BigRedRacer
Posts: 11 +0
***SKIP UNLESS BORED**
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I had some ebay trouble when I decided to build a HTPC out of a Compaq EVO 510 SFF PC. The first one of these I got didn't power on. So I sent to back to the seller and bought another one. But then the seller said it did work and so he sent it back to me. It still didn't work, but for some unexplained reason the computer he sent back had more RAM and a better processor. I tested the RAM and CPU in the other computer and they work fine so since the Compaq only cost $150, I decided just to keep the Gig of PC2100 RAM and P4 2.4 Northwood.
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Anyway I'm stuck with:
P4 2.4GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512 L2 Cache
1 Gig PC2100 RAM
What I need:
a case
a psu
a mb
a cpu hsf
a gpu
The other stuff I have laying around.
I have been messing around at Newegg and I have some decisions to make. So finally here is the dillema. Do I buy a good setup that will allow me to upgrade in the future, but still be limited since I'm starting with a socket 478 chip, or do I go cheap just to run the stuff and not worry about the future? oh yeah $400 is the most I can spend and I'm tight for it. the computer im using now is a P3 500, so I'm in desperate need of a new machine.
the following links are to Newegg
good setup
case : antec ~$50
psu : seasonic 330 watt ~$60
mb : intel 865PE chipset from asus or MSI or abit etc. ~$90
hsf : ~$30
gpu : geforce 6800 agp ~$170
total: ~$400
cheap setup
case : case+psu ~$65
mb : SiS or VIA chipset from same manufatures as above ~$50
hsf : ~$10
gpu : Geforce 6600GT ~$145
total: ~$270.
I haven't built a computer with "new" parts in about 5 years so I'm a bit out of touch. I think the good setup will probably OC better than the cheap setup. I don't really see the point in getting something in between since the prices are so close anyway. so is it worth the extra $130 dollars for a machine that might not be worth upgrading anyway but still will perform a little better now? Will I see the benefit of Dual Channel memory. I want to be able to play games on it like HL2, Q4 and the upcomming Elder Scrolls game, will the cheap setup be able to make these games playable?. Will the cheaper setup be as stable as the more expensive one? can i go even cheaper on the cheap setup? Do any of you have any advice?
Thanks, I just found this place today so I hope I posted this in the right place and made my topic as easy to respond to as possible.
********************
I had some ebay trouble when I decided to build a HTPC out of a Compaq EVO 510 SFF PC. The first one of these I got didn't power on. So I sent to back to the seller and bought another one. But then the seller said it did work and so he sent it back to me. It still didn't work, but for some unexplained reason the computer he sent back had more RAM and a better processor. I tested the RAM and CPU in the other computer and they work fine so since the Compaq only cost $150, I decided just to keep the Gig of PC2100 RAM and P4 2.4 Northwood.
********************
********************
Anyway I'm stuck with:
P4 2.4GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512 L2 Cache
1 Gig PC2100 RAM
What I need:
a case
a psu
a mb
a cpu hsf
a gpu
The other stuff I have laying around.
I have been messing around at Newegg and I have some decisions to make. So finally here is the dillema. Do I buy a good setup that will allow me to upgrade in the future, but still be limited since I'm starting with a socket 478 chip, or do I go cheap just to run the stuff and not worry about the future? oh yeah $400 is the most I can spend and I'm tight for it. the computer im using now is a P3 500, so I'm in desperate need of a new machine.
the following links are to Newegg
good setup
case : antec ~$50
psu : seasonic 330 watt ~$60
mb : intel 865PE chipset from asus or MSI or abit etc. ~$90
hsf : ~$30
gpu : geforce 6800 agp ~$170
total: ~$400
cheap setup
case : case+psu ~$65
mb : SiS or VIA chipset from same manufatures as above ~$50
hsf : ~$10
gpu : Geforce 6600GT ~$145
total: ~$270.
I haven't built a computer with "new" parts in about 5 years so I'm a bit out of touch. I think the good setup will probably OC better than the cheap setup. I don't really see the point in getting something in between since the prices are so close anyway. so is it worth the extra $130 dollars for a machine that might not be worth upgrading anyway but still will perform a little better now? Will I see the benefit of Dual Channel memory. I want to be able to play games on it like HL2, Q4 and the upcomming Elder Scrolls game, will the cheap setup be able to make these games playable?. Will the cheaper setup be as stable as the more expensive one? can i go even cheaper on the cheap setup? Do any of you have any advice?
Thanks, I just found this place today so I hope I posted this in the right place and made my topic as easy to respond to as possible.