Greetings folks! A little help please.

[matthehorn]

Hi, I've been checking thru the threads, and there's a lot a helpful folks out there.
An awful lot has changed since a built my current machine (dinosaurs dying out etc), and I'd like to spec up on a budget.
I'm running XP home on an AMD 1.3gb with 512 RAM, with an EMU soundcard.
I'm hoping to upgrade MOBO, CPU, RAM and HD, and keeping the other components.
I use my system for making music, so I'm not into fast graphics, and the CPU doesn't need to be super quick (it's a tight budget), but I need at least 2gb of ram for the plugins I want to use.
I was looking at AMD Athlon 3000+ processor and ECS GS-761 motherboard bundle from MISCO, itr's cheap, and I can get 2gb of RAM in it. But the truth is a don't know what the hell I'm doing.
Anybody feel inclined to help a frustrated newbie?
Many thanks.

[MSIC]

Easy. There is only one choice for you regarding a new processor, and that's an Intel chip, based on Core2Duo technology. Chips are available from very cheap £35 right up through to £1000, although up to £150 is reasonable value.
I'm assuming with what you mentioned it must be supercheap, so here goes:

Processor: Intel PentiumD E2160 £43
Motherboard: Abit 945-based £35
Memory: 2 Gigabytes of Corsair VS £30
Hard Drive: Western Dig 500 Gig £63

Total = £171 although it could get cheaper, but i wouldn't. I would advise at least a 500Gig hard drive if media creation is the purpose.
This isn't necessarily the best setup, so if you give a specific budget i could see what we could change. Also the more info you can give on your current setup the better.
One further word - power requirements have changed a bit since 2000 / 2001 (approx when your current kit is from) and although the things i have suggested are not high power draws, you still need a decent Power Supply Unit (PSU) to provide good, regular / stable power that actually fits the right connectors.

PS Hello

[matthehorn]

Many thanks MSIC, and hi back.
You've hit the nail on the head; my budget's less than 200 squid, and that means a machine that's already out of date. If it allows me to limp on till I've got a bit of cash, then that's fine.
I really appreciate the pointers, will check them out now.

[MSIC]

In that case, i would spend another £20 on a significantly better motherboard at this stage, and keep to the other things i have mentioned.
Then when future money comes in you can swap bits in and out for relatively cheap and also not have to do a whole re-install (which you most certainly will have to do this time).
A great chipset now is something like a P35, but even a P31-based board will give you great features & future support.
Try this one, a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L for £60. Better value for money in the long run, and will keep in the £200 budget.

[matthehorn]

That makes sense to me,
I was impressed that even your cheap system uses DDR2, which is not only faster but much cheaper.
I'm going to have to go 64bit eventually, and the GA-P35-DS3L seems like a good platform for the future. MSIC, have you made the move to Vista, or running XP 64bit, or other OS?
Thanks very much!

[Mossy]

The GA-P35-DS3L is a good little board I have used it in a few machines I have built for friends mainly because of the cost and it has been super no issues accept with one which had a reset issue which was easilly solved with a Bios update.

PS Welcome to hexus

[Bhavv]

The MSI P35 Neo 2 is amazing value for only £66. Solid state capacitators, a very decent passive cooling heatpipe system, crossfire support and is much much cheaper then other boards with the same features.

A link here:

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

Please do consider this board against others in its price category before deciding, I doubt you will find a better one

Also, on top of this motherboard, the following components will fit your £200 budget very nicely:


Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2160
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK


2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2 (4-4-4-12 timings)
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK


320 Gb Samsung HD321KJ Spinpoint T166
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK


Samsung spinpoints are very very highly recommended, they are whisper silent, and very fast drives. You can cut the cost a bit if you like by getting a cheaper hard drive, but that will only save like £5-8 so this one is the best value for your budget.

Also, the corsair ram has very low 4-4-4-12 timings for a low £32, compared to other ram that has higher (slower) timings and cost £28-30. So again this one is best value for money.

Oh, that gigabyte motherboard that Paul mentioned also looks very nice, all solid state capacitators too. But the MSI is only £7 more

[matthehorn]

Thanks guys,
I think I've sold my 5-string fretless acoustic bass tonight so I'm ready to rumble.
You've all been exceptionally kind and I do really dig it, but if I could turn the screw a little tighter.....
Both of the MOBO's mentioned seem great value, but no onboard VGA, whats an OK card to stick in?

[MSIC]

I didn't realise we needed to think about graphics too - adding a graphics card, even a cheap £30 one, makes the budget silly.
Let's look at a 'G33' chipset board instead (with on-board graphics - fine for your needs).
Gigabyte GA-G33M £66

[Bhavv]

Hey thats cheating! You said in your OP that you only needed a mobo, cpu, ram and hard drive

Ok heres an idea - what harddrive do you currently have as you could just carry it over to the new build and pick up an ATI 3650 or an Nvidia 8500 GT for £50. I dont recommend onboard VGA for anyone as it usually slows your PC down in normal use.

[MSIC]

I dont recommend onboard VGA for anyone as it usually slows your PC down in normal use.

I'd have to dispute that in all honesty, you might benchmark 1% difference but wouldnt be noticable in use.
Also a 3650 or 8500GT is seriously over the top for simple displaying, even on potentially high res screens.
This 8400GS is more than sufficient for £28, and is silent.
But as i said, i think on-board VGA is perfect in this case.

[Bhavv]

Yes an 8400 GS is a great choice over integrated graphics. Dont the integrated ones share system ram = less ram for windows?