New Build on Budget PC!

[E6BAV8R]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

90% Internet, Video, Audio // 10% Older-Gen Gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

$200 - $250

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

No preference.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

PSU – Antec True430 // Keyboard // Mouse // ATX Case // WD SATA 80GB HDD // DVD/CD-ROM

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Default.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

1024x768 or 1280x1024

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

<= 15 Days.

Hello!

I am looking to upgrade my ancient PC (because my previous MB took a dump) on a low budget. I only use the PC for games a handful of times a month, and even at that they are generally older generation games (Starcraft, Flight Simulator 9, Counter-Strike Source, etc&#8230. FS9 is a more CPU centric program so I figured a dual-core might provide significant boost in performance compared to the minimal cost of older CPUs. Otherwise, I usually only use it for internet, videos, audio, etc&#8230; To give you an idea of how little I upgrade, my current PC has lasted me for 8 years.


I do have a full-size ATX case and I still have a very old IDE HDD that I utilize (mainly because it is extra storage and still works fine). I will just have to buy an expansion IDE card.

My current specs:

AMD Athlon 64 3500+
ATI AIW X800XT 256MB
ASRock 939Dual SATA2 ATX Motherboard
Kingston HyperX 4GB PC3500
Windows XP 2.0

Obviously there is no use in spending hundreds of dollars on a top of the line PC, but after being out of building PCs for years now &#8211; and after doing some reading to attempt to catch myself up &#8211; here is what I came up with. I would appreciate your input &#8211; what is not needed for my tasks, deficient, etc&#8230; I think the video card may be a bit overkill for my purposes?

Thanks!

Intel Pentium G840 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623G840


GIGABYTE GA-P61-USB3-B3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK


HIS H467QR1GH Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Total: $260.00

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Well i think its fine for you.

going mATX will save you some money

 

[E6BAV8R]

Thanks for the reply!

What about my PSU - do you think it will hold up with the new equipment? Additionally, do you think everything will match up together just fine?

 

[Blain]

If that Antec PS is old, I wouldn't trust it supplying my brand new components...
"False Economy"
Your old IDE 80GB WD is going to drag down your performance also.
Besides the fact that MB you linked doesn't have any IDE ports.

Bump up your budget about another $100.

 

[titan131]

looks good apart from I would get this 5670 instead because it's slightly cheaper if you don't mind in mail rebates and is faster. The 512mb ddr5 version of the 5670 is a faster card than the 1gb ddr3 version. Also, I guess you chose that mobo for USB 3? because if you don't need it there are cheaper, good, options available like this.

 

[Ken g6]

One problem with your plan: I believe you've forgotten an essential component...

G620 + Windows 7: $168 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.723016
ASRock board with onboard video hookups: $55 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157241
RAM: $26 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231394
Total: $249

I left out a separate video card; the onboard video might be enough for your old games.

 

[Ken g6]

Besides the fact that MB you linked doesn't have any IDE ports.

Oh, neither did mine. :$ Here's the cheapest board with onboard IDE: $110. :\

Edit:

I will just have to buy an expansion IDE card.

OK, never mind.

 

[DaveSimmons]

intel HD2000 graphics were fine for Torchlight and Half-Life 2 at 1024 x 768 when I tried it. I haven't tried CS:S.

It's probably better to get the H61 mb and a $50 1 TB HD than that $110 MB.

 

[Blain]

Poor quality or degraded power supplies can allow brand new parts to be damaged.

How old is that Antec PS?
How many black-outs and brown-outs has it been through?
Has this Antec PS been operating behind a good surge protector or UPS?

 

[E6BAV8R]

looks good apart from I would get this 5670 instead because it's slightly cheaper if you don't mind in mail rebates and is faster. The 512mb ddr5 version of the 5670 is a faster card than the 1gb ddr3 version. Also, I guess you chose that mobo for USB 3? because if you don't need it there are cheaper, good, options available like this.

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll replace with the 5670. Regarding the motherboard you recommend, the problem with the one you link is that is a Micro ATX and my case is a full ATX.

I do realize this motherboard doesn't have an IDE cable, but I will just purchase a PCI IDE add-on adapter.

 

[Zap]

If that "True430" is the original TruePower 430W, then time for a new PSU. Those had Fuhjyuu capacitors.

