Computer Build Help

[chaoticgerbil]

The pc will be used for 3ds max modeling and animation, photoshop, illustrator, internet, watching movies.

My budget is $480 with shipping. I should say about $450 without shipping.
I am in the u.s.
No brand preference
I don't plan on overclocking ever.
I'd like to order the parts by the end of the week.


Parts I already have that I will use:
Antec True Power 2.0 550 power supply
Hanns-G JW199D 19" Widescreen Monitor
Logitech Keyboard
Razer Diamondback Mouse
Windows XP Home Edition 32 bit
DVD Rom Drive
DVD RW Drive

Parts needed:
computer case
hard drive
motherboard
graphics card
processor with heatsink and fan
memory

Current plan: $478.04 total with shipping

HEC 6K28BB8F Black 0.8mm SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case - Retail $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811121003

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $41.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136075

BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G M2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813138105

EVGA 512-P3-N861-AR GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130334

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail 104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231166

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail $66.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103211


If someone can come up with a better build for less money it will be greatly appreciated.

 

[modoheo]

You don't need DDR2 1066 RAM if you're not overclocking. DDR2 will be fine, and save you money. Recommended:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146731

That alone will save you 40 bucks after MIR. If you could take that and put it toward getting the cheapest quad core CPU (such as the intel Q6600), you'd probably benefit with the type of programs you're using.

 

[chaoticgerbil]

Ok, but even though I'd save $40 on ram, you have me spending $124 more on a processor. I think that puts me at around $80 over my limit of $480. $480 is my absolute tops. But if there is really no reason to get the 1066 with my current build plan, than I'll just get the 800 ram and save $40, and won't change the cpu or mobo. Thanks.

More replies appreciated.

 

[DSF]

I would put the $40 savings towards a better hard drive. $80 is just about right to get you a WD Caviar 640GB which will be faster and four times as large as the one you picked for only twice the price. 160GB drives are in a very unfavorable part of the price/performance curve.

I take it your applications need a fair amount of 3d graphics acceleration? If not you could save a fair bit of money on the graphics card as well.

 

[firewolfsm]

DSF called it, for about $40 you can step up to a 640GB drive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136218

OR

you could buy a 4850 instead of your 9600GT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127370

 

[onedestinazn2]

well i'd definately get this antec three hundred case over the hec that you chose, with free shipping it actually comes out to be cheaper and MUCH better. you should also get this gigabyte 780g boardover the biostar as gigabyte boards are better and the combo with the processor saves you like $15. i also agree with the above poster in that you should spend the extra money on the wd 640gb but a 4850 isnt neccesary at ur resolutions but i wouldnt go less than a 8800gt 512mb.

 

[chaoticgerbil]

Originally posted by: DSF
I would put the $40 savings towards a better hard drive. $80 is just about right to get you a WD Caviar 640GB which will be faster and four times as large as the one you picked for only twice the price. 160GB drives are in a very unfavorable part of the price/performance curve.

I take it your applications need a fair amount of 3d graphics acceleration? If not you could save a fair bit of money on the graphics card as well.

So that hard drive will really show a difference in speed/performance? Is it because of the 16mb cache vs 8mb?

I should have mentioned that I don't really use a lot of space and I keep all my music, movies, documents on an external hard drive. I will only use the internal one for programs. On my current internal hd, which I will not use in my new build, i only use 30gb of 140 gb of space.

Since I won't need 640gb of space, how about this hard drive with a 32mb cache?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822148309
Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $79.99

Originally posted by: onedestinazn2
well i'd definately get this antec three hundred case over the hec that you chose, with free shipping it actually comes out to be cheaper and MUCH better. you should also get this gigabyte 780g boardover the biostar as gigabyte boards are better and the combo with the processor saves you like $15. i also agree with the above poster in that you should spend the extra money on the wd 640gb but a 4850 isnt neccesary at ur resolutions but i wouldnt go less than a 8800gt 512mb.

the description of that case says it is for atx mobos, i'd like a smaller case anyways that takes up less space

 

[BlueAcolyte]

No, the 640GB drive is actually FASTER. The cache doesn't have so much to do with it once you pass 16mb.

Plus the Antec 300 is pretty small for an ATX case. I would also recommend a Cooler Master Centurion (They have a micro-ATX version as well.)

 

[onedestinazn2]

the300 really isnt not that big ive built many pc's using that case before and its going to be pretty roomy since you will be using a matx board. the reason why the 640gb drive is faster is actually due to the larger 2 platter design, if you wanted to get a smaller drive then try the 320gb western digital which may or may not be as fast as the 640gb because they had two different models one with 2 160gb platters and one later with a large 320gb platter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136074

 

[onedestinazn2]

heres a code for the 640gb harddrive from western digital it makes it $80 for the drive, personally id get this since its so cheap and youre guaranteed the faster design

coupon code: EMCAJCGBK

 

[Abu Som3a]

CPU: I recommend the E2180, which should be overclocked on the stock HSF to ~3.2GHz. To reach the same level of performance using the AMD 5000+ X2, you will need to overclock it to around 4GHz...
$70 - Intel Pentium E2180 Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819116052

Motherboard:
$60- BIOSTAR TForce G31 Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813138121

Despite being based on the G31 chipset, it actually overclocks extremely well. Look at this page to learn more:
http://www.rebelshavenforum.co...et_topic;f=33;t=000189

RAM:
$70 ($30MIR) - DDR2 4GB PC6400 DUAL CRUCIAL
http://www.frys.com/product/5530560

FYI, the performance difference between DDR2-800 and DDR2-1066 is negligible:
http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2800&p=7

Video Card:
With the apps you are using, you are better off with a workstation grade video card:
$170 - ATI FireGL V3600 256MB Workstation Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814195048


Hard Drive:
The WD6400AAKS is probably the fastest 7200RPM drive there is. However, due to budget constraints, I recommend this instead:
$65 - HITACHI Deskstar 500GB Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822145215

Case:
The Antec 300 is the obvious choice. When you factor in shipping, you will find that both cost almost the same.
$50 - Antec Three Hundred Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129042