Best bang for buck?

M

maniacguitar

New member
Here are some of the stuff I want to buy to update my current computer, does it cut the "Best bang for buck"?

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5200CSBOX - Retail $129.99
A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1A16K - Retail $85.99
3D Fuzion 3DFR55256P GeForce FX 5500 256MB DDR PCI Video Card - Retail $64.99
GIGABYTE GA-M61P-S3 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $79.99

Total = approx $380

I basically already have a monitor, mouse, speakers, computer case with a very good power supply, dvdr all that junk, also have 1 gig ram and an agp video card :( that's a problem.. for now I will have to buy a new vid card, but its all good I guess. My Radeon 9800 pro is quite old anyways. I have a KB37 and I want to use its MIDI capabilities and with my current computer it just wont cut it. So my question would be, is this computer the best I could get for my $380 bucks? Thanks for your time dudes! :D

P.S. I really dont want to spend more than 400 bucks...
 
what about hard disk space?

I got almost the same CPU in my PC, only its the 4200/2.2GHz version. I built the PC in January, and I have no complaints so far, its pretty damn fast.

looks like a pretty good PC for the money. It actually specs out pretty close to my PC, which I spent about $750 on, but I needed a power supply, case, and a pricier mobo with some more features, plus I got 400GB of hard disk space...

you might be able to save a few more bucks, if you shopped around a little bit more, but that looks pretty damn good. I would pull the trigger.
 
Plus the MB has built-in VGA and I don't know that the fx5500 is any kind of improvement
 
i would go with the intel duo core or quadcore, they're quicker than their AMD counter parts. I've the E6600 i bought 8 months ago and it still runs pretty quick.

if you have a fry near you then u can get the computer for pretty cheap.
 
warlock110 said:
i would go with the intel duo core or quadcore, they're quicker than their AMD counter parts. I've the E6600 i bought 8 months ago and it still runs pretty quick.

if you have a fry near you then u can get the computer for pretty cheap.
Click to expand...

First off, thanks to all who have posted! But I had to ask, what do you mean by a fry near me? Oh and btw, I've always been told that the AMD have been outrunning the Intel chipsets, but until recently I've heard from various places that the Intel have made a come back and are actually better than AMD. Is that true? If so then I would have to change all my parts. I dunno though... That card that you showed me ds21 looks good! It has dual monitor support, maybe I could even run these apps with 2 windows :D... I am still undecisive though.. arrr
 
Hi_Flyer said:
what about hard disk space?

I got almost the same CPU in my PC, only its the 4200/2.2GHz version. I built the PC in January, and I have no complaints so far, its pretty damn fast.

looks like a pretty good PC for the money. It actually specs out pretty close to my PC, which I spent about $750 on, but I needed a power supply, case, and a pricier mobo with some more features, plus I got 400GB of hard disk space...

you might be able to save a few more bucks, if you shopped around a little bit more, but that looks pretty damn good. I would pull the trigger.
Click to expand...

Oh, I already have a 320 gig Hard drive! :cool: And btw hellz yeah on givin' me the go on this baby! hehe I just can't quit trying to find other things but always keep on spending more than $400 :mad:
 
yeah, Intel is gonna cost a little more. Stick with AMD if you wanna save a few bucks.

what are the specs on your current PC?

what's your DAW app/interface?
 
maniacguitar said:
First off, thanks to all who have posted! But I had to ask, what do you mean by a fry near me? Oh and btw, I've always been told that the AMD have been outrunning the Intel chipsets, but until recently I've heard from various places that the Intel have made a come back and are actually better than AMD. Is that true? If so then I would have to change all my parts. I dunno though... That card that you showed me ds21 looks good! It has dual monitor support, maybe I could even run these apps with 2 windows :D... I am still undecisive though.. arrr
Click to expand...

Fry is a retail chain store that runs their ad 5 times a weeks (mon wed fri sat sun), so it's very easy to pick up deals.

Intel have always been outpacing AMD, back then the gap of performance/money ratio was high, but now it's not anymore, the duo core E4300 only cost like 90 bucks, and it's dam fast comparing to some other duo core AMD, plus they runs cooler too.

An audio recording rig doesn't need much emphasize on power, the current duo core is more than enough, u also will need quiet, so pick up stuff that's known to be quiet, 120mm fans, antec PSU (or popular brand that's known to be quiet), big heatsink and fan controler, do everything u can to dampen the noise.

I don't know if u have a case yet, but last time i saw there were cases with 240mm fans or 300mm fans, those things should make a very quiet PC since u won't have to run alot of fans.
 
i actually had some time to look stuff up, so here's what i would do for CPU mobo ram and video card.

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 (110 shipped)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?ATT=13128017&CMP=AFC-SlickDeals&Item=N82E16813128017

E4300 (watch this one real close, it was 90 bucks shipped, and it'll come back soon, it happen 3 times in the last 2 months already)
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5104036?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) (75 shipped)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098

CHAINTECH GSE86GT-A1 GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 (~100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814145146

I think that total to be 400? also that CPU should OC with the mobo to about 3.0ghz no problem with the stock heatsink. but just to be quieter i would purchase an after market heatsink, @ 3.0ghz it's pretty dam fast, it should out run most of the AMD duo core with ease and has pretty low temp.


the alternative is this:
GIGABYTE GA-945GZM-S2 LGA 775 Intel 945GZ (50 bucks shipped with onboard video)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?ATT=13128033&CMP=AFC-SlickDeals&Item=N82E16813128033

If you can skim out on the video card then u can also pick up this heatsink:
http://www.directron.com/scinf1000.html (50 shipped)

All the things i listed can be cheaper, just that right now this is the price u can get them at, normally u can take about 10-20% off those listed price if u dig hard.
 
