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12-02-2009, 07:51 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 44
OS: xp
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First Build
Hello all. I have recently gone through 3 computers trying to find one to suit my gaming needs and none of which worked well at all. I am pretty confident about my ability to actually build a comp from scratch. My problem lies within finding all the components that are compatible with each other. I play a lot of combat arms online as well as a lot of newer games. I would LIKE to make this first build for $500 or under but yet still come out with a decent comp that can handle my gaming and light multitasking online. I'm thinking I would at least like a dual core processer and enough memory and RAM to hold 2-3 newer games as well as a few programs but still run smooth. I've sat in and helped actually helped assemble builds but my knowledge of components and their compatibility is the problem. SO... I know I would like a dual core processer, and a CD/DVD w+rw for sure. I just need help getting together all the components which will all be compatible together... hard drive, memory, motherboard, video/audio cards and so on... with trying to stay within my budget... Well i'm open to any suggestions and any help would be great! Thanks in advance... xSLIMx
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12-03-2009, 09:05 AM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 44
OS: xp
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Re: First Build
All were used computers I picked up and all had the pentium 4 processer. The only one that came close to functioning the games half way decent was the compaq presario Which had... 2.40 ghz pentium 4 processer, 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory, 120 GB ultra DMA hard drive, CD-RW and DVD-ROM. That was the best of the 3 and still did not play games well at all. I can salvage any parts from that but it seems to me (and i'm no expert lol) that the only useful components from that would be the CD-RW and the DVD-ROM. I'm not looking to build a super gaming computer but just something thats gonna fair well with playing newer games. Also i'm not looking to include the price of an OS or the case in the $500-ish price range i'm shooting for. Thanks for responding quickly Wrench and any tips would be helpful
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12-03-2009, 09:28 AM
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#6 (permalink) |
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TSF Enthusiast
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Re: First Build
This is something I specced for another user a while ago:
CASE: GIGABYTE GZ-X2BPD-500 Black 0.6mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811233033 $37.99 MOTHERBOARD: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128394 $79.99 CPU: Athlon II X3 435 95W AM3 1.5MB 2900MHZ http://www.provantage.com/amd-adx435...x~7AAMD2AU.htm $91.32 MEMORY: Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin 800 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220174 $41.99 GRAPHICS: SAPPHIRE 100295HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102854 $56.99 POWER: Corsair VX550W 550W ATX http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=3436149 $79.99 HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320 $69.99 ODD: Lite-On DVD burner iHAS224-06 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-333-_-Product $31.99 $490 Prices may have shifted some, look around. |
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12-03-2009, 09:41 AM
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#7 (permalink) |
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Moderator, Hardware Team
Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.E. Pennsylvania
Posts: 25,861
OS: Win7
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Re: First Build
Without a case and an OS this will give you more CPU and GPU power.
Link Disc List Rebate Cost After Mir http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128376 GA-MA770-UD3 74.99 10.00 $64.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-680-_-Product PII x2 550 102.99 $102.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220255 DDR2-800 2Gig $49.99 $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 650TX $99.99 $10.00 $89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136074 WD Blue 320 $49.99 $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289 DVD Burner $28.99 $28.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130468 GTS250 $134.99 $134.99 $541.93 $20.00 $521.93 |
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12-03-2009, 10:35 AM
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#8 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 44
OS: xp
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Re: First Build
Thanks guys! I am looking into both of the setups you have posted and both are quite within my price range. I will post back in a bit to get opinions on my final verdict. Wrench, I am undecided on a case as of now. I'm looking to get a nicer case as I plan on upgrading this computer in the future. I will post the case in the final verdict to make sure everything will be kosher. This site has been awesome in helping me! As I stated before my knowledge of parts compatibility is not so great lol. I am really excited about my very first build and will post back soon :)
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12-03-2009, 01:16 PM
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#9 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 44
OS: xp
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Re: First Build
Ok guys... this is what I came up with for the final build. Now I just need to be assured that these components with all work with each other and will install in the case I chose. I went with that case because I wanted the clear side panel. Also I will be installing my current 120 GB hard drive to hold my OS (which will most likely be XP) and my basic progams and I will use the new drive to hold my games.
