Building Low budget Computer

larryiam

Posts: 341   +0
Ok i am building a low budget matx computer. I am not into gaming hence no super fast or super expensive computer. lol i was need suggestions on a good cheap overclocking mobo.
Here is what i have found so far.
CPU-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3594545&sku=CP2-CID-E1200
Heard its good to 3.2GHz overclocked(STABLE)

Mobo-(need suggestions)what i have found so far(cheap)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3176993&sku=B450-2218

Cpu heat sink and fan-tell me if i need to get a better one-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3302739&sku=T925-1204


Ram
-1Gb will do for now
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1558837&sku=C19-4266

Already purchased items-

Case-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3829127&CatId=3428


Case Fan-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1120775&CatId=802

Power Supply-(Tell me if i can/can't use it)-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=719577&CatId=1077

Hard drive-
Already have 160GB With Windows Xp

Video Card-
Visionteck ATI Radeon X1300 452MHz

Optical Drive-
LG Lightscribe 20X drive

Suggestions would be helpful :) The only thing i will do on the new computer is encode video.
 
Any Suggestions? It is just to keep it the top thread till i get i reply or to. Hope i didn't offend anyone by posting to quick.
 
larryiam said:
lol i was need suggestions on a good cheap overclocking mobo.
Those do not go together. Cheap mobos are not good overclockers at all.

As for your build, I'd use this motherboard along with this CPU. You'd be spending a bit more, but the difference in performance will be very large due to the larger cache. Also, it'll overclock pretty easily to 3GHz with this cooler.
Lastly, I'd recommend that you change the PSU to this one if possible. A good-quality PSU ensures that your components have a clean supply of power and are well-protected against any current surges. Rubbish PSUs like those from CoolMax and some others are overrated for their wattage and may blow even when lightly overloaded, possibly taking other components with them.
 
Rage_3K_Moiz thanks for the help. Well bad news for the pus it arrived about 30mins ago. So that psu doesn't work good huh? and is there anywhere else i can get that mobo and cpu from? i have to pay tax and shipping and handling from newegg cauz its in Memphis, TN and i live in TN.
 
Does shipping cost more in TN? The CPU comes with free shipping anyways, and it's the cheapest at Newegg. As for the mobo, try this instead. It's a good alternative, and has received good reviews on Newegg so far.
 
tax 10$ and shipping around 7.50$ for mobo. Wow man thanks sooooo much!! i really appreciate it. Can i run that Coolmax Psu i just received??
 
Yeah, you can run it. But replace it when possible, since it's better not to risk your whole system for too much time.

And no problem, I was glad to be able to help. :)
 
First, you gotta learn that the words "best" and "cheapest" NEVER go together. There's always a good reason why they're the cheapest.

However, "crap" and "cheapest" often go together.

What you really want is something thats "cheap" and "good value". They're not the best out there, but something that fits into this category would be reliable, and wouldn't blow the budget. Although they won't be the cheapest out there, but its the price you pay for something that you know will work, and will continue working.

You seem to be very budget conscious. The best way to assemble a PC together when money is tight, is to actually tell us how much you want to spend on a PC. That way, we can make sure that everything will work at its maximum potential. It also helps if you tell us what you're going to do with the PC, as an engineer using CAD will have different needs to a gamer.
 
ok yea i do need to learn new words....lol ok i have the hard drive, video card, case and fans, optical drives, and a bad decision(coolmax 300W new psu), i need a cpu, mobo(overclocking matx)good value, and ram. my budget for the 4 items if at all any way possible 130$. That would be great!. I don't do gaming. i encode video and surf the web. any more info? hope that helped. thanks,
jacob

Oh and i can't buy my stuff from newegg. thay charge me tax and s&h. because theyre located in memphis, TN and im in TN also.
 
Whoa, that's a very restrictive budget! Anyways, here are my recommendations according to it.
It'll go slightly above your budget, provided you avail of the rebates, but will get you an excellent budget system IMO.
 
well Rage_3K_Moiz that sounds great. i will try to get the mobo. i am going to have to wait on the power supply. My dad won't let me get another 4 now. i just need your opinion on this setup.
cpu-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3573140&sku=CP2-AM2-3800A

mobo-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2700066&sku=B450-2311

ram-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1558820&sku=C19-4232

and cpu cooler-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2604150&sku=T925-1168

Total=135.29$ includes shipping. what about that setup?

