I'm looking for the best value, so I've decided to go with a low-end X2 system. I'll be upgrading from an XP 2000+, so just about anything is an upgrade. Below is what I have planned. Please offer your suggestions:
MOBO: $69.99
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TForce TF7025-M2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Someone else here mentioned the TForce 550. That was actually my first choice, but to save some bucks, I decided to go with a board with integrated graphics, but I intend to throw a nice PCIe card in once I get some more cash.
CPU: $59.00
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - OEM
Dual-core performance in a low-end single-core CPU price range. Perfect for my budget.
MEM: $109.98
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory - Retail (2x)
Cheap ram, lower latency, 2x 1GB should be more than enough, and will run nicely in dual channel.
PSU: $64.99
Newegg.com - Antec earthwatts EA430 ATX12V v2.0 430W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail
Build by Seasonic (I think). Equivalent Seasonic models are about twice as much, and are reputable as being very quiet and very efficient. I'm going to try reusing my new Antec case and PSU for the time being. 350W SmartPower should be barely enough until I get a graphics card, then I'll probably pick up this new one then. I'll save about $30 recycling my old PSU.
CASE: $0.00
Newegg.com - Antec Solo Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
My current case is an Antec Solo. I bought it locally on craigslist for $50 from someone who said their non-standard sized motherboard had trouble fitting in this case. It really is quite beautiful. Shame it's hidden away in a tower nook in my desk. So I can save about $50+ by recycling.
OPTICAL: $0.00
Newegg.com - Pioneer Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 10X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache E-IDE/ ATAPI DVD Burner - OEM
I currently have a Pioneer DL DVD+/-RW. It's relatively new, and still works great, so I'll salvage it from my current system. I save about $25+ by recycling.
STORAGE: $67.99 + $0.00
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 "Perpendicular Recording" ST3250820A 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
I was thinking I could cut back on a major bottleneck by slashing my drive lag in half and opting for a 10,000RPM Raptor. But I had to remind myself that I must be budget minded. The SATA model is one I plan on buying. The PATA model is one I have now. I hope to use them both, and I save about $50 on a storage/backup drive by recycling my older one.
COOLING: $14.99
Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING ALPINE64 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
I'm just as much of a Arctic Cooling fan as I am AMD, NVidia, and Seagate. I don't know why, I've just always been pleased with all of my Arctic Cooling purchases, they work well and are silent. And they have an outstanding 6-year warranty.
GRAPHICS: $124.99 - $20.00 MIR
Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail
This is the best bang for my buck. Doesn't have full DX10 support, but it's still an able card. DX10 series cards in this price range are extremely low end. I probably won't be getting this right away.
I don't need any peripherals since I can reuse my current ones.
Altogether, with everything listed here (minus the stuff I already have), my system will run me just over $500 plus shipping. Without the graphics card and power supply, it runs just over $300 plus shipping.
Any suggestions on how I can shave a few bucks off this system, without shaving off too much performance?
MOBO: $69.99
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TForce TF7025-M2 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Someone else here mentioned the TForce 550. That was actually my first choice, but to save some bucks, I decided to go with a board with integrated graphics, but I intend to throw a nice PCIe card in once I get some more cash.
CPU: $59.00
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - OEM
Dual-core performance in a low-end single-core CPU price range. Perfect for my budget.
MEM: $109.98
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory - Retail (2x)
Cheap ram, lower latency, 2x 1GB should be more than enough, and will run nicely in dual channel.
PSU: $64.99
Newegg.com - Antec earthwatts EA430 ATX12V v2.0 430W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail
Build by Seasonic (I think). Equivalent Seasonic models are about twice as much, and are reputable as being very quiet and very efficient. I'm going to try reusing my new Antec case and PSU for the time being. 350W SmartPower should be barely enough until I get a graphics card, then I'll probably pick up this new one then. I'll save about $30 recycling my old PSU.
CASE: $0.00
Newegg.com - Antec Solo Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
My current case is an Antec Solo. I bought it locally on craigslist for $50 from someone who said their non-standard sized motherboard had trouble fitting in this case. It really is quite beautiful. Shame it's hidden away in a tower nook in my desk. So I can save about $50+ by recycling.
OPTICAL: $0.00
Newegg.com - Pioneer Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 10X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache E-IDE/ ATAPI DVD Burner - OEM
I currently have a Pioneer DL DVD+/-RW. It's relatively new, and still works great, so I'll salvage it from my current system. I save about $25+ by recycling.
STORAGE: $67.99 + $0.00
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 "Perpendicular Recording" ST3250820A 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
I was thinking I could cut back on a major bottleneck by slashing my drive lag in half and opting for a 10,000RPM Raptor. But I had to remind myself that I must be budget minded. The SATA model is one I plan on buying. The PATA model is one I have now. I hope to use them both, and I save about $50 on a storage/backup drive by recycling my older one.
COOLING: $14.99
Newegg.com - ARCTIC COOLING ALPINE64 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
I'm just as much of a Arctic Cooling fan as I am AMD, NVidia, and Seagate. I don't know why, I've just always been pleased with all of my Arctic Cooling purchases, they work well and are silent. And they have an outstanding 6-year warranty.
GRAPHICS: $124.99 - $20.00 MIR
Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail
This is the best bang for my buck. Doesn't have full DX10 support, but it's still an able card. DX10 series cards in this price range are extremely low end. I probably won't be getting this right away.
I don't need any peripherals since I can reuse my current ones.
Altogether, with everything listed here (minus the stuff I already have), my system will run me just over $500 plus shipping. Without the graphics card and power supply, it runs just over $300 plus shipping.
Any suggestions on how I can shave a few bucks off this system, without shaving off too much performance?