OK, Assuming I have to build myself a new machine

[DREDIOCK]

I'm slowly resolving myself to the idea Im gonna have to build a new machine at some point in the future. Within the next month or two.

My wifes is too slow wont work in the game And the EMachine is promised to her because my wifes machine is promised to my daughter.
Now I could be selfish and just upgrade the memory and video card in the EMachine. If not for the fact..Well it goes like this.
I originally promised as I said. The Emachine was going to go to the wife. My wifes old machine was going ot go to my daughter as soon as I got another hard drive for it.
A Few weeks ago we received a report that my daughter wasnt handing in her homework. so I told her she wasnt providing me with any incentive to do the upgrades to make the switches.
Last week she walks in and hands me a sheet of paper. And said "Is THIS enough incentive?"
It was a certificate from her school that she had made the honor roll.

Well from my point of view its kinda hard to argue with that LOL
So shes earned it.
So now Im stuck with having to build new.

Its gonna haveta be as cheap as possible.

Lets see what you folks can come up with.

We will start with what I already have and dont need.
160 gig WD SATA 300 Caviar SE
"MAD DOG Sure Power" 430W power supply
CD/DVD players
SB LIVE Sound card

As for the case. Thie one I was using is more then adequate Steel case and the only place this thing doesnt have a fan is the bottom.
I'll just strip her down of components and give it a fresh paintjob .

I have ram but its 184 pin which I understand wont work in the newer systems. So my daughter and wife with inherit those.
so I figure I am gonna need a
Motherboard
CPU
Video card
Memory


Rules.
I dont care if its AMD or intel but.
Its gonna haveta be on a budget (unless I get a really BIG job)
It must be able to run AH well
It MUST be quiet.

I hate loud machines that sound like shopvacs

[Skuzzy]

I am sure you will get a lot of opinions on this, but with the power supply you have, I would stick with an Intel CPU as they consume much less power than the AMD counterpart these days.  You will also come out ahead on the performance side as well.

[Condor]

Here's a very highly rated motherboard for $89. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059. I just did a build following a lot of research.  I didn't buy this board but it was close. 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Depends on your budget but if money is issue I would look into the Asrock motherboard + Intel cpu combo offer. You get a 2.66 Ghz Intel c2d + motherboard factory overclocked for around $180. Asrock is a cheaper version of Asus and they've made extremely high quality boards with low price.

Add in a 8800GT for another $180, 4gb ram $80 and you've got a cheap gaming box with near high-end performance.

[BaldEagl]

I'd look at something like this:

   
Update  GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-P35-DS3L
Item #: N82E16813128059

Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
 
In Stock 
  $89.99     $89.99 
   
Update  EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 512-P2-N757-TR
Item #: N82E16814130290

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
 
In Stock
Mail-in Rebate 
  $149.99  -$20.00 Instant    $129.99 
   
Update  Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 Conroe 2.33GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6550 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E6550
Item #: N82E16819115030

Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
 
In Stock 
  $164.99     $164.99 
   
Update  Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2K2/2GR - Retail
Model #: KVR800D2K2/2GR
Item #: N82E16820134488

Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
 
In Stock 
  $82.99  -$42.00 Instant    $40.99 
Subtotal: $425.96
Video card Mail-n Rebate (-30.00)

Total 395.96

Some will say the 8600 isn't a good card but it's one of the best in this price range.  If you're worried about it you can get an 8800 GT for an extra $60.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

If you want to go cheap deals like this are hard to bargain: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135082 ($59.99 after $20.00 Mail-In
Rebate)

 ECS GF6100-M754 (V1.0) Athlon 3200+ 754 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 512MB DDR Memory Micro ATX Motherboard/CPU/Memory Combo - Retail
Free 512MB DDR memory included, limited time offer

[humble]

I'd look at the $500 budget gaming build on toms, got an awful lot out of $500. I'd look at the cpu/MB/Mem/VC combo they picked as a good set of options...

[Fulmar]

I'd look at something like this:

  Update  EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 512-P2-N757-TR
Item #: N82E16814130290

Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
 
In Stock
Mail-in Rebate 
  $149.99  -$20.00 Instant    $129.99 
 
Some will say the 8600 isn't a good card but it's one of the best in this price range.  If you're worried about it you can get an 8800 GT for an extra $60.

I've seen the 8800GT for $150 after discounts and rebates at Newegg.  It really is worth the extra $20.

[BaldEagl]

I've seen the 8800GT for $150 after discounts and rebates at Newegg.  It really is worth the extra $20.

$60.  Theres a rebate on the 8600 too which puts it under $100.  I took that off at the bottom.

[DREDIOCK]

I like that Im getting differing suggestions.
Thank you one and all now and in the future as we peice this all together.

While its not a bad deal
Not going to go 3200+ again.
If Im gonna build I'd like to build something I can build off of (upgrade)
Might as well go next generation.

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard
Curious as to why this board?

Condor. What board did you end up getting. and why?

Purely curious questions

And why the 775 socket as opposed to the others?

