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Budget PC: Compatible/Bang 4 The Buck
Hello!~ I am currently building a 'Secondary' Budget Computer; for the low price of $200-$375 range!~ I have already 'selected' the cheapest biggest bang for the buck hardware; now I just need to piece together with current hardware in my hands.
Motherboard: ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard [$60]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157176 [ Motherboard Link ]
AMD Phenom II X4 960T Processor, Black Edition, 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core [$110]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103995 [ Processor Link ]
Corsair XMS3 4 GB 1333MHz PC3-10666 240-pin DDR3 Memory [$22]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145328 [ Ram Link ]
Diablotek DA Series 400-Watt ATX Power Supply [$20]
[Amazon]
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive [$80]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073 [ Hard-drive Link ] [Currently $80 on AMAZON]
Alright; so that is my current selection; my GPU status;
I have a GT 9400 in reserve; my current problem is that I'm unsure if it would be compatible with the motherboard listed above.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814139042
Questions and Such;
If my graphics card above; is not compatible; which Radeon HD or Nvidia Graphics cards; in the price range of $60.USD that would be worthy to buy?
Also; id love to hear your thoughts on that processor; is it a worthy buy; or should I go for a AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Processor which has 2.8GHZ ea; rather than 3.0ghz; [$20 more] if you know any cheaper hardware; that gives a bigger bang; or if I'm MISSING something that is required to run my first built computer; do add. lol;
Comments
You putting it in a shoe box? And looks like you also need a OS if you dont already have one. With 4 gigs I guess all you need is a 32 bit OS, XP might be the cheapest to get.
It's compatible. If the board has PCI-E slot (which it has) it will run with any PCI-E graphics card that you slide in it, even if it's a PCI-E 2.1 and the board only supports 2.0 you'll still be able to run it fine.
Forgive my lack of DETAIL; It is my first time building.
In Reserve as well;
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Cooler Master Elite Mid Tower Case, RC-310-BWN1-GP (Blue)
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
160GB Hard-Drive
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Honestly; I'm just trying to get the pieces to run; and to make sure they are each compatiable. ^_^
I intend to add in another $20 Ram card; to up it too 8GB and then ofc up to 12GB. in a month or so; after my pay; chq.
When you're getting a processor much newer than the motherboard, you should check with the motherboard manufacturer to make sure that there is a BIOS update available to allow the motherboard to take the processor.
You need two memory modules for a dual channel memory controller, and what you picked only has one. If you only want 4 GB, that's fine, but make it a kit with two 2 GB modules.
Do not buy that power supply. Even if it were completely free, that would still be overpriced. It really is that bad.
The video card is compatible, as PCI Express is a long-established industry standard. A GeForce 9400 GT was Nivida's low end GPU from several generations ago, though. If you're not going to play games on the computer, that's fine, as it will still be better than, say, Intel integrated graphics. If you want a budget gaming card, then try this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102934
You also need a case, optical drive, and OS license.
Ok, well thiers some pretty cheap cases on NewEgg. I havnt prices the OS's in a while. But I just saw some XP 64 bit OS for 90$. Definatly cheaper than Windows 7.
Thanks for the info; that truly brings some good news; saves me a good $75; I was unsure so I thought; it would be best to confront others, to make sure. ^!~
- - -
I hope that I'm buying a decent processor; if I have to cough out $20 to have a better CPU; I will; is my current AMD x4 Phenom processor a BUY; or should I reconsider.
Thanks for the help so far; guys. ^_^ < KUDO CHI
If you want a cheap power supply that won't kill the rest of your hardware, then try this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
The processor is plenty nice enough. If anything, I'd think you'd want to go cheaper than that on such a tight budget, with something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103896
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911
What is the computer to be used for, anyway? From your choice of video card, presumably not gaming.
If I add on another 4GB card; wouldn't that be dual channel; It's the same card id be buying; you have a choice to buy two of the same card or one.
400w power supply; Ill drop; and go ahead with the 500w power supply.
Diablotek-500-Watt-Power-Supply [ $24 ]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817822008&Tpk=Diablotek-500-Watt-Power-Supply
Id just scout the local pawn shops thiers gotta be something cheap laying around that works.
No, no, no. Don't. It doesn't matter what Diablotek's marketing department decides to write on the sticker. Their products are unsafe at any wattage. As in, a month after you build the computer, all of the hardware in it is dead, because the power supply fried it. Sparks, smoke, maybe even an exploding capacitor. I don't think that's the kind of "bang" for your buck that you're looking for.
Wattage isn't the problem. Quality is.
Gaming. Yep. lol;
I saw on youtube; people running GTA IV; Crysis
BC2/BF3 Mw3/AA3/APB; and games like that just fine 
; processor wise; my 9400 should be able to handle running the games on low o_o If I'm lucky medium; I have another card; a
NVIDIA 450 GTS
but that's currently in use.
