Doing another build for a friend, looking for advice
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Thread: Doing another build for a friend, looking for advice

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 1999
    Location
    St. Louis, Mo. USA
    Posts
    1,427

    Doing another build for a friend, looking for advice

    I built a system for my neighbor about 1 1/2 years ago and now he's asking me to do another build for him (for his 17 year old daughter, he said her PC is old and "broke"), she's not a "first person shooter" type and no heavy processing requirements (takes digi pictures, but no heavy movie editting or anything).

    I built him an inexpensive:
    XP Home SP3
    MSI K9MM-V mobo
    AMD 64 X2 4000+
    160g SATA
    2gb DDR2
    450w PSU
    XFX GeForce 6200 / 256mb DDR2 / AGP 8x
    all totaled it was under $400 (he had XP already)

    he really liked it and wanted the same for his daughter. I told him I'd try to keep the price about the same, but he'd probalby get a better / faster PC for his money now than when I built the original.

    quick search I found:
    Biostar TA780G M2+ Barebone Kit - AMD

    Biostar TA780G mobo
    Phenom X4 9500
    2GB DDR2-667
    250GB SATA2
    300w PSU

    seems like a good deal, but I haven't worked with Biostar before, the reviews said the CPU was good, but there are faster dual-cores (!?!?!) for less money and the PSU seems a little weak.
    (anyone want to weigh-in on the faster dual-cores?)

    Any comments or better suggestions for his build? thanks
    I wanted to keep the build around $300, because he still wants a 3.5 floppy (can't let go), front card reader, wireless network card
    WinXP/98 dualboot - P4 2.4b 533FSB
    Asus P4PE/L MoBo
    512MB Corsair DDR PC2700
    HDD1 - 160gig Seagate HDD2 - 60gig Maxtor
    Antec SOHO File Server w/400 watt PSU

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Friern Barnet, London, England
    Posts
    46,565
    The PSU is way too small at 300 Watts, and won't allow any room for future upgrades at all. The X4 9500 is a good, and reasonably priced CPU, but you'll get better performance from a Core 2 Quad, and for very little extra.
    Nick.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    53,391
    I agree upgrade the 300 to 450-500 and the cpu.

    Looks good to me other than those items.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    47

    looking at your "new build" question

    The last 6 systems I have built I have used Biostar motherboards and I have not had a return yet. I looked at the mb you are looking at and since it does have a pcie slot for a video card,I would do as the other guys said and get a good name brand ps around 650 w anyway.As far as the cpu, my last personal build [my signature] I thought I would try the Phenom 9650. It is a very good cpu [I took it from 2300 mhz to 2550 mhz and it is stable] however I really wish I would have installed an AMD 64x2 6000+. I dont need the Quad cpu and the dual is faster stock at 3100 mhz. I have gathered prices for a friend on a new build complete for $455.00 ,XP pro,dvd burner sata hd,2gb mem,floppy,case,mb,cpu. PM me and I'll tell you where I found the best prices,free shipping. Good luck on your build.
    9650 phenom, 3gb 1066 mem,Biostar TA770A2+ MB,EVGA 9800gt VC,2 Seagate sata hard drives,2 Lite on DVDRW ,floppy,XP PRO, Win 7,dual boot,750 w Ultra Power supply

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