DBK1991

Hello everyone,
I'm building a low budget PC and I would like to know what do you think about it. Mostly it will be for 3D CAD (AutoCAD, ReLux, DiaLux), and for gaming (not top games). In the future I'm planning to upgrade my CPU into Quad, and maybe crossfire the GPU. Basically, that's it!
Here's the configuration:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 BOX 2x2.8 GHz, 1066MHz, 775-pin,3MB cache

MBO: ASROCK S775 P45X3 Deluxe, Intel P45/ICH10,DDR3, S-ATA,
G-LAN,FW,s.775, PCI-E

RAM: DDR3 1333MHz 2GB, CRUCIAL x2

PSU: ARCTIC COOLING Fusion 550R, 550W, ATX 2.2, 80mm vent.,PFC,Silent

HDD: Seagate STM3500418AS,500GB 16MB,S-ATA300,7200 rpm

CD/DVD: LG GH22LS30 Secure Light Scribe Super Multi, Double Layer DVD (+r) 22x,
(-R) 22x, S-ATA

CHASSIS: COOLER MASTER ELITE 332 MIDI,Black,without PSU

GPU: I have two choices:

POWERCOLOR ATI Radeon HD4850 PCIE PCS, 1GB GDDR3,TV out, dual
DVI,256-bit,directX 10.1

or

SAPPHIRE ATI Radeon HD4850 1GB GDDR3 PCI-E HDMI,DVI,DUAL SLOT
FAN COOLER,256-bit,LITE

Thanks in advance!

Zardon

I take it you specifically want an Intel system? The 955Black edition is a good low cost foundation for a system and its a nice quad core solution.

Check this review out, it might be useful http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews.php?reviewid=828

OldBuzzard

Yeah, for price/performance it's going to be hard to beat an AMD/ATI combination.

A Phenom II X4 945 wouldn't be bad either, and is some $30.00 cheaper than the 955 on Newegg.

Pop that puppy into an ASRock M3A790GXH/128M or ASRock M3A785GXH/128M and you would have a pretty good quad core system that won't rape your pocketbook.

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kris23

look at my sig.... it just needs a little revision due to the fact that the 4850X2 is no longer around......

how much is your budget? i recommend the $750 build as its very cost-effective, that is of course.... if youre in the US, if youre anywhere else id be more than happy to help you get something together with parts from a shop that ships to you!

welcome to DH!

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DBK1991

Thanks!
My budget is $1000 and in my country that is very cost-effective.
Btw, I'm from Europe (Croatia - DUBROVNIK), and I prefer an Intel/ATI system, but if u have some Athlon/AMD configuration (which is OK for me), I'm listening!

All I want from the configuration is to be very quiet (I don't want a noisy GPU/PSU vent), to have a Crossfire technology and a DDR3 RAM memory. Currently, the Quad and Phenom II X4 in Croatia are way too expensive, about $360 :-(

isaak

might I suggest this case?
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

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DBK1991

Yes, of course.

The case is ok, looks nice, it's without PSU. . .but the case is not the main issue right now. I can't decide between 2 GPUs : Sapphire or Powercolor....which one is better? I want a quiet GPU!
And the CPU is currently OK for my demands....
What about the MBO? Is it OK? I want for MBO to have DDR3 RAM memory, to support Intel Core 2 Duo Quad and ATI Crossfire.
So, if u have some suggestions.....I'm listening!

Thanks in advance!

deBelly

That Powercolor card should be quieter than Sapphire's. But if you want a quiet configuration forget about CF.
You might consider buying a CPU cooler too.
I guess this motherboard is good low-budget option, I've had two ASRock motherboards and both were very stable and reliable.

blibbax

Just a couple of things...

-That power supply might struggle with a quad core and two 4850s.
-Do you really need DDR3? 1066mhz DDR2 is dirt cheap at the moment.
-As a few others have said, don't discount the AMD camp - certainly you'll get much better long term CPU-upgrade-ability than socket 775.

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OldBuzzard

Yeah, if you are going to upgrade to Crossfire, I doubt that the Antec 550 will handle it. Grace reviewed that PSU here on DH:
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews.php?reviewid=700
One thing she noted was:
Since the PSU is THE most important part of your system, I'd highly suggest that you go with a Corsair 650TX. Nobody make better PSUs and their's are rated at 'max CONTINIOUS use', rather than 'max PEAK use'. It makes BIG difference.

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

kris23

to put it simply, since the prices you stated are so high.....

i recommend a system from the AMD camp, a Phenom II X2 550 should be decent....

