I'd like to build a cheap PC
I have time to spare right now, but am in a bit of a financial tight spot (yep, you get one guess as to what that means). Thinking I need to up my hardware computer skills, as well as my Unix/Windows server experience, I'd like to build a decent PC for as cheap as I can. What I'd like: AMD probably (I usually associate Intel with MS, and MS with the devil's own red hot bum), something "2000+" or higher. A proper video card @ 32 MB or more, 256 MB ram (with possibility to fill some slots later on). Something optical. A smallish HD will do (enough to install a couple of OSes on it), because I will put in a firewire card and hook up my 320 GB monster. Something like that. I really wonder where to begin.
A case, probably. ATX? And from there? Can someone take it step by step?
A case, probably. ATX? And from there? Can someone take it step by step?
Comments
AthlonXP 2500+ Barton is the best value processor, IMO. This motherboard looks nice and cheap. This GeForce 4 MX should be sufficient. You'll need some 333MHz DDR RAM to get the added performance gain of staying in sync with the busses of your motherboard and processor.
Checklist:
CPU (retail box comes with heatsink and fan)
mainboard (comes with all necessary cables, IO panel, etc)
RAM
HDD
optical drive
sound card (most mainboards have integrated sound)
video card (some Intel boards have integrated Intel Extreme Graphics, but it sucks)
NIC (many boards have this built-in as well)
case
PSU (many cases come with them already)
floppy drive (unnecessary, but at ~$10 USD, you might as well)
monitor
keyboard
mouse
extra fans (optional)
Originally posted by Steve
http://tcwo.com/ is where I go for this sort of thing.
AthlonXP 2500+ Barton is the best value processor, IMO. This motherboard looks nice and cheap. This GeForce 4 MX should be sufficient. You'll need some 333MHz DDR RAM to get the added performance gain of staying in sync with the busses of your motherboard and processor.
He is in Belgium, so I don't know what local options he might have. The European market tends to feature different brands altogether. For instance, Creative makes video cards and Philips makes mainboards there...
A very good inexpensive motherboard maker is Albatron too. I always buy retail CPUs instead of bare OEM ones.
A case is gonna be about 50 euro, and I won't get a CPU for less than 100 euro (and that is already eliminating Intel from the picture). No much room for other stuff...
www.colorcases.com
www.tcwo.com
www.cyberpowerinc.com
www.tccomputers.com
www.pricewatch.com
www.computerhq.com
Originally posted by der Kopf
A case is gonna be about 50 euro, and I won't get a CPU for less than 100 euro...
And now I find this:
Name: Multimedia pro 2000+
Price: 275? (incl. RECUPEL)
Description: AMD Duron XP2000+
256 MB DDR 266 MHZ
HD 30GB/ATA 133
Floppy Drive 1.44/52xCDROM
Graphics card 3D/64Mb
Sound 16 bit
Network 10/100Mbps
ECS K7SOM MB
So I'm gonna have to do better than that to make it worth my while. How good is that Duron XP2000+?
Originally posted by der Kopf
And now I find this:
So I'm gonna have to do better than that to make it worth my while. How good is that Duron XP2000+?
For 25 more bucks buy an Athlon : there is a huge difference of performance for a little difference of price. Screw up the Duron.
I believe that, as far as CPU is concerned, I have two reasonable options:
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ (266 MHz) BOX for 106.5 ?
AMD Athlon XP 2600+ (333 MHz) BOX for 124.0 ?
I reckon those MHz indication are frontside bus numbers. So my logical question: is that a big difference? Is it worth my while, or will going for 333 implicate more than just that small price difference (= more expensive RAM, motherboard, cooler)?
Originally posted by der Kopf
Another question:
I believe that, as far as CPU is concerned, I have two reasonable options:
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ (266 MHz) BOX for 106.5 ?
AMD Athlon XP 2600+ (333 MHz) BOX for 124.0 ?
I reckon those MHz indication are frontside bus numbers. So my logical question: is that a big difference? Is it worth my while, or will going for 333 implicate more than just that small price difference (= more expensive RAM, motherboard, cooler)?
I have a athlon 2400 XP and it's a good chip (running at 2 ghz). The atlon XP 2600 is a little better, but perhaps it will be more wize to invest in a better video card for 18 $ (if 18 $ can bring you a better video card).
Some of my options (I'll have you know that I usually start flipping channels when video cards are concerned):
ATI Radeon 7000 64Bit DDR 64 MB TV Out DVI..............................45,00?
ATI Radeon 7500 AGP DDR 128 MB TV Out DVI...............................65,00?
ATI Radeon 9200 - 128 MB DDR - AGP 8x - DVI - TV out...................74,00?
ATI Radeon 9200 - 128 MB DDR - AGP 8x - DVI - Video In / Video Out.....95,00?
GeForce 4 MX 440 64 MB + TV out Chaintech...............................55,00?
GeForce 4 MX 440 64 MB DDR TV-out Pixelview.............................59,00?
GeForce 4 MX 440 SE 128MB............................................. ..69,00?
GeForce 4 MX 440 SE 64 MB DDR AGP8x TV out MSI MS8890...................57,00?
GeForce 4 MX 440 SE 64 MB DDR TV out....................................49,00?
GeForce FX 5200 Asus V9520 Magic DDR 128 MB TV out......................89,00?
GeForce FX 5200-8X 128 MB DDR TV-out Pixelview..........................82,00?
Which is best (with the factor cheap carrying relatively large weight for me right now)? Also, that Video In card, might it eventually be possible to digitize VHS tapes using that?
Check http://www.gotapex.com/deals.php or http://www.techbargains.com/