Need help building Budget PC - What Motherboard as am so confused???

[imranrasool]

Hiya Everyone,

Due to strained finances and not fully utilising the power of my quad core I have decided to sell it and build myself a new no thrills base unit. I already have the accessories such as monitor, keyboard mouse.

I need a motherboard which will support 800Mhz DDR2 ram, else I am not too fussed.

I already have the following:

seagate 500gb 16mb hard drive
Corsair XMS2 2 x 1gb ram sticks 800mhz
Pioneer 112DBK DVD RW
Mitsumi 7 in 1 card reader

These were left spare after my last build but not too clued up on what is deemed reliable on a budget build.

I want advice on the following if possible please:

Motherboard - was going to get an asrock, but can't find a budget one that supports ddr2 800mhz

Processor - AMD or Intel? I was going to get a e4400 but I don't overclock at all (don't know how, lol) and heard AMD is better value for money.

Graphics Card and Sound - I never play games on PC as am addicted to my 360 so onboard is fine with me, but something with reasonable on board would be nice

PSU - Will be getting a 500w arctic power from ebuyer as have never let me down and for £25 cant complain.

Case - probably get a budget coolermaster or a budget case from Ebuyer again.

It has to be able to support Vista Ultimate as am so used to using it couldnt go back now.

The Motherboard is my main confusion as so much choice, just want something reliable.

Have set budget at £150 - £200 excluding the parts I already have as should help me build something fairly decent.

All and any help and advice very much appreciated.

Kindest of Regards

Imran

 

[techquest]

I've got an Asrock AliveNF6G-DVI, an ok board and there are a number of variations. Never had a problem and there are plenty of bundles (New) boards + CPU to be had on eBay.

AMD is the way to go in my opinion.

 

[The Dentist]

https://www.digitalworldz.co.uk/index.php?threads/155294/

This is below your price range mate plus its no slacker either. you can even sell the stuff you got and will make the pc even cheaper.

 

[imranrasool]

Hiya mate,

Yeah did consider that pc but not sure the component quality as they're mass produced and know I could build the same as that for much less with a bit of effort.

Was after an asrock board as previously suggested but havent worked out which one yet as would rather use the bits I have as I already have them. Plus means I could build it for next to nothing. Thank you for your reply, it is a great pc though, but I do hammer mine in terms of downloads etc so would want some reliable bits in there.

Kind Regards

Imran

 

[imranrasool]

I've got an Asrock AliveNF6G-DVI, an ok board and there are a number of variations. Never had a problem and there are plenty of bundles (New) boards + CPU to be had on eBay.

AMD is the way to go in my opinion.

Yeah did see these and have brought asrock in the past with no problems, just a matter of finding one that accepts ddr2 800mhz as most of them simply taket 667mhz ddr2.

Had a good look on ebay and they havent got the newer boards from asrock, any recommendations as to where to look mate.

Thanks for your help.

Imran

 

[techquest]

Not sure where your getting your info but most of the asrock am2's take DDR2 800mhz or pc6400 as it is also called and thats a defo on the AliveNF6G-DVI and its variants.

 

[trbd]

I've just bought one of those HP machines last week and it's bob on the money, built using good quality parts! Plus you get the warranty.
You'll struggle to build one with similar spec for the money if you're using good bits! Considering it comes with a Vista License too!
We are buying them at work now as it's not worth building our own at this price.

HTH
Dave

 

[Curious123]

I am familiar with the way the Intel processors are measured but the AMD measurements are a complete mystery, what would be the equivalent pc if this was measured against an an Intel processor?

 

[little_pob]

I am familiar with the way the Intel processors are measured but the AMD measurements are a complete mystery, what would be the equivalent pc if this was measured against an an Intel processor?

The e4400 is a 64Bit, 2GHz dual core processor, so the equivalent AMD is the Athlon 64 X2 3800+.

I say "is", both actually seem to have been deleted from the stock list on the retailers I had a quick look at.

 

[digicol]

In terms of raw power the e4400 will be about on par with AMD' X2 4600 at stock, but overclock it and you have something that will be close to an X2 6000+.

Considering you do not game or anything like that then I would go for Intels e21 series of processors, very cheap but very good. I would aslo get a motherboard with an Intel based chipset and | will then be able to teach you how to overclock it, VIA based chipsets are no good mate, they will not overclock any e21 series without are hard mod of the processor.

Lets just say I can get you a processor and motherboard for less than £80 that will give AMD's X2 6000+ a close run with just raising the FSB in your BIOS. Push it up just a little and you have a nice fast setup that will run happily alongside the likes of AMD's X2 5400 or Intels e6400 and also blitz most of AMD's older FX series of chips costing hundreds of pounds more!!

Lets say your spending just £100, this is what you could get:
Gigabyte GA-G31MX-S2 iG31 Socket 775 onboard VGA 8 channel audio mATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132271/show_product_specifications - great board for the price and amazing overclocker with built in graphics and 7.1 surround sound.

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 2GHz Socket 775 800MHz FSB L2 1MB Cache Retail Box Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132064
Great processor at just over £50, best bang for buck money can buy.

 

[Curious123]

Slightly off topic but can you install a basic psu into a basic cooler master matx case and run the above board?

