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Thread: Budget Rig

  1. #1
    v0x
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    Budget Rig

    Hey folks,

    Like many others, I'm glad to have finally found Hexus! I've been building and playing around with systems for 6 years or so.. This Christmas i'm building a budget system for a friend, and i'd like to run the specs past you guys to make sure its up to scratch, if you would be so kind as to share your opinion

    The priority for the system is reliability and of course cost. He dosn't plan to upgrade any time soon, but plans to play some older games. I've skimped on the case, cosmetics being the last consideration after speed, size and reliability. I'm trying to build this with a budget of 300 quid.

    Case: Casecom KL-400 Midi Tower
    CPU: AMD (Venice) Athlon 64 3500 939pin
    RAM: Corsair Value Ram, 512mb, DDR400/ PC3200 (Trying to bump this to 1GB)
    GPU: Geforce 7300gt 256mb PCIE
    Mobo: Gigabyte GA-K8-NF(I already have this board laying around, so it'll save a good 40-50 quid)
    HDD: Maxtor 200GB SATA(Diamond max 10, I believe)
    Optical: NEC Combo
    PSU: I was going to go for a ThermalTake TR2 470Watt from MicroDirect, but they're out of stock and I can't find any at an agreeable price-- I was looking at the 330watt Tagans, but that seems slightly under powered.. Can anyone recomend something more suitable around the 30 pound mark?

    TIA and seasons greetings! ^.^
    v0x.

  2. #2
    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
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    just a couple of small points:
    i bought a casecom case from ebuyer, and it was total garbage. i reviewed it 1 star, citing numerous examples of bad build quality, and the rating was removed. stear clear of cheap cases, its more trouble than its worth. Theres a decent asus case kicking about for around 30 squids.

    another thing: dont buy from microdirect
    see trust.hexus.net for details...

    cheers,
    Steve B

  3. #3
    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
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    you might also want to consider going for a barebones system such as this:
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=397067
    it'll give you the case and PSU already

  4. #4
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    • Hasnath's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus PSWDH
      • CPU:
      • Q6600
      • Memory:
      • 4x1GB Ballistix 8500
      • Storage:
      • 2xWD 320KS(RAID0)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • PNY 9800GTX 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Tagan 580W U22
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster ATC110
      • Monitor(s):
      • HP L2045W
      • Internet:
      • BE 21MB
    i think this case looks good and reviews show it as having good airflow while being quiet plus its relatively cheap

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=509815

    i'd recommend a seasonic 330w or 380w depends how much you wanna spend, really rock solid rails and will run you given spec easily.


    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=277840

  5. #5
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    • DratUK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P877-V Pro
      • CPU:
      • I5 3570K with Antec Kuhler 920
      • Memory:
      • 8Gb Corsair Vengance
      • Storage:
      • 120Gb OCZ Vertex 2 Sandforce, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Palit Jetstream 670
      • PSU:
      • Enermax 720
      • Case:
      • Lian Li A10B
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 24" 1900x1200
      • Internet:
      • VM 100
    X-Clio
    Yes not a well known name, however thier PSU's are manufactured by ChannelWell who are very well known in the Server PSU market.
    The 700 watt 750 watt and 850 watt are SLi certified and also on Jonny Guru's site as good stable units. I have used the 500 watt version an a few builds and they have never caused a problem
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=375883
    £34.02

  6. #6
    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
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    its a budget build, so get a case where a psu is included in the price, as theres no need for anything better.

  7. #7
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    • amjedm's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus A8N-Sli Premium
      • CPU:
      • Athlon X2 4200 S939 + Scythe Ninja rev A
      • Memory:
      • 2GB Corsair DDR PC3200
      • Storage:
      • Samsung T 160GB Sata in Scythe Quiet Box
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 6600 256MB + Cooling Mod
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Noisetaker 485 (fanless) - lower chamber P180 fan doing the PSU cooling
      • Case:
      • P180 (modded - easier cable routing, front and rear grills cut)
      • Operating System:
      • XP Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 22" WTQ?
      • Internet:
      • O2 8MB (Standard)
    Quote Originally Posted by Steve B View Post
    its a budget build, so get a case where a psu is included in the price, as theres no need for anything better.
    But that Antec 4000 Hasnath has linked to is nice and I didn't know Scan did them.

    If you haven't already bought the Maxtor, go for another make - Seagate, WD or Samsung. Just had a Maxtor die on me the other day.

