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Need Help Building My First Computer

Blogs > Flow.of.soul
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1 2 Next All
Flow.of.soul
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States210 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-08-05 23:49:24
August 05 2009 16:28 GMT
#1
There are new parts I am considering after further research and thanks to feedback on this blog. Please check the new build on page 2!

[image loading]


So I'm wanting to build my first computer and I am in need of some assistance to make sure I am getting the most out of my money. Right now my budget is $600 tops and there is no wiggle room. While it is a small budget I want to be able to keep the majority of the parts for when I feel there is a time to upgrade. Here I have a listed of parts I am considering buying that have been compiled from lists on sites such as Maximum PC and Toms Hardware.

CPU: Intel Pentium E6300 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - $83.99

Motherboard: MSI P43 Neo3-F LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - $84.99 ($10 Mail in Rebate)

Videocard: VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB $139.99

RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - $29.99

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - $84.99

DVD Drive: LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 22X DVD±R DVD Burner

PSU: Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 - $74.99

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $49.99

Total: $573.92
Shipping: $21.98
Shipped: $595.90
After Rebates: $585.90

Assuming that the PSU is good enough for the GPU, I really like this set up because it allows me to eventually upgrade to 4gbs of ram and my processor up to a Core 2 Quad processor. The GPU is also a HUGE set up from the Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 that I have been using for the past two years (using my laptop as my main computer). Have the fail rates of 1TB drives decreased? Last time I was looking into buying a TB drive the fail rate was really high, around 20%. Is it better for me to go with a 720gb drive because it would be cheaper and I would not have to worry about it failing as much? Also how many GBs is that after its been formatted?

Also I have a question about using a game controller on my PC. As a huge RPG fan I would like to play Suikoden 2 and Valkyrie Profile but in order to actually buy those games I would be spending $150+ which is absurd since they would be used. So I'm thinking about emulating them but I hate playing console games with my keyboard, it just doesn't work for me. So I have thought of two option: one, finding a bluetooth usb thing so that I can use my wii virtual console controller, or two, I can buy an adapter for the my ps2 controller. After looking around I saw that the ps2 adapters people have bought are really flaky so has anybody used one of these before and how was your experience? Also for people that emulate games, do you just stick with the keyboard or use some other controller?

Thanks for any help I get, its really appreciated!

*****
AssuredVacancy
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States1167 Posts
August 05 2009 16:32 GMT
#2
You might want to get DDR3 ram instead because your mere 2gb ddr2 ram seems to be your weakest link in your set up.
We spend our youth attaining wealth, and our wealth attaining youth.
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
August 05 2009 16:37 GMT
#3
2GB of DDR2 should be OK for now as long as you're using XP. Be ready to upgrade if you get Windows 7.
ModeratorGood content always wins.
Flow.of.soul
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States210 Posts
August 05 2009 16:38 GMT
#4
On August 06 2009 01:32 AssuredVacancy wrote:
You might want to get DDR3 ram instead because your mere 2gb ddr2 ram seems to be your weakest link in your set up.


