I'm trying to build a System on a budget

zinc

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I'm trying to build a System on a budget for a family member and I have to keep within there budget. I am at there maximum budget with the system below.

The PSU will take them over there budget but they need one so I will have to purchase that for them otherwise they won't have a system

Motherboard MSI K8NNeo4.F SKT939 = £43.91

CPU AMD (Venice) Athlon 64 3800+ = £69.73

Memory Crucial 512mb = £41.51

Video used ATI X550 256mb 64mb Vram PCI-E = £20

Hard drive Seagate IDE ATA 160gb = £39.68

What do you think about the above setup for Video editing, gaming etc?

They don't have much choice really but I'm interested in what you think.

Can you recommend a cheap PSU to run this system, have you got any suggestions please?
 
Looks ok, won't be able to play many of todays games, but should do ok in the likes of CSS. You can't score a gig of RAM for that price over in the UK?

Everything looks as good as it can be for the specs... PSU I can't help with because I don't know the current pricing on PSU's in the UK.
 
How compentent are you at overclocking?

DFI Infinity is £50, 3000/3200 is £40. Save yourself a few quid, the Venice cores will got up to at lest 2.4ghz (the 3800 speed). Mine was stable at 2.8ghz, and still had headroom.

That video card is shocking. Id go for a 7300 over that.

Theres not much point it an IDE hdd these days either, get the same size SATA drive for the same price.

Whats the buget?
 
Hoping not to overclock if possible as the system won't be here and if anything goes wrong I won't be there to fix it.

If theres not much difference between the 3000 and the 3800 CPU for what there going to use it for I would go with the 3000+ OEM for £43.60 and put the money saved into a 7300 for them. is the 7300 ATI or Nvidia?

How easy would it to boot from SATA drive with that board compared to ATA?

If I used a good brand PSU for the system would a 350w PSU be enough?
 
Yes get a SATA drive and enable SATA 300 (or SATA II) on it - pretty much the same ease of use as a PATA IDE drive.

I'd get the 3000+ and a decent nVidia 7300 card

350w would be barely enough for that, if it's a solid brand
 
I'll go with the SATA drive but the motherboard K8N Neo4-F this one http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=652 only says it supports 1.5GB's and not 3GB's is the Barracuda 7200.9 SATA - ST3160811AS still compatible with this board?

What would you say the minimum output I should look for the PSU?

Found these

Antec Basiq Power 500W ATX 12V PSU

Hiper 435W Silver Mesh Body - 120mm Fan ATX2.2 20+4pin

Seasonic S12 Series 380W PSU - ATX2.0 EPS12V 120mm Fan

These are around £40 but this is my limit to buy them a PSU.

Do you think any of these might be ok?
 
The Seasonic S12 series is very good. I'd go with one of those or maybe the Hiper (although i've never tested any of their low end units)
 
I can only speak of Hiper, I have a few that`ve lasted years.

Kinda like the Silverpower SP-400P1b atm, that`s only £25 now (plus delivery).
 
Hi all.

The final build will be and is being ordered on Monday.

Motherboard MSI K8NNeo4.F SKT939 = £43.91

CPU AMD (Venice) Athlon 64 3800+ = £69.73

Kingston 1GB DDR PC3200 400MHz = £76.58

MSI NX7300GT-TD256EH GF = £57.22

Hiper 580W Type-R Modular PSU = £59.93

Seagate ST3160811AS 160GB 7200.9 SATA II = £40.18

Total cast = £353.89

I think its the best I can do for there money and it all had to come from one supplier to keep postage to a minimum. They won't be overclocking but they might be adding a hard drive or two and a DVD writer in the near future.

Just like to say a big thanks to everyone who helped me with this, it is appreciated.
 
Talking about the motherboard I just read that the MSI K8N Neo4 SLI board needs -5 volts from the power supply.

Do you know why?

Do you know if the MSI K8N Neo4-F needs -5 volts?
 
I think you nailed yourself a pretty nice little computer for the price, good work.

All ATX power supplies have a 5v rail in which all mobo's use that rail for power (isn't that right?). So to answer ur question, yes, that board requires a 5v rail which you have.
 
name='WC Annihilus' said:
Nah, he's talking about the -5v rail, which used to be required but is much less so these days

What is the -5v for? I haven't seen that listed on a PSU in quite some time...
 
I have no idea what it was used for but it had been used for a bit at some point <shrugs> If you look in one of the other threads a few other people say it used to be used for some Creative cards or something
 
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