Budget PC Sub $500

[TranceParadox]

Hey, I'm a first time pc builder and I wanted to pass by my parts list to a tech forum to hear recommendations. IÂ’ll mainly be doing graphic design in Photoshop and a little bit of 3D modeling in Autodesk Inventor and 3D studio max.
Please let me know what you think of these parts, and if there is anything I left out.

AMS Gmono Black Mid-Tower Case, with 350W PSU, Model "CF-2029SW-BK" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Case Type: Mid-Tower Case
Color: Black Automotive Paint
Material: Steel
Drive Bays: 5.25" x 4/0, 3.5" x 2/4 (external/internal)
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Ports: 2 x USB, 1 x Firewire, 2 x Audio ports
Power Supply: 350W, Ultra silent, Intel/ AMD Recommend, UL, CB approved
Cooling System: 8cm Cooling Exhaust Fan
Motherboard Compatibility: (10" x 12") AT/ATX
Dimensions: 17" (H) x 8" (W) x 19" (D)
Features: 4MM acrylic side window, Removable side panel w/ thumbscrews, open PSU back plate for redundant PSU
Manufacturer Warranty: 2 Years more info-> $62.00


MSI "KT4AV" VIA KT400A Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL
Specifications:
Supported CPU: Socket A AMD AthlonXP/Athlon/Duron/Sempron Processors
Chipset: KT400A + VT8237
FSB: 400/333/266MHz
RAM: 2x DIMM support DDR400/333/266 Max 2GB
Slots: 1x AGP 8X, 5x PCI
Ports: 2x PS/2, 1x COM, 1x LPT, 8x USB2.0(Rear 4), 1x RJ45, 1x RCA SPDIF out, Audio Ports
IDE: 2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC655 6-channel
Onboard LAN: Realtek 8201BL PHY 10/100 Ethernet
Form Factor: ATX more info-> N82E16813130478 $49.00


PowerColor ATI RADEON 9550 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "R96-LC3" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9550/250MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/400MHz
BUS: AGP 8X
Ports: VGA Out (15 Pin D-Sub) + TV-Out (S-Video) + DVI-I
Support 3D API: DirectX 9, OpenGL 1.5
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@60Hz
Cable/Accessories: A/V cable, S-Video cable, Installation Guide, CD Driver, WIN DVD Player
Retail Box (See pics for details) more info-> $76.00


AMD Athlon XP 2600+ "Barton", 333MHz FSB, 512K Cache Processor - OEM
Specifications:
Model: AMD Athlon XP 2600+
Core: Barton
Operating Frequency: 1.9GHz
FSB: 333MHz
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/512K
Voltage: 1.65V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket A
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+
Packaging: OEM(Processor Only) more info-> $89.00

Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Corsair
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 3
Support Voltage: 2.5V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: 64M x 64 -Bit
Warranty: Lifetime more info-> $74.27

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM
Specifications:
Capacity: 1.44MB
Average Access Time: 94 ms
Interface: 34 Pin Standard Floppy Connector
Form: 3.5 inch
Media Type: All Standard 1.44MB & 720KB 3.5 Floppy Diskettes
Features: High Quality and Reliability
Packaging: OEM more info-> $6.99


SAMSUNG 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model SP0802N, OEM Drive only
Specifications:
Capacity: 80GB
Average Seek Time: 8.9 ms
Buffer: 2MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA133
Features: Fluid Dynamic Bearing Spindle Motor Technology
Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years
Packaging: OEM Drive only more info-> $54.00


Rosewill 52x32x52x16 CD-RW Black Combo Drive, Model C523216B, Retail
Specifications:
Write Speed: 52X CD-R, 32X CD-RW
Read Speed: 52X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM
Interface: ATAPI/E-IDE
Buffer: 2MB
OS Support: Windows XP/2000/Me/98SE
Features: Buffer under run errors prevention
Packaging: Retail (see pictures for details) more info-> $32.00




Subtotal » $443.26 + $35 for shipping.

 

[YourPrinter]

new motherboard ull regret it if u get a kt400 chipset

 

[Trifid]

i would recomend getting a serial ata harddrive and a p4 as that would be more suited to your needs.

 

[TranceParadox]

Could i still get the same preformance with a p4 for my budget?

 

[TranceParadox]

What chipset would you suggest?

 

[Megadeth2]

This is what I would advise you to purchase.