  8. #8
    Senior Member Max Tractor's Avatar
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    • Max Tractor's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Biostar TA890GXE
      • CPU:
      • 95w 1055T@x4-3.5Ghz-1.15v
      • Memory:
      • Samsung Green 30nm low voltage 2x4GB@1.26v
      • Storage:
      • Corsair 3 60GB-Sandisk Extreme 240GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 7850 2GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic SS-1050XM
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster elite 120(Modd)
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ EW2430
    keep an eye for deals/free shipping on Antec SLK3000B, 25/35 pick up 350W FSP from scan, or keep an eye on AOpen H500B Midi Tower inc 300W £33
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=136410

    AOpen usually use fsp psu, might get lucky

  9. #9
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    • amjedm's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus A8N-Sli Premium
      • CPU:
      • Athlon X2 4200 S939 + Scythe Ninja rev A
      • Memory:
      • 2GB Corsair DDR PC3200
      • Storage:
      • Samsung T 160GB Sata in Scythe Quiet Box
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 6600 256MB + Cooling Mod
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Noisetaker 485 (fanless) - lower chamber P180 fan doing the PSU cooling
      • Case:
      • P180 (modded - easier cable routing, front and rear grills cut)
      • Operating System:
      • XP Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 22" WTQ?
      • Internet:
      • O2 8MB (Standard)
    Quote Originally Posted by Max Tractor View Post
    keep an eye for deals/free shipping on Antec SLK3000B, 25/35 pick up 350W FSP from scan, or keep an eye on AOpen H500B Midi Tower inc 300W £33
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=136410

    AOpen usually use fsp psu, might get lucky
    AOpen rebrand FSP psus - me being a bit picky

    Even though it's a budget build, I would still recommend you go for a case with 120mm fans if possible.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by amjedm View Post
    AOpen rebrand FSP psus - me being a bit picky

    Even though it's a budget build, I would still recommend you go for a case with 120mm fans if possible.
    why? on a budget system its really gonna make so little difference

  11. #11
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    I was looking at the 330watt Tagans, but that seems slightly under powered.. Can anyone recomend something more suitable around the 30 pound mark?
    that will do you for a budget system, and Tagans are generally good quality

  12. #12
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    This should do you, i upgraded it to 1GB ram, a 250GB HD, the case has a 400w PSU in it and doesnt look that bad, there is also a 256MB Palit 7300GT PCI-E(x16) Sonic Mem 1000MHz GPU 500MHz 8Pipes D-Sub/Dual Link DVI/S-Video Fan for £54.48, but i dunno how good Palit are
    Last edited by DragonStar; 05-12-2006 at 04:47 PM.

  13. #13
    radix lecti dave87's Avatar
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    • dave87's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus
      • CPU:
      • i5 3470k under Corsair H80 WC
      • Memory:
      • 8gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 240gb SSD + 120gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus HD7950
      • PSU:
      • XFX 600w Modular
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-A05FNB + Acoustipack
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Dell S2309W (1920x1080)
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity Option 2
    Unless you've already got the monitor - perhaps a dell Core Duo system would be good? beginning to drop in price, and you get a reasonably good TFT with it. Otherwise possibly the dell outlet? If you spend time going through it there are some bargains to be had.

    Dave

  14. #14
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    yeah, a tft monitor would knock the price up another £100 or so

  15. #15
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    • amjedm's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus A8N-Sli Premium
      • CPU:
      • Athlon X2 4200 S939 + Scythe Ninja rev A
      • Memory:
      • 2GB Corsair DDR PC3200
      • Storage:
      • Samsung T 160GB Sata in Scythe Quiet Box
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 6600 256MB + Cooling Mod
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Noisetaker 485 (fanless) - lower chamber P180 fan doing the PSU cooling
      • Case:
      • P180 (modded - easier cable routing, front and rear grills cut)
      • Operating System:
      • XP Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 22" WTQ?
      • Internet:
      • O2 8MB (Standard)
    Quote Originally Posted by DragonStar View Post
    why? on a budget system its really gonna make so little difference
    You still want to keep the system cool and also less noise with the larger fans. Also, can stick with case if he upgrades again.

    It isn't stretching his budget so can't see a reason why he shouldn't go with a 120mm fan case.

  16. #16
    v0x
    Guest

    Cool

    Thanks for the response guys! I'll be ordering the parts over the next day or two- I'll summarize the final choices

    At the moment, its looking like a Seasonic or Xclio PSU-- I know a psu that comes with an okayish chassis -should- be OK, but i think (in this case) its worth the extra cost to have the added reliability.(Or is it just piece of mind? )

    With regards to the cheap case; I'm going to sit down with my friend tomorrow and go through some cases around the 30 pound price point. That antec case sure looks nice! Its possible to spend that much without sacrificing too much parts wise, so it seems like a good idea to spend the extra 15 for a better built chassis.

    The HDD has been changed to a 200GB Seagate, just to be safe. That said, I really believe HDD buying is a black art-- reliability seems to have universally decreased as the cost of drives has dropped, and your chances of a random failure or DOA unit are the same whichever brand is chosen(Unless, of course, you had a DeathStar!)

    And finally, since I have the motherboard on hand, and he already has a monitor, I can beat the price of an equivalent dell system, as well as slightly outspec it! I'll also steer clear of the barebones systems, since this also wipes out the mobo savings.

    Thanks again for the advice, folks!
    v0x

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