Cheap-ish build

zilog_jones

I'm trying to spec a pretty cheap system for my brother, using a Pentium Dual Core. Here's what I'm thinking so far, though I'm quite out of the loop with things recently:

- CPU: E2160, or is it worth spending that extra bit on a E2180? Anyone had real experience overclocking these? I'm seeing a lot of people claiming the E2160 can do around 3GHz with the stock cooler, which is what I'm planning on doing. Or would I be much better off with a better heatsink, and if so which one?

- Motherboard: Don't know really . Something suitable for above overclocking. Don't care about SLI/Crossfire, no other particular needs. Just not old stuff - I learnt my lesson from buying an i975X board Is the MSI P35 Platinum good?

- RAM: 2GB, but what speed should I get these days?

- HDD: Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB

- Graphics: Was thinking just some <€100 8600GT, or is there something significantly better I could get for not much more? He won't really be playing anything more sophisticated than TF2 and other Source-based stuff. Might stretch out for a 9600GT - much of a difference between the cheaper ones?

- DVD burner: LG GH20N or whatever's cheapest at the time

- Case: Not sure on this either. Something basic enough with decent airflow. Not too big and nothing gaudy looking. Any recommendations?

- Monitor: What's going on with these? There seem to be 20" ones for similar specs and higher res as 19"s - but at nearly the same price!? Could I get anything half-decent for around €200?

- PSU: Something around 500W I guess. Any recommendations? I've had no trouble with my Tagan I got in '06. I hear PC Power & Cooling are good too?

Hopefully looking at around €700-750. Wanna try getting it all from Hardwareversand but their website is being a dick from here (not responding and stuff) so only really been looking on Komplett so far (easier to find things there anyway).

Any advice?

PogMoThoin

I've had probs with Hardwareversand website last nite and again 2 day. It appears to be fine now, just a little slow. I'm sure You'll find a better spec pre-built there with C2D

ActionHank

Hey Dude!

You should get your stuff from www.ebuyer.com , because it's one the cheapest sites around when it comes to pc components.

Here's what i would go for:




TOTAL (INC. DELIVERY): 700 euro

For that kind of money you can't find a better deal !

Good Luck!

uberpixie

Based on what komplett have....

case + PSU: Antec Sonata with antec 500W PSU (€105) Bargain!
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338137

RAM: OCZ platnium PC6400 4gig (€81)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=339129

gfX: 9600Gt or what ever floats your boat circa €150
(skip the 8600GT, 8600Gt is just cruelty:))

You could also consider this mobo: gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L (€66)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=339437

CustomPC seem to rate it as a very good over clocker on the cheap....
http://www.custompc.co.uk/labs/137994/gigabyte-ga-p31-ds3l.html

hardrive: deffo the Samsung 500gig (€74)

CPU cooler: either

tuniq tower (€42)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=318575

or

scythe ninja plus (€40)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=320978

monitor: Samsung 206 BW 20" (€229)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=331032

CPU: which ever out of the 2160/ 2180 you feel like at the time.

DVD burner: what ever for around €30, take your pick.

At present this build will cost your around €830 ex shipping.

you can shave off €40 cutting the ram to 2 gig and about €50 dropping the gfx card down to a 8600GT.

Sqaull20

€710 delivered...



Cpu will get to 3.0ghz easy with that ram/ mobo ( I had that mobo, overclock results below, could reach 3.30ghz )

http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=330631

All the others parts are top class, case is very nice...

zilog_jones

EDIT: Didn't see last reply! I think I'm going to like that place...

PogMoThoin wrote: »

You'll find a better spec pre-built there with C2D

I don't see any pre-built stuff there, or do you mean elsewhere? Tried Dell anyway - Inspiron graphics cards are too shíte and the cheapest XPS is too much (€879 - and that doesn't even include a monitor!).

ActionHank wrote: »

Hey Dude!

You should get your stuff from www.ebuyer.com , because it's one the cheapest sites around when it comes to pc components.

Looks good, but I haven't heard of them before. Anyone else used them? I have access to a UK credit card, which would make payment easier than with Hardwareversand at least...

uberpixie wrote: »

case + PSU: Antec Sonata with antec 500W PSU (€105) Bargain!
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338137

Looks pretty good. Are their PSUs decent though? If they're just rebranded FSG ones that's good enough for me.