Is DDR3 worth it? I just read the wiki article on it and it says that its just faster. I've been using DDR2 for what seems like forever so will I really notice a performance difference? If its just one of those things where there is a performance difference but I can't feel it when using the computer its not something I'm looking to buy, especially when it costs twice as much as DDR2. I really think my money would be better spent on a slightly faster GPU or CPU then on DDR3. Of course this would be a different case if I was using top of the line GPUs and CPUs, but I'm not.
Garnet
Profile Blog Joined February 2006
Vietnam9014 Posts
August 05 2009 16:41 GMT
#5
A keyboard is fine, but a controller will make you feel less about the fact that you're emulating. And Valkyrie Profile is probably the best 2D RPG ever, a true gem. I'm upgrading my comp so I can emulate PS2 to play VP2: Silmeria.
emperorchampion
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Canada9496 Posts
August 05 2009 16:45 GMT
#6
Actually looks really good. Don't go DDR3, as far as I know there isn't a huge difference. I'm pretty sure that 400W will be enough for everything. As for controller just get an xbox controller and hook it up, any wired one will do.
TRUEESPORTS || your days as a respected member of team liquid are over
StorrZerg
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States13919 Posts
August 05 2009 16:45 GMT
#7
Good luck its very fun building your own computer
Hwaseung Oz fan for life. Swing out, always swing out.
GoSu
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Korea (South)1773 Posts
August 05 2009 16:47 GMT
#8
YEP GOOd luck. take care of alim ~
#1 olleh KT 팬 http://sports.kt.com/ | #1 김택용 선수 팬 | 좋은 선수: 송병구, 이제동, 도제욱, 정명훈, 이성은 | KeSPA 한국 e-Sports 협회
mahnini
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
United States6862 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-08-05 17:03:28
August 05 2009 16:56 GMT
#9
1tb should be around 976gb because of the stupid unit system the companies use. i dont know though im bad at math so...

i think you would be better off getting a psu with more watts (650+?) as the hd4870 takes about 270w+ at load which is over half capacity, and if you plan on upgrading to a c2q it might be a little too much when playing intense games that also push the cpu. though you could always wait till then to upgrade the psu as well, i would just go for one with good capacity now.

also, i think you should consider getting AMD. 775 is a dead / dying socket, even though the cpus are still good they will be replaced / obsolete by next year when the i5s come out. if you go with an am3 board + athlon ii 250 now you get similar (if not better) performance and more upgradability.

oh, and if you dont have a specific reason to have a regular atx board (peripherals, sli, xfire) i would look for a micro atx because they can usually be found for cheaper.

oh also your dvd burner is IDE which means you're going to have to have that huge / ugly / pain-in-the-ass ribbon to work with.
the world's a playground. you know that when you're a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it.
AssuredVacancy
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States1167 Posts
August 05 2009 17:00 GMT
#10
1 TB should be around a bit over 900 gb because in my experience i always get around 9% less than the stated capacity. If you want to stay ddr2, you probably should get more than 2gb because you might not be able to run windows 7 smoothly. Staying with xp is hardly viable because I think a shitload of exploits will come up for xp once microsoft stops the security fixes with it.
We spend our youth attaining wealth, and our wealth attaining youth.
blabber
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States4448 Posts
August 05 2009 17:01 GMT
#11
check slickdeals.net often, they will often post very good deals on computer hardware.

I used to own a PS2 to USB adapter that I got off ebay. It worked very well with no problems at all. (I sold it because I needed the money and I didn't use it that much). Getting a Xbox 360 controller instead is a solid choice, but would cost twice as much.
blabberrrrr
funkie
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Venezuela9374 Posts
August 05 2009 17:18 GMT
#12
isn't dual core the shittiest in the line of Dual Processors?

Get some Core 2 Duo or some shit like that. ;o.

CJ Entusman #6! · Strength is the basis of athletic ability. -Rippetoe /* http://j.mp/TL-App <- TL iPhone App 2.0! */
emperorchampion
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Canada9496 Posts
August 05 2009 17:36 GMT
#13
On August 06 2009 02:18 funkie wrote:
isn't dual core the shittiest in the line of Dual Processors?

Get some Core 2 Duo or some shit like that. ;o.



E6300 is a Core 2 Duo. You mean the Pentium D's, and yes they were pretty much the first Dual Cores, and yes they were not so great.
TRUEESPORTS || your days as a respected member of team liquid are over
mahnini
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
United States6862 Posts
August 05 2009 17:39 GMT
#14
On August 06 2009 02:36 emperorchampion wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 06 2009 02:18 funkie wrote:
isn't dual core the shittiest in the line of Dual Processors?

Get some Core 2 Duo or some shit like that. ;o.



