Will this $380 build work, and can I do better?

Will this $380 build work, and can I do better? Parts from Newegg

#1 Deejai

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 02:05 PM

I'll be using an HDTV for the monitor, so consider that if you want to suggest different parts. This is the first PC I've ever tried to build, and I really want to get it right. I've done a lot of research and I feel this will make a great $380 computer. Critique will be appreciated.

CPU - $83
Intel E5200 Wolfdale
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819116072

Graphics Card - $80
ATI MSI R4670 Radeon
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814127383

Motherboard - $55
Intel GIGABYTE G31 Micro ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128357

Memory - $40
G.SKILL 2GB DDR2 PC6400 (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231122

Hard Drive - $55
Seagate Barracuda ST3250410AS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822148262

DVD Drive - $20
SAMSUNG SH-S202N
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827151155

Power Supply - $20
Antec Basiq BP-350B ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817371013

Case - $25
Rosewill R103A ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811147010

Total - $378

#2 dpunisher

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 03:00 PM

Case already comes with a power supply. Not impressed with either power supply.
At the minimum: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817151055

Does the video card have a HDMI output/adapter, of will your TV take a DVI input (don't forget cables). Do you have an OS to install?

Depending on your situation, you might be better off with a G45 chipset mobo and ditching that video card. Just something to consider.

This post has been edited by dpunisher: 03 December 2008 - 03:02 PM

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#3 Deejai

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 03:05 PM

I'll be using DVI, and I remembered the cable. I also have Windows XP to install.

I was worried about the PSU. The one you linked looks great, but will 300W definitely be enough? Also, how do you determine how good a PSU is? I'd like to find one for $25 or below if I could.

#4 DJBPace07

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 04:17 PM

If this isn't going to be a gaming PC, just a general computing PC, the specs will do fine. The CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W is a good power supply that goes for $60 and would work nicely. In power supplies, you often get what you pay for. A cheap power supply will not last as long and will deliver noisy and uneven power to the PC. I have heard of power supplies failing and taking out several components. Corsair makes very good PSU's and constantly gets high marks from both customers and reviewers. You will also need a 64-bit operating system to take advantage of more than 3.5GB of memory. If you plan on staying with 32-bit XP you'll be fine, although unable to use all your memory. If you decide to go into 64-bit land, Vista 64 is far better than XP 64. In my opinion, you would be better off not building a PC now and saving your money for one in the $500 to $800 range.

#5 dpunisher

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 04:50 PM

That Corsair 400CX was going to be my next suggestion if budget allowed.

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#6 Deejai

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 05:19 PM

$60 is a bit farther than I can go. Do you have any recommendations for a PSU that is $30 max?

#7 DJBPace07

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Posted 03 December 2008 - 07:11 PM

Let's see...how does the SILVERSTONE ST400 400W sound at $29.99? It's modular so that's a plus, but it's not the same as a Corsair. Silverstone is a good company nonetheless. What will this PC be used for?

#8 Deejai

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Posted 05 December 2008 - 08:07 AM

Gaming

#9 hamluis

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Posted 05 December 2008 - 02:27 PM

Examples of games?

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#10 DJBPace07

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Posted 05 December 2008 - 03:04 PM

If you're playing games like Fallout 3 and Crysis, you will not have a pleasant experience with that PC. To run those games well, you would need a more powerful graphics card along with a larger case and power supply to accommodate it. However, if you are running games from about three to four years ago, you should be able to run the games at a decent framerate.

#11 Deejai

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Posted 06 December 2008 - 04:46 PM

Is it possible to run those games for under $400?

By the way, the games I have in mind are Oblivion, Red Alert 3, Civilization 4, and Counter-Strike Source. I'm also wondering if I'll be able to play later games such as Diablo III.

#12 DJBPace07

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Posted 06 December 2008 - 05:02 PM

Games you listed are from several years ago and should run fine with that PC. Diablo III will have much higher system requirements, your PC will struggle with it. Your CPU should be fine, since most games cannot use more than two cores. Your memory is also fine. Your graphics card is not going to cut it with new games, they will run but it won't look good or run fast. An ATI 4870 or the GTX 260 will run new games well. But in order to accommodate it, you will need a more powerful PSU, a 750 watt, and a large full tower case to fit the GPU in. If you got a $400 PC, you will probably need to get a new one in a year or so. Playing newer games will be painful. Cheap PC's are obsolete very quickly. However, if most of your gaming library comes from 2006 or before, your PC will handle it.

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 06 December 2008 - 05:03 PM

#13 Deejai

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 04:20 AM

I'm starting to get cold feet. Maybe I should leave PC gaming to those who can afford it. I've always mainly been a console gamer, and I'm happy with my PS3 right now, so maybe I should wait until I can afford a sturdy up-to-date system. I do miss my old days of the Command and Conquer games though. Thanks for the help everybody. I'm now a lot more computer-coherent than I was a couple of weeks ago.

#14 DJBPace07

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Posted 07 December 2008 - 08:00 PM

A good gaming PC is, hands down, more powerful and fun to use than a console. The problem is the upfront cost, it is much more expensive. Another problem facing PC gaming, as opposed to console gaming, is that PC games have requirements that only go up over time. Console game requirements are static.

#15 Deejai

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Posted 09 December 2008 - 01:45 PM

More powerful, but the fun factor depends on the game. FPS can go either way (precision vs comfort), but RTS is sooo much better on PC. On the other hand, some games are just meant to be played with a controller (i.e., Fable, Metal Gear Solid.)

By the way, I'm hoping for Halo Wars to break the trend of so-so RTS console gaming.