RAM: OCZ platnium PC6400 4gig (€81)

I'm sticking to 32-bit XP, so 2GB should be enough for the time being. (It's limited to 3GB right?).

gfX: 9600Gt or what ever floats your boat circa €150

Yeah, it looks like a much better deal for the extra €50. I'll have to see what my brother thinks though...

CustomPC seem to rate it as a very good over clocker on the cheap....
http://www.custompc.co.uk/labs/137994/gigabyte-ga-p31-ds3l.html

...However, our enthusiasm for the GA-P31-DS3L is tempered by its lack of VRM cooling, which means that it isn't suited to running overclocked and overvolted for months on end.

Hmm, dunno about that. I'm going to have to overclock this to make it a decent PC and it they don't seem to sure it'd be up for that. I think I'd be safer sticking to a P35 board, as I need something that reliably do a 1333 FSB.

I'm now looking at the GA-P35-DS3L, or maybe the EP35C-DS3R or something similar (so many different bloody models!) which seems to have more sophisticated voltage regulators and stuff. Maybe one of the MSI P35 Neos too.

hardrive: deffo the Samsung 500gig (€74)

CPU cooler...

Looks like the stock cooler is fine for 3GHz, so I'll try and avoid buying anything else for now. Also I don't even know if those will fit in that case!

CPU: which ever out of the 2160/ 2180 you feel like at the time.

I think I'll stick to the 2160 - can't find anything suggesting the E2180 overclocks any better.

So now I have this: http://www.komplett.ie/k/shoplist.aspx?mode=receive&si=572301&su=EC3F58A0-BB79-4D31-91F9-A6A5A1145551

€785 + shipping. Will check the other sites for the same stuff tomorrow.

Still not 100% sure with motherboard, and might get a cheaper gfx card/screen depending on how much he cares...

Thanks for the help so far anyway!

Sqaull20

Hardwareversand build it for you, for €19.99

http://www1.hardwareversand.de/pcconfigurator.jsp?pcConfigurator.step.1=1

zilog_jones

What's the fun in that?

toco123

I concurr.

Now to answer all your questions:


Intel Pentium Dualcore E2180 "Tray"

Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L ,Intel P31, ATX, PCI-Express

Arctic Freezer 7 Pro Sockel 775

2048MB DDR2 Corsair TwinX XMS2 CL 5, PC6400/800

Coolermaster Elite 330

ATX-Netzteil Corsair VX450W 450 Watt

XFX GeForce 9600GT 650M ,512MB DDR3

Samsung HD501LJ 500GB

Samsung SH-S203D bulk

Samsung SyncMaster 206BW 20"



€656.67 and its a wonderful build... you could change to a GA-P35-DS3L also

TerrorFirmer

With the aim of playing TF2 at high settings at the cheapest price possible, here is my build:

616 euro inc 20" Monitor and enough to run Source based games at 1680x1050 max settings with max (in-game) AA and AF....you could reduce the price to 590 by getting an 8600GT, still enough to drive Source at 1680x1050 high settings. .

E2140 will easily do 2.8Ghz on the Arctic Freezer....you actually wouldn't need to go beyond 2.3/.4Ghz anyway. The ds3l is a good board and good for overclocking. You won't need to be increasing voltage anyway unless you plan hitting 3.2Ghz+ - which would be overkill for any game and only necessary for benchmark improvements....

zilog_jones

Thanks for the help everyone. He's willing to pay for the 9600GT.

Now how the hell does one go about paying Hardwareversand? Is that online bank transfer yoke the only method for us foreigners? What's this "expediated method" people talk about?

bandit197

Order your parts and they'll give you the iban no's you need to transfer the money from your account. Its the only way to pay but its very painless. You can pay 25eur extra(with AIB anyway) to have the money transferred immediately, this is the "expediated method"...I know..I thought it would be anyway...other wise the transfer costs a euro or so and could take a few days. You can also do it online with AIB anyway and it only costs 15eur for immediate transfer. Once hardwareland get the money they'll organise delivery. I recently got lots of parts off them and had no problems. Dont forget to bring all the german banks details with you, including their address. Also stick your phone no. in the notes for carrier box when you order. I ordered on a tue, transferred same day, goods arrived with dhl in a week

zilog_jones

Cool, thanks for the info.