Man I love how people here actually try to help... I'm definately staying in these forums :D (I joined a few other recording forums but got no answers in them :p).


Damn.. thanks for all the posts!! All this help is gladly appreciated :) Although I'm still very undecisive. Is it hard to manually install the chipset in the motherboard? I know the rest, but I dont really know how to install an AMD chipset in a Motherboard. And I also dunno if I should buy a new case. My present case is kinda limited in its space.. Thanks for the help dudes!!
 
warlock110 said:
i actually had some time to look stuff up, so here's what i would do for CPU mobo ram and video card.

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 (110 shipped)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?ATT=13128017&CMP=AFC-SlickDeals&Item=N82E16813128017

E4300 (watch this one real close, it was 90 bucks shipped, and it'll come back soon, it happen 3 times in the last 2 months already)
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5104036?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

CHAINTECH GSE86GT-A1 GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 (~100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814145146

If you can skim out on the video card then u can also pick up this heatsink:
http://www.directron.com/scinf1000.html (50 shipped)

All the things i listed can be cheaper, just that right now this is the price u can get them at, normally u can take about 10-20% off those listed price if u dig hard.
Click to expand...

Isn't my chosen Intel chipset faster than that one? I will definately get that video card though! Good stuff :D I'm kinda new to heatsinks, so.. is it hard to instal them?! If they are truly easy to instal without any way to screw up my chipset, then I'll prolly get one! But if I may or may not screw up my chipset, I may pass on it. hehe I wouldnt wanna mess up my chipset for a heatsink, although I would love to have it on my computer so I can OC without a prob.
 
maniacguitar said:
Isn't my chosen Intel chipset faster than that one? I will definately get that video card though! Good stuff :D I'm kinda new to heatsinks, so.. is it hard to instal them?! If they are truly easy to instal without any way to screw up my chipset, then I'll prolly get one! But if I may or may not screw up my chipset, I may pass on it. hehe I wouldnt wanna mess up my chipset for a heatsink, although I would love to have it on my computer so I can OC without a prob.
Click to expand...

the heatsink (big ones) is a bit complicated, u have to take the mobo off the case and mount it's bracket before u can install it, the reason is that these things are too heavy for the plastic mobo to lug on side way, so they reenforced it with steel plates.

The other stuff like the 92mm fans heatsink u can just clip on no problem.

I think you're right, the Abit mobo P35 is onsale right now at mwave (if they still have it), i believe it's 75 after rebate, which is a good deal, save some money right there too.
 
!!! Hell yeeiiahh!! My dad offered to lend me 300 bucks to build me a better computer, so these are the things that I have managed to find... tell me watcha think!!!

AeroCool ExtremEngine 3T - BBA Black SECC 0.6mm ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $109.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $79.99

GIGABYTE GA-M61P-S3 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $81.99

PNY VCG8600GXPB GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail - $129.99

A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1A16K - Retail - $85.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5200CSBOX - Retail - $129.99

Grand Total = approx. $675

Whatcha all think? I have one VERY serious question though... Is this all compatible? Will all of this work? Or will this all turn my screen black? How do I know if that power supply be able to work out all of these pieces OC'ed (just a little bit :P). Thanks for your help dudes!!! This will be the last step towards buying this equipment.. making sure it works! Thanks for the support dudes!
 
maniacguitar said:
!!! Hell yeeiiahh!! My dad offered to lend me 300 bucks to build me a better computer, so these are the things that I have managed to find... tell me watcha think!!!

AeroCool ExtremEngine 3T - BBA Black SECC 0.6mm ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $109.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $79.99

GIGABYTE GA-M61P-S3 Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $81.99

PNY VCG8600GXPB GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail - $129.99

A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1A16K - Retail - $85.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5200CSBOX - Retail - $129.99

Grand Total = approx. $675

Whatcha all think? I have one VERY serious question though... Is this all compatible? Will all of this work? Or will this all turn my screen black? How do I know if that power supply be able to work out all of these pieces OC'ed (just a little bit :P). Thanks for your help dudes!!! This will be the last step towards buying this equipment.. making sure it works! Thanks for the support dudes!
Click to expand...

you want everything from newegg? Personally i think it's better to pick up stuff from various places, u tend to save a bit more like that.


Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, if you're gonna drop money on a case, drop it on this one 140 shipped. the other one is 125 shipped already, i would drop another 15 on this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) (75 shipped) buy this ram, the one u're listed is CAS5, this one might also be CAS5, but it's corsair, it's a well known company compare to A-data.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098

Abit IP35-E LGA 775 (~100 shipped 70 after rebate) abit makes decent board, and this is one of the new chipset.
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA23929&RSKU=BA23929

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Allendale 2.0GHz (126 shipped) buy this one, go home and overclock it to 2.6 or 3.0ghz leave it at stock it's still faster than the AMD chip u listed. chips are not going by speed, u have to look up at bench marks and stuff.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115014

get the graphic card (your choice, but i mean it's not gonna make a big difference if u don't game)

HDD are like this
500GB SATA = 90 shipped (it pop ups now and then) max is 100, it's been like that for months already.
320GB SATA = 70 shipped normal, 60 if there's deals going around.

i think we're still missing stuff and i haven't added the money, but i think it should fall right under 600
 
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