$950 CAN build

[geokilla]

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 - $226.99

E6300

ASUS P5N-E SLI - $156.99

P5N-E SLI

Corsair DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz Value Select 1GB - $79.99

Corsair Ram

ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB - $241.19

X1950 Pro

Western Digital 160GB SATAII 7200RPM 16MB Buffer - $84.99

Hard Drive

LG GSA-H50N 18X DVD-Writer Black - $38.99

DVD Writer

Mask P4 ATX Middle Tower Case with 500watt Power Supply (Black-Silver) - $34.99

Case

Cooler Master Extreme Power 600W - $76.99

Power Supply

The total comes to $941.12 before tax and close to $1100 after tax and assembly fee.

 

[athlonxp2200]

Yeah, everything seams good but I'd probably get AMD processor because the ones under $200 seem to be cheaper than Intel yet faster. Take a look at the Athlon 64 X2 4600. Although, I'm not really sure if the X2 4600 is faster than the E4300.

 

[athlonxp2200]

Wait, I guess the 4300 is faster, sorry.

 

[athlonxp2200]

The "Cooler Master Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP" or the "FOXCONN TLA-776" seem to be pretty good cases. As for the PSU, I think the Cooler Master Extreme Power 600W is good. I can't really help though because I'm not the on that needs the computer.

 

[athlonxp2200]

I guess the 4600 is faster, I was looking at an overclocked e4300. ARGH!

 

[gramboh]

I didn't look closely but usually Directcanada.com has the best prices (significantly cheaper than NCIX/Tigerdirect and slightly better than Canadacomputers). Plus you get free ground shipping on orders over $300.

 

[geokilla]

He's going to the store to get his computer. He doesn't trust the shipping.

How about the video card? I picked this one only because it was on sale. The 7900GS for $230 is way too expensive right?

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: geokilla
He's going to the store to get his computer. He doesn't trust the shipping.

How about the video card? I picked this one only because it was on sale. The 7900GS for $230 is way too expensive right?

It's not absurdly expensive, but twice the cost for that (smallish) difference probably wouldn't be worth it. Especially on a budget system.

EDIT: And why doesn't he trust the shipping? A $800 order would be insured with express RMA for like, $10.

 

[geokilla]

Should he wait for the price cuts instead? I told him that Intel was having a price cut in April and that the new 8600GT is coming out soon, but he sounds like he won't wait any longer. He said he's ordering the comp over the weekend. If he does get this computer, I think it will be a pretty good gaming rig. Any changes or mods needed before I e-mail him with my opinion for his new computer?

Well I'm not too sure if he will get the computer shipped or not. All I know is that his dad will have an input on what kind of computer he will get. I'm just like helping him out with these things.

 

[silverpig]

That looks good, but tell him to make sure he gets a quality case and power supply. I bought a great Antec 1040B (1080?) case about 5 years ago that I still use even though about 4 full systems have gone through it.

 

[Patt]

I'll put in that I just built a machine with parts ordered from DirectCanada, and it was the cheapest, and their ground delivery service took 2 (!) days only For $2400 worth of stuff it was $30 to have insurance.

 

[geokilla]

So we decided to change his mobo from the S3 to a Asus P5N-E SLI. The case will be an Antec Sonata Piano black. The OP has been edited. How does this rig look now.

Anything need to be changed for the better before we finalize his rig? Thanks in advance.

 

[geokilla]

bump

 

[Ichigo]

Which games is he trying to play anyhow? That's relevant.

 

[geokilla]

Nothing too graphic intensive. I think F.E.A.R. will be the most graphic intensive game he'll be playing.

Can someone please comment on the power supply that comes with the Antec Sonata? I need to know wheter it can run a 8800GTS 320MB.

 

[geokilla]

The rig is used mainly for work, and gaming once in a while.

 

[KungFused]

I'm not sure whether that bundled PSU will be able to pump out enough juice for an 8800 -- the card's recommended power is ~26A on the +12V rails -- but regardless, it's one I'd consider replacing. It's this power supply, and even taking NewEgg ratings with a whopping grain of salt it looks pretty unreliable.

 

[geokilla]

So in the end, this is what his rig will be once he gets it within a week or so.

Intel Core2Duo E6300

Asus P5N-E SLI

Corsair DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz Value Select 1GB

ATI Radeon X1950 Pro

Western Digital 160GB SATAII 7200RPM 16MB Buffer

LG GSA-H50N

Mask Case (Canada Computers)

Cooler Master Extreme Power 600W ATX 12V V2.01 Silent Power Supply 20/24PIN 120MM Fan

The total was $1100 tax included. How does the rig look, bit too expensive? Could he have bought better parts with the same amount of money?

 

[geokilla]

bump

 

[Roguestar]

Please post links to each item from the site you're buying it from, some of us might be able to find better or cheaper stuff. For $1000 you might be able to get better, especially if you tone down that overkill and unneccessarily SLI motherboard to something like a gigabyte P965-S3. Have you thought about an aftermarket cooler? Get a better PSU; a Seasonic 450W (or thereabouts) would do well enough and is a better quality power supply.

Edit: why did you change the S3 for the P5N?

 

[geokilla]

The OP has been edited. I know for some of the parts he could've gotten a better, say, power supply at a lower price, but since the store didn't have it in stock, we had to pick a different power supply. He won't be overclocking now, which is why he is using the stock cooler.

I changed the S3 to a P5N simply because the price difference was only a bit more than $10. I've read that the P5N is a great motherboard, and I like ASUS more . The computer was ordered on Sunday, and so he should be getting the computer this weekend.

 

[geokilla]

bump.