Need to rebuild a computer, fast

[Gerbil333]

Short story: I need to replace the following components for under $400 shipped. It doesn't need to be an upgrade, I just need something at least as powerful in under 7 days:

Asus A8N-E 2.0 w/Zalman ZM-NB47J (passive cooling)
Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Toledo w/Thermalright XP-90 w/Panaflo L1BX
Corsair 2x1GB TWINX2048-3200C2PT
Radeon X800 XL 256MB w/Zalman VF700-AlCu @5V

I'm going to browse Newegg and see what I can come up with. I haven't read a single CPU, motherboard, or video card review in 2 years and could use some recommendations. I'd like to get a cheap Core2Duo if it fits the budget. GPU performance isn't too important.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Gerbil333
Short story: I need to replace the following components for under $400 shipped. It doesn't need to be an upgrade, I just need something at least as powerful in under 7 days:

Asus A8N-E 2.0 w/Zalman ZM-NB47J (passive cooling)
Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Toledo w/Thermalright XP-90 w/Panaflo L1BX
Corsair 2x1GB TWINX2048-3200C2PT
Radeon X800 XL 256MB w/Zalman VF700-AlCu @5V

I'm going to browse Newegg and see what I can come up with. I haven't read a single CPU, motherboard, or video card review in 2 years and could use some recommendations. I'd like to get a cheap Core2Duo if it fits the budget. GPU performance isn't too important.

Forget AMD. Intel is the king of the hill now. Core 2 Duo will provide better performance for the same price.

Core 2 Duo E6550 $178
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115030


ASUS P5KC LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard $152
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131188

RAM- I recommend Standard Issue Crucial DDR2, but check the hot deals section for good values. $50-150

PSU- All new motherboards use a 24 PIN PSU. Newer Video Cards use an eight Pin power connection. Older cards used six pins.
I recommend a PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750. $199 and should last a lifetime.


Video- About $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121081
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130084



If GPU performance is not too important, then I suggest you get a motherboard with integrated video:
ABIT Fatal1ty F-I90HD LGA 775 ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $114

Infact, I like that motherboard a lot. It's packed with features for a low price. Plus it supports 16GB of RAM and Has HDMI (DVI compatable).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813127023


Estamated Cost with out the PSU and GPU: $400

With GPU: $550-600 add $200 if you don't have an eight pin and/or 24pin connection on your PSU. Also keep in mind, PC Power and Cooling will rewire any of their PSU's when it comes time to upgrade. So it really is future-proof.

 

[Gerbil333]

Originally posted by: Googer
PSU- All new motherboards use a 24 PIN PSU. Newer Video Cards use an eight Pin power connection. Older cards used six pins.
I recommend a PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750. $199 and should last a lifetime.


Video- About $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814121081
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130084



If GPU performance is not too important, then I suggest you get a motherboard with integrated video:
ABIT Fatal1ty F-I90HD LGA 775 ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $114

Infact, I like that motherboard a lot. It's packed with features for a low price. Plus it supports 16GB of RAM and Has HDMI (DVI compatable).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813127023

I have an Enermax 485W ATX 2.0 (24 pin) PSU, but it's of the older 6-pin GPU plug convention. How recent was this 6-pin to 8-pin change?

To fit the budget, I may have to use integrated video. I'm guessing this is the approximate ranking of performance, slowest to fastest:

Intel GMA 950
Intel GMA 3100
Intel GMA X3000
Radeon Xpress 1250

While video performance isn't crucial, the computer will be used for games from time to time. I hate to have anything less than the X800 XL. For now, the budget is more important. I can always throw in a newer video card.

Thanks for the help.

 

[MarcVenice]

Then don't spend MASSIVE amounts of money on the mobo and the cpu. This is on a budget, but hes giving you some decent midrange components. I'd say e4300 or e4400, theres some 70-80$ socket 775 mobo, that WILL support penryn when it comes out, then get 2gb of ddr 667 or 800 for 70$ AR. This should cost 250-300$, tops. If you can get it for 250$, then it should leave you enough cash to buy a 7600gt, which should be pretty okay for a casual gamer. Then buy the antec 430w earthwatts for 45$ on newegg, and there ya go, 400-450$ spend for decent parts.

It can be done cheaper btw, with a bioforce am2 mobo, am2 3800+ x2, 2gb cheap ddr 667 * which should be plenty fast * and the earthwatts 430 + whatever you've got left for a videocard. In a hurry here now, so no time to supply you with newegg links. No offense to Googer, but I dun think he knows what budget means.

 

[Gerbil333]

Guys, is there a reason I can't use my Enermax 485W Noisetaker ATX 2.0 PSU? I paid $125-$160 for it two years ago...it's a great PSU, if it is compatible. Can't I use an adapter for the 6 pin video card connector?

 

[xitshsif]

Your PSU should be fine. AFAIK 8-pin connectors are only on the ultra-high end cards, and even most of those have an option for using two 6-pin connectors or an adapter. And if you're looking at that kind of level card (which I don't think you are), you'd need to upgrade your PSU anyway.

 

[Gerbil333]

That's good. Nah, the only game I expect to play is HL2: Episode II, and maybe the demo of UT3--time permitting. I mostly conduct business and do schoolwork/research these days. Besides typical tasks, I do a lot of CAD/CAM work and light image and video editing.

 

[metzgerov]

Intel e4300 $117
2gb pc 667 or pc 800 DDR2 Ram $70
Mobo Asus P5B or any other P965 $70
arctic freezer 7 pro $32
ATI X1950XT 512 $150

 

[Fraggable]

AMD 64 X2 4000+ AM2 - $70
Gigabyte GA-M61SME AM2 mobo - $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128045
2 X 1GB Corsair DDR2 667 - $76
7900GS 256MB - $140
Shipping fro the Egg - $20 in 2-3 days

Use your old PSU, and you're at $360. I saved you $40, and you get it in a couple of days.

There's no reason at all to change PSUs. The only card out there that takes a 8-pin connector is the 2900XT, and maybe the 8800Ultra. Both ultra-high-end cards that have nothing to do with you.