Author Topic: Thoughts for sub $1000 system (Read 570 times)

forHIM · « **on:** November 30, 2007, 02:09:02 PM »

Thoughts/suggestions on this? It's basically Tom's hardware October $1000 system with a couple of changes (diff power supply, video card, more ram)
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Qty.    Product Description    Unit Price    Savings    Total Price

1    LIAN LI PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: PC-7B PLUS II Item #: N82E16811112099     $119.99    -$40.00 Instant    $79.99

2    OKGEAR Cable Model OK18ARUB12 - Retail
Model #: OK18ARUB12 Item #: N82E16812123262    $4.99         $9.98

1    ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P5K Item #: N82E16813131180    $126.99         $126.99

1    ASUS EN8600GTS SILENT/HTDP/256M GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 8600GTS SIL/HTD/256M Item #: N82E16814121077    $159.99
$159.99

1    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 EPS12V EPS12V 610W Continuous @ 40°C Power Supply - Retail
Model #: Silencer 610 EPS12V Item #: N82E16817703005   $199.99    -$80.00 Instant    $119.99

1    Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E6750 Item #: N82E16819115029    $189.99         $189.99

2    WINTEC AMPX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 3AXT6400C5-2048K - Retail
Model #: 3AXT6400C5-2048K Item #: N82E16820161030   $68.99    -$20.00 Instant    $97.98

1    Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3320620AS Item #: N82E16822148140   $84.99         $84.99

1    LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail
Model #: LH-20A1L-06 Item #: N82E16827106072   $37.99         $37.99

1    COOLER MASTER RR-CCH-L9U1-GP 92mm Hyper TX2 CPU Cooler - Retail
Model #: RR-CCH-L9U1-GP Item #: N82E16835103031   $29.99    -$8.00 Instant    $21.99

Subtotal:    $929.88

Krusty · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2007, 02:30:24 PM »

I was browsing on my lunch break just a little while ago, and found what I consider a more interesting motherboard. I've heard of a few problems with the ASUS P5 boards, especially regarding RAM and BIOS limitations. I was browsing newegg, not toms, though. Prices may vary.

HIS Radeon 512MB HD 2600XT: $150

ASRock 4Core1333_eSata2 R5.0 (what I love about ASrock is they support ALL FSBs from 533 to 1333 on this board! perfect for later upgrading!! Also good for overclocking) $90

Conroe E6550 1333MHz FSB 2.33GHz $170 (overclockable out the wazoo)

Those 3 instead of your mobo/CPU/GPU will save you $70 and I don't see any loss in performance, really. The HD 2600XT is a competitor for the 320MG Ge8800GTS, so it'll be considerably better than the Ge8600, so that's a boost in performance.

My opinion: With the ample muscle of even the lowest 1333 FSB Conroe, I don't see buying the "higher" rated ones because I see it this way: 1) nothing's going to bog this down for 3 years, and 2) if anything comes close to bogging it down, I just overclock it 160% and it doesn't bat an eyelash. Given that philosophy, I'd go for the lowest "acceptable" chip that leaves you the option of upgrading in the futures (anything in the Socket775, 1333 or 1066 FSB range, and a motherboard that has Socket775 and supports 1333 or higher FSB). This will save you some $$$ for other components, or even for your pocketbook.

daddog · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2007, 05:41:04 PM »

How soon you going to do this forHIM? Before Christmas?

Fulmar · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2007, 06:52:49 PM »

I've always been a fan of ASUS boards, but Krusty makes a good point. The 1333mhz FSB support is nice to have for future upgrades. He's also right on with the getting the cheapper Conroe. They are so easy to overclock. And moderate overclock can be done with the stock heatsink.

I have a E6400 Allendale which normally runs at 2.13GHZ. I currently have it overclocked to 2.66GHZ. Equivalent to the E6700 Conroe (but I only have a 2mb cache). Stock heatsink and temperatues have been normal for nearly a year. So I saved myself about $250 (back in Jan '07) by getting the cheaper processor and overclocking mildy to the performance of the E6700.

