HELP NEEDED - Choosing suitable components

[Boltonian]

Hi, firstly I would like to say thanks for reading...

I would like some help on choosing some suitable components to build a PC.

This is my first PC build and I already have a couple of components (that my brother gave me) to start with. As I am building purely because I want some practice that will help me in my IT course, I want some cheap, but good quality parts. The components I have are:

Case: Casecom KB-7760 ATX Midi Tower (Purchasing soon)

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2

Hard Drive: 80GB

I have a rough idea of what motherboard, DVD drive and RAM to choose but I don't know what wattage power supply I would need and which ones are silent.

I would appreciate anyone's help. Cheers!

[Tootech]

Hi Boltonian,

 

There's alot of scope in what you are building. Can you give us an idea of your budget.

 

Also, do you plan on using a mainboard with onboard video, or a seperate PCI-E video card.

 

Do you have an idea what speed CPU you are going to install?

 

Last bit - how many sticks of memory are you going to use?

 

If you can drop us some more info back I'm sure we can come up with some good recommendations

[Boltonian]

Thanks for your response Tootech.

 

If possible, I would like to spend less than £100.

 

I am planning on purchasing a motherboard with onboard graphics, as I won't really be using it for gaming.

 

With regards to which CPU, I stated which CPU I have already, it is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core. I am not sure what GHz it is, as my brother gave it to me, it was just a spare CPU he had lying around. It is not a new CPU, it is probably a couple of years old at least.

 

Lastly, I was thinking of buying 2 x 1GB DDR2 800MHz Corsair memory, I think that would be enough, but would prefer your recommendation. :)

Edited April 7, 2009 by Boltonian

[Match]

Hi Bolton

 

We need a PSU prob about 500w (But depends on just what spec this system is going to be?)

 

We have a AMD Athlon 64 dual core ?Ghz (What about a CPU cooler)

 

We Need a Motherboard Socket AM2 with onboard graphics + sound + Ethernet ATX

 

We Need 2 Gig RAM

 

We Need a HDD? size? Sata, I, II?

 

We Need a DVD R or R/W (I'd say R/W for what the difference in price is) SATA or IDE?

 

We need case fans

 

We Need an OS system Vista? XP?(Microsoft are starting to end XP support so I would recommend that you go for Vista)

 

Do we need to consider Monitor, Keyboard and mouse

 

and at a guess you would like this all for a £5 (Sorry cant work miracles) but as cheap as possible or do you have a set figure in mind that you would like to spend?

[Tootech]

Have a look at this online PSU calculator - it may help

 

eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite v2.5

 

Your power needs are not so high, even if you want to add a seperate video card later.

 

I've used this PSU alot for system building and its quiet and has enough grunt for your needs

 

Coolermaster 460W eXtreme Power Plus PSU - 20+4pin 4+4 ATX12v 4x SATA 6pin PCI-E - Ebuyer

 

Or with a case

 

Coolermaster Elite 330 Black Case With CM eXtreme Power 460W PSU *SPECIAL OFFER* - Ebuyer

 

And another

 

Corsair 400W CX PSU - 12cm DBB Fan 80%Plus Certified Efficiency 6x SATA 1x PCI-E - Ebuyer

[Boltonian]

Hi Bolton

 

We need a PSU prob about 500w (But depends on just what spec this system is going to be?)

 

We have a AMD Athlon 64 dual core ?Ghz (What about a CPU cooler)

 

We Need a Motherboard Socket AM2 with onboard graphics + sound + Ethernet ATX

 

We Need 2 Gig RAM

 

We Need a HDD? size? Sata, I, II?

 

We Need a DVD R or R/W (I'd say R/W for what the difference in price is) SATA or IDE?

 

We need case fans

 

We Need an OS system Vista? XP?(Microsoft are starting to end XP support so I would recommend that you go for Vista)

 

Do we need to consider Monitor, Keyboard and mouse

 

and at a guess you would like this all for a £5 (Sorry cant work miracles) but as cheap as possible or do you have a set figure in mind that you would like to spend?

 

The components I have are:

Casecom KB-7760 ATX Midi Tower Case (Purchasing soon)

AMD Athlon 64 Dual Core CPU

80GB PATA Hard Drive

Monitor

Keyboard

Mouse

Windows XP & Vista

 

The components I need are:

 

Motherboard (with onboard graphics) - can be ATX or Micro ATX

Power Supply

RAM

DVD-RW drive

 

Regarding the CPU fan, would I get one with the motherboard or does that need to be purchased seperately?

 

I wasn't thinking about buying a case fan. Would I really need one? It's not going to be switched on for hours on end and it's not going to be a very powerful system. As I mentioned in my first post, I am only using it for some practice.

[Match]

As the case you are buying is listed without FANs and Without PSU, you still need air flow through the case to cool components

 

and no CPU's come with coolers Motherboards come with cables :)

[Boltonian]

Ok.

 

So can you recommend a set of components that I need please?

 

I would like to spend less than £100 but I know that will probably be difficult to achieve. I would probably spend up to about £150.

[Match]

OK give us some time to do some research, and we will get back to you with what you can put together for the cheapest price,

 

may take a little longer than normal as we will have to look at best way to do things on a price base, ie whats cheaper? Motherboard with everything on, or basic motherboard with cheap cards.

 

also do you really want that case as it may work out cheaper to get a case with PSU and fans pre Installed?

