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Author Topic: Building for a friend  (Read 1456 times)

Offline Spikes

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Building for a friend
« on: March 30, 2010, 03:35:43 PM »
A friend approached me today and said he wanted to build himself a new computer. First off I asked him a price and got under $750.  :( (I was hoping to build some super 2 grand-4grand computer...his family is rather...wealthy).

Next question was what is the usage? He said very little gaming (The Sims 3, FS, he doesn't do FPS's), but more of a general purpose computer with a lot of space.

I figured, he could use a quad core, and I settled on the Q8400 (same price as the E8400). Now, I plan on bumping his system to at least 3.0ghz from 2.6, will the QC be worth it? (Actually less than the DC).

Here is a parts list:
Proc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115057
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128371 (I'd rather get the EP45-UD3P, but it says unavail)
Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226122
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017
GFX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150482 (I know, I skimped, wanted to get a 5770, it should run most stuff great though)
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152226 (He also has an external 500gb he'll be using)
DVD/CD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135202
Case: (Don't laugh at me, Dragon :) ) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146058

I also looked at the Lancool K62, but it's much more expensive and I think I'd rather stick to NZXT.

All of this rounds up to about 728, so around 750 with S&H.

I don't think it's too bad for general purpose...the debate I'm having with myself right now would be an OC'd 3.0 quad core vs stock 3.0 dual core.

I am also giving him one of my Scythe coolers that I brought home from my Texas trade show. Got 2 coolers from Directron. :)
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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2010, 03:54:47 PM »
Try and get the MB from Zip Zoom Fly or TigerDirect.   That MB is worth the hassle of a 2nd place of purchase IMO. 
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Offline Dragon

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2010, 04:01:34 PM »
I agree with Masherbrum.  Get it elsewhere.   edit - just looked for it at Tiger, not available.  Bummer


Now THAT is one BUTTT UGLY case.  :rofl
« Last Edit: March 30, 2010, 04:05:26 PM by Dragon »
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Offline Spikes

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2010, 04:04:42 PM »
Quote from: Masherbrum on March 30, 2010, 03:54:47 PM
Try and get the MB from Zip Zoom Fly or TigerDirect.   That MB is worth the hassle of a 2nd place of purchase IMO. 
Quote from: Dragon on March 30, 2010, 04:01:34 PM
I agree with Masherbrum.  Get it elsewhere.


Now THAT is one BUTTT UGLY case.  :rofl
Is these any reason that specific mobo isn't great to get at egg? I think I want to wait and get the UD3P in all honesty. I've used it twice and trust it for sure.

I know it is Dragon...but it's cheap :) I was debating on getting him the Lexa S or Tempest...I really like the K62 if it wasn't 100 bucks.
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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2010, 04:09:11 PM »
Quote from: Spikes on March 30, 2010, 04:04:42 PM
Is these any reason that specific mobo isn't great to get at egg? I think I want to wait and get the UD3P in all honesty. I've used it twice and trust it for sure.

I know it is Dragon...but it's cheap :) I was debating on getting him the Lexa S or Tempest...I really like the K62 if it wasn't 100 bucks.

Look at the Antec 300, btw.   I know about 7 folks with it and love it as much as love the Tempest.

MB is $135 at Buy.com (which is NOT a bad price).

http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-EP45-UD3P-LGA-Intel-Motherboard/dp/B001HH2WE2%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJASE6HSSVXTNREYQ%26tag%3Dsmtfx1-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB001HH2WE2
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Offline Spikes

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2010, 04:20:05 PM »
Quote from: Masherbrum on March 30, 2010, 04:09:11 PM
Look at the Antec 300, btw.   I know about 7 folks with it and love it as much as love the Tempest.

MB is $135 at Buy.com (which is NOT a bad price).


I did end up checking out the Antec 300, one thing I'd like though is a sidepanel (I could mod it for him and put one in, but I think he just wants a PC 'right out of the box'.) I forgot to mention it in my first post.
The Antec 300 seems like a very nice case, cheap too. I hate decisions! :)
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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2010, 04:23:09 PM »
Quote from: Spikes on March 30, 2010, 04:20:05 PM
I did end up checking out the Antec 300, one thing I'd like though is a sidepanel (I could mod it for him and put one in, but I think he just wants a PC 'right out of the box'.) I forgot to mention it in my first post.
The Antec 300 seems like a very nice case, cheap too. I hate decisions! :)

Gimme some options on what you are looking for in a case and I'll check out some resources and give you a few options.    HS opening on MB tray?   certain amount of fans?   bottom/top mount PSU preference?  window on the side?
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Offline Spikes

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2010, 04:37:36 PM »
Alright, the prefs:
Black interior
Side panel
Bottom mount PSU w/the hole on bottom for intake
Could really care less about the HS opening...
Fans...maybe just a front fan, rear, side fan, top fan (or two) but other than that I could care less...good airflow is fine with me. Hopefully it won't sound like a vacuum like mine does when the side panel is off. :)

From what I can tell, he really 'digs' the light setup I have on my comp with my LED's...so I'll probably have to do up an LED setup for him (I can probably tackle most of this with LED fans).

