magusat999
02-23-2009, 04:35 PM
I'd appreciate someone helping me with this dilemma - and I'm not stuck at "having to do it now" so if what I what am trying to is unfeasible then I will just have to wait (and save some more money).
Basically, I have been configuring every way possible to get to at least a Dual Core system, and every way I run the numbers end up over $400.00. I'm trying to keep it near or below $300.00 - but when I add up all of the parts it always come out over-budget. Is it possible to do it for $300.00 or less?
I already have drives, peripherals, the tower case - all I need is the motherboard, cpu, memory, and power supply (I have a 650watt power supply, but I can't confirm whether it will work with the new boards - if I can re-use that it can take off about 50 bucks or so). I may also need a graphic card, depending on how things go (there was a decent deal at Newegg for a Sparkle Geforce 9500gt 1 gig sli + Power supply combo @ $139.00, btw).
I tried the step-up board route - gf9300 / 9400 boards, thinking it will save me from getting a graphic card until later. Of course these boards do not include 2xIde, so there's another expense for a PCI-Ide card. I figured I would pair it with an e5200 dual-core, which is cheap and capable enough to hold me until I raise the bar to a dual core. But after adding it all up - over $400.00.
The other route was a cheap but good mobo, a decent graphic card (like the one above that I mentioned), an inexpensive cpu (again the dual-quad e5200) - but with the addition of the graphic card the price blew up to over $400.00 again - wayyy over.
Lastly there are some barebones at Tiger Direct and other places - but they alway seem to pair what you need with something that wont work - like a cheapo board with a quad 2 duo - sending the price up or making it so that you have to buy something else to make it work.
Does anyone have any sugesstions as to what to do here? I want to build a system that is good enough for now, but won't limit me as I upgrade it over time. I'd like to stay in the area of the e5200 - unless I can get a better processor like the e7300 or e7400 (or better). If you know of any good deals that will give me a head start, or have some sage advice I would appreciate it.
Oh and by-the-by, I haven't been bothering too much with AMD / ATI because they change sockets so much - I don't want to get "stuck" when they come out with a new processor and I have a board that cannot take it. Intel tends to make more upgradeable options in that respect - but, hey, I may be wrong? (I used to be an AMD fanatic, until Intel gave 'em a whomping). Thanks in advance.
Basically, I have been configuring every way possible to get to at least a Dual Core system, and every way I run the numbers end up over $400.00. I'm trying to keep it near or below $300.00 - but when I add up all of the parts it always come out over-budget. Is it possible to do it for $300.00 or less?
I already have drives, peripherals, the tower case - all I need is the motherboard, cpu, memory, and power supply (I have a 650watt power supply, but I can't confirm whether it will work with the new boards - if I can re-use that it can take off about 50 bucks or so). I may also need a graphic card, depending on how things go (there was a decent deal at Newegg for a Sparkle Geforce 9500gt 1 gig sli + Power supply combo @ $139.00, btw).
I tried the step-up board route - gf9300 / 9400 boards, thinking it will save me from getting a graphic card until later. Of course these boards do not include 2xIde, so there's another expense for a PCI-Ide card. I figured I would pair it with an e5200 dual-core, which is cheap and capable enough to hold me until I raise the bar to a dual core. But after adding it all up - over $400.00.
The other route was a cheap but good mobo, a decent graphic card (like the one above that I mentioned), an inexpensive cpu (again the dual-quad e5200) - but with the addition of the graphic card the price blew up to over $400.00 again - wayyy over.
Lastly there are some barebones at Tiger Direct and other places - but they alway seem to pair what you need with something that wont work - like a cheapo board with a quad 2 duo - sending the price up or making it so that you have to buy something else to make it work.
Does anyone have any sugesstions as to what to do here? I want to build a system that is good enough for now, but won't limit me as I upgrade it over time. I'd like to stay in the area of the e5200 - unless I can get a better processor like the e7300 or e7400 (or better). If you know of any good deals that will give me a head start, or have some sage advice I would appreciate it.
Oh and by-the-by, I haven't been bothering too much with AMD / ATI because they change sockets so much - I don't want to get "stuck" when they come out with a new processor and I have a board that cannot take it. Intel tends to make more upgradeable options in that respect - but, hey, I may be wrong? (I used to be an AMD fanatic, until Intel gave 'em a whomping). Thanks in advance.