[Boltonian]

If you can find a similar case with PSU and fans installed, that would be great. Preferably with USB ports on the front, and not the ones that are right down at the bottom of the case!

 

Thanks for your help. :)

 

P.S Try scan.co.uk, I am considering buying from there.

[Tootech]

One last thing, what socket is your CPU - 939 or AM2.

 

If you are not sure, post the part number that is printed on the top of the CPU and we'll fish it out.

[Boltonian]

I am not sure Tootech.

 

This is what is written on top of the CPU:

 

AMD Athlon 64 X2

ADA3800DAA5BV

LDBHE 0601UPMW

T699769A60031

[Dalo Harkin]

Sorry I missed this post -

Right lets assume you have an AM2 socket chip

 

MOBO

52020-01-40R - Sapphire Pure Element, AMD 690V, Sok AM2+, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 800, Micro ATX, On Board Graphics - Scan.co.uk

 

RAM

2GB Infinion DDR2, PC2-6400 (800MHz), 240 Pins, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, CAS 6 Retail - Scan.co.uk

 

DVD-RW

Samsung SH-S222A/BEBE 22x DVD±R, 12x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, DVD-RAM x12, IDE Black OEM - Scan.co.uk

 

PSU

OCZ PSU 500SXS StealthXStream 500W (3 year Direct Manufacturer's PowerSwap warranty)- microdirect.co.uk

 

Cracking offer on the PSU -

All for £113.69 not including Delivery

 

I have just double checked the CPU codes and its socket 939 DOH

Edited April 8, 2009 by Dalo Harkin

[Dalo Harkin]

Right - forget the above as you have a 939 chip

 

Scan and Microdirect dont do 939 boards anymore

 

MOBO

Asrock 939N68PV-GLAN/M/ASR nForce 630A Socket 939 Motherboard - Aria Technology

 

The Ram for this seems stupidly expensive and has gone up lots.

 

I would recommend using the spec above this post and buying a newer CPU in all honesty or you are throwing money away

[Boltonian]

Thanks for your help Dalo Harkin, it really helps.

 

I understand what you mean. This must be quite an old CPU that I have and there aren't many . I am now considering starting from scratch.

 

I would like someone to help me in picking some cheap, but decent parts. I am only going to be using it to go on the internet and use it for practicing on things such as command line and lots of other stuff. I ma studying the CompTIA A+ course at the moment and want to build a PC, I have not built one fully yet.

 

Would you recommend I get an Intel CPU such as Intel Core 2 Duo rather than an AMD CPU? I have heard that Intel are better for multitasking and AMD are better for gaming.

 

I would appreciate anyone's help. Cheers. :)

[Dalo Harkin]

It used to be the case that AMD were better for gaming - but no longer - Intel wipes the floor with AMD at every corner!

If you are just going to pick basic parts and want it as cheap as humanly possible, I will do this in the morning for you ok.

[Boltonian]

Thanks Dalo Harkin, that would be great!

 

:)

[Boltonian]

I could really use some help soon guys...

[Boltonian]

Whilst I have been waiting for someone to recommend me some cheap but decent parts, I have been looking myself. Let me know what you think of these parts guys. Total is £288.76

 

Case:

TA851NOPSU - Asus TA-851, Silver/Black Midi Case, Headphone/ Mic In/ USB 2.0, ATX, Without PSU - Scan.co.uk

 

Power Supply:

350W Silverstone ST35F Silent PSU 120mm Fan Dual +12V, PCI-E, SATA, 80%+ Eff' - Scan.co.uk

 

Motherboard:

Asus P5QL-CM, iG43, S 775, PCI-E 2.0(x16), DDR2 1066(OC)/667/800, SATA II, Micro ATX, VGA - Scan.co.uk

 

CPU:

BX80571E7400 - Intel Core 2 Duo, E7400, Wolfdale Core, S775, 2.8GHz, 1066MHz, 3MB Cache, 10.5x, 65W, Retail - Scan.co.uk

 

RAM:

2GB Infinion DDR2, PC2-6400 (800MHz), 240 Pins, Non-ECC, Unbuffered, CAS 6 Retail - Scan.co.uk

 

HDD:

160GB Hitachi HDT721016SLA380 Deskstar 7K1000.B, 3.5" Hard Drive, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200 rpm, 8MB Cache - Scan.co.uk

 

Optical Drive:

Samsung SH-S223F/BEBE 22x DVD±R, 12x DVD±R, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, SATA, Black, OEM - Scan.co.uk

[Match]

You may also want to keep an eye on a thread I started in Hardware/processors about AMD and Intel processors before making any final decisions,

 

I'll not deny Tooteck, and Dalo, can advise you better, as its their field of speciality, so it's always worth waiting for them to reply :)

Edited April 9, 2009 by Match

[Dalo Harkin]

Have you now gone from looking for a basic system - to something a bit more?

 

Give me your budget and I will get you something together

[Boltonian]

Yes because the CPU I have is pretty old and there aren't many motherboards out there for it.

 

I didn't want to spend more than £150 but I know that's probably impossible now that I am starting from scratch.

 

My budget is around £300.

[Dalo Harkin]

Why is it impossible - the first post I put was under the presumption you have an AM2+ socket - use that spec and get an AM2+ socket

 

I dont normally recommend AMD as people know, but for what you initially required budget wise - go with that

[Boltonian]

It is a 939 socket processor, one of the experts on here looked it up for me. Motherboards with 939 sockets are very rare now, from what I have discovered anyway.

[Boltonian]

:confused: