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[imported_LoKe]

Once again I'd like to attempt to put together a budget system for around $500 CAD. This rig wouldn't be a gaming system at all, just general use. Browsing the Internet/E-Mail/Trillian/Winamp/various random programs...

What I would need is an AMD Processor, preferably a Sempron since it's a budget system, I hear they give good OC'ing results aswell. I also need a S754 motherboard for said processor, DIMM slots not important, though more than two would be nice. I'd like it to have onboard sound and possibly video, since I'm not going to be playing any games on it, I don't see the point in spending a massive amount of money on a card. Unless I maybe pick up a GeForce4 MX420, I like those.

I'd also need a decent case, I hear the PSU's that come with them are generally terrible unless it's an Antec, so I need to take that into consideration. Ram is also needed, 512 or more would be nice, I tend to use programs like Aston and whatnot to customize my desktop, so a good amount of ram is important.

What I already have are Hard Drives, a Monitor, a CD-Rom Drive, Floppy Drive, Keyboard, Mouse and OS.

Any help would be appreciated, try to keep it as cheap as possible. I'll be browsing TigerDirect/NCIX looking for some hardware, I'll post what I find here and you can comment on it.

Thanks!

 

[Operandi]

I'll recomend this InWin case. They are very solid well built cases and the PSU is built by Forton-Source.

This MSI ATi chipset based board looks good should cover all your need well.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I looked for it on TigerDirect and couldn't find the case.
EDIT : Can't find mobo either.

 

[EmoshBZ]

I agree..get the MSI

 

[Lasthitlarry]

Originally posted by: Operandi
I'll recomend this InWin case. They are very solid well built cases and the PSU is built by Forton-Source.

This MSI ATi chipset based board looks good should cover all your need well.

How do you know the PSU is made by Fortron?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Lasthitlarry

Originally posted by: Operandi
I'll recomend this InWin case. They are very solid well built cases and the PSU is built by Forton-Source.

This MSI ATi chipset based board looks good should cover all your need well.

How do you know the PSU is made by Fortron?

I've opened them up, their identical inside and out, aside from the label.

Originally posted by: LoKe
I looked for it on TigerDirect and couldn't find the case.
EDIT : Can't find mobo either.

Whats wrong with Newegg? You shouldn't be giving your money to Tiger Direct anyway....

 

[imported_LoKe]

Logisys CS-51WBK 51W Black 450W ATX Tower Case 4X5.25 2X3.5 5X3.5INT W/ Window - $47.07

AMD Sempron 64BIT 2800+ Processor S754 Palermo 1.6GHZ 256K L2 Cache 90NM SSE3 Retail Box - $100.77

Open Box/Refurbished MSI K8MM-V mATX S754 VIA K8M800-CD DDR App 3PCI SATA RAID Video Sound LAN Motherboard - $64.23

Kingston ValueRAM PC3200 1GB 2X512MB DDR400 CL3-3-3 184PIN DIMM Dual Channel Memory Kit - $114.86

How does that look? Total after taxes/shipping/whatever is around $400. I've realized that I don't have as much money as I'd thought, so I'd like to stay at this price or go lower if possible. Is 1GB of ram even necessary? Should I just get 512?

Are all these components compatible? I assume the processor comes with a HS and Fan, it doesn't state otherwise. What else do I need? (Cables, whatever else)

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: LoKe
I looked for it on TigerDirect and couldn't find the case.
EDIT : Can't find mobo either.

Whats wrong with Newegg? You shouldn't be giving your money to Tiger Direct anyway....

I'm Canadian.
EDIT : Oh, and I've strayed from TigerDirect, all the hardware I've mentioned is from NCIX.

 

[eXx08]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: Lasthitlarry

Originally posted by: Operandi
I'll recomend this InWin case. They are very solid well built cases and the PSU is built by Forton-Source.

This MSI ATi chipset based board looks good should cover all your need well.

How do you know the PSU is made by Fortron?

I've opened them up, their identical inside and out, aside from the label.

Originally posted by: LoKe
I looked for it on TigerDirect and couldn't find the case.
EDIT : Can't find mobo either.

Whats wrong with Newegg? You shouldn't be giving your money to Tiger Direct anyway....

RTFT

 

[imported_LoKe]

Ah, I remembered that I have 512MB of RAM that I can put in this machine, so I'm removing that. Also, assuming that the processor comes with a HS and Fan, I've removed the one I was ordering.

This is what I've picked out now :

MSI K8MM-V mATX S754 VIA K8M800-CD DDR App 3PCI SATA RAID Video Sound LAN Motherboard - $75.57

Logisys CS-51WBK 51W Black 450W ATX Tower Case 4X5.25 2X3.5 5X3.5INT W/ Window - $47.07

AMD Sempron 64BIT 2800+ Processor S754 Palermo 1.6GHZ 256K L2 Cache 90NM SSE3 Retail Box - $100.77

Does anyone know if the Motherboard comes with IDE cables for my Hard Drives? Oh, and on that matter, the Mobo said SATA, does that mean my IDE hardware wouldn't be compatible?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Ah, I remembered that I have 512MB of RAM that I can put in this machine, so I'm removing that. Also, assuming that the processor comes with a HS and Fan, I've removed the one I was ordering.

