Need part suggestions for a $500 computer

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:47 pm

My friend wants me to build a computer for him, but as the title suggests, it has to be $500 or so. So far, I found this decent looking combo deal at Newegg that seems like a good start.

http://tinyurl.com/l6nfq6

The build doesn't need to include a monitor, speakers or anything. It does, however, need to have gaming compatibilities that run games like Left 4 Dead. Also, a PSU and a case suggestion would be nice too.

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:57 pm

If OS is not a consideration, that helps things.

Also, is he willing to OC? If not, then that's a very nice CPU. if so, then he'll want a Core 2 Duo based CPU.

good PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817371006

Decent case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119068

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:02 pm

The OS could be a consideration, but I can probably work something out for that. I don't think he needs to OC at all because I don't think he'll be using the computer for encoding or playing games like Crysis.

The Antec PSU seems great for that price. I remember using that case for a previous build for a friend and I will probably use the same for this build. All that is left is a video card. Thanks for the help.

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:15 pm

the motherboard you picked has one already built in, as it turns out. A fairly decent one too, given it's integrated(Slower than an 8500 GT from my experience, though... my dad has a PC with a motherboard based off of that chipset). if he won't play anything stressing, it's fine. If not, then here's a good card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814143161

mytmyke · Post by **mytmyke** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:24 pm

I found this article on maximumpc.com. It might help.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/featur ... ysis_40fps

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:05 am

Case and Power Supply: Rosewill TU-155 II 500 Black

DANGER, DANGER WILL ROBINSON

Rosewill makes terrible PSUs. Terrible ones. Run the fuck away from them.

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:17 am

I.S.T. wrote:If not, then here's a good card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814143161

For this build, I don't want any video cards that need external power because I don't think the PSU has enough watts. I am leaning towards an ATI Radeon HD 4670.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102820

Post by **odditude** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:25 am

ea430 will handle a 4770/4830 just fine. don't get a shitty video card just because you're nervous (but feel free to get a cheaper video card because you have a tiny monitor or aren't actually playing games).

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:35 am

snkcube wrote:
I.S.T. wrote:If not, then here's a good card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814143161
For this build, I don't want any video cards that need external power because I don't think the PSU has enough watts. I am leaning towards an ATI Radeon HD 4670.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102820

The PSU I gave you can handle a fucking GeForce GTS 250. I have an almost identical model(It's the 380 model.) and it runs something that draws probably... 2X the power just fine. =\

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:36 am

odditude wrote:ea430 will handle a 4770/4830 just fine. don't get a shitty video card just because you're nervous (but feel free to get a cheaper video card because you have a tiny monitor or aren't actually playing games).

or because more experience cards are out of your budget.

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:46 am

If that's the case, I'm going with the Radeon HD 4830. Thanks odditude. Hmm, didn't know it could handle a GTS 250, I.S.T.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814127420

Post by **odditude** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:57 am

i just bothered looking at the case I.S.T. linked you... i've done a ton of builds in centurion5s. nice, simple case, though i always rip the bezel off and rerun the button/led cables through the mobo side before actually building (if you buy the case, you'll see what i mean).

all in all, for the price, a solid win.

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:24 pm

Sorry for this bump, but I need comments/suggestions on parts for a friend. My friend wants to build a computer, mainly for work. He is aiming for a build between $500 to $600. He won't be gaming on this build so that's one less thing to worry about. However, I believe he is aiming for an i5 or i7 processor.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Publi ... er=9405674

Currently, I chose an i5 processor, which I think isn't so bad. It's cheap and has lots of power. Should I bump the processor to an i7 860 or stay at i5? Any suggestions on the other parts I picked?

Post by **odditude** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:53 pm

the primary difference between the i5 and the 1156 i7 is hyperthreading/SMT (each physical core can handle two threads). if he's not going to be using heavily threaded workloads, stick with the i5.

one general note as far as memory's concerned - lynnfield supports DDR3-1333, so you may want to consider that instead of the DDR3-1066 kit you have selected. it still needs to run at under 1.65V, so don't accidentally grab one of the old 1.7V/1.8V kits that were OK for P35/X38 builds. of course, you'll need to pay for the extra speed, especially if you want it at the same lower latency as the kit you selected. whether there will be a perceptible difference in performance will depend on how hard he pushes the machine.

as it is, though, looking at your budget, you need the extra cash to buy a video card, hdd and optical drive (and possibly an OS). you're at $480 already, and you haven't added them to the equation yet.

if he's going to be pushing the machine, though, i'd tell him to bump up his budget and go with the i7 and the faster memory.

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:14 am

odditude wrote:the primary difference between the i5 and the 1156 i7 is hyperthreading/SMT (each physical core can handle two threads). if he's not going to be using heavily threaded workloads, stick with the i5.

Seeing as he'll be mainly using it for Photoshop, I'm sure the i5 will be fine.

one general note as far as memory's concerned - lynnfield supports DDR3-1333, so you may want to consider that instead of the DDR3-1066 kit you have selected. it still needs to run at under 1.65V, so don't accidentally grab one of the old 1.7V/1.8V kits that were OK for P35/X38 builds. of course, you'll need to pay for the extra speed, especially if you want it at the same lower latency as the kit you selected. whether there will be a perceptible difference in performance will depend on how hard he pushes the machine.

Thanks for the suggestion. I chose a kit that is DDR3-1333 at 1.5V.

as it is, though, looking at your budget, you need the extra cash to buy a video card, hdd and optical drive (and possibly an OS). you're at $480 already, and you haven't added them to the equation yet.

There is no need for a video card. For the HDD, I'm not sure about what he really wants as he was talking about maybe using a SSD for the OS and a HDD for files. I included an optical drive and I think he is covered on the OS.

if he's going to be pushing the machine, though, i'd tell him to bump up his budget and go with the i7 and the faster memory.

I will ask him about that and if he cares much about hyperthreating/SMT. Thanks for all your help.

Post by **odditude** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:42 am

snkcube wrote:There is no need for a video card.

please clarify. are you using an existing video card? p55 does not have onboard video, so unless he's running this machine headless it needs something.

snkcube wrote:Thanks for all your help.

np.

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 2:18 am

odditude wrote:
snkcube wrote:There is no need for a video card.
please clarify. are you using an existing video card? p55 does not have onboard video, so unless he's running this machine headless it needs something.

My bad. I overlooked the motherboard and didn't see that it doesn't have onboard video. I emailed him about it.