Need advice for new computer

[lti]

I am looking for a low-end desktop computer to replace two of my old junkers. However, I do not know what CPU or how much RAM would be the best. I am looking to spend about $400 and want 64-bit Windows 7. I only need onboard video, and I already know to avoid Nvidia chipsets.

[Uranium-235]

Re: Need advice for new computer

ddr3 is dirt cheap now a days. you can get a 2x2gb 1600 for a really good price

go with an athlon II x2 or x4 with an amd chipset, gigabyte or MSI as long as it has all polymers or polymers and anything but kgz or ost

look for rubycons or sanyo in the lower half of the board

[lti]

Re: Need advice for new computer

What about prebuilt computers? I won't save much money by building it myself, and there are too many things that can go wrong. It is hard to find a motherboard in this price range that has good caps.

Why should I only look for those two brands of caps? What about Nichicon and Panasonic?

[lti]

Re: Need advice for new computer

How is this board? I noticed that all of the tiny caps are Teapos. Another Gigabyte board had Lelons in those positions.

[Uranium-235]

Re: Need advice for new computer

yeah pannys and nichis are too, but I haven't seen as many nichis lately on non-polymers

if you're really saving that much with a pre-built, you're sacrificing quality

if you don't mind not having a floppy or IDE port go with this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130585

its all pannys and sanyos, I don't think those smaller ones are even taepos or kgz's

that with an Athlon II X2 245 through 260

and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

which I stand by ripjaws

more then sufficient for win7 64

[momaka]

Re: Need advice for new computer

Got a Micro Center near you??

This is similar to the board that Uranium-235 posted:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0352421
Pros: cheaper (after rebate), all solid caps, 4 memory slots (still maxes out at 16 GB though), eSata port
cons: no pci-e 1x (there are 2 PCI slots, though)

Processor - AMD Athlon II X2 255 :
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0355993

RAM - 4GB (2x 2GB):
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0358348

drives and all the rest - I'll let you pick those

*EDIT*
Oh yeah, need to look up a power supply as well - those are important too. No PowMax, I promise .

[Wizard]

Re: Need advice for new computer

Good time to snag the Dell Optiplex box if your CD is XP professional. They come with COA sticker on it. A used 745, 755, 780 series is between 200-300 range. And they do have good caps and poly capacitors.

I picked up a 745 desktop (not tower) with 2GB in it, 80GB, no video card in it (onboard) for 180 canadian locally. Intended for my coworker.

Also on Ebay you can get motherboard and CPU bundle for reasonable cost as long as you watch the price.

minimum CPU: Pentium Dual Core to C2D range. The i5 is too high for your budget.

DDR3 is good price right now, i got 4GB for 45 locally, by Mushkin, good memory maker.

Asus 775 with intel chipset and Socket AM2/AM3 with AMD chipsets are poly caps these days. Even a MicroATX board wtih AM3 and AMD chipset/onboard 4xxx in it is very decent for a starter PC and put in a good low/mid end AMD video card later. This will get you around 300 or so for this kit if built yourself:

AMD 800 series chipset Asus board around 100, Phenom X2 555 (3.2 GHz) goes for under 90 dollars or so.

Decent PSU can be found on ebay too if you keep clear of branded version and go for OEM that was intended for branded computer like Delta, Bestec etc.

Watch out that you do not get ripped by local stores, some charge higher prices and there is some good stores with reasonable price for good brands, are ones you seek out.

Cheers, Wizard

[momaka]

Re: Need advice for new computer

Well I was looking and looking and then I remembered that a number of members here recomended this power supply before:
http://www.hypermicro.com/ProductDes...LY-BULK&key=it
It's the famous 550W AcBel Polytech. On sale for $15.

Also found these on hypermicro while looking for the above beast:

400W, looks like Delta, with 30A combined on the 12v rail, no APFC though (PPFC perhaps?)
http://www.hypermicro.com/ProductDes...LY-BULK&key=it
http://www.hypermicro.com/ProductDes...LY-BULK&key=it

Sparke/SPI (FSP group), 650W, with APFC
http://www.hypermicro.com/ProductDes...-SUPPLY&key=it

I'll wait for other members to approve of these units, though. Most of them should be OEMs from known companies as Wizard mentioned. Definitely more than enough for a basic system, too.

[Wizard]

Re: Need advice for new computer

Even 300W-350W is plenty for most.