Have you considered using an AMD socket FM1 platform? Those have integrated graphics good enough to run older games fine. CPU is a bit weaker than Intel offerings, but still a lot faster than your old stuff.

 

[E6BAV8R]

How old is that Antec PS?
How many black-outs and brown-outs has it been through?
Has this Antec PS been operating behind a good surge protector or UPS all its life?

Poor quality or degraded power supplies can allow brand new parts to be damaged.

1. The PSU is quite old - probably 5-6 years.
2. Maybe 2-3 over its' lifetime (I can't even remember the last time).
3. Yes.

 

[Blain]

You are the one taking the risk of installing new components behind an old PS...
It's your money!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll replace with the 5670. Regarding the motherboard you recommend, the problem with the one you link is that is a Micro ATX and my case is a full ATX. .

microATX boards work just fine in ATX cases.

 

[mfenn]

The original True430 is positively ancient (I had one about 3 or 4 PSU iterations ago!). It's voltage mix and connectors are all out of whack for a new PC. Also, using an old IDE HDD is a false economy. For about $40, you can have a new SATA HDD.

Honestly, I can see two feasible routes for the OP.
1. Find a used 939 board that works and call it a day.
2. Spend about $300-350 and chuck everything except for the peripherals.

OP, if you don't want to build, you can get a refurbished Dell Inspiron 560 with a Pentium Dual-Core E5800, 3GB of RAM, 500GB HDD, Windows 7, and 1-year warranty for $280 at the Dell Outlet. I've personally bought many machines from the Dell Outlet and every one of them has been good to me.

 

[E6BAV8R]

microATX boards work just fine in ATX cases.

What can you utilize to fit a mATX MB into an ATX case?

 

[mfenn]

What can you utilize to fit a mATX MB into an ATX case?

A screwdriver? Kidding aside, MicroATX is a strict subset of ATX. All of the positioning is the same, the board just doesn't use the bottom set of standoffs and expansion slots.

 

[titan131]

A screwdriver? Kidding aside, MicroATX is a strict subset of ATX. All of the positioning is the same, the board just doesn't use the bottom set of standoffs and expansion slots.

yeah, any MicroATX board will fit into any standard ATX case, you just need to reposition some of the stand offs.

 

[E6BAV8R]

But it still screws into the same slots into the case?

 

[Blain]

If you don't know how to move MB standoffs, get someone to help you, so you don't kill some of your parts.

 

[titan131]

But it still screws into the same slots into the case?

Some of the standoffs need to be moved in order to screw the microatx board into place, but that's a very easy operation. When you take out your old motherboard and try to replace it with a microatx board it will be pretty obvious where the standoffs need to be moved to for the new motherboard to be secured into place. The standoffs unscrew by hand so it's very easy.

 

[E6BAV8R]

Thanks! I'll have to take my old case apart to ensure there are places for a mATX MB. If so, I'll definitely go with a mATX MB; as I eventually want to get rid of my tower case and move towards a mATX case.

How about this mATX MB? I like the additional PCI slots if I absolutely need them.

BIOSTAR H61ML LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Have you considered using an AMD socket FM1 platform? Those have integrated graphics good enough to run older games fine. CPU is a bit weaker than Intel offerings, but still a lot faster than your old stuff.

Wouldn't it perhaps be better to go with Intel if I don't plan on OC'ing? I do realize it is perhaps a bit more expensive, but if the performance justifies it than the minor price difference isn't a dealbreaker. Would a comparable AMD system, not OC'ing it, still cost about the same?

I'll also start browsing some PSU's.

Thanks all for your help.

 

[E6BAV8R]

Any thoughts on this AMD set-up? This doesn't include a PSU but that won't change regardless of the build. How would it perform against the Intel set-up prescribed here (my latest build)?

Intel:

• Intel Pentium G840 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623G840
• BIOSTAR H61ML LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
• SAPPHIRE 100287VGAL Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
• G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK

TOTAL: $251

AMD:

• AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
• ASUS M4N68T-M V2 AM3 NVIDIA Geforce 7025/nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
• SAPPHIRE 100287VGAL Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
• G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK

TOTAL: $255

 

[Zap]

What can you utilize to fit a mATX MB into an ATX case?

How about an analogy to help you understand?

Fitting a mATX motherboard in an ATX case is like fitting 8 eggs in a carton designed to hold a dozen.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

what about a AMD FM1 build?