And Krusty amazing is right again with the video card!

Avoid anything lower than an 8800 as they are not worth their $ for the performance they give. The 8600 is a poor performer and I only recommend 8800GT's and up.

Getback · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2007, 08:31:01 AM »

I have an 8600 gt 512 and it works well. Now I haven't tested every model. Just my .02 on that. However, I would like to ask if the chip comes with a cpu cooler? My amd came with its own cooler and fan and I had to use it to not void the warranty. So you may investigate that a bit and perhaps save some loot. I think my temp is around 42 c at full throttle.

I used the asus m2 or something like that. Hadn't had any problems so far.

From what I have read since building my comp I think you have chosen right on the intel chip.

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #5 on:** December 05, 2007, 09:10:44 AM »

Keep in mind that 8800GT is actually faster than GTS while you can get it cheaper and it consumes less electricity.

There's no sane reason to get a GTS anymore (except the new version maybe). Old GTS is a very bad deal now.

So it's either GT or GTX.

Krusty · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2007, 09:53:52 AM »

GT = higher end speeds (think T for Turbo)
GS = standard, stock, lower speeds (S for Standard, or "budget" -- but that doesn't have a mnemonic)

GTS = taking a GS and clocking it to GT. Loses any of the on-board card features that GTs might have, including extra pipes, extra shaders, or extra hardware that makes those higher clock speeds perform better.

GTS will almost always be outperformed by GT, all other things being equal.

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2007, 12:42:06 PM »

This is the first nvidia card where GT has been faster than GTS so I don't buy that chart.

Krusty · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2007, 12:44:26 PM »

Not so... I've got a Ge 7600GTS. It's quite clearly described as a GS clocked at GT speeds, only without the benefit of the advanced 256-bit DDR3 on the GT, or without any of the other hardware included on the GT.

GTS has always been a GS clocked at GT speeds -- a poor man's GT, if you will.

EDIT: Only reason I got the GTS was because it was $30 cheaper, too!

forHIM · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2007, 02:09:21 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by daddog
How soon you going to do this forHIM? Before Christmas?

It will be after Christmas most likely. My Christmas bonus should arrive by then and if I work enough hours this month my normal quarterly bonus may come into play and I'm negotiating for a raise (yearly review was supposed to be in November).

Barring any and all of the above, tax refund should provide some options.

forHIM · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2007, 02:19:10 PM »

Krusty, et al,

What's the difference between the various HIS cards? When I select the HIS cards on newegg and limit to 512 MB, 2600xt I get 4 results. The last one appears to be factory overclocked slightly, but I can't see the differences between the $109 version and the $149. Please educate me.

Krusty · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2007, 02:20:29 PM »

Got a better link? That seems to show me HP printers and routers

forHIM · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2007, 02:26:49 PM »

I tired it after I posted it and it got mangled.

try this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=his+2600xt+512mb&x=0&y=0

or

http://tinyurl.com/36kmoa

Krusty · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2007, 04:11:44 PM »

The most expensive on the list is factory-overclocked. It's running a lot faster on both the GPU and the memory frequencies, and also as a result has a much larger heatsink (that also raises the price a bit, most folks don't think about it though), and it takes up 2 slots in the back of your case.

The others are pretty much the same, it seems. The $129 has a basic fan but the $139 has a fancy Zalman silent cooling setup (might account for an extra few $$).

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2007, 04:17:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
Not so... I've got a Ge 7600GTS. It's quite clearly described as a GS clocked at GT speeds, only without the benefit of the advanced 256-bit DDR3 on the GT, or without any of the other hardware included on the GT.

GTS has always been a GS clocked at GT speeds -- a poor man's GT, if you will.

EDIT: Only reason I got the GTS was because it was $30 cheaper, too!

LOL! How do you explain GTS being $150 more expensive than the GT?