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The Official Budget-Conscious Dream Machine!

Discussion in 'Building a new PC' started by Praetor, Jul 5, 2004.

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  1. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    CORE
    Western Digital 160GB 7200 8MB - $120USD
    Chenming601AE+450W Enermax - $75USD
    Thermaltake SilentBoost/ExtremeVolcano12 - $45USD
    OCZ PC3200 2x256MB - $160USD
    LiteOn 52x32x52 or LG CDRW/DVD ComboDrive - $30USD
    -- Core Cost - $430USD

    OPTION 01
    AMD Athlon64 3500+ 1MB Socket939 - $460USD
    ASUS K8B Deluxe - $175USD
    Radeon9200SE 128MB - $45USD

    OPTION 02
    AMD AthlonXP 3200@400 Barton - $125USD
    Abit NF7-S - $100USD
    Radeon9600Pro/GFX5700U - $145USD


    Option 01 leads to a net cost of $1110USD which is over the "magic" boundary of $1000 but fusk.... there's a crapload of performance there and is more oriented for "serious" users. To meet the $1000 boundary (by any means), swap the ASUS board out for a budget board and drop the memory from OCz to stock. Alternatively, one could drop the A64-3500(1MB) either to the 512K version or hunt down a slower 1MB version (reccommended, but i didnt have time to look for it).

    Option 02 gives a net cost of $800USD, well under the boundary line and offers quite a competitive system easily able to destroy similarly prices systems advertised on TV or in stores. The extra $200 could go towards upgrading the memory to 1GB+ and/or to add more harddrives. By dropping the CPU down to the Barton2800+ (and OCing to make up for it), about $50USD can be saved and go towards something else.

    NOTE
    - The Chenming601AE comes with two 80mm (stock I believe) fans.
    - Prices based on 1.32/0.75 conversion rate (USD-CAD)
    _X_X_X_X_X_[small]ASUS A7N8X-X, XP2500+ OC'd to XP3200+
    Samsung 1024MB, PC2700 OC'd to PC3200
    480GB [3x160GB, 7200, 8MB]
    EVGA, GeForce4 Ti4600 128MB

    Rules and Policies: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487[/small]
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2004
    Praetor, Jul 8, 2004
    #21
  2. jvwheel

    jvwheel Member

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    That AMD Athlon64 3500+ 1MB Socket939 with the ASUS A8V Deluxe MoBo is one heck of a system start. Definitly a serious user's choice.
     
    jvwheel, Jul 8, 2004
    #22
  3. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    Especially so when we consider this to be a "budget-oriented" system :)
     
    Praetor, Jul 8, 2004
    #23
  4. matty8887

    matty8887 Regular member

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    I think you should go for the barton 3200. I have it and it runs very fast and will be fast enough for your needs. I dont see the need in paying the extra $300 for a cpu a bit faster, after all it is a budget system. You can put more ram in instead which will save you mone. Ou tof praetor options i would like to have option 1 but seen as you have a budget i would go for option 2.
     
    matty8887, Jul 9, 2004
    #24
  5. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    A bit faster? Hehe

     
    Praetor, Jul 9, 2004
    #25
  6. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    [bold]I think you should go for the barton 3200.[/bold]

    If you take a look at Praetors specs you'll note that he has a XP2500 Barton running at XP3200 specs. I have one at home doing the same. The difference in price is about $110-120 which is equal to a stick of memory, a 120 gig hard disk, faster video card, or spread around and improve a couple of components.

     
    Sophocles, Jul 9, 2004
    #26
  7. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah indeed the only reason i used the XP3200 with Option 02 because I had to spend some money.... hell if i had to I can spec an XP2500 system for just over $275 ;-)
     
    Praetor, Jul 9, 2004
    #27
  8. matty8887

    matty8887 Regular member

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    Well get a barton 2500 and overclock it and then use the money saved to get more ram or bigger hard drive.
     
    matty8887, Jul 10, 2004
    #28
  9. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    Exactly but even if that's not the route chosen, it just goes to show that you can get a fairly decentup for the sub-$600 range :p
     
    Praetor, Jul 10, 2004
    #29
  10. The_OGS

    The_OGS Active member

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    Let's see here, budget conscious, no PCI-X...

    Athlon64-2800 (512k)
    Asus K8V (754) Via K8T800
    512MB PC3200
    80GB WD 7200/8MB
    NEC Dual-Layer Burner
    ATI Radeon 9600XT
    Antec Sonata case, 2x120mm (1 incl.)
    w/ 380W Antec low-noise PS
    Extra 120mm fan
    3.5" floppy ;-)

    I get $1195. (CDN)
    Sterling 490 Pounds
    $895. (USD)

    It can't just be budget-conscious; it's gotta be Dream Machine too! What am I missing?
    I would like this type of A64 system for myself...
    Single most expensive piece listed is: CPU
    Praetor what's up with this 'Socket 754' - is it gonna stick around or is it just passin' through?
    L8R
    _X_X_X_X_X_[small]ABIT AN7 nForce2 Ultra 400
    XP2500+ Barton 512MB PC3200[/small]
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2004
    The_OGS, Jul 20, 2004
    #30
  11. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    Maybe a sound card? ('course I didnt spec one either :p) ... just something worth mentioning.

