Budget PC thats not so budget in features...my hard work researching

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dudleygb

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R4465 TOTAL FOR:
apologies in double posting my findings, but this is the result of many hours of painstaking research. Sorry but, I'm very proud of my findings :), I'm opening it up for anyone who wishes they can do better with the specified budget...:)
Also, hopefully it can also help some other poor lost souls out there, like myself , lost in the myriad of trillions of motherboards etc etc, who might also ask 'what pc should i get?' Yes, I agree, this is not a perfect match for everyone, but I think its a pretty good stab.
In a nutshell, this baby is based on brand new tech, including 3Ghz AM3 Quad Core processor with 6MB L3 cache, 2MB L2 cache....ag just read on and u will see....

i only wanted to spend like 2500 but this is the best i could come up with for a decent scalable solution, grand total of R4465. Can anyone do better? I dare u!
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My rationale behind choosing this board is that for now, u can use the onboard HD GPU. In a year or two u can pick up a cheap x16 1GB/2GB GPU, will make a nice upgrade.
Also, 1800 RAM should get cheaper eventually, so for now I only included 1x2GB DDR3 1800Mhz

There are the cheaper boards but I chose this one which will have some scope for scalability and for some nice cost effective upgrades over the next few years.
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AMD Phenom II X4 945 Processor - 3.0GHz AM3, 2MB L2, 6MB L3 - Boxed *R1,863.00* 1863 - from Sybaritic
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M4A785TD-M EVO ASUS AMD Socket AM3, AMD 785G, 5200MT/s, 4xDual DDR3 1800(O.C), Onboard VGA (HDMI), 1xPCI-x16(Hybrid CrossFire), 1xPCIx1, 2xPCI, 1xATA133, 5xSATA (Raid 0,1,10), 1x eSATA, Gbe Lan, 8ch-Sound HD, Max 12xUSB, 2xIEEE1394, microATX
R 942 excl. R 1,073 incl. 1073 - PCINT

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=QHbvGVB1mXmmD8qQ&templete=2

even good stuff being said about it on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131406&Tpk=M4A785TD-M EVO
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http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?products_id=20922
Cooler Master RC-310 Elite 310 Mid Tower Chassis - Black / Blue - No PSU = R275 - Sybaritic

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?cPath=73_269&products_id=12939
Cooler Master eXtreme Power RP-550-PCAR Power Supply - 550W = R572 - Sybaritic

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2GB DDRIII-1800 Hyper X (Kingston)
R 599 excl. R 682 incl. 682 - PCINT
==================================================

*************************************************************************
##################################################################

R2916 FOR :
AND HERES WHAT I COULD FIND FOR INTEL, DOING IT ABOUT R1400 Cheaper, which stack would you take?

What you're getting here is a machine with a better GPU and 2GB more RAM, but the mobo, processor and DDR2 800 RAM, will outdate much quicker and your upgrade cycle will therefore be a lot sooner than if you go for the quad core stack, as above.

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Geforce 9800GT 512MB DDR3 DVI HDMI - XFX R990 - PCINT
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Core 2 Duo E7500 2.9Ghz (1066FSB 3MB) R1031 - PCINT
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G41TY Intel Classic Series, Trinity Valley, Intel G41, LGA775, FSB1333, 2xDual DDR2 800, 1xPCI-x16, On Board VGA GMA X4500, 1xPCI-x1, 2xPCI, 4xSATAII, 1xATA133, Gbe Lan, 6ch-Sound, Max 12xUSB, microATX R584 - PCINT
===============================================
Cooler Master RC-310 Elite 310 Mid Tower Chassis - Black / Blue - No PSU = R275 - Sybaritic

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/pro...ducts_id=12939
Cooler Master eXtreme Power RP-550-PCAR Power Supply - 550W = R572 - Sybaritic
===============================================
2x2GB DDRII-800 (Kingston - KVR800D2N5/2G) R908
===============================================
 
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Thank you, what now?

Thank you for double posting, I am glad I saw this! I am looking for a budget PC myself but my techspeak is at a very low level and the choices out there are very bewildering.

How do I do this though? Do I take the list in to a supplier and ask them to put one together for me? (I did warn that my techspeak is non existent!:-)
 
Why spend R1800 on a CPU and R1000 on a motherboard and then not get a graphics card? What is the point of that? Get an Intel E7xxx or E5xxx, an mATX motherboard and 2GB DDR2-800 RAM. Then you can use the extra on a graphics card. Maybe a 4850 or something...
 
Good prices there.

Start adding in Hard drive, DVD RW, Windows 7, keyboard, mouse, LCD.
 
@mime
If you PM PostmanPot he will put together something good for you. Otherwise go to DigitalAddiction.co.za. They also put you PC together for free I think.
 
mime said:
Thank you for double posting, I am glad I saw this! I am looking for a budget PC myself but my techspeak is at a very low level and the choices out there are very bewildering.

How do I do this though? Do I take the list in to a supplier and ask them to put one together for me? (I did warn that my techspeak is non existent!:-)
Click to expand...

just check my notes, the processor is from sybaritic.co.za and the other stuff u can get from pcint.co.za. Of course, if u stay near the coast, u will need to add delivery, which then changes stuff a little...where u stay? If u really really need help then u can PM me and I can assist if u like.
 
