Author Topic: PC for under $1500  (Read 1592 times)

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I've got roughly $1500 budgeted to build a new PC with all the fixins' and I'd like to get some responses from a few folks that have more know-how than me. Since I'm giving my current computer to someone else, I have to start from the ground up.

Take a look:

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($44)

ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard ($220)

EVGA 512-P3-N802-A1 GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card ($289)

CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply ($140)

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 ($280)

G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory ($170)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ($105)

Logitech 967557-0403 Silver/Black USB + PS/2 RF Wireless Slim Cordless Desktop S 510 Mouse Included ($58)

Hanns·G HW-191DPB Black 19" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor ($200)

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B ($34)

Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1 Black Speaker System ($39)

Grand Total: ~$1490 (not including shipping)

So what additions, subtractions, or concerns do you have?

Thanks!

 
Good luck finding a 8800GT right now.
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Offline Dark RevenantX

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Looks good to me.  You could downgrade some of those options by one rung to save a few hundred, but whatever works for you...

 

Offline CP5670

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Your setup generally looks good, but here is some advice:

The Centurion 5 is a nice case, but it's fairly old now and the lack of a 120mm fan slot in the front is a bit annoying. I got one almost three years ago for my other system. Look at their new RC-690 instead, which is not much more expensive and has better cooling options.

Don't spend more than $150 or so on the motherboard unless you have maxed out everything else. The expensive boards offer very little over the cheap ones. The 680i chipset is also generally inferior to the P35 and X38. Even if you want to overclock, something like an $80 IP35-E can max out almost any processor available right now, at least on air cooling.

The 8800GTs are hard to come by right now and are being gouged a fair bit. It looks like we're seeing a repeat of the 7900 launch, when the cards were vaporware for the first few weeks. You're better off waiting for the new GTS in a few weeks anyway and seeing how it performs.

That monitor is rather lousy given the rest of your system. Look at the 20WMGX2, which is still probably the best all-round LCD available. It's $360 on Newegg, although that is after a $100 rebate. There is also a 24" Soyo on OfficeMax that is quite a steal, an S-PVA panel for $300, but there is always the issue of being stuck at a high resolution with such a monitor and having to upgrade frequently. In any case, with a $1500 budget you should definitely get a better monitor.

The other components are good, but you're paying too much for some of them. The HX520 is $96 on Buy.com and the memory you listed should be about $120-140 on Newegg depending on the particular variety. Memory in general is another thing you don't want to spend much on, as any 800mhz memory will max out a 9x multiplier processor easily and you hardly get anything in the way of added real-world performance beyond about 700mhz.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2007, 12:02:47 am by CP5670 »

 

Offline Bob-san

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How about this: grab a P35 board (Abit IP35-E for $90) and an E2140 ($75). Then, wait for 1Q2008 and buy a new board and a Q9450. Heck--the IP35-E will probably run the Q9450 fine as it is. Next, I think that the RAM is overpriced. If you're thrifty, you can find 2GB DDR2 800 modules for $50. Also, a bigger LCD can be had for about the same amount. The PSU looks fine, but I've heard of some problems with my recommended board. Also, if you're willing to spend that much, buy a PCP&C Silencer 610 for $130. Last but not least, different case. You can get a case for excellent air-cooling for $40--the XClio Propeller. A little bit less, but it has a 36CM side fan that you can put on low. Be aware of the problem with high-pressure inside your case--you won't want that fan to be on high without many fans pulling air out.
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Offline Nuke

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thats about what im running now
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Offline colecampbell666

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What site? The prices look like NCIX.
Gettin' back to dodgin' lasers.