    Unless i'm horribly mistaken, Socket754 has come and gone. S754 was the initial inception of the consumer A64 line and was followed by the Socket940 which was drawn from the server line. It has since been finalized to Socket939 for consumers and Socket940 for commercial applications :)
     
    Praetor, Jul 20, 2004
    #31
  12. The_OGS

    The_OGS Active member

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    Yeah that's what I thought I'd heard, somewhere on the outskirts of my (pathetic) memory...
    Good old SocketA has been a solid standard, for [bold]years[/bold] now - very comfortable.
    So what; you wouldn't touch the 754 or whaddya think?
    OnBoard sound is fairly good now, my ABit is great with the NVIDIA SoundStorm setup.
    We don't have to spec NICs either (life is good!)
    LoL - L8R
     
    The_OGS, Jul 20, 2004
    #32
  13. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    Dunno ... i'd prolly switch to a Socket754 to replace my XP2500 here but thats only if its ridiculously cheap or better yet, free. If i had to pay my own money for it ... probably not. Of course, in the context of a budget machine, if the Socket754s can be had, it makes for a better machine than the AthlonXPs (provided the budgets are roughly equal)
    _X_X_X_X_X_[small]ASUS A7N8X-X, XP2500+ OC'd to XP3200+
    Samsung 1024MB, PC2700 OC'd to PC3200
    480GB [3x160GB, 7200, 8MB]
    EVGA, GeForce4 Ti4600 128MB

    Rules and Policies: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487[/small]
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2004
    Praetor, Jul 21, 2004
    #33
  14. Sophocles

    Sophocles Senior member

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    [bold]i'd prolly switch to a Socket754 to replace my XP2500 here but thats only if its ridiculously cheap[/bold]

    My budget secret to building since 97, wait until the current best is facing obsolescence, then pick them up for a song and tweak the hell out of them.
     
    Sophocles, Jul 21, 2004
    #34
  15. conny119

    conny119 Guest

    i need some advice on tthis budget PC will a 400 PSU be enough also what overclockin possiblities
    will it have? i know the graphics card isn't the best ever but it gets the job done
    graphics card gainward Fx Pro/660 Gainward Fx Powerpack! Pro/660 AGPx 8 TV-DVI Fx5200 £37.41
    mother board Asus A7N8X-X SKT Asus A7N8X-X SKT A Nforce2 AGP 41.93
    RAM GENERIC (unamed) 512 MB, 333 £51.64
    memory, hard drive Seagate Barracuda Seagate Barracuda 80Gb 7200rpm £39.29
    CPU, processor AMD ATHLON AMD ATHLON XP2500+ 333MHZ FSB 512 L2 Cache Barton CPU - OEM £41.56
    heat sink and cooler Arctic Cooling Arctic Cooling Copper Silent 2l (blue Light) (maximum support XP3400) £8.08
    network card Netgear Netgear PCI 10/100 Adapter £2.30
    case JNC 4JA 8654BL JNC 4JA 8654BL 400w Grey Case With Front Bubble Light, USB, Audio and Firewire £16.68
    Liteon 16x48 IDE DVD-ROM Drive - OEM £11.58

    which is all for about £250 GBP or $456 USD

    _X_X_X_X_X_[small]PS2 burning guide ( not my tutorial )
    http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/15105
    V4 PS2 with duo chip
    V9 PS2 with swap magic and slide tool(sisters)
    just made member!![/small]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 18, 2004
    conny119, Aug 18, 2004
    #35
  16. Kamran

    Kamran Regular member

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    I need help in finding a system for my little brother and sister. I need to build a a pc without montior under £150. I have got this from ebuyer.co.uk i livein the uk so please people help me build one under £150 and the closer it gets to £100 the better. I want a dvd player and cd rewriter in it and i have got that in the under £150 price range. Just bare in mind am in the uk
     
    Kamran, Aug 19, 2004
    #36
  17. The_OGS

    The_OGS Active member

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    Kamran I have a nice AMD Athlon 550 on Asus K7V (Slot A) that is in your price range ($300 CDN = 120 Pounds)
    But you're in the wrong forum with those prices :)
    We're dreamin' about newer, affordable PCs in here...
     
    The_OGS, Aug 19, 2004
    #37
  18. conny119

    conny119 Guest

    ebuyer is the cheapest you will find in the UK you could be looking for months and still not find anything cheaper than ebuyer.
     
    conny119, Aug 19, 2004
    #38
  19. Kamran

    Kamran Regular member

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    well praetor told me ask here and locked my other post. i guess ur right about ebuyer though
     
    Kamran, Aug 19, 2004
    #39
  20. Praetor

    Praetor Moderator Staff Member

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    How so?? Thats a really low price bracket which is why i suggested he look here :)

    Kamran, a site you might want to look into: http://www.overclockers.co.uk :)
     
    Praetor, Aug 21, 2004
    #40
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