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carderne said:
Why spend R1800 on a CPU and R1000 on a motherboard and then not get a graphics card? What is the point of that? Get an Intel E7xxx or E5xxx, an mATX motherboard and 2GB DDR2-800 RAM. Then you can use the extra on a graphics card. Maybe a 4850 or something...
Click to expand...

for now, the onboard GPU is good enough for most ppls needs. In a few months, u can get a very nice x16 GPU for like R600.

Note that this is a Quad core, latest and greatest AMD AM3 that works only with DDR3 RAM, with noticeable speed improvments over the DDR2 800. This chip is running at 3Ghz with some decent cache.
I went for new tech cause in a year or two u still want to be able to upgrade stuff easily. In a year or two DDR2 800 RAM will be going out. This stack is looking out for the future in mind. DDR3 1800 will become the standard. I went with this rationale, so that u got a really hot PC foundation for a good couple years +- 5-7. Also, to do this same stack in Intel will cost a good couple grand more. I've been using AMD for many many years with NOOO problems. Its as good as it gets.

I went with this thinking cause with such a good foundation, u can add on easily for a long time to come. Am3/DDr3 is brand new. Its got a slot for x16 GPU, for when the onboard GPU starts getting too small.

This mobo also comes with DVI, HDMI and VGA ports. Check it out here.

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=QHbvGVB1mXmmD8qQ&templete=2

even good stuff being said about it on newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131406&Tpk=M4A785TD-M EVO
 
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carderne said:
@mime
If you PM PostmanPot he will put together something good for you. Otherwise go to DigitalAddiction.co.za. They also put you PC together for free I think.
Click to expand...

cool, i'm hoping he will read my post and comment :) If not I will send it to him and ask for his recommendations.
 
Drake2007 said:
Good prices there.

Start adding in Hard drive, DVD RW, Windows 7, keyboard, mouse, LCD.
Click to expand...

Yup, those are additional, but why I did this is to try get to grips with some of the new midrange/budget tech offerings and try understand some of the latest tech.

Also, most people have DVD RW, monitor, HD, KB and mouse from their old PC they can use in the mean time.

just for interest...
Nivo are doing a SAmsumg 24" LCD special for R2099
KB and mouse is like anything from R50-3000, those are easy enough to source.
HD and DVD RW is like 250-300 - 4000, all easy to source.
 
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dudleygb said:
Yup, those are additional, but why I did this is to try get to grips with some of the new midrange/budget tech offerings and try understand some of the latest tech.

Also, most people have DVD RW, monitor, HD, KB and mouse from their old PC they can use in the mean time.

just for interest...
Nivo are doing a SAmsumg 24" LCD special for R2099
KB and mouse is like anything from R50-3000, those are easy enough to source.
HD and DVD RW is like 250-300 - 4000, all easy to source.
Click to expand...

Good price on that samsung too.

Microsoft DSP Windows 7 Home Premium 64-BIT R1100, note this is DSP version,
retail would be much more. You also have only 90days from hardware invoice date to install a licenced windows OS, otherwise it's not legal. DSP is only for new hardware constituting motherboard, cpu, hard drive and case.
The days of buying it with a silly modem or other piece of small hardware are no longer.
 
reddevilandy10 said:
Just out of interest... why the Phenom 945? Thought you were looking at going dual core instead...
Click to expand...

yes, initially I was going to do dual core, and actually, u could probably do a Dual Core for around R3000 (but I seriously doubt you will get the same future friendliness, you always get what u pay for), and since I've experienced Quad core, and since the price isnt hugely different, 3000 - 4000, I think its an optimal solution to go Quad. Also, I chose Quad for a machine built on a foundation, that will prove scalable and easily upgradeable for the coming years. I chose AMD cause its cheaper than Intel.
I specifically chose the Phenom 945 because it works with DDR3 and its L2+L3 cache is 8MB. The DDR3 1800 + decent cache size on the CPU, makes quite a difference. Oh yes, this is not so much a budget PC, it can make for quite a decent foundation as a nice gaming PC.

I agree u can do this cheaper, but for the small difference in price, is it worth it?

But even more to the point, pls do some research and try beat the package. I'm not saying this is the one and only perfect stack, just thought it was a nice mix of bleeding hi tech, features and future possibilities for the money spent.
 
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Ds what you want to so with the pc I suppose. I would also definitely say the best bang fir buck is a cheap intel dualcore and a 4850. Still super fast and more versatile.
 
carderne said:
Why spend R1800 on a CPU and R1000 on a motherboard and then not get a graphics card? What is the point of that? Get an Intel E7xxx or E5xxx, an mATX motherboard and 2GB DDR2-800 RAM. Then you can use the extra on a graphics card. Maybe a 4850 or something...
Click to expand...

I have to agree. For four grand, to still be relying on onboard is not cool...GPUs are cheap nowadays. Throw one in there somewhere!
 
hj2k_x said:
I have to agree. For four grand, to still be relying on onboard is not cool...GPUs are cheap nowadays. Throw one in there somewhere!
Click to expand...

thats the beauty of this stack choice, its got a 16x slot, so u can throw one in as and when / if u need it.

What I'd like to see are posts of actual mobo's and stuff, like I did, then u can actually compare what u paying for the dual core and this quad stack.
 
Well what if you buy a new gpu like a 4850,then you notice. . Oh crap my psu is fail! . . And there goes another R500 on a psu and you throw your cheap 350w on gumtree.lol.
 
Best is to get a psu-less case and buy a nice cheap but reliable vantec or coolermaster psu..minimum 500w 30A for "future proofing"
 
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