The M59 seems to best fit the criteria, but again, it's butt ugly. Thanks very much for the help.

Also a Mid Tower...preferably under 80, but I can go to 100 if need be. I don't think he'll mind being over on buy day since there are plenty of MIR.
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Offline cattb

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2010, 06:19:37 PM »
IMO I would go with a 1156 and get a dual core. My reason, sounds like a general purpose computer. A 1156 is more upgradeable in the future where the 775 is not.
If the person is not going to run application software that does not need a quad core than a dual would be enough. At a later date the person has a need for a upgrade the availabilty is there. Hopefully Intel will add to the product line of the 1156.
Myself I project about 5 to 6 years use when I built my PC and I figured in a upgrade.

Good luck with your build.
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Offline Spikes

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2010, 07:09:46 PM »
Quote from: cattb on March 30, 2010, 06:19:37 PM
IMO I would go with a 1156 and get a dual core. My reason, sounds like a general purpose computer. A 1156 is more upgradeable in the future where the 775 is not.
If the person is not going to run application software that does not need a quad core than a dual would be enough. At a later date the person has a need for a upgrade the availabilty is there. Hopefully Intel will add to the product line of the 1156.
Myself I project about 5 to 6 years use when I built my PC and I figured in a upgrade.

Good luck with your build.
Originally I wanted to build him an i7 system, but I severely got the price wrong.
I'd build an i5 system but the thing is I don't know where 1156 is going.
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Offline DREDIOCK

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2010, 09:20:48 PM »
For general use your HD is fine.
But if he can go the extra $20+ the best bang for buck is still black

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320&cm_re=Western_Digital_Caviar_Black-_-22-136-320-_-Product

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Offline cattb

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2010, 10:18:26 PM »
A Intel 1156 would cost you more. I don't think Intel would dump the 1156 socket so fast.There is a new line of I5 processors coming out(article did not say what socket they were).

The tempest case your looking at, I looked at it and have read some reviews. It seems if you put 2 or 1 large fan in the top then there is not enough room to put a optical drive in the top.( i read those reviews quit some time ago, I just looked at what you had now) The optical drive makes contact with the fan. I guess if you wanted big fan on top a person could mount it on the outside instead of the inside .:D   The other answer would be to not use the the top spot for the optical drive or use 1 120 mm.( look for a diffrent case)
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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2010, 12:40:04 AM »
Quote from: cattb on March 30, 2010, 10:18:26 PM
A Intel 1156 would cost you more. I don't think Intel would dump the 1156 socket so fast.There is a new line of I5 processors coming out(article did not say what socket they were).

The tempest case your looking at, I looked at it and have read some reviews. It seems if you put 2 or 1 large fan in the top then there is not enough room to put a optical drive in the top.( i read those reviews quit some time ago, I just looked at what you had now) The optical drive makes contact with the fan. I guess if you wanted big fan on top a person could mount it on the outside instead of the inside .:D   The other answer would be to not use the the top spot for the optical drive or use 1 120 mm.( look for a diffrent case)

I have a Tempest and a SATA DVD Burner on top.    :confused:

The fans are ON TOP of the case, under the cover.   People must be talking about a Radiator for Water Cooling.   
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Offline cattb

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2010, 02:43:45 AM »
I read a comment about someone who purchased that particular case in the reviews from Newegg. The comment went the person could not put the optical drive in the top bay because it would hit the fan the person installed inside in the top of the case. The person went on to say they just installed the fan on top of the case to rectify the problem. But I saw more then one complaint about the situation when putting a large fan or 2 small fans inside the top of the case. The person not get a optical drive in the top bay.

Oh I see I made a mistake in previous post. I should have said the NZXT case he was looking at and not the tempest. I was thinking of one thing and typing another , sorry for that.
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Offline 715

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Re: Building for a friend
« Reply #14 on: March 31, 2010, 12:58:27 PM »
If I were building a system for someone else, I would be sure to get their prior approval on the choice of case. A case is something everyone has to look at even when the system is off; and that is one extremely ugly case that a conservative person would really dislike.
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