Spec'ing a computer under $400 ...

2009-09-23 12:29:39

#1

OrangeHound: Busy doing highfalutin adminy stuff ...; +1,335|6646|Washington DC

Wondering if anyone had comments on the following configuration. The computer has to be under $400 including shipping, and it is used for gaming and video processing (video work and storage) ... required to be Intel ... minimum of 500 GB disk, and the more the better:

I was thinking about targeting 1-year old high-end technology. Here's what I came up with (all components from Newegg) ...

Component	Details	Price	Discounts
Case	HEC 6C28BB8S Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail	36.99	$10 off
PSU	OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail	39.99	$30 off, $20 rebate
Motherboard	GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail	79.99	$5 off
CPU	Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5200 - Retail	67.99
Memory	OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK - Retail	41.99	$22 off, $20 rebate
Hard Drive	Western Digital Caviar Green WD7500AADS 750GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM	69.99
GPU	ASUS EN9600GSO/DI/512MD3/V2 GeForce 9600 GSO 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail	39.99	$20 Rebate
DVD/CD R/W	Ran out of money ... only got 11.20 left
Shipping	Lowest cost method	11.87
	TOTAL	388.80

2009-09-23 12:32:49

#2

GC_PaNzerFIN: Work and study @ Technical Uni; +528|6411|Finland

Change the HDD to either WD Black or Samsung F1. How much is the Corsair CX400W PSU?

That budget is not going to get you anywhere close to 1y old highend tho.

3930K | H100i | RIVF | 16GB DDR3 | GTX 480 | AX750 | 800D | 512GB SSD | 3TB HDD | Xonar DX | W8

2009-09-23 12:33:02

#3

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|6578|SE London

<3 E5200.

I don't like the look of your 5400rpm hard drive as a primary system disk. These green ecodrive thingys are only really good for long term storage.

2009-09-23 12:54:27

#4

OrangeHound: Busy doing highfalutin adminy stuff ...; +1,335|6646|Washington DC

OK ... I can switch the WD green for the WD black for no change in cost ... thanks.

Corsair CX400W PSU is also $39.99, but the 400W is below recommended for the GPU.

2009-09-23 12:56:15

#5

Stimey: +786|6117|Ontario | Canada

>required to be intel
>$400

LOL

2009-09-23 12:58:16

#6

GC_PaNzerFIN: Work and study @ Technical Uni; +528|6411|Finland

OrangeHound wrote:
OK ... I can switch the WD green for the WD black for no change in cost ... thanks.

Corsair CX400W PSU is also $39.99, but the 400W is below recommended for the GPU.

ehrm, CX400W can run a GTX 285 with Phenom II. Its more than plenty for you. The rig takes like 200w under load. The manufacturer recommendations are for whole rig and are overkill (so that even the cheapest ping pong quality PSU of that wattage is able to handle the setup).

Corsair's quality > Topower based OCZ.

Last edited by GC_PaNzerFIN (2009-09-23 12:59:20)

3930K | H100i | RIVF | 16GB DDR3 | GTX 480 | AX750 | 800D | 512GB SSD | 3TB HDD | Xonar DX | W8

2009-09-23 13:12:43

#7

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|6704|67.222.138.85

Stimey wrote:
>required to be intel
>$400

LOL

not very helpful.

Can you not cannibalize the CD drive from your current computer?

2009-09-23 13:48:53

#8

farmerfez: o wut?; +78|6527

you could go down to a 500gig HD and have a little bit more money

Last edited by farmerfez (2009-09-23 13:49:04)

2009-09-23 13:55:32

#9

Zimmer: Un Moderador; +1,688|6753|Scotland

Samsung F1, and I wouldn't go for an OCZ PSU, not after the problems with mine (it literally blew up after extended use, and mine was 900W). Corsair for PSU, the rest looks fine.

2009-09-23 14:37:11

#10

Stimey: +786|6117|Ontario | Canada

Flaming_Maniac wrote:
Stimey wrote:
>required to be intel
>$400

LOL
not very helpful.

Can you not cannibalize the CD drive from your current computer?

at that price point AMD really is the way to go, forget bias.

2009-09-23 16:10:52

#11

edlT: 2+2=Vagina; +46|5396|USA

E5200<333333333

2009-09-23 17:17:33

#12

Catbox: forgiveness; +505|6713

For the price the parts you listed are great... It will run PS /AE/ Premiere pro

E5200 $49.99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_produ … id=0301967

Love is the answer

2009-09-23 19:00:26

#13

GCFC: Davide Santon; +45|5926|NY/CT

that is a sexy ass table
maybe try a different motherboard to get some money for a dvd drive?

2009-09-23 20:27:58

#14

Freezer7Pro: I don't come here a lot anymore.; +1,447|6194|Winland

OrangeHound wrote:
OK ... I can switch the WD green for the WD black for no change in cost ... thanks.

Corsair CX400W PSU is also $39.99, but the 400W is below recommended for the GPU.

A CX400 will run a GTX280. Don't worry.

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP

2009-09-24 10:26:23

#15

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|6578|SE London

Stimey wrote:
Flaming_Maniac wrote:
Stimey wrote:
>required to be intel
>$400

LOL
not very helpful.

Can you not cannibalize the CD drive from your current computer?
at that price point AMD really is the way to go, forget bias.

That's so untrue. The E5200 is awesome. Overclocks beatifully.

2009-09-24 12:55:20

#16

CommieChipmunk: Member; +488|6567|Portland, OR, USA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6822136359

It's 55.99 now

2009-09-24 12:57:16

#17

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|6578|SE London

CommieChipmunk wrote:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136359

It's 55.99 now

But it's a 5400rpm drive.

It's a secondary storage drive - NOT a system disk.

2009-09-24 13:14:43

#18

Stimey: +786|6117|Ontario | Canada

Bertster7 wrote:
Stimey wrote:
Flaming_Maniac wrote:

not very helpful.

Can you not cannibalize the CD drive from your current computer?
at that price point AMD really is the way to go, forget bias.
That's so untrue. The E5200 is awesome. Overclocks beatifully.

I agree, I own one myself.

However, at the same price point you can get a 3.0ghz AMD dual core, which can over clock almost as easily (and has higher clock if you dont overclock)

2009-09-24 20:27:50

#19

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6564|NYC / Hamburg

I've used several E5200s. Awesome little cheap CPU. In fact it's the only dual core I'd buy.

I've used several CX400s. They easily power OCed E5200s and GTX260-216s.

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2009-09-25 14:24:52

#20

13urnzz: Banned; +5,830|6494

hey OH, check out Noobpatty's thread here.

looks like an OEM did it for you!

2009-09-25 14:25:42

#21

GC_PaNzerFIN: Work and study @ Technical Uni; +528|6411|Finland

burnzz wrote:
hey OH, check out Noobpatty's thread here.

looks like an OEM did it for you!

overclocking disabled shit mobo, crap PSU, terribad case, cheapest ram you can imagine to exist. = FAIL

3930K | H100i | RIVF | 16GB DDR3 | GTX 480 | AX750 | 800D | 512GB SSD | 3TB HDD | Xonar DX | W8

2009-09-25 14:32:25

#22

13urnzz: Banned; +5,830|6494

along with a genuine Panzerfin critiquehere!

BF2S Forums Spec'ing a computer under $400 ...

OrangeHound wrote:

Stimey wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Stimey wrote:

OrangeHound wrote:

Stimey wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Stimey wrote:

CommieChipmunk wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

Stimey wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

burnzz wrote:

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