Budget Build

[DanManIt]

This is my second build. and I am thinking AM2 for this, there won't be really any gaming done on it besides like the occasional flash game. Mostly used for browsing, im, email, and office stuff.

Processor: AMD AM2 3800+ 135
Motherboard: DFI Infinitly NF UltraII-M2 89
Memory: Undecided, im leaning towards 1 gig
Video Card: maybe 7300LE, still undecicded
Hard Drive: WD Caviar 160GB 53
Optical Drive: NEC 18x DVD Burner 29
Case: Cooler Master Centurion 534 50
PS: FSP 450w 54

Total(so far) 410


The budget is like 600-700. I don't need keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS, or monitor. If anyone could give advice on the parts I haven't picked out yet or anything I should change, it would be great.

 

[DanManIt]

I forgot to add that I would like to keep it open for it to be easily upgraded in the future and last 5+ years.

 

[Icepick]

Originally posted by: DanManIt
This is my second build. and I am thinking AM2 for this, there won't be really any gaming done on it besides like the occasional flash game. Mostly used for browsing, im, email, and office stuff.

Processor: AMD AM2 3800+ 135
Motherboard: DFI Infinitly NF UltraII-M2 89
Memory: Undecided, im leaning towards 1 gig
Video Card: maybe 7300LE, still undecicded
Hard Drive: WD Caviar 160GB 53
Optical Drive: NEC 18x DVD Burner 29
Case: Cooler Master Centurion 534 50
PS: FSP 450w 54

Total(so far) 410


The budget is like 600-700. I don't need keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS, or monitor. If anyone could give advice on the parts I haven't picked out yet or anything I should change, it would be great.

Given the type of apps you will be using - Internet browsing, e-mail, MS Office the parts you chose are good. All of these parts are good and that is a very solid low budget build. Congratulations.

Edit: On second thought - you don't need a graphics card. I recommend shaving some more $$ off and get a motherboard with integrated graphics. That will be good enough. Then you can upgrade the graphics in a couple of years.

 

[moosey]

Nice choices, I agree as well. I'd maybe keep a graphics card over integrated, especially if you want to use Vista w/ Aero. The GF 6200 series are only around $30 if you needed to trim the budget.

 

[justly]

Even thought your budget can afford it, I would consider going with integrated video. Nothing you describe would require a stand alone video card and you could allways add one later if you need it. Althought there are plenty of integrated video boards to choose from one that has caught my eye is the MSI K9AGM-FID, it is a ATi Radeon Xpress 1150 chipset (so it should be cooler than an equivilant Nvidia chipset) and has both a standard VGA and DVI built in. This may not be what you want but its a good starting point for comparison sake.

I would definatly start with at least 1GB of ram, these days its pointless to have less than that.

You may not need it but the 250 GB hard drives are the sweet spot right now since they are only about $20 more than the 160 GB drive you listed.

If you where trying to cut costs that power supply seems like overkill for you purpose, but considering your budget and that you might upgrade this computer at a later time it seems fine.

I hope this gave you something to consider, but even if it didn't, good luck with your build.

 

[DanManIt]

I was definitely going for 1 GB of ram, I was thinking of maybe 2 GB but I think that is unneeded right now and if I really need to I would just be able to buy that in the future when prices drop/I actually need it.

 

[Operandi]

DFI board looks like junk.

Go with the Abit NF-M2 nView, Excellent layout and build quality (Rubycon caps everywhere). Good integrated GPU with DVI as well as VGA. Heatpipe based passively cooled chipset so you won't be replacing the dead HS/F in 6 months time like you would with the DFI or putting up with it's racket.

The Forton PSU you selected is decent but for $50, and your very lite power load you would be much better served with a lower wattage but higher quality Seasonic S12.

Along with this Coolermaster mATX case.

 

[DanManIt]

I doubt I will go for the Seasonic PSU, I have that same FSP supply in my other build and it has been excellent. I plan on sticking with them.

Does anyone have any 1 GB ram sticks that they would recommend?

 

[DanManIt]

Anyone?

 

[GlobalHPSJoe]

Decent ram, no rebate.

Link

I also second the opinion of going integrated video on the motherboard. Abit or Asus are what I'd recommend.

Hard drive, 250 is the sweet spot currently as previously stated.

Originally posted by: DanManIt
Anyone?

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

For $600 you should definitely get a Core 2 Duo. Try this:

Lite-on LH-18A1P-184 OEM
Linkworld T3131-C8820 retail
Western Digital WD2500JS OEM
Zogis ZO71GS-CLTC retail
FSP Group ATX400-PA retail
Wintec 3AMD2800-1G1K-R retail
Gigabyte GA-945P-S3 retail
Intel BX80557E4300 retail
TOTAL W/SHIPPING: $593

 

[bamacre]

With that kind of system, I'd go with a Dell refurb, and for 6-700, you could get an xps 410 over an E520/E521.

 

[trOver]

1. screw dell. build your own
2. for what you said your going to be using it for, you do not need a core 2 duo
3. you have to get an amd am2 processor
4. get this motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127013
5. get this cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103735
6. get this harddrive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701
7. get this ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145566
8. get this dvd drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106047
9. get this case/psu: http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Sho...811129155&MainItemList=N82E16811129155

total: $540 w/o shipping.

 

[DanManIt]

Originally posted by: trOver
1. screw dell. build your own
2. for what you said your going to be using it for, you do not need a core 2 duo
3. you have to get an amd am2 processor
4. get this motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127013
5. get this cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103735
6. get this harddrive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701
7. get this ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145566
8. get this dvd drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106047
9. get this case/psu: http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Sho...811129155&MainItemList=N82E16811129155

total: $540 w/o shipping.

I like this set-up a lot. I'll go with this or something very similar (I'll probably change the case/psu and the dvd drive).