This is what I've picked out now :

MSI K8MM-V mATX S754 VIA K8M800-CD DDR App 3PCI SATA RAID Video Sound LAN Motherboard - $75.57

Logisys CS-51WBK 51W Black 450W ATX Tower Case 4X5.25 2X3.5 5X3.5INT W/ Window - $47.07

AMD Sempron 64BIT 2800+ Processor S754 Palermo 1.6GHZ 256K L2 Cache 90NM SSE3 Retail Box - $100.77

Does anyone know if the Motherboard comes with IDE cables for my Hard Drives? Oh, and on that matter, the Mobo said SATA, does that mean my IDE hardware wouldn't be compatible?

If the board is retail it most likely comes with one PATA cable. No, you still have two PATA headers to use, you'll be fine there. I would strongly recommend you better a better case and PSU however; Antec and InWin are the only case/PSU combo's that I can recommend.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Thanks, I'll look for a better case now.

EDIT : I've heard good things about the Antec Sonata, would it be worth it for me to buy, or is there anything cheaper that'll work well-enough for me?
EDIT2 : There's the Sonata II aswell. ^^;

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

You're talking about a hundred-plus-dollar case for a CA$500 build? That's insane.

Powmax case/PSU combo
Sempron 64 2800+
Biostar GeForce 6100-M7
512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (Mushkin)
NEC ND-3550a DVD burner
56K v.92 PCI modem
CA$471.12 after tax & shipping

 

[imported_LoKe]

Hm...is there any point in getting the modem if I have cable internet?

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: LoKe
Hm...is there any point in getting the modem if I have cable internet?

as a backup my friend...cable dead = 56 k as back up?

 

[imported_LoKe]

Just out of curiosity...will this Mobo support my PC2300 142MHZ Ram?

General
Memory type DDR-SDRAM
Manufacturer (ID) Infineon (C1494E46494E454F)
Size 256 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2300 (142 MHz)
Part number 64D32000GU7B
Serial number 023137D9
Manufacturing date Week 17/Year 03

Attributes
Number of banks 1
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Registered no
Buffered no

Timings table
Frequency (MHz) 133 142
CAS# 2.0 2.5
RAS# to CAS# delay 3 3
RAS# Precharge 3 3
TRAS# 6 7

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
You're talking about a hundred-plus-dollar case for a CA$500 build? That's insane.

Powmax case/PSU combo
Sempron 64 2800+
Biostar GeForce 6100-M7
512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM (Mushkin)
NEC ND-3550a DVD burner
56K v.92 PCI modem
CA$471.12 after tax & shipping

The PSU is something you never skimp on if you intend to build a reliable machine. OP, the InWin is available at NCIX.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

I would stay away from that board, because it can't overclock. Unless you need some special feature (and apparently you don't), the Biostar GeForce 6100-M7 or the Biostar TForce 6100-754 are what you want to get. If you need a dedicated video card, go for the Epox EP-8KDA3I or the Epox EP-8KDA3J.

The RAM will work in any DDR board, but you might not be able to run it at 142 MHz.

 

[imported_LoKe]

So I won't be screwed if I grab that board with the ram I have? I don't know anything about timings and Mhz in relation to memory.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: Operandi

The PSU is something you never skimp on if you intend to build a reliable machine. OP, the InWin is available at NCIX.

Nothing is completely reliable. Any PSU can fail. That case isn't too bad, but for the extra CA$50 he would have to spend to get the nice PSU, he could double his memory or get a Venice.

Then again, that case isn't too expensive--not like that Antec number mentioned above. If it really has an Fortron Source PSU, it's a viable option. But in a budget system where every dollar counts, I'd think carefully before spending extra cash on what probably won't make a difference.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: LoKe
So I won't be screwed if I grab that board with the ram I have? I don't know anything about timings and Mhz in relation to memory.

No. As long as it's low-density DDR SDRAM (which it is), it will run in any board.

One thing, though: A lot of socket-754 boards have trouble running more than one DIMM. I'd sell the 256MB module you have and grab a PC3200 512MB module to replace it.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou

Originally posted by: Operandi

The PSU is something you never skimp on if you intend to build a reliable machine. OP, the InWin is available at NCIX.

Nothing is completely reliable. Any PSU can fail. That case isn't too bad, but for the extra CA$50 he would have to spend to get the nice PSU, he could double his memory or get a Venice.

Then again, that case isn't too expensive--not like that Antec number mentioned above. If it really has an Fortron Source PSU, it's a viable option. But in a budget system where every dollar counts, I'd think carefully before spending extra cash on what probably won't make a difference.

You're right, nothing has 100% reliability but going with a Powmax is asking for problems.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Operandi
This MSI ATi chipset based board looks good should cover all your need well.

I don't know if this has been mentioned in the thread, the MSI boards with the ATi chipset offer no overclocking abilities through the BIOS settings.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Whoa, so many people saying so many different things.

I just need to find a decent case and mobo (S754) we seem to all be able to agree on the processor. ^^;
I need to go to bed now, guess I'll be researching more when I get up. So many different opinions.

If someone could suggest a build (mobo, case, processor) that allows overclocking, go ahead. I'd prefer to get it from NCIX, their prices seem nice.

Thanks again to everyone.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

It would be a waste not to overclock a Sempron. The stock speed for the 2600+ and 2800+ is 1.6 GHz, but with a Biostar GeForce 6100-M7 you can get it all the way up to 2.4 GHz. With the MSI board mentioned above? Well, that can get to about... 1.6 GHz!

If you want to get that InWin case, go ahead. It's probably worth the money. When I made the PowMax suggestion, I wasn't aware you could get a reliable case/PSU combo for that amount of money.