Building a Computer

[Calan Adan]

OK, I decided that I'll build my next computer instead of buying one. Our family computer is a 2001 Dell Dimension that is so obsolete I think the Smithsonian will take it.

But, I don't want to spend a lot of money initially. I'm not a hard-core gamer, I just want something that will actually run LOTRO or something. I'm only looking to spend about $500 to $600 initially and then upgrade a bit over the next 12 months. But I would like to play LOTRO with whatever I can build with that initial outlay.

Any suggestions?

Also, when it comes to the OS, I always figured that the Dells and HPs had me beat. How does one build a system and not outlay a significant percentage of the $$ for an OS?

I know I can get a decent system for that $500 or $600 from Dell, but I know if I do that I'll be limited in my upgrade ability.

[ThaMan]

If you want to spend that little for a gaming system, I would suggest going to Dell and HP and do a search for "Refurbished Desktop". They are factory refurbs and they have some pretty good deals sometimes.

Upgradeability isn't all it's cracked up to be any more. Most of the time all you do to upgrade is swap a video card anyway. Everything else is on the motherboard. If you swap a motherboard, you might as well do a complete system. Motherboard, ram and CPU is the bulk of the price of a system. I can't think of one instance where you would swap a motherboard before swapping a video card, so that piece is not part of the equation.

[Calan Adan]

OK, then. What about something like this:


Studio - 540(System Identifier: FCTPZ3J2)



Studio 540 Mini-Tower: Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q8200 (4MB L2, 2.33GHz, 1333FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

System Price:$599.00
Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Memory
6 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (4 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive
750 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
Video
256MB ATI Radeon HD 3450 supporting HDMI
Modem
56Kbps Data/Fax Modem
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
Base
Studio 540 Mini-Tower: Intel Core 2 Quad processor Q8200 (4MB L2, 2.33GHz, 1333FSB)
Media Bay
16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
Software Upgrade
64BIT Operating System DVD
Microsoft Works 9.0
64BIT Operating System CD
Hardware Upgrade
USB Optical two button mouse
USB Multimedia Keyboard

[Freejack]

You should be able to find a faster Core 2 Duo for the same amount or less. The Quad isn't going to get you any real advantage unless you're doing heavy multi-threaded applications like video compression or image manipulation. It's only a 2.33GHz CPU (effectively), and is going to draw much more power than a C2D, so I would strongly recommend going that route. You should be able to find something approaching 3GHz for about that same price.

[ThaMan]

I agree with Freejack on the cores. With one caveat - as long as you do mostly gaming. If you do mostly office applications and graphics (image editing or video) with the occasional game, I'd stick with the 4 cores. Games don't use 4 cores, and most gaming companies are lazy, since they try to keep it compatible with the low end machines. They probably won't establish good programming habits for 4 cores for quite some time.

Image and Video manipulation, on the other hand, will use them.

[Calan Adan]

OK, thanks. I looked at that one because it had 6GB of memory (whereas most of the refurbished came with 2GB) and an upgraded video card. The outlet store, though, doesn't give you the most choices. You can upgrade something there when you buy it but the upgrade costs the same as upgrading a brand new machine with the same part which negates some of the savings you get by shopping the outlet store. This system, basically starting from new, was $750 at Dell, so the savings can be pretty decent.

[Freejack]

Yeah, but you could upgrade the memory significantly aftermarket for very little money, so I wouldn't use that to decide anything.

[onstill]

One thing to remember is most all the games now will run FAR better on a 512mb videocard. if you can get that youll be happier.

[Calan Adan]

So, I've decided to spend a little extra money and get the components I want and build a system. I based this on Morri's recent builds, using most of her choices with a few personal tweaks here and there:


NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146025)$79.99



GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359)$119.99



EVGA 512-P3-N973-TR GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130435) $124.99



CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003)$68.99



Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036)$187.99



OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267) $59.99



Seagate ST3640323AS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OES (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148335)$79.99



HP 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black IDE Model dvd1040i - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827140025)$24.99



Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3 for System Builders - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511) $89.99

Total price: $836.91 + tax and shipping. I plan to buy the case, PSU, mobo, CPU and probably the memory (for the sale) now and then follow up with the rest over the next two or three months, in order to spread out the costs a bit.

Comments? Advice?

[Solostaran]

Looks pretty good. You won't bea able to make full use of the 4gb RAM until you switch operating systems, but that's no biggie. You might want to look at a motherboard with two PCI Express x16 slots instead of one, however, in case you ever want to run SLI.

[Calan Adan]

I decided to save some money and avoid Vista and stick with XP, seeing as how MS will be replacing Vista soonish anyway. I'll upgrade to the new Windows when after the first service pack. Until then I'm happy with the XP.

I think to prepare for SLI in the future I'd also have to get a new power supply. It opens up a bunch of other questions (not the least of which is whether my home electrical circuit could handle the power draw), so I'll probably write off SLI for the near term.

[ThaMan]

You may want to think about foregoing the OS altogether and just put Windows 7 Beta on it. If you have problems, then go back and get the OS. That would give you enough time to hold off until the Windows 7 release is available. Typically resellers are allowed to sell an OEM version of the software for 90 days after the sale of the system.

If you want to do that, you need to download the beta NOW. (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx) They have extended the beta twice. It will be shutting down SOON.

Get both x86 and x64. Install x64.

[Calan Adan]

You may want to think about foregoing the OS altogether and just put Windows 7 Beta on it. If you have problems, then go back and get the OS. That would give you enough time to hold off until the Windows 7 release is available. Typically resellers are allowed to sell an OEM version of the software for 90 days after the sale of the system.

If you want to do that, you need to download the beta NOW. (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx) They have extended the beta twice. It will be shutting down SOON.

Get both x86 and x64. Install x64.


Excellent advice! If I download it, is it something I can burn on some discs?

[ThaMan]

Yes. You burn it to a DVD then boot off of it.

If you can't find drivers, as a last resort, try Windows Vista drivers. Since the Kernel is the same, they seem to work pretty good. One of the systems I set up, I even used the Vista video drivers, because HP didn't have Windows 7 Beta drivers. Not a hickup . . . yet.

Just be advised, you will have to upgrade the OS at a later date. I believe the beta OS Expires in August, as it is now. I'm sure that will be pushed back as the Beta progresses to RC status.