. You will need more than the 400W.
Newegg has the SeaSonic S12E 650W for $110 w/ $10 cash rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151082
I'm not fond of the Sony optical drive but it should be OK if you're not doing a lot of burning.

redenvy · 11-06-2009, 04:25 PM

yeah i HAD a better PSU but it went out of stock so i just picked one and hoped someone would suggest a better one lol. Thanks a lot guys that all really helps. I'm gonna keep the GFX card cuz i like EVGA :) i planned on over clocking it for him just a little bit. probably 3.4 or 3.5

11-06-2009, 08:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	budget build for friend ok so im building a rig for a friend who is on a budget and he has absolutely nothing to start with. he is sick of playing games on his laptop with integrated graphics. I need suggestions to make this build a little bit cheaper. I'm going as cheap as i can but I want to retain quality and as much longevity as I can. Heres what I have so far: Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Monitor: Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor DVD Drive: Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive GFX Card: EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ MOBO: ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard - Retail PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply Keyboard: Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard Mouse: Logitech 910-001259 10 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB Wired Gaming Mouse G500 CPU Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS9900LED 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler Thermal Paste: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound Last edited by redenvy; 11-06-2009 at 08:54 AM.

11-06-2009, 11:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: budget build for friend btw current total is $1,040

11-06-2009, 11:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,724 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: budget build for friend You need a more powerful PSU. The Corsair CX400W is an excellent unit, but for a 9800GTX+ or comparable card you need at least a 550W power supply. Now the Corsair VX550W seems to be either out of stock or price way higher than normally no matter where I look, so I'm going to have to suggest a unit we normally don't: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-010-_-Product It's a decent power supply, a few small flaws, but acceptable. It adds $20 to the price, but a much longer build lifetime and stability. Go for this mobo to save money, it overclocks just as well as the P5Q Deluxe: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-359-_-Product This graphics card will get the same performance as the 9800GTX+ for $25 less: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-297-_-Product If you aren't going to be overclocking then drop the Zalman. If you just want to overclock to ~3.5GHz then go for this cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ezer%20Pro%207 If you want to overclock higher, something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-020-_-Product __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

11-06-2009, 02:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,404 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: budget build for friend I like your build as is with the exception of the PSU. You will need more than the 400W. Newegg has the SeaSonic S12E 650W for $110 w/ $10 cash rebate. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151082 I'm not fond of the Sony optical drive but it should be OK if you're not doing a lot of burning. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently. Last edited by Tyree; 11-06-2009 at 02:15 PM.

11-06-2009, 04:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
redenvy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 58 OS: W7 64bit My System	Re: budget build for friend yeah i HAD a better PSU but it went out of stock so i just picked one and hoped someone would suggest a better one lol. Thanks a lot guys that all really helps. I'm gonna keep the GFX card cuz i like EVGA :) i planned on over clocking it for him just a little bit. probably 3.4 or 3.5