Computer Building Virgin

[mjoe]

Hi,

What I'm looking to do is build a budget PC that will be a glorified storage and media station with internet and MS Office capabilities. I don't play any games beyond a card game or a civilization type game so I don't think I need any special video card.

What I have is a laptop full of digital pictures/some music and a large trunk with like 300 CDs that I would like to convert to mp3s. I also have a $10 copy of XP pro sitting around that I got from school.

What I need would be just the case and it's contents. I have a monitor that will do for now that I will upgrade at some point in the future.

I would also like some ability to upgrade and possibly a HDMI out line for future use, but really any use of that is a year down the line so it's not that important.

$500 +/- is the budget I'm looking at.

Thanks.

[chunkylover53]

That copy of XP helps! Check out our current budget build. http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?t=1642

If you skip the video card altogether, which you can do since that board has onboard graphics, you are looking at about $411 with prices on Newegg. Assuming your a "student", you can add a copy of Office Home & Student Edition for $80. After shipping, you should be in the $500 area.

You can always add a graphics card next year with HDMI out. A DIY build like this will give you more flexibility than a store bought PC to upgrade in the future.

[mjoe]

Thanks for the advice so far.

Going by the budget build components, what is the difference between these two cases? Does it make a $25 difference?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129031
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129032

And as for the MOBO, the listed budget build one is only available in an open box: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090R&Tpk=Gigabyte%20GA%20MA78GM-S2H

If I didn't want the open box MOBO, what are the forum's thoughts on either of these 2?:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128340
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128360

[chunkylover53]

The only difference in the cases is color. The cheaper one has some silver, and the other is all black. My guess is that they put the $25 offer out there because they wanted to move more of the silver.

As for the mobo, it looks like the replacement for the disco'd mobo in the budget build is the second one you posted GA-MA78GM-S2HP. There are only a few minor differences between the two you have posted, such as 2 mem slots vs 4, but since they can both handle up to 8GB I'm not sure it matters.

The one possible big difference is that the second one has ATI 3200 graphics and the first one has Geforce 8 series. This is the only thing I could find that compare the two, and it seems like Tom's is giving the nod to the ATI 3200 graphics. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-blu-ray-video,2030-13.html

If you were getting a graphics card, I would say either would do. But since you'll be using the onboard graphics for the foreseeable future, I'd go with the GA-MA78GM-S2HP. Don't worry, if I'm off base on that, someone will jump in and correct me.

[mjoe]

Here is where I am at so far.

MOBO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128360)- $75
CPU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211)- $57
Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129031) - $75
Optical (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171)- $25

Thoughts? Is it worth putting an extra $10-$20 into the CPU to get a better one?

Now, I will need RAM and a HD. Since I'll be running XP I think I'll only need 2 GB RAM for now. For a HD, I think I'd like at least 500 GB if not bigger. I'm comfortable spending in the $100 range for the hard drive.

Does anyone have suggestions for RAM or HD?

[chunkylover53]

RAM - I've had very good luck with both of these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

HD - I've had good luck with Western Digital. You could get 1TB Samsung or Seagate for $100 these days, and both come highly recommended as well. I just bought 2-1.5TB Seagate's for the NAS I'm building. Here's a WD 500GB option.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

[mjoe]

Is there a difference between either of the two RAM choices?

I think I'm leaning toward the 640 HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Now, when I order all these parts what else do I need to order to put everything together. Cables, tools, mounting, power chords, fans, additional heat dissipation things, etc. Let's assume I have nothing.

[RickyTick]

Is there a difference between either of the two RAM choices?

I think I'm leaning toward the 640 HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

Now, when I order all these parts what else do I need to order to put everything together. Cables, tools, mounting, power chords, fans, additional heat dissipation things, etc. Let's assume I have nothing.

Sorry for butting in Chunky.

The two rams are basically the same. However the Corsair ram requires 2.1 volts to operate, and the A-Data only requires 1.8 (which is probably the default setting in the bios).

Cables are included, as well as fans, and a heatsink for the cpu. You shouldn't need anything but a couple of screwdrivers or simple household tools like that. You could invest in a static strap for your wrist.

[chunkylover53]

Sorry for butting in Chunky.

No problem at all Ricky. I'm away for days sometimes on business so it helps to know, if I jump into a thread and can't finish, that there will be someone there to back me up. Plus, I think people like hearing from more than one person. I know that someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but new posters might not know it.

[Barrister73]

You shouldn't need anything but a couple of screwdrivers or simple household tools like that. You could invest in a static strap for your wrist.

I'd suggest getting an entire tool kit just so you can keep everything you need near your system. It doesn't cost a whole lot more than getting only an anti-static strap. You can get by with normal tools, but drop one screw in a bad spot and you'll be glad to have the three-prong holder.

I had good luck with this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899261003

MRR

[mjoe]

Well, my comp is sitting at $342. Can someone compare/contrast/tell me the difference between these 2 HDs? The price difference is only $15 (with a promo code).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136151&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL121508&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL121508-_-HardDrives-_-L5D-_-22136151

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

I should probably just go ahead and order this because the longer I look at it the more I want to start upgrading everything.

[mjoe]

Sorry for butting in Chunky.

The two rams are basically the same. However the Corsair ram requires 2.1 volts to operate, and the A-Data only requires 1.8 (which is probably the default setting in the bios).

Cables are included, as well as fans, and a heatsink for the cpu. You shouldn't need anything but a couple of screwdrivers or simple household tools like that. You could invest in a static strap for your wrist.

Well, now that the Corsair is only 9.99 after rebates with free shipping and the A-Data is 23.99 with shipping, what does that difference in the RAM amount to?

I would have to change the BIOS settings? Is that difficult?

Thanks.

[mjoe]

Eh, doesn't matter. I went with the A-Data RAM because I was antsy and wanted to order.

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm sure I'll be asking for help putting it all together (although, I hope not) when I get it.