Help me build a Home/www PC...

AstaLaVista

Lost in Cyberspace
Vista Pro
I am trying to help one of my Cousins Overseas, she is looking for an inexpensive, yet powerful PC, one that can allow her to run Vista 32 OS.

This is going to be a Home Office PC, with internet capabilities and she is also looking to be able to play with some image editing. Truth be told, she pretty much wants to be able to put all her pictures in thumbnail option as see them... something she can't even do with the pc she now has.

My budget is around 450 to 500 smackers and so far, this is what I got:

EVGA 9600 GSO 512MB..... $ 43.99
OCZ 500w SXS PSU.......... $ 29.99

Things I still need to get:

Motherboard (Intel Preferable)

CPU (Around 2.5 Ghz or so)

4 GB 800Mhz Ram

HDD... She does not need more than 160GB and the smaller the drive, the faster it will be.

My very small knowledge of PC builds consists more on Gaming PC than std builds so I wouldn't even know where to start. Is there anywhere that I can look for Combo prices once I know what I am looking for?

Thanks Fellas.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
    Motherboard
    EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX260
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Velociraptor 160GB
    Samsung Sata 750GB
    Maxtor External 160GB
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
    Case
    Thermaltake Speedo Advance
    Cooling
    Air Cooled... See CPU
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G7
    Internet Speed
    Comcast 6MB Broadband
    Other Info
    Linksys WRT54G router

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
    Motherboard
    EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX260
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Velociraptor 160GB
    Samsung Sata 750GB
    Maxtor External 160GB
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
    Case
    Thermaltake Speedo Advance
    Cooling
    Air Cooled... See CPU
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G7
    Internet Speed
    Comcast 6MB Broadband
    Other Info
    Linksys WRT54G router
It looks like you're on the right track here. Here's a link to the Vista system requirements, just in case you want to reference them:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/system-requirements.aspx

Cheers,

My bigger issue is choosing the Motherboard, once that is settled, I can get the other stuff fairly easy.

Since I am already running Vista x64, I pretty much know what it demands but thanks nonetheless.

Just wanted to make sure we had those bases covered :)

Any luck on the motherboard front?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS M1330
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo
    Memory
    3GB
You need to list every component she needs. Is the $500 dollars just for whats in the pc as shes already got a keyboard and mouse, speakers, monitor, vista disc etc. ?

CPU - $119.99 - Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8Ghz 65W Dual-Core
RAM - $ 80.00 - Corsair Dominator 1066
Motherboard - $79.99 Asus P5QL-CM
PSU - $93.99 - Corsair CMPSU 550W
Hard Drive - $49.99 - Western Digital Caviar SE 320GB
DVD - $ 24.99 Samsung DVD Burner

Thats already about $450 dollars. Note that im not from america so im just using newegg for prices. If you google each component you'll maybe be able to get them cheaper
 
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

Just wanted to make sure we had those bases covered :)

Any luck on the motherboard front?

I am hoping that Stew2 advise will suffice even though I have a guy selling me a Mobo/Ram/CPU combo that looks good as well. I think I rather go new on this build since it won't be me putting it together and/or troubleshooting it.

You need to list every component she needs. Is the $500 dollars just for whats in the pc as shes already got a keyboard and mouse, speakers, monitor, vista disc etc. ?

CPU - $119.99 - Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8Ghz 65W Dual-Core
RAM - $ 80.00 - Corsair Dominator 1066
Motherboard - $79.99 Asus P5QL-CM
PSU - $93.99 - Corsair CMPSU 550W
Hard Drive - $49.99 - Western Digital Caviar SE 320GB
DVD - $ 24.99 Samsung DVD Burner

Thats already about $450 dollars. Note that im not from america so im just using newegg for prices. If you google each component you'll maybe be able to get them cheaper

I thought I had listed the components needed in my first post... I guess that wasn't enough.

Anyways, I was more interested on you guys helping me choose the Motherboard for that particular "Use" since my knowledge is more on Gaming Boards than anything else (limited as that is as well ;)). Now that you have been kind enough to give me a model/brand of Mobo, I can continue looking for the best price possible.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
    Motherboard
    EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX260
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Velociraptor 160GB
    Samsung Sata 750GB
    Maxtor External 160GB
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
    Case
    Thermaltake Speedo Advance
    Cooling
    Air Cooled... See CPU
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G7
    Internet Speed
    Comcast 6MB Broadband
    Other Info
    Linksys WRT54G router
I just wanted to make sure every component you needed was listed.

Fot the money id say thats a pretty good pc i listed lol. With the graphics card you listed the totals under $500. Just make sure you dont get a her a cheap psu like the OCZ one you listed. I know the one i listed costs more its a lot better and should avoid any power issues. :)
 

My Computer

Just make sure you dont get a her a cheap psu like the OCZ one you listed. I know the one i listed costs more its a lot better and should avoid any power issues. :)

Well, Dang!... to late now! :shock: :D

I had read that the manufacturers of that PSU was not OCZ and that it was a good PSU. Since she is not going to be pulling a lot of Gs (amps), I think it will have to do.

Thanks for all the help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
    Motherboard
    EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX260
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Velociraptor 160GB
    Samsung Sata 750GB
    Maxtor External 160GB
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
    Case
    Thermaltake Speedo Advance
    Cooling
    Air Cooled... See CPU
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G7
    Internet Speed
    Comcast 6MB Broadband
    Other Info
    Linksys WRT54G router
Well thats unfortunate you bought that one. With your power supply id thought you'd know better lol jk

No problem, hope the build goes well :)
 

My Computer

With your power supply id thought you'd know better:)

Said the man that uses ATI Radeon... :party: :D

So far so good with my PSU and I don't expect to have any problems, then again... I never do! :geek: :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
    Motherboard
    EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX260
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Velociraptor 160GB
    Samsung Sata 750GB
    Maxtor External 160GB
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
    Case
    Thermaltake Speedo Advance
    Cooling
    Air Cooled... See CPU
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G7
    Internet Speed
    Comcast 6MB Broadband
    Other Info
    Linksys WRT54G router

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P7805u FX
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo T9600 2.80GHz 1066MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Intel PM45
    Memory
    8GB 1066MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB DDR3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 17" WUXGA TFT
    Screen Resolution
    1920x 1200
    Hard Drives
    WD 2x500GB
    Case
    notebook
    Other Info
    BT/BD

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Q9650 w/CM V8 Cooler...
    Motherboard
    EVGA 780i SLI FTW... Latest Bios & Drivers
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 8GB (4 x 2GB) PC2-8500C5D
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX260
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 22" LCD Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Velociraptor 160GB
    Samsung Sata 750GB
    Maxtor External 160GB
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750w Silencer
    Case
    Thermaltake Speedo Advance
    Cooling
    Air Cooled... See CPU
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15
    Mouse
    Logitech G7
    Internet Speed
    Comcast 6MB Broadband
    Other Info
    Linksys WRT54G router
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