My current specs are:

Windows XP Pro
Asus A8n-SLI Deluxe (939)
Athlon 3200+ 2.01 Ghz
1 GB RAM
Geforce 6600 GT
480 watt power supply

I built this thing in 2005 (based completely on Massassi advice, the thread is still back there somewhere, thanks guys, it's been great). I don't play many new games, however I do lots of internet and image work. I frequently have 30+ browser tabs open, as well as 10 - 20 files opened in Photoshop. Throw in a few internet chat clients, some music, and my computer comes to a screeching halt.

I'm hoping I can build something at least semi-badass in the speed department and stay in the $400 - $500 range.

I can keep my video card for now. It's PCI-E and like I said I don't play many newer games. I'll buy a new one shortly, just want to focus the money elsewhere for now. I can also re-use my case if need be, although it's huge and it'd be nice to have a smaller PC if it can be done cheaply and easily and without sacrificing too much, but I can deal with it for now if need be. I can also reuse the power supply, but I'm not sure if that is recommended.

I'll also need an operating system. (windows)

Reuse:
Case
Disc drives
Power Supply
Video Card

Buy:
Core i5 750 $199
G. Skill Rip Jaw series 2x2gb pc-12800 $109
ASUS P7H55D-M EVO LGA 1156 $119
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB $69

Total $499.96

Prices taken from new egg without added shipping costs.

Why on earth would he want that stupid RAM. Get whatever value RAM is the cheapest and the correct speed.

nvm

Im assuming that 6600 is AGP so you'll probably want to get a graphics card with that setup

Just don't buy OCZ. I've heard bad stuff from multiple places. I have G.Skill Ripjaw RAM...it was actually one of the better deals at the time, and had very high reviews.

Looking around, it's still not bad - $99.99 for this. For $5 less, you can get RAM without heat spreaders. For another $1 off, you can get Geil that has 3/5 reviews.

I'd spend the extra $6, personally.

I heard bad things YEARS ago from Uber(HOV) (anyone remember him?) when they were basically run out of a garage. Now they own some quality names like PC Power and Cooling.


Well sure, if it happens to be cheap then of course get the better RAM. But don't go out of your way to do so.

I don't get how it is stupid. I copy and pasted the faster unsupported one by mistake. But with the correct speed its still only $10 more expensive than the cheapest 4gb kit with higher reviews to boot.

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) $98.99

Edit: Seems like JLee found the original ram that i suggested for $99. So it makes it a no brainer really.

Well that makes more sense... sorry!

Thoughts on this lineup:



http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.404662

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148321

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754 (Do I want pro?)



So no problems reusing my 5 year old 480 watt thermaltake power supply?

you should get this drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=wd%20black%20640 unless you need the extra space, I have it and it's super fast + 5 yr warranty

ram and proc look good

Damn newegg and their sales tax. Currently translating this order over to tiger direct

What exactly am I looking for in a motherboard? Besides max ram, processor supported, whats the difference between a $70 mobo and a $170 mobo?

What state are you in? Generally you only pay sales tax online if you're in the same state.

Typically extra features - overclocking ability, RAID, USB3, etc.

Yeah, I'm in Cali along with newegg.

I can save $50 by using tigerdirect, but I'm having to change a few things up.

Ok, new list because I have severe issues with giving the state of California money. $90 worth of rebates so all this would come out to about $583.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215 I can't find this damn processor at Tiger Direct.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5083733&sku=E145-2073

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5213932&sku=M17-7302

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4837614&sku=C13-8220

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4691122&sku=TSD-1000AS3

Is that 6600GT AGP?
Willing to give you 15 bucks for it.

Lol

Naw, it's PCI-E hence me reusing it.

Looks good. You shouldnt have any issues with your powersupply as long as it has 24pin + 4pin motherboard connectors. I think that was standard setup even on 939 motherboards. The EVGA motherboard seems overkill given your minimal interest in more powerful graphics cards, but it is a good price for those features.

I'm open to suggestions to save some money. Hows this for saving $$

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6076442&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs

What is the importance of ram speed vs amount of ram? 1333 mhz good enough?

For your purposes (lots of stuff open at the same time) more RAM will always be better. RAM speed actually has very little impact in overall performance.

Oops, oh well.
Why are you re-using such an old card anyway?

I'm trying to find a definative answer on using an i5-750 with that board or H55 chipsets in general. The H55 chipset was basically designed to use the 1156 cpu's that feature integrated graphics- something the i5-750 doesnt have. From what I have read, it should work- you just cant use the onboard vga. Havent found MSI's CPU Support page for that motherboard yet.

1333 mhz ram is good enough.

Since your currently an AMD user, I'm guessing you have reasons for choosing the i5-750 over an AM3 quad although there might be opportunity to save money there.

No reason whatsoever, I just kind of picked it. My AMD has been great, I just wouldn't know what's what in their current offering.

I'm reusing such an old card because I can, and I am not currently playing modern games. If that changes I can buy a good card later.

Well, I'm not questioning you or anything, if it ain't broke...
I'm just not sure that will even be able to do aero or the other fancy Win7 effects.

Of course it can, it has shader model 3.0, only 2.0 is required for Vista/7.

Yeah ram speed is only important if you're OCing a locked processor really hard and you need the ram to be capable of whatever speed your bclk sets it as

If you have a case fan, it has to look like a 20" spinner.

Not really, you can always change the ratio. Like for example, with my DDR2 800, I had my FSB set so high it was unstable, so I set the mobo to treat it as DDR2 667, and after the FSB jump it equated to about 845. Much more stable.

Alright. I guess I'm just to used to having a spare X1950 on hand, and underestimated the capabilities of that card.

It probably doesn't apply to him but if he wants to push the bclk up so far that bclk x minimum divider > max stable ram speed then he's still limited

like if the minimum divider was 2:10 and he wanted bclk at 250 and his ram can't operate over 1066 when i needs to run at 1250