The Mother Board

Ashbelmont · Pilgrim Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 4

Hey everyone,

I've recently been stripped of my desktop over some bad friendship issues but instead of mopping around I decided to go ahead and start my first build. As of right now I have 4GB in RAM (2x2GB), a reliable 500 watt power supply, and 2 500GB HDs. Everything else I need to buy with a small budget of $350 max.

Here's what I had in mind so far:

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=11-154-109

Mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131768

APU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103957

Vid Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121435

All this will run me $310 but I do plan on using those mail-in rebates which will give me some extra bones to buy better RAM and maybe upgrade my mouse. I use my PCs for working with Flash / rendering AfterEffects (both CS4) along with heavy gaming sessions (TF2 / Minecraft / The Witcher) but it was always that friend who would hook me up with my hardware set ups. I could be planning this all wrong, so please lend me your two cents for as my budget says, I don't have much to go on.

Thanks

Mr T · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:20 am Post subject:

Welcome to the motherboards.org...

First off, is the RAM DDR2 or DDR3 - for the AM3+ and newer CPU's, it must be DDR3 plus the motherboards that are new are all DDR3...

2nd off, a 500w PSU is weak when running a separate video card.. Look at 750w and above, esp if you are playing graphic intensive games or running out to a monitor over 19"...

Also the CPU you are looking at has a built in GPU, do you really need a separate video card? The GPU on that will play some games decently, but you will also be limited by the speed of the CPU going past that...

This is a good CPU...

This is one of the best 'budget' boards I have used recently... Plus it will support DDR2 OR DDR3 (not both) and will take a hex core CPU, oh and will support 4Gb sticks of DDR3...

PSU - you get what you pay for... Cheapo ones like EVO labs and RAIDmax, may suit your needs, but add anything to the system and you can run into issues... A decent named brand like OCZ, Corsair, Antec etc will see you through, have decent warranty and can take upgrades in their stride...

Also, IDE drives are not well supported any more - all SATA now, so something to think about with ROM and hard drives...
_________________
I have been programming on computers since the ZX81.
I am an apprentice trained Electronics Engineer with qualifications to back it up.
I have been repairing computers since 1996.
Yet to some people I still know nothing...

Ashbelmont · Pilgrim Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 4

Thanks for the board, I forgot to take in account of my RAM being DDR2. With the ASRock, all I would have to do is re-install my OS to upgrade from DDR2 to 3 or should I just get new RAM from the get-go?

as for the video card, I was planning on getting Skyrim when I finish the Witcher 2 and wanted to run it smoothly.

The build looks like this atm:

Case - APEX

PSU - Corsair

Mobo - ASRock

CPU - AMD

Vid Card - ASUS

Total = $380 - $30 mail-in rebate so I've reached the limit of my budget. Again, thank you for the input. Though I'm running on crazy low budget I do want a stable build that will allow me to work and play. If I'm throwing too much into the video card, I am not set in stone with any of this.

Ashbelmont · Pilgrim Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 4

PS. Forgot to mention that both of my HDs are SATA which I don't plan on upgrading any time soon.
The ROMs that I have are IDE though... The only time I use em are for install disks. With that being said, I know it'd be easy to drop some money for a SATA DVD-ROM but I don't see what I'd really gain.

Mr T · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:15 am Post subject:

Looks fine too me... That PSU will do you for the future... DVD ROM will be ok as the board still has an IDE slot (but bear in mind optical drives have a bad habit of wearing out)..

Have you budgeted for the operating system, keyboard, mouse, monitor and speakers?
_________________
I have been programming on computers since the ZX81.
I am an apprentice trained Electronics Engineer with qualifications to back it up.
I have been repairing computers since 1996.
Yet to some people I still know nothing...

Ashbelmont · Pilgrim Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 4

Yeah. Got old school serial keyboard, general 3 button USB mouse, 23" Acer LCD monitor, Logitech Z-5300 sound system (though I wish I could take full advantage of the 5.1 sound channels but I guess that's for later) and all the software I need on a 2TB external.

Well, I can't wait to order/receive my parts and get to work. Thanks a ton with the advice Mr T. I feel way better about my build now. mb_clap:

truman_barbados · Pilgrim Joined: 04 Mar 2012 Posts: 1

i read your advice to Ashbelmont with great interest as i am in the same position as him. i am going to buy all the hardware you recommended but i also need some other stuff.

what would be your thoughts on an HDD (500gb is more than enough space for my needs) and also a DVD writer?

thanks in advance lachen

	ChannelProSMB.com SystemBuilderPro.com Motherboards.org	Get the newsletter