Intel Celeron D 330J (2.66 GHz) --> $101.95
AOpen nVidia GeForce 6200 (128MB/128-Bit) --> $111
Optorite DVD 8x +/- RW --> $48
Hitachi 80 GB 7200RPM SATA HDD --> $60
Sony Beige 1.44 MB Floppy Drive --> $6.50
PDP Systems 2 x 256MB PC4000 --> $89
Gigabyte GA-8I915P Duo-A --> $102
Apex SuperCase w/350W PSU--> $24

Subtotal --> $542.45 + $35 for shipping.

I'm recommending Intel for your system because I use an Intel Penitum 4 520 for the same applications as you. Intel is recommended for everything, but gaming. AMD is recommended for gaming alone, so animation and rendering isn't really its strong point.

If you get a Socket A right now then you will be stuck with a mediocre computer not capable of being upgraded. The components I picked out were chosen specifically for performance and upgradability. The motherboard that I chose has support for current DDR memory and next generation DDR2 memory. The motherboard I chose for you has support for current generation processors like the P4 500s and C D(J) 300s and the next generation P4 600s that will be 64-Bit. The graphics card is a very nice PCIe graphics card. For your purposes this sytem is worth every penny even though it does go over by a little.

About the memory, the Celeron D is only compatible with PC3200 if you run it on stock. However, if you overclock then the full speed of the memory will be used. The Celeron D is a monster overclocker and I highly suggest you overclock on the stock heatsink since the Celeron Ds run at very low voltage. This way you will have a budget computer performing the same as a low-end Pentium 4 without the cost. People have hit 3.5 GHz on the Celeron D from 2.4 GHz. You have a 2.66 GHz, who knows what will happen to that.

 

[YourPrinter]

This is what I would advise you to purchase.

Intel Celeron D 330J (2.66 GHz) --> $101.95
AOpen nVidia GeForce 6200 (128MB/128-Bit) --> $111
Optorite DVD 8x +/- RW --> $48
Hitachi 80 GB 7200RPM SATA HDD --> $60
Sony Beige 1.44 MB Floppy Drive --> $6.50
PDP Systems 2 x 256MB PC4000 --> $89
Gigabyte GA-8I915P Duo-A --> $102
Apex SuperCase w/350W PSU--> $24

Subtotal --> $542.45 + $35 for shipping.

thats one weirdass system pairing
if ur gonna get an amd xp get nf2u

 

[ohGrFreak]

This is what I would advise you to purchase.

Intel Celeron D 330J (2.66 GHz) --> $101.95
AOpen nVidia GeForce 6200 (128MB/128-Bit) --> $111
Optorite DVD 8x +/- RW --> $48
Hitachi 80 GB 7200RPM SATA HDD --> $60
Sony Beige 1.44 MB Floppy Drive --> $6.50
PDP Systems 2 x 256MB PC4000 --> $89
Gigabyte GA-8I915P Duo-A --> $102
Apex SuperCase w/350W PSU--> $24

Subtotal --> $542.45 + $35 for shipping.

LOL, a Celeron D over an AMD Athlon XP??? I know my old Athlon XP 2400 chip sucks in my other machine, but Celerons crossing the line. I would the fastest P4 you can afford.

Optorite, I have one, it's only a month old, and it SUCKS, two firmware upgrades and it still can't burn DVD's reliably. Ask anyone on the forum about Optorite, they will agree that it's a bad choice.

I would get a western digital Harddrive, don't know much about hitachi.

I agree with you on the video card and the mobo though.

 

[TranceParadox]

MegaDeth2,

That’s almost $80 over my budget, but I appreciate you taking your time to help me, I'm now torn between AMD and Intel, but I think Intel is a wiser choice for upgradeability. I want to keep things at stock settings for warranties. PC-3200 should be fine. And less expensive, I only want one ram 512 stick so I can get another ½ gig later on and have a pair. And I should probably get a case, and then buy a separate PSU too

This pc is to hold me until I get a job and buy a laptop for college in the next few years.
So what would you advise for a 450 without shipping pc? (I'm purchasing a Microsoft keyboard separately)

 

[TranceParadox]

Decided list.

AMD Athlon XP 2600 -->$89
SAMSUNG 80GB-->$54
Corsair 512MB DDR PC-3200-->$74
Rosewill 52x32x52x16 CD-RW-->$32
SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch -->$7

Undecided.

Motherboard?
Video card?
Case+PSU?