[QPower]

I need to build a PC for a friend...

He already has:
- Mouse, keyboard, mousepad, speakers.... etc...
- Monitor
- Shell of a case.

What he needs to get:
- PSU
- CPU
- Video (single card)
- Mobo (with sli)
- RAM
- Hard drive
- DVD-RW
- DVD
- Floppy, Integrated Sound, Ethernet.

He has about 900$-1000$ total.

I was thinking something like this:
- psu
- 3500/3700 AMD 64 939 (240$)
- 7800GT (310$)
- MOBO
- RAM (1 or 2 GB)
- 160 GB SATA II, NCQ, 7200 RPM (100$)
- NEC 3550A (45$)
- DVD
- Floppy, screws, wires, etc... 30$

Total: 725$... and I still need the mobo, ram, PSU and DVD player.

The PC is for gaming, video viewing, internet and MS office, no overclocking, should I lower to a 3200 and spend more money on ram and mobo? what else would you recommend? Which PSU (something cheap but that works well)?

I imagine that 2GB lose timing > 1 GB Tight timing, is it worth having some 2GB of value ram (still brand name), or is it better to get higher quality and tighter timings 1 GB ram.

[Holy Diver]

You can get an AMD 3700 for around $210 now

[ajrettke]

For RAM, yes 2gb is more important, I think people spending a lot of cash on RAM is the biggest waste (unless everything else is top end).

So, 275 for RAM mobo PSU and DVD drive...well a DVD+-RW will do everything, and the nec should take care of all that. PSU will run ya 75, mobo 75-100 for a decent one...and RAM will be 175 or so....your a tad over budget. I would get a lower priced CPU and make it an opteron and OC it....then everything else will fall inline.

*edit* just noticed you wanted an SLI mobo...don't bother, it costs much more and SLI is only worthwhile if you get 2 of the latest greatest cards and want the absolute best.

[<<Spider>>]

What he needs to get:
- PSU - FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX400-PN ATX12V 400W -$39.99
- CPU - AMD Opteron 148 Venus - $216
- Video (single card) - SAPPHIRE 100130L Radeon X800GTO2 256MB - $176 (after MIR)
- Mobo (with sli) - ABIT KN8 SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI - $109.99
- RAM - CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB - $79.50
- Hard drive - HITACHI Deskstar 7K80 HDS728080PLA380 -0A30356 80GB - $53
- DVD-RW - LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R - $38.99
- DVD - No need --> have DVD-RW to play DVDs
- Floppy, atic silver 5 & misc - $30

Total --> $713.47.

He will also need cpu cooler -- ZALMAN CNPS7000B-ALCU 92mm -- $29.99

Not ure why SLI is needed but here is a SLi board.

[wa77ss]

PSU : FSP Blue Storm 500 W = 91$
CPU : AMD Opteron 148 = 207$
Motherboard : DFI Ultra D = 130$
Video Card : Saphire X800GTO2 = 191$
RAM : G.Skill 2x1G PC4000 = 197$
CD/DVD : NEC CD/DVD +- RW = 40$
HDD : WD Caviar 250GB = 107$

Total Cost = 963$

[Rattle]

Originally Posted by WaTTz

PSU : FSP Blue Storm 500 W = 91$
CPU : AMD Opteron 148 = 207$
Motherboard : DFI Ultra D = 130$
Video Card : Saphire X800GTO2 = 191$
RAM : G.Skill 2x1G PC4000 = 197$
CD/DVD : NEC CD/DVD +- RW = 40$
HDD : WD Caviar 250GB = 107$

Total Cost = 963$

wattz is the man !!

I would maybe get 6800gs and 2x80 hitachis for raid0 though

[wa77ss]

Originally Posted by Rattle

wattz is the man !!

I would maybe get 6800gs and 2x80 hitachis for raid0 though

...now that I got my g.skill running I am feeling good !!! lol

But ya, the 6800gs and hitachi's would also be a very good choice. Both are about the same price. = )

[Supra6]

dude dont go with sli if your on a budget, and anyways the new cards they come out with will crush two cards in SLI. take the 7800gtx for example. and yeah get 2 gigs value ram. i would go with a cheap case that includes the PSU like an antec or something with at least a name brand PSU. you can get on for like 50-60.

antec case-50
nec dvd-40
g skill memory-170
nvidia video-160
western digital hd-105
cpu- not sure about a opteron or sempron 64
mb-64

my post anyway

[QPower]

Thanks for the help... there's a lot of good tips for the PC i'm gonna build.

I'll probably get a 3500 instead of an opteron (my friend doesn't know what an opteron is), and a 6800 GS instead of the Ati (he also prefers Nvidia).

I'm taking out the dvd player to save some money

Question:

What's better:
1 GB RAM + 7800 GT
or
2 GB RAM + 6800 GS
Resolution: 1024x768



I know both Fear and Battlefield can use the 2 GB RAM, but I also know that those little devils require a lot of graphic power... so... what would be best? More ram or better video.

I know it is easier to upgrade RAM than to upgrade a vid card so I'll probably suggest him to go for the Video and buy a 1 GB stick.

Another question
2x512 MB vs 1x1 GB
Is it really worth having the dual channel, and you plan to upgrade to 2 GB in the future (4x512 MB dual channel T2 vs 2x1 GB T1)?

[ajrettke]

just stick with 2x512 then goto 4x512. There's no drawback.

As for what's better the 7800GT or 6800GS and RAM question...well I'd go for the 7800GT and 1 gig of RAM if your gonna be upgrading soon.

[LordDarik]

From what you've stated so far, this is what I'd do:
Motherboard - EPoX EP-9NPA SLi
Processor - AMD 3500+ (Venice)
Power Supply - Fortron AX450-PN
Memory - 2x1GB G.Skill RAM
Graphics Card - eVGA 7800GT + $20 MIR
Hard Drive - Maxtor 200GB Hard Drive (16MB Cache)

Total=$942.49 - $20 with the rebate.

That leaves you with room to get the DVD RW Drive and a floppy drive I left out. Also, you get the 2GB of RAM and the 7800GT.

I also assumed that this is for a non-overclocker since he hasn't heard of the Opterons.

[ajrettke]

I don't think your gonna beet lords setup...maybe with the opto 148 but that'll be a tad more cuz you need a heatsink, but the opto 148 is faster than the 3500+

[QPower]

if it was for me I would get an Opty... I have a 3000+ venice, 2x512MB OCZ gold, Ati x800 and DFI lanpartu NF4-D and Antec 550W Truepower 2.0.

But this is for my friend... so I'll go for what he asks+your advice.

LordDarik... I LOVE YOU!!!!

It seems like a perfect setup, and the fact that you found everything on Newegg just makes it better. Unbeatable.

I won't be buying them for a couple more weeks, but this seems like a perfect setup for my friend. OMG... he will be in debt with me for a long long time if I get it going.

[n0aH]

Originally Posted by WaTTz

PSU : FSP Blue Storm 500 W = 91$
CPU : AMD Opteron 148 = 207$
Motherboard : DFI Ultra D = 130$
Video Card : Saphire X800GTO2 = 191$
RAM : G.Skill 2x1G PC4000 = 197$
CD/DVD : NEC CD/DVD +- RW = 40$
HDD : WD Caviar 250GB = 107$

Total Cost = 963$

agrre with wattz on this one