[GO!zilla]

Okay im making a new comp and i need suggestions for parts. So far i have these. The ones in italics are the ones im not sure with. I'm trying to fit all this below 700... thats why i have it from both frys and newegg. (newegg shipping+tax kills some of the deals). I already have a hard drive ima put in and dvd/cdrw drive.


CPU: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6300 - HH80557PH0362M - Tray CPU - Socket LGA775
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4923021

CASE: Cooler Master Centurion 534 Black Mid Tower Case
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5030725

RAM: DDR2 1GB 5400 XMS CORSAIR / CM2X1024-5400C4
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5175596 o yes... im prob gonna upgrade and add another gig after a month (paycheck) lol.

GPU: BFG Tech BFGR76256GTOCE GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814143049

PowerSupply: APEVIA ATX-AS520W-BK ATX 520W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16817148008

MOBO???? [i want good overall quality. no fan for any chipset (heat sinks plz), i need 1 pci e x16 slot (no need for sli) plz make it fit around $125 +/- $25]

[aznfishyfart]

y dont u use ur old case to free up some money?

[GO!zilla]

giving old comp to sister.

i know its not an expensive build or what not... i just need something that'll last me 2 years.

not a hardcore gamer or such... so dont really care about all that stuff... i just need something

[xkrndreamer]

that is a nice build, david.

i should have waited to build my computer because of the AMD price drop. the x2 3800 is now only $109.00 on newegg with free shipping. i bought mine for $149.

good luck with everything!

[DaRkViEt73]

You can get the Asus P5B for $119+S/H.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813131030

If you want to save even more money, get the OEM one which comes with an Open Box return policy. $91.99 right now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...82E16813131030R

An even better deal is the upgraded model... OEM version of the Asus P5B-E which has one more SATA connector, a better onboard soundcard and Firewire connector... all for $1 more! $92.99 as of right now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...82E16813131070R

Using any of those boards with DDR2-800 memory and updated BIOS firmware, you can overclock your CPU to 2.8ghz from 1.8ghz stock without breaking a sweat. The performance is free and it's virtually guaranteed to hit 2.8ghz cuz you can set the memory to run at a 1:1 ratio with the CPU. That means you're not OCing the memory at all, it's running at stock speeds! Also you don't even need to buy an aftermarket cooler either at that speed although it would help keep the temps down. Just find some corsairs or anything else that runs at 2.1v and you're all set.

[feelitup]

Actually, I'd be a bit more patient. I forgot the link, but there are news about intel conroes being GREATLY reduced in price.

Tha Asus board DaRkViEt73 mentioned is very good also.

If you arent much of a gamer, I'd recommend the AMD X2 4200. Its also dual core, but 50 bucks less. And VERY fast. Not to mention that the current AM2 mobos nowadays since the price drop are all under 100 as well.

I don't recommend open box OEMs for MOBO's. Most of them are either from returns, refurbishment, or demoed. So the chances of receiving a DOA is pretty high.

Ohh, and dont overclock. Again, if you say you're not much of a "hardcore gamer or such", I also don't recommend overclocking. Overclocking not only voids the warranty, but if not done properly, it can harm your system.

[GO!zilla]

thank you for ur suggestions guys... hrmmm

i'll try to search the price drops for conroes... if its really big price drop really soooon, then i'll wait a bit.

and how would i run my ram at 1:1?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820231085
^will that not work?


hi richard ^^

[effudee]

motherboard wise.. i'd stay way from the p5b or p5b-e. the p5b is a good series if you go with the deluxe version, but that might be out of your budget. i'd look into the gigabyte 965p-ds3. great bang for the buck board. this board will let u overclock if you wanted to. the p5b and p5b-e aren't good for overclocking. if you don't intend to overclock, just get whatever ddr2 memory. like darkviet said, you can hit 2.8 with ddr-800 memory on a core2duo e6300. btw intel is gonna have a price cut around april/may. by then the ati directx 10 cards should probably be out too, lowering cost of video cards. memory prices are currently dropping as well. i'd recommend a better power supply too, maybe the antec trio or seasonic s12, if you can fit it into your budget.

if u were to run ur ram 1:1 with your cpu. u would use ddr2-533 memory. if u wanted to run ddr2-800 with ur cpu, you'd need to overclock your cpu from 266fsb to 400fsb and then you'll be running 1:1

[GO!zilla]

bah can u guys give me a source for the price drop. if the price will drop significantly, might as well wait. and i'll get my sister a dell or something.

[effudee]

http://www.hkepc.com/bbs/itnews.php?tid=75...0&endtime=0

dunno where this guy found this.. but someone pasted this on a diff forum


Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on March 12, 2007 - 7:51 PM


Last week we already reported that Intel is planning a very aggressive strategy processor wise and .. money wise. I had a little more time to analyze the data as presented at HKEPC and placed it into a chart. Prepare to be amazed .. So we already knew that at the 22nd of April a new price policy will be enabled. The drop in prices will be significant and we'll see the introduction of 1333 MHz FSB based processors.