MOTHERBOARD GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX ...$79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128394 CPU AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz M3 80W Dual-Core Processor ...$102.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-680-_-Product PSU CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V ...$99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 MEMORY Patriot 2GB ...$49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220255 HARD DRIVE ...$49.99 Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136074 OPTICAL LITE-ON Black ...$28.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289 VIDEO EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 ...$134.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130468 CASE Apevia X-Dreamer 3 Metal Case w/ Side Window ...$59.95 http://www.xoxide.com/apevia-xdreamer3-silver.html Total: $606.84 I went a bit over what I wanted to spend but i'll live lol. Please let me know what you guys think. Also, two more questions... Will this setup be internet ready for a ethernet cable and if I happen to change my mind will this setup run windows 7 with out any problems? If not i'm more than happy to use XP :) Thanks guys... xSLIMx |
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12-03-2009, 01:30 PM
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#10 (permalink) |
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TSF Enthusiast
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Re: First Build
Yes on both counts.
The case isn't one I'd pick, but it will do. This would be a slightly better pick for the RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-084-_-Product I recommended the Patriot RAM to the other user when I setup this build because it was the cheapest 2GB kit from a decent brand. But the G.Skill RAM should be slightly more reliable and might have tighter timings. Same price too. If you're going to be playing most older games the Athlon II x2 would be a great choice, but if you're planning on playing newer games the Athlon II x3 here might be a better investment: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-724-_-Product Aside from that, I think you're ready to go! |
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12-03-2009, 01:34 PM
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#11 (permalink) |
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Moderator, Hardware Team
Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.E. Pennsylvania
Posts: 25,861
OS: Win7
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Re: First Build
The GA-MA785GM-US2H ia a micro Atx motherboard with integrated ATI graphics, while it's possible to use Nvidia cards sometimes the driver conflicts will drive you nuts and micro boards with integrated graphics do not overclock as well as standard atx bords without integrated video.
I would swap the video card to ATI or use a different board. |
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12-03-2009, 01:59 PM
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#12 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 44
OS: xp
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Re: First Build
ok, I will trust in your advice Phædrus2401 and go with the Athlon II x3 since I will be playing newer games and it will save me a few bucks. As for the motherboard Wrench... would you suggest using the one you posted? And will it work with the rest of the setup as well as the CPU Phædrus suggested which I will be switching to? Also about the ram I will switch to what you suggested. I have no knowledge of overclocking at all but am intrested in it. I may have to ask for some advice on that after it's built lol. You guys are awesome with the quick responses by the way!
Last edited by xSLIMx; 12-03-2009 at 02:03 PM. |
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12-03-2009, 02:01 PM
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#13 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 44
OS: xp
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Re: First Build
OH, and any suggestions on a different case that you think would be more suitable would be great. I would like to stay with a case that has a clear side pannel and preinstalled fans that will provide enough cooling for this setup
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12-03-2009, 02:20 PM
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#14 (permalink) |
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Moderator, Hardware Team
Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.E. Pennsylvania
Posts: 25,861
OS: Win7
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Re: First Build
The MA 770 will support the X3 but I think the larger cache size and slightly faster clock speed on the Phenom II will be of more benefit then the extra core in the x3.
The Antec 900 is still my favorite sub $100(barley) window case but more costly> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021 |
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12-03-2009, 02:36 PM
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#16 (permalink) |
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Moderator, Hardware Team
Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.E. Pennsylvania
Posts: 25,861
OS: Win7
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Re: First Build
No the first CPU you posted was the Athlon II X2 it and the X3 have a smaller Cache size.
The Phenom II X2 and X4 chips are Phenom II x4 chips with 2 cores disabled. |
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12-03-2009, 02:47 PM
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#17 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 44
OS: xp
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Re: First Build
ok, i'm getting lost in the sauce here somewhere lol. Can you post the motherboard and CPU that you would suggest to go along with the other components? Would like to have links from newegg. I'm trying to keep eveything coming from there to make shipping easier
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12-03-2009, 03:01 PM
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#18 (permalink) |
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Moderator, Hardware Team
Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.E. Pennsylvania
Posts: 25,861
OS: Win7
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Re: First Build
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128376 GA-MA770-UD3 74.99 10.00 $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-680-_-Product PII x2 550 102.99 $102.99 |
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12-03-2009, 03:02 PM
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#19 (permalink) |
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TSF Enthusiast
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Re: First Build
I'd recommend either this CPU:
Phenom II x2 550 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-680-_-Product Or this CPU Athlon II x3 435 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-724-_-Product Eh... I'm kind of leaning towards the first one too. Though the cache differences between the Athlon IIs and Phenom IIs are huge. |
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12-03-2009, 03:26 PM
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#20 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 200
OS: Motherboard: ASUSTeK M4A785-M CPU: AMD Phenom 3.1 X2 550: 4GB Ram WIN 7 Ultimate 64
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Re: First Build
Great Thread I am enjoying following this as this is answering all my questions! This is my exact price point as well. How quiet would this hardware run? I know outside noise depends on power supply and fans inside the case
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