Or How bout this system?

CPU-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3594545

Mobo-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3685288&CatId=1533

Ram-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2968501&CatId=1647

CPU Cooler-
Undecided Really(Suggestions)

Edit: Will that cpu work with that mobo u suggested in the combo? And which one is the best bang for the buck?
 
The AMD mobo you've linked to above has only an AGP slot, which severely limits your graphics upgrade options and will not allow you to use your current card.
The Intel mobo you've linked to does not support the E1200, so you'll need to either change it or get a more expensive CPU.

The eVGA mobo bundle is the best deal of all, since you'll get a good motherboard that will OC well and a similarly well OCing CPU. However, there is the issue of compatibility, since I can't find any information where the CPU is said to be compatible with that motherboard.

IMO, get the AMD CPU and a different mobo, and you'll be fine. Good luck and let us know how it goes. :)
 
This is the board I use. I tested overclocking on a couple Athlon 64 (Not X2's but close enough.) I got some good speeds, I'm pretty sure at least .2GHz I could bump it up w/out a major voltage increase.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=247142

If you're planning to OC with voltage you should probably find some better ram like the type Rage_3k directed you to. Something that can take 2.1v like OCZ or Corsair XMS2.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85016-15

A little on the expensive side. But well worth it.
 
If you do want to increase the voltage to further raise the CPU speed, then you need good quality ram that will keep up. RAM that supports up to around 2.1v. I doubt the RAM you posted could keep up with the voltage increase.:( As it can only take 1.8v which is the standard voltage.

Is your X1300 video card PCI-Express or is it AGP?
 
Yes, the Corsair is VERY GOOD. It was built for overclocking. I don't know how well overclocking would work as that X1300 will be the main system bottleneck...if you are overclocking, I think you would be better off using the onboard video.

To tell you the truth though, if you have a budget that small, I wouldn't recommend overclocking, if you do mess up the board / ram, you can't return it so it would be a waste of money. I don't even overclock my main system, I fear I will mess it up and have to go back to a crappy Pentium 4 Socket 478! >.<
Maybe you should just build a new starter system now, and overclock later when you can afford to buy better components. (Just my advice, as I wouldn't ruin my pc until I'm sure I can fix it.)

If you still want a new system though, you should make the AMD build and wait to buy overclocking capable parts later.

That OCZ ram you posted will overclock well though. :)
 
Wow Thanks Obi-Wan Jerkobi Thats great advice!! I will listen to it to!! ok this is the last post i will make about the decision. this is going to be my build.
Cpu- Amd Athlon 64 X2 3800+
Mobo- Biostar MCP6P-M2
Ram-OCZ Gold XTC 1024MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz
Cpu Cooling-Thermaltake TR2-R1

Products I Have Purchased-

Video Card-Visionteck ATI Radeon X1300 PCI
HDD-Have one With win xp
PSU-(Will Upgrade Later)CoolMax 300W
Case-Thermaltake VI5000BNS(front optional fan will be a Apevia 120mm UV Blue LED)

How does that sound for a Starter Build? Like i said last post for me here :stickout:
Thanks Soooo Much for everyone that helped me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
That's around what I started with!

PC Before...
AMD Athlon 64X2 4000+
ASUS M2A-VM
1GB Corsair Value Select (Not as good as your ram :haha:)
Stock Fan
Sapphire Radeon X1250 Integrated 256MB
420w Stock Turbolink
Sigma Shark ATX mid tower (Mines has 2 120mm fans)

Good luck with the build, hope it works a lot better than what you have now! :p
 
First off, it doesn't matter if the CPU is "good to overclock". You're not a gamer. There wouldn't be much point in overclocking. Personally, I've never been into it myself. I don't see much point. It's just one of those things that people do, like buying rims for their car.

You don't need to buy a heat sink and fan for your processor. The stock fan will do. Others will tell you otherwise, but why spend an average of $40-50 on a heat sink and fan when the honest truth is the stock fan does actually do the job?

You're right, 1GB will do if you're not a gamer or into video editing and such.
 
acidosmosis said:
You don't need to buy a heat sink and fan for your processor. The stock fan will do. Others will tell you otherwise, but why spend an average of $40-50 on a heat sink and fan when the honest truth is the stock fan does actually do the job?
Well, actually, that AMD 3800+ he bought doesn't come with the stock fan. :p That's probably why it was so cheap.
 
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