[Opinions on a budget build] -
Opinions on a budget build
Discuss Opinions on a budget build
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
Okay I am doing this build for a neighbour. He does want to get in gaming, but has a very low budget. I built it so it's easily expandable to put a new PCI-E graphics card in.
CPU
AMD Athlon 3000+ Venice Retail
Motherboard
Soltek K890Pro
[url]http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=13893&vpn=SL-K890PRO-939&manufacture=SOLTEK[/url]
You Americans havnt heard of these most likely, but they seem pretty solid and cheap.
Graphics Card
eVGA 6200TC 64 / 256
It's cheapest PCI-E card, and it will run games like HL2 and Farcry fine. Only thing is that he also likes BF2, and this card struggles with it a bit :rolleyes:
An LG DVD+\-RW burner
2x 512 Meg sticks of Samsung ram
Thermaltake TR2 w0700 power supply, 430 watts, 20+4 pins ATX 2.0
Posted by: Counter-Strike
What exactly is his budget? He can't bump that up to a 6600gt?
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
Budget is like 525$ USD so no 6600GT in that build.
But, if he gets into gaming, come xmas, he can easily get a 6600GT.
Posted by: KMOTE
how much does the 6200-whatever cost? 6600gt would be better could you cut the cost of anything else?
Posted by: daRcer
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by KMOTE [/i]
[B]how much does the 6200-whatever cost? 6600gt would be better could you cut the cost of anything else? [/B][/QUOTE]
By the looks of it, there isn't much he can cut.
Chris, where are the hard drives? Using the old ones?
Posted by: idiotec
[QUOTE]Motherboard
Soltek K890Pro
[url]http://www.ncix.com/products/index....ufacture=SOLTEK[/url]
You Americans havnt heard of these most likely, but they seem pretty solid and cheap.[/QUOTE]
Your right, I haven't heard of it :p But.....that just doesn't look that great. I guess if he never wants to OC it would be fine, but who knows, he gets this new comp and the next thing he is asking is "how do I OC this thing!" and you have to say, "well, it only has vcore to 1.55 and vdimm to 2.75 :( It might not even have memory dividers :mad:
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
It has divders, and more CPU voltage with a BIOS upgrade now. I really looked into this motherboard.
Most people get it 245-255 FSB no problems as well.
Their's nothing else I can cut costs on, or I would get a 6600GT, or even a 6200 non TC. However, the 6200 will play some HL2 and farcry and other games, and hopefully some low setting BF2.
EDIT: Come xmas, if he gets into gaming he can stick a 6600GT or 7600GT(X) in the computer and have some more fun.
Posted by: dhw200
Does the turbo cache even make a difference? And if there is a cheaper 128 MB model, that might be better in terms of price/performance
Also, im thinking that there might be cheaper RAM than Samsung, but prices are different in Canada then they are in US.
Posted by: idiotec
[QUOTE]It has divders, and more CPU voltage with a BIOS upgrade now. I really looked into this motherboard.
Most people get it 245-255 FSB no problems as well.[/QUOTE]
Huh, not that bad...
But it better have dividers, because your not getting 245-255 FSB at 1:1 with 2.75 vdimm :p
Posted by: dhw200
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by idiotec [/i]
[B]But it better have dividers, because your not getting 245-255 FSB at 1:1 with 2.75 vdimm :p [/B][/QUOTE]
You could try...it would just be mad stupid :p
Posted by: Ste
Please do not tell me youll be using a "came with case PSU"...
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
Turbocache is a good idea, a 64 meg card that can support up to 256 meg of memory thru the high bandwidth of the PCI-E bus. Keeps the price down.
And samsung is cheap and reliable ram in Canada, after all they do make our famous TCCD's
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by dhw200 [/i]
[B]You could try...it would just be mad stupid :p [/B][/QUOTE]
Heh at 1:1 i got DDR490 on Ultra Value ram
And to STE, if you read, like someone who can read, like you should, notice that I am using a thermaltake TR2 w0070.
I may be using a few cheap components (Soltek board, TC based gfx) but I am not dumb enough to use a case PSU.
Posted by: dhw200
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DJ-CHRIS [/i]
[B]Heh at 1:1 i got DDR490 on Ultra Value ram[/B][/QUOTE]
Wow...what were the temps like
sorry if this qualifies as hijacking the thread
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by dhw200 [/i]
[B]Wow...what were the temps like
sorry if this qualifies as hijacking the thread [/B][/QUOTE]
Couldnt measure, I dont haev a non contact theromemter.
Posted by: dhw200
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by DJ-CHRIS [/i]
[B]Couldnt measure, I dont haev a non contact theromemter. [/B][/QUOTE]
:(
Posted by: vaderpro
This is only $10 more, thats like a vente latte at starbucks:
[url]http://cancomputer.com/index.php?sku=2731[/url]
Just making sure you checked out cancomputer and atic computers.
[url]http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=products&cat=1[/url]
[url]http://cancomputer.com/index.php[/url]
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
NCIX is the only place I will buy from, due to having VIP with free RMA and price protection.
But thanks for the links, I can get some pricematching.
And, an issue with the Neo4 is the onboard sound requiring a -5volt rail (which some power supply's dont hook up) and it does not come with free HL2.
Posted by: vaderpro
Ok.
Posted by: dhw200
Ive got the neo4, and its not in the same league as the DFI, but its still a pretty decent overclocker. The only thing is the way memory has yo be used is a little weird. Cant use 4 sticks of DDR400, but it can use 4 sticks of DDR 333. It can also use 2 sticks of DDR 400. A little unusual
Posted by: mgoldb2
[QUOTE]The only thing is the way memory has yo be used is a little weird. Cant use 4 sticks of DDR400, but it can use 4 sticks of DDR 333. It can also use 2 sticks of DDR 400. A little unusual[/QUOTE]
That sounds very strange to me and I have not been told that problem from people that I know that own the board. All skt 939 boards should handle memory similar. The motherboard should only provide the slots. All the memory controlling should be done by the cpu. With amd skt 754 and skt 939 the memory controller is built into the cpu not on the motherboard like intel.
EDIT: I think I figure out where you getting confuse. On any amd core before san dieago and vience if you have 4 ddr400 chips in it would downclock it to DDR 333. This was a problem with the memory controller on the cpu. This have been fixed with the vieice and san diago core. The athlon 64 x2 cores also do not have this problem.
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by dhw200 [/i]
[B]Ive got the neo4, and its not in the same league as the DFI, but its still a pretty decent overclocker. The only thing is the way memory has yo be used is a little weird. Cant use 4 sticks of DDR400, but it can use 4 sticks of DDR 333. It can also use 2 sticks of DDR 400. A little unusual [/B][/QUOTE]
I am probolly going with the Neo4 now, as the Free HL2 deal is over. And the soltek board is going to go up in price 50$.
Posted by: diabloII
perhaps you can get some things on your list used on ebay
and perhaps you can bump that 3000+ venice to a 2800+ older core?
Posted by: DJ-CHRIS
[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by diabloII [/i]
[B]perhaps you can get some things on your list used on ebay
and perhaps you can bump that 3000+ venice to a 2800+ older core? [/B][/QUOTE]
No way for ebay, this isnt my build, I am not taking chances. 2800+ older core wont save much money. **** i cant even find any 2800's for 939 anymore