Cheers, Wizard

[brethin]

Re: Need advice for new computer

I may have a Dell XPS 410 with a Core 2 Duo, 3 gig ram, Windows 7 Ultimate, if your looking for something around $250.00

[lti]

Re: Need advice for new computer

I was hoping to save money by using an IDE hard drive that I already have. I just noticed that the board I posted doesn't have IDE connectors. I should just buy a new hard drive.

I don't know of any stores near me that sell computer parts. They sell crappy prebuilt computers like Compaqs, and most of them have Nvidia chipsets and huge hard drives that I have no need for. The best I saw was a Lenovo with 3GB of RAM and KZG caps. Any computers with more than 3GB of RAM have 1TB or larger hard drives, which significantly increases the cost of the system. My current computer has a 60GB hard drive, and I only have a few gigabytes of files.

I have software that will not run under Windows XP. I need 64-bit Windows 7.

Is there a reason for buying 2x2GB RAM kits instead of a single 4GB stick?

[dood]

Re: Need advice for new computer

Is there a reason for buying 2x2GB RAM kits instead of a single 4GB stick?

Dual-channel memory. Performs better if 2 or 4 slots are populated, vs 1 or 3.

[lti]

Re: Need advice for new computer

Would I actually notice the performance increase?

[brethin]

Re: Need advice for new computer

No

[brethin]

Re: Need advice for new computer

I also have a MPC Clientpro 385 with a Duo core 2 cpu, 2 gig of ram, Win 7 Ult and will let you use your IDE drive, I can part with for around $200. Fill in you location on your profile so I know where you and can make get a guess on shipping costs.

[momaka]

Re: Need advice for new computer

I was hoping to save money by using an IDE hard drive that I already have. I just noticed that the board I posted doesn't have IDE connectors. I should just buy a new hard drive.

If you are getting a new computer, might as well get new hard drive too. Just like you, I don't have a use for those big hard drives either, but they are much faster than your old 60 GB and you will notice the difference. Both your OS and you programs will load much faster. They aren't all that expensive either. You can grab a 320 GB Western Dig. Caviar Blue for $32 or so.

Also, I just got the regular Micro Center email yesterday. They have the AMD bundle again, and some of the motherboards are free with this bundle. See this page:
http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...ource=ACT_BYO&

Basically, you can grab a Phenom II X2 560 for $90 and get this motherboard free:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0350746

Or get the same processor with this motherboard for $100:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0361911

An extra $10 will get you a Phenom II X4 840 quad-core.

I think any of these should have you set for quite a few years.

[lti]

Re: Need advice for new computer

I'm not reusing the drive that is in my computer now, but the drive I was planning on using is a Western Digital 60GB ATA100. Would a new drive really be that much faster?

If I build the computer, I would use the Gigabyte board I posted above, an Athlon II X2 250 CPU, a single 4GB stick of RAM, and a 250GB Western Digital hard drive. I would prefer to purchase a computer from a store, but any local stores only sell high-end components that are out of my price range or "media center" computers that have almost no hope of doing anything resembling work.

[Uranium-235]

Re: Need advice for new computer

Got a Micro Center near you??

This is similar to the board that Uranium-235 posted:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0352421
Pros: cheaper (after rebate), all solid caps, 4 memory slots (still maxes out at 16 GB though), eSata port
cons: no pci-e 1x (there are 2 PCI slots, though)

Processor - AMD Athlon II X2 255 :
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0355993

RAM - 4GB (2x 2GB):
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0358348

drives and all the rest - I'll let you pick those

*EDIT*
Oh yeah, need to look up a power supply as well - those are important too. No PowMax, I promise .

there is a x1 slot to the left of the northbridge

why not get 2x2? The only reason to get a single 4gb stick would be if you only have 2 memory slots, and can only afford 1 4gb stick, and you want to upgrade to 8gb later (64-bit OS required)

that motherboard ^ he posted has 4 slots, so you can get 2x2gb now, and get 2 more 2gb later for total of 8gb dual channel

[lti]

Re: Need advice for new computer

You seem to think that 8GB is the most RAM anybody will ever need. Why can't I have two 4GB sticks for 8GB in dual channel mode?
All of the boards I have been considering only have two RAM slots.
If I have to spend that much to get four RAM slots, I would like an AM3+ board.

[Uranium-235]

Re: Need advice for new computer

you said in the last post you would get a single 4gb

I think 16gb is excessive. I have 12 and I play every game under the sun and have never gone over 4gb of usage