2x2GB of CAS 5 DDR2 800 for cost effectiveness

an Asus or Gigabyte ATX Board with a 790GX chipset with dual PCI-E 2.0 slots

for silent video cards, Gigabyte has a passive HD 4850
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-R485MC-1GI Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

not sure if you can get it in Croatia tho.... ill look at the retailers list and see what i can find

the Cooler Master 690 chassis is excellent, its my first recommendation to anyone, along with the Cooler Master 590.... a cheaper version of it

for a PSU, i recommend Corsair and PC Power and Cooling as theyre the most cost efficient of the top-end manufacturers of PSUs i recommend a 650w or 750w from either of them

for a DVD drive, there are many but i recommend a 22X Samsung SATA burner of any model number

an OS, try to get vista home premium SP1 with the windows 7 upgrade coupon

i believe i covered everything.... just gotta find them where you can buy them!

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OldBuzzard

Another option, would be the Phenom II X3 720 on an ASRock A780GXE/128M mainboard.

The X3 720 is plenty fast enough, and with that combination you have a VERY good chance of 'unlocking' the 4th core with a simple BIOS setting, turning it into the equivilent of an X4 940.

Another advantage is that you can use DDR2 memory instead of the more expensive DDR3. There have been a number of tests that have shown that the Phenom II processors that can run on BOTH DDR2 and DDR3, perform just as well with DDR2 as they do DDR3, so there is no need to go with the more expensive memory.

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

DBK1991

Thanks to your suggestions.
I have decided to buy this configuration because I really need the PC (my old one has burnt out :-)) ),so again,thanks to everyone on DH!

MB Gigabyte sAM3 MA790FXT-UD5P


CPU: Phenom II X3,720 2.8 GHz, 7.5 MB AM3, box, black edition


VGA: PCI-E GIGABYTE ATI RADEON HD 4890, 1 GB DDR5, DVI, HDTV

PSU : 650W, CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-650TX, ATX2 v2.2, 120mm vent.

RAM: PC-10600, 2GB, CRUCIAL Rendition, DDR3, 1333 MHz x2

DVD/CD: DVD±RW SAMSUNG SH-S223L, 22x, SATA, Dual layer, DVD-RAM,
LightScribe, black, bulk

CASE: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP BLACK SECC,MIDI

blibbax

I'm not sure how quiet that graphics card will be, but you can always get an aftermarket cooler down the line. It's a great system, and should be very tweakable too. Enjoy!

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procupine14

That's a very nice setup and, quite frankly, the tri-core processors from AMD are powerhouses on a budget with that extra core they really blast the dual core market away. The only thing that I'm interested in is why you went with DDR3. It's maybe a good way to future proof your system but right now its not a lot of substance for your money and the low latency of DDR2 is a lot better for some gaming and certain programs that like quick RAM. You would have definitely been able to secure 4GB of DDR2 for under $60 easily. But if it fits your budget and your needs I can't say anything really except.

GOOD LUCK! ENJOY THAT NEW SYSTEM!!

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HTPC/file server: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom x4 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 800 (2x2GB) - 1TB WD Black - 4 x 1TB Hitachi DeskStar in RAID 5 - ATi TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner - HIS Raedon 4850 512MB - ASRock N68C-S UCC mobo - OCZ ModExtreme Pro 500W PSU

GF's Gaming PC: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit - AMD Phenom 9850 - 4GB OCZ DDR2 1066 - 500GB Western Digital GP - HIS Raedon 5770 1GB - ASUS M3A78-EM - Zalman 650W PSU

Media Streamer: Win 7 Pro 64-bit - AMD Athlon x2 3200+ - 4GB SuperTalent DDR2 800 - 250GB SeaGate Barracuda - MSI K9N6PGM2-V2 - ASUS Raedon 5450 SILENT - FSP group 250W PSU

Bolletje

CM RC-690 isn't that quiet. Side fan makes quite a lot of noise.

OldBuzzard

Mine doesn't.

I've always been puzzled when I see people talk about the noise from the side panel fan in that case. I water cool, with an EXOS2, and the only fans I have are the 3 case fans, and the fan in the Corsair PSU. If I put the EXOS in fan setting 1, a mouse fart would make more noise than my system does.

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

OldBuzzard

I'm with Porky on that. An ASRock AOD790GX/128M, which is a damned good MB, would be a lot cheaper, at least here in the states ($99.00 for the ASRock vs $174.99 for the Gigabyte board at Newegg). Using the money saved you could easily go to 8GB of DDR2 memory, and watch Vista and WIN 7 really rock on your new system. ESPECIALLY if you are lucky enough to get an X3 720 that will unlock.

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Bolletje

Then you are lucky :P

Element T here is far more silent. (I also got the CM 690)

kris23

beautifully spec'd system..... good luck and enjoy it!

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