It just so happens my other computer [ Intel Dual-Core 3.0GHZ - 450GTS ] is running with a 600 watt Diablotek; which has been in use for over 8-Months now and has ran;
Diablotek is cheap; and it runs.
I trust them. no problems within the first year.
However;
Thanks for the warning; ^
In that case, you should replace the power supply in that other computer immediately. Certainly don't play games on it until you do, and consider not turning it on.
Here, read this:
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/12/17/diablotek_phd650_650w_power_supply_review/
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=187
Those might be the most scathing reviews that those sites have ever written. You'd be hard-pressed to find a power supply that is clearly worse than the ones you're looking at. For that matter, you'd be hard-pressed to find any computer component of any type that is clearly worse than the power supplies you're looking at.
My other computer is on nearly 24/7; no problems so far; If I can invest into putting $15 into a safer power supply; I will.
I'm only buying (1) 4GB Ram card; cause my budge does not allow it; and I'm sort of on a stalmate downgrading my processor; all in due time I guess.
Iv never had a problem with Diablotek; perhaps I'm just one of the few lucky o_o> or it will bite me in the future;
How do you know that you've never had a problem? Has your computer ever crashed? Blue screen of death, random shutdown, completely locks up, etc.? If so, then how do you know that the power supply didn't cause it? Power supplies can cause all sorts of weird problems without the power supply itself dying entirely.
If you can't even afford a proper power supply, then maybe you should set your sights a little lower and get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157228
Processor, motherboard, and graphics all for $99 before rebate. Free shipping, too.
Alrighty then, I'm going to go ahead and mark this thread as SOLVED.
What I have learned;
Major:
1) Shazzmon: If the board has PCI-E slot: it will run with any PCI-E graphics card. GT 9400 is GREEN and Good 2 GO!
2) Quizzical: You need two memory modules for a dual channel memory controller, and what you picked only has one. If you only want 4 GB, that's fine, but make it a kit with two 2 GB modules.
Adept:
1) Quizzical AMD Phenom x4 Black Edition Processor; is a pretty good processor;
2) Quizzical: Beware of Diablotek Power Supply;
Minor:
3) BullsyeArc1: Do not put computing parts; in a shoe box.
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Once again; id like to thank you all for the help.
I'm pretty confidient in my choices now; a little more doubt on my power-supply choice, but overall satisfyed.
@Quizz
I'm confident in Diablotek; will at least run. These blue-screens/random shut-downs; have not happened to me. which brings me confidence in my purchase. One cannot truly judge a product; without actually giving that product a shot first. If YOU yourself have had a Diablotek power-supply; and it has K-O'd your comput. It could have been defective or perhaps some type of rare shortage.
Thanks for bringing me concern; ill keep my eye on my power-supply; so far with over 8-months of use; it is running just fine, and I have saved at least $20 in my pocket. by going with the wattage choice; which works and has ZERO problems.
Thanks for your help guys; truly. ^_^ have a
GREAT NEW YEAR!~
Go read the links I gave you. Seriously, click on the two links to power supply reviews that I gave you, and read the whole thing. Well, either that or until you decide to get something different.
People like you and me don't have the equipment to test a power supply properly. It costs thousands of dollars to do it. Often, we can't really tell anything beyond whether parts have failed or not.
But those sites do have the proper equipment. They can pull arbitrary loads from the power supply and measure voltages, ripple, and so forth. This isn't like reading an "I bought one and it failed" review on New Egg or Amazon. This is people who test power supplies and write reviews on them as a major part of their job. If Hard OCP has one power supply malfunction, they'll get a second of the same model and see if it is any better, in case the first one was a fluke. So read the links and see what they have to say.
Just a side note: I have successfully built computers inside of boxes. I generally use the box the motherboard came in when I'm doing some quick testing or some such. That being said, I absolutely do not recommend it: the PCI cards are ungrounded (they ground through the screw to the case), the slightest bump can unseat a card, cable, or DIMM, and it's very exposed to the elements (i.e. Mountain Dew and Cheetos).
The AMD Phenom II CPU"s are very good for their price. They over clock pretty well, making the less expensive slower stock speed ones more attractive, as they will almost always over clock to as-high or higher than the more expensive higher clocked CPU's.
And I'll mirror what everyone else has said about the power supply. Ultimately, it's your money and you can certainly do what you want with it, but having dealt with low quality power supplies personally, I can certainly say it's well worth the money to just bite the bullet and pay more for reliability rather than rolling the dice with a chancey unit - even if you've had decent luck with one, if the review sites that actually test these things are having trouble (HardOCP is the one I watch the most) then it isn't worth the money. POwer supply problems are the trickiest to diagnose, the hardest to fix, and can cause the most damage (in terms of time lost troubleshooting, hair pulled out trying to figure out problems, and actual physical damage to your hardware).