E6300 is a Core 2 Duo. You mean the Pentium D's, and yes they were pretty much the first Dual Cores, and yes they were not so great.

e6300 isnt technically a core2duo. in essence though it is a core2duo with less cache so it's still a pretty fast / overclockable processor.
the world's a playground. you know that when you're a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it.
Klapdout
Profile Joined August 2007
United States282 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-08-05 18:10:35
August 05 2009 17:43 GMT
#15
I highly recommend going AMD for your budget, you can get an AM3 build for just over $600, I highly recommend the extra money, I know you said $600 firm, but you do get under that limit after rebates.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.230080
Phenom ii x2 + mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
ocz 600W modxstream PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131140
power color 4870

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
cooler master centurion

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144
LG Black dvd drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284
WD caviar Black 1TB (much better performing vs the 'green' model you listed)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134788
Kingston 2GB DDR3 1333

Everything in my cart is $611 sub total, $635 shipped, with $45 mail in rebates for $595 total.

Unlike LGA 775, AM3 is not a dead socket, AMD will be supporting it for years


As far as emulation goes, you will probably want to overclock a bit, most pcsx2 forumers recommend 3.6 GHz dual cores or more. You can buy an adapter for a ps2 controller, or you can use an xbox controller that plugs right in, imo has a better button layout/ergonomics and has support for most newer games.
mahnini
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
United States6862 Posts
August 05 2009 17:54 GMT
#16
don't get a caviar green. they may save you a little power but they are slower and that is something you will definitely notice.

i also wouldnt recommend the 545/550 simply because the price jump from the athlon ii's doesnt seem to justify the modest performance increase. that and also the fact that the phenom ii 720 is only about $20 more.
the world's a playground. you know that when you're a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it.
Jibba
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States22883 Posts
August 05 2009 17:56 GMT
#17
What OS are you planning to use? 2GB of ram is on the low side for any 64bit OS, and even for regular 32bit XP, I'd still probably go for 4 (you won't have access to all 4) just because it's so cheap.
ModeratorNow I'm distant, dark in this anthrobeat
FragKrag
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States11552 Posts
August 05 2009 18:01 GMT
#18
2 gb obviously doesn't justify a 64 bit OS, but upgrading does. 2 gb ddr2 is more than enough to run XP 32 bit >_>
*TL CJ Entusman #40* "like scissors does anything to paper except MAKE IT MORE NUMEROUS" -paper
Klapdout
Profile Joined August 2007
United States282 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-08-05 18:04:33
August 05 2009 18:02 GMT
#19
On August 06 2009 02:54 mahnini wrote:
don't get a caviar green. they may save you a little power but they are slower and that is something you will definitely notice.

i also wouldnt recommend the 545/550 simply because the price jump from the athlon ii's doesnt seem to justify the modest performance increase. that and also the fact that the phenom ii 720 is only about $20 more.


Normally I'd agree, however newegg offers the 545+biostar mobo with a nice discount, making it cheaper than other AM3 dual cores, and much more so than the 720. Due to his strict budget its the best configuration I could come up with.Spending a bit extra on the 720 would be preferable but he would have to flex that budget a bit to add a decent mobo.
mahnini
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
United States6862 Posts
August 05 2009 18:06 GMT
#20
On August 06 2009 03:02 Klapdout wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 06 2009 02:54 mahnini wrote:
don't get a caviar green. they may save you a little power but they are slower and that is something you will definitely notice.

i also wouldnt recommend the 545/550 simply because the price jump from the athlon ii's doesnt seem to justify the modest performance increase. that and also the fact that the phenom ii 720 is only about $20 more.


Normally I'd agree, however newegg offers the 545+biostar mobo with a nice discount, making it cheaper than other AM3 dual cores, and much more so than the 720. Due to his strict budget its the best configuration I could come up with.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397

+

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688

= ~$150 !!
the world's a playground. you know that when you're a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it.
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