According to the data at HKEPC you'll notice that Quad core will become completely mainstream. Core 2 Quad Q600 (2,4 GHz) for example right now costs 851 USD while in April that price will be 530 USD and in the 2nd half of this year .. merely 266 USD. The 2,66 GHz C2Q which costs 999 USD right now will get a price tag of 530 USD and will clear it's space for a new 2,93 GHz model.

Dual-core processors then .. they are getting dirt cheap. The 999 USD 2,93 GHz Q6800 for example costs 999 USD but if you check the chart .. a 3 GHz dual-core CPU with that new 1333 MHz FSB will cost merely 266 USD and is an E6600 on the (4x333) thus 1333 FSB. That's processor will perform faster than the current X6800.

Then the 2,66 GHz E6700; in April it'll drop to 316 USD (current E6600 price level) and after the second half of the year ... 183 USD.

Now the source is quite reputable when it comes to this data .. it sounds almost to good to be true yet in all honesty .. this is quite possible. We'll wait and see; but it's going to be an interesting year for sure.

Have a look at this chart and be amazed.

Model Cores Clock Bus Cache TDP Now April H2
C2E QX6800 4 2,93GHz 1066MHz 2x4MB 130W - - $999
C2E QX6700 4 2,66GHz 1066MHz 2x4MB 130W $999 ? -
C2Q Q6700 4 2,66GHz 1066MHz 2x4MB 105W - - $530
C2Q Q6600 4 2,4GHz 1066MHz 2x4MB 105W $851 $530 $266

C2D E6850 2 3,0GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W - - $266
C2E X6800 2 2,93GHz 1066MHz 4MB 75W $999 ? -
C2D E6750 2 2,66GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W - - $183
C2D E6700 2 2,66GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W $530 $316 ?
C2D E6600 2 2,4GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W $316 $244 ?
C2D E6550 2 2,33GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W - - $163
C2D E6420 2 2,13GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W - $183 ?
C2D E6400 2 2,13GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W $244 ? ?
C2D E6320 2 1,86GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W - $163 ?
C2D E6300 2 1,86GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W $183 ? ?

C2D E4400 2 2,0GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W - $133 ?
C2D E4300 2 1,8GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W $163 $113 ?

Pentium E2160 2 1,8GHz 800MHz 1MB 65W - - $84
Pentium E2140 2 1,6GHz 800MHz 1MB 65W - - $74

Celeron 440 1 2,0GHz 800MHz 512KB 65W - - $59
Celeron 430 1 1,8GHz 800MHz 512KB 65W - - $49


Source: HKEPC

btw those prices are.. actually cost for distributors who buy lots of 1000 cpus, but you get the point.

[iamsars]

if u really dont mind mobo (getting ECS {this is where frys comes in})
if u have a frys electronics in ur area check ads at: http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/ROP/Ad...32664&type=

its updated daily and sometimes u get some pretty good deals...

i've seen the E6300+some ecs mobo go for like $200...

and if ur board is $125 and cpu is 180=300

if u go to frys u can get a bundle with E6600 and ECS mobo for like 300-320

cuz i got my E6600 with an ecs at frys with a combo for $300

[DaRkViEt73]

and how would i run my ram at 1:1?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820231085
^will that not work?
hi richard ^^

if u were to run ur ram 1:1 with your cpu. u would use ddr2-533 memory. if u wanted to run ddr2-800 with ur cpu, you'd need to overclock your cpu from 266fsb to 400fsb and then you'll be running 1:1

That's your answer right there as far as how to run the cpu/memory at a 1:1 ratio. It's an option you can set in the BIOS. Both the P5B and P5B-E have the capability to do that. As far as the Gigabyte 965p-DS3, that's an excellent alternative to the Asus boards and I'll back up that recommendation. The G Skill memory you're looking at will work fine, however I'd recommend you go the dual-channel memory route. Either buy that one stick now then get the same one again later on... or just buy it all at once as a dual-channel kit. You're sacrificing up to 10% of additional performance if you're sticking with single channel only.

It's true the P5B cannot overclock as high as the DS3 because it only supports memory voltages up to 2.1v so the ram you buy becomes the limiting factor in extreme overclocking. However, extreme overclocking usually isn't the main focus of an affordable system anyways so it doesn't matter. For "mild overclocking" [if you consider a 1ghz overclock 'mild'], it's so easy to obtain and doesn't require expensive memory/cooling solutions that IMO it's silly NOT to do it. All three boards will give you that.

As for the P5B-E, as long as it's revision 1.02, I actually prefer it over the DS3 from Gigabyte because of its excellent stability & track record. The DS3 has only been able to overclock to the same levels as the P5B-E after the latest BIOS updates. The only real problems I have with the P5B-E is it's more expensive and you're hoping that you end up with revision 1.02 and not the older ones.