Again. purely curious. As I havent  been up on the newer CPUs and MBs since I built the last machine.
Find it easier to keep whats left of my sanity that way LOL

Im figuring as a starting point  around $100 give or take  on the motherboard.
CPU. Im not sure yet.

Im trying to keep all this stuff off my credit cards other then what I can pay for immediately upon buying anything.
as Im trying to rid myself of them and not create more debt
So there is a chance I will end up buying a part here and a part there till I get it all together

Nothing is absolutely written in stone as to the price.
So I'd like to have various options without going overboard. Like I said. Im trying ot rid myself of debt.
Cant do that if all the money is going on a new machine LOL

Think of this as our bang for buck build project.
We will get a general consensus on the parts.
And I'll end up building it.

Fist thing im gonna need to do is pick up a copy of XP pro while I still can. Jusst in case I cant reuse whats now on my HD (im betting I cant. and Ill need at least one copy anyway for this Emachne.

One thing is fer sure. this Emachine NEEDs a video card before I can turn it over to my wife. I can get all kinds of resolution.
But I have no options for refresh rate. A real PIA when it comes to using the wheel scroll on the mouse LOL
But thats neither here nor there at the moment.

[DREDIOCK]

BTW which is better to start better on?
the CPU? or the mother board?

Im thinking mother board .As its easier to upgrade the CPU later then it is to upgrade the MB

BTW I tink we can start MB prices at around $125 give or take as opposed to $100.

Doesnt mean we cant go less like the Gigabyte mentioned. if thats the better overall deal.
But we can go higher if a better one yet is available at around $125.

Just got a nice Wallpapering job.

[Condor]

I got the Abit IP35 Pro.  It has more convenience/setup features, great reviews, and more overclocking potential then the Gigabyte board.  The Gigabyte board was a very close second.  I'm not sure I'll ever benefit much from the features of the Abit board.  Reviews say the Gigabyte board is very stable and a good overclocker.  As for why socket 775.  The current Intel CPUs require socket 775.  AMD CPUs require a different socket as do earlier Intel CPUs.  I chose an Intel Core Duo CPU becuase they are the best performers out there for AH.  Skuzzy says there is no gain with going quad core and the current dual core AMD CPUs do not perform at nearly the same level as the current Intels.  I would select the CPU first.  The CPU choice dictates the socket but I beleive all of the motherboard manufactureres make boards for whichever CPU you are likely to select.  I should add the disclaimer that I'm no expert.  Most of what I know I learned recently in researching for my machine.  My machine worked great from the start so I must have done something right.  I don't know what would be the best motherboard choice in the $125 range.  Check the current price of the Abit IP35 PRO.  It was more than $125 a month ago but prices drop quickly.  One choice that may make a difference is Intel or Nvidia chipsets on the motherboard. The Intel chipsets will work fine with an Nvidia video card but will not support SLI.  If you think you will want to run SLI you will need a motherboard with Nvidea chipsets.

[DREDIOCK]

Ok just looked up that board on newegg
Came up twice for two different prices.
$169 ($139 after rebate)
And $99

why?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=Abit+IP35+Pro&x=0&y=0

Ok I know about quad core

And I know Pentium is old school But whats the difference between
Core 2 Extreme & Core 2 Duo?

BTW got the video working right on this Emachine.
Seems it needed the drivers reinstalled.
Its got sound now too.

LOL I feel like Capt Kirk on the USS Constelation.

"now if I only had some phasers" LMAO

[DREDIOCK]

Nevermind on the price difference.

If I as my mother would say "looked a littel farther then the end of my nose"
I would have seen the cheaper one is an "open box" sale

[Pudgie]

The Abit IP35 Pro mobo is an excellent choice, as Condor has already alluded to w/ his selection. This mobo can run all Intel LGA 775 socket CPU's to date-includes the 45nm series w/ just a BIOS upgrade.

I myself am currently running an Abit IP35 Pro mobo. That Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L is a good board as well. These mobos are lower-end Intel P35 chipset-equipped units that have some high-end capabilities built in so they make very good foundations for budget-based Intel boxes that can also give you some performance options & some longer legs between the next major upgrade.

Please consider any of the Intel Core 2 Duo series of CPU's, either the Allendale's or low-end Conroe's to start off with as these CPU's have a lot of headroom as they overclock very well & do it on air cooling & are cheap.

Before you use your 430W Mad Dog PSU, I would seriously run your intended/proposed budget setup thru a PSU Wattage Calculator to make sure you got enough PSU to run in all intended configurations. Intel has a good one on their site that you can use for free. Another item of note: most of the modern mobos will have a 24-pin main connector & will require a PSU w/ the same connector. If your existing PSU has the old 20-pin main mobo connector, well you gonna need to also consider a newer PSU as well.

Most mobos these days are geared for using SATA drives ( mobos only coming out w/ 1 PATA connector-if 1 at all) & I really don't think you'll like the performance from your existing HDD w/ a CD-Rom/DVD Rom drive slaved on the same PATA headder w/ your HDD (assuming that your existing HDD is a PATA drive) so you might want to also consider at least 1 drive for your upgrade to be a SATA drive-preferrably the HDD.

Hope this helps you in some way.