 

[digicol]

Do you mean the Antec Basiq series of PSU, or just a cheap basic PSU?

Eitherway yes you can. As long as the screw holes match up on the rear of the case, which I am 99% sure they will.

 

[Curious123]

This is the case I was looking at;

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129891/show_product_reviews

Basically I would like to get a DVD writer, Core 2 Duo processor, a Sata II hdd and a 2GB ram and above board into a as small a box that can I can without upsetting the cooling balance.

 

[digicol]

That is fine, one 1 left though and remember you will need a mATX motherboard.

 

[oneman]

You have not mentioned what you want the PC for, So i am going to guess general purpose usage. If you are happy with onboard graphics then you can save your self some money and splash out on the CPU.

For around the £150 mark you should be able to pick up Asus P5KPL-VM with E6550 CPU. That should give you some serious overclock options if you want them.

If you are wondering about Intel vs AMD and the possible combinations then have a look here where there is some benchmark information for a wide range of CPU. You select the two CPU you are interested in and the type of application you are looking at running.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html

 

[007inda]

Best value for money board i think is the ECS P4M900T-M2. as far as im aware you can update the bios & most 800mhz ddr2 modules should work sweet & as far as cpu support for the money goes this one is ace. We sell these at work & also build these into systems. They support all celeron-d, pentuim-d, core2duo & QUAD CORE's too.

Best of all they have on board sound , vga & lan, but also come with pci-express x16 for better vga option.

Finally they are one of the cheapest current boards out with prices starting from around £22 brand new !!!!

Regards,

Indi

 

[oneman]

Best value for money board i think is the ECS P4M900T-M2. as far as im aware you can update the bios & most 800mhz ddr2 modules should work sweet & as far as cpu support for the money goes this one is ace. We sell these at work & also build these into systems. They support all celeron-d, pentuim-d, core2duo & QUAD CORE's too.

Best of all they have on board sound , vga & lan, but also come with pci-express x16 for better vga option.

Finally they are one of the cheapest current boards out with prices starting from around £22 brand new !!!!

Regards,

Indi

I hope their quality has improved, back a few years ago they used to make a all-in-one including CPU. I had nothing but problems with failures and imcapability. For the budget end of the market I would say you can't go wrong with a Asrock board.

 

[imranrasool]

Not sure where your getting your info but most of the asrock am2's take DDR2 800mhz or pc6400 as it is also called and thats a defo on the AliveNF6G-DVI and its variants.

Hiya mate,

I been looking solely at the intel ones to be honest, and most of the ones I have looked at including in the asrock website support 667mhz, you are right there are plenty of newer ones which do support the 800mhz but cant find them on the places that would sell for a lot cheaper, think I will settle for an asrock after all.

 

[imranrasool]

In terms of raw power the e4400 will be about on par with AMD' X2 4600 at stock, but overclock it and you have something that will be close to an X2 6000+.

Considering you do not game or anything like that then I would go for Intels e21 series of processors, very cheap but very good. I would aslo get a motherboard with an Intel based chipset and | will then be able to teach you how to overclock it, VIA based chipsets are no good mate, they will not overclock any e21 series without are hard mod of the processor.

Lets just say I can get you a processor and motherboard for less than £80 that will give AMD's X2 6000+ a close run with just raising the FSB in your BIOS. Push it up just a little and you have a nice fast setup that will run happily alongside the likes of AMD's X2 5400 or Intels e6400 and also blitz most of AMD's older FX series of chips costing hundreds of pounds more!!

Lets say your spending just £100, this is what you could get:
Gigabyte GA-G31MX-S2 iG31 Socket 775 onboard VGA 8 channel audio mATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132271/show_product_specifications - great board for the price and amazing overclocker with built in graphics and 7.1 surround sound.

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 2GHz Socket 775 800MHz FSB L2 1MB Cache Retail Box Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132064
Great processor at just over £50, best bang for buck money can buy.

Whoa, what a reply!!

Thank you ever so much, didnt want someone to go to all this hassle but you have definitely convinced me in what direction to go towards. Having looked at both those bits bang for buck they definitely are. And if you could show me how to overclock them that would be fantastic.

As you can tell I have to go into work to be able to reply, as no longer have a pc at home. But should soon have one beter get in quick and order from ebuyer as they still doing deliveries before christmas.

Thanks buddy.

 

[imranrasool]

You have not mentioned what you want the PC for, So i am going to guess general purpose usage. If you are happy with onboard graphics then you can save your self some money and splash out on the CPU.

For around the £150 mark you should be able to pick up Asus P5KPL-VM with E6550 CPU. That should give you some serious overclock options if you want them.

If you are wondering about Intel vs AMD and the possible combinations then have a look here where there is some benchmark information for a wide range of CPU. You select the two CPU you are interested in and the type of application you are looking at running.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html

Hello,

The only thing I use my pc is for downloading to be fair. Anything and everything. I havent played a game on my pc since about 1999, as have always been a console person.

I had a asus p5n-e sli board recently as did my friend and they were very unreliable and unpredictable. Further research led me to believe it was think particular model board which was the problem, but am willing to try asus again. Am looking at the gigabyte suggested earlier and will give this a look also.

I'm just happy at least I have couple of options to look at, thanks for the link also will be very useful I'm sure.

Thank you