The Official PC building thread -3rd Edition

Here's a list of all the different floppy formats over the years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk The VX120s you mention came out in 96. They also tried a VX240 that formated to 240MB in 97. There was also 21MB flopticals as well. The cost at the time was just too high between having to buy a new special drive and the cost per disk! I keep a Teac Dual floppy drive around because I still see 5.25" floppies a couple of times a year where I have to transfer the data from 1.2s, or even 360kb to 1.44s or 720s. I've done that a number of times, and the dual drive makes it easy as it's two independent drives in one, but it's a still very slow process! LOL!!

Best Regards,
Russ

 

getting ready to do a build for my mom in law. her Dell went south on her, told her i would build one for her for half what she would pay dell for a new one.... here is whati have for her. all she does is surf the net,email, some CD burnin. ect... nothing major.

GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-EP35-DS3L
Save $89.99

Update Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7200
Save $119.99

Update CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 -
Item #:N82E16820145034
Save $57.00

Update EVGA 256-P2-N742-LR GeForce 8500 GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
Save $54.99

Update Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Save $59.99

COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Save Cancel $44.99 -$5.00 Instant $39.99

Update COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-500-PCAR-A3 500W ATX12V V2.3 Active PFC Power Supply
Save $49.99

Subtotal: $471.94


think i save even more getting some stuff at microcenter.

 

If you wanna save some money on the video card, this will work fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127336

 

nice little gpu there abuzar.... it wont break in half when installing???lol

im sure i can beetthat price by 50-75 bucks with parts from microcenter that i dont have to pay shipping and such.

 

cincyrob,
You might consider this for an 8500GT. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127285 It's cheaper and has a better cooler. More than enough graphics for your MIL's needs! better than the Dell ever had! LOL!!

Best Regards,
Russ

 

@cincyrob

you could also get an athlon x2 and a 780g. that would be more than enough for web browsing and you would save some money.

cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211
mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186141

you could save over $100 using these parts.

 

how reliable are the foxconn mobo's???

i havent looked into a amd build. i should and want to...think i will look up some parts for a amd build. well only need the cpu and mobo..lol
Russ i looked at the GPU first..lol i just didnt pick it cause it was the first one i looked at... it is much better than the one i chose.

 

the foxcon has alot of good reviews so i would assume that it is reliable. but you could always get a a board from biostar for $15 more.

 

cincyrob,

Check this CPU: Same price as the 5000+ and free shipping!
64x2 5200+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103218
And this MB:
Motherboard BioStar TA780G M2+/AM2 AMD 780G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138105

Less than $140 for both and you can forget the graphics card, as it comes with HD 3200 graphics on board. It would be much more computer than she's used to, and cheap too! Add $20 for a freezer 64, or use the stock cooler and you're in business! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125

Best Regards,
Russ

 

Dang Russ you should be a sales man..lol

i just think i will go that route for her.not haven to geta GPU i can get her a better PSU and still save money....instead of $489 it will be closer to $400... im sure she will like that.

seeing im not gonna OC it leave everything at stock.. wouldi need a aftermarket cooler? i actually have a ACF 7 pro i could use on it if need be.

 

cincyrob,

If it's an AMD then a Freezer 7 won't work. That's why I mentioned the freezer 64! Me? I would get one and forget the Stock cooler. Less headaches! All I'm building these days for office machines is AMD. For everyday computers, you just can't beat the price. I've used the TForce boards for a while now and find them to be an excellent foundation for a general use home/office computer. You put them together and they work, every time! With a minimum of setting adjustments, you're good to go!

Best Regards,
Russ

 

Yeah, thats actually a good idea! The AMD build with the 780G graphics is pretty good.

Of course when I think budget build I think E5200 and GA-EP35-DS3L which is only like 20 bucks more. But you WOULD have to buy that GFX card whic is 20 bucks more. It should OC like mad though

 

abuzar1,

That's the whole point, these aren't being overclocked! No reason or need! Lately, the first thing a new customer asks is if I build AMDs? LOL!! I sure wouldn't be looking to overclock my Mother-in-Law's computer. Stock, it will be a whole lot faster than the Dell it's replacing! In terms of value for the dollar, AMD wins that one on the low end of things pretty good right now! Besides, $40 not spent is $40 saved! I also see the difference in price to be over $70 considering the need for a graphics card, and the higher priced MB and CPU! Away from Fantasy Island, in the real world, the majority of computers in the world, still aren't overclocked! We tend to forget that in these forums. I don't overclock customer computers, because I don't want the liability! I've made a few exceptions, but only to people with some knowledge of the workings in the computer.

Best Regards,
Russ

 

AMDs price cuts are absolute madness, there was a coupon code to get a 2.3Ghz Dual core at newegg for 25 dollars. If you're not an overclocker or gamer, if you can find a cheap AM2 motherboard that works with IGP, an AMD build just makes sense.

 

hey what do you guys think of this PSU. its only 430w... i dont think she is gonna need anything over 500w

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103942

im gathereing a AMD build now will post what i select shortly..
gotta get a burn in...lol

 

I know it's cheap, but for safety, I wouldn't go with anything less than an earthwatts:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005
They're silent, seemingly pretty reliable and are free from the rather large pile of question marks over the Truepower series.
They're also more efficient than the truepower, which means even if the system is only used at idle load for 6 hours a day they will save you at least 5 dollars a year.

 

i thought about that to Sam. so i jus twent with the newer coolermaster extreme power plus 500w PSU not as loud as that extremem power 500w i got from a good buddy.that now another good buddy has..lol

ok here is the AMD build..pretty much the same as the intel other than mobo and CPU and added a keyboard and mouse.


COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$39.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$59.99

BIOSTAR TFORCE TA780G M2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$79.99

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-500-PCAR-A3 500W ATX12V V2.3 Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
$49.99

Logitech Cordless Desktop EX100 Black USB RF Wireless Standard Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM
$24.99

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 $30.00 Mail-in Rebate $57.00

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 2.7GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5200DOBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103210
$66.00
Subtotal: $377.95
GO Shipping: $34.65


Grand Total: $412.60


not bad at all.. i just sent her the link for this so i should know soon if she wants to go this route.

 

@cincyrob

remember to get a cpu cooler. the cpu you are getting is an oem and does not come with the stock cooler.

 

It says retail next to the item number...

 

oh, nevermind. the link that russ posted was to the oem version an i thought that was the one he listed. my bad.