A R3500 PC build

R

reedOsama

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2009
Messages
927
Reaction score
2
Hey guys

I need a super budget PC build for R3500 MAX. This is just for the case and what's inside it and excludes software. It should be able to easily handle Office programs, browsing and unintentially added crappy software that serves no purpose but to slow the PC down.

This is what I came up with (all from prophecy... i took optical drive because stock was available):

Sony AD-7260S DVD Writer 24X SATA Dual Layer - OEM R169.58 (inc VAT)

Kingston VALUERAM KVR1333D3N9/2G 2GB DDR-1333 1.5v CL9 R216.58 (inc VAT)

Corsair CX430 430w Power Supply Unit (PSU) R470.83 (inc VAT)

Intel E6500 Dual-Core LGA775 2.93GHz Boxed Processor R699.55 (inc VAT)

Gigabyte GA-G41MT-S2 LGA775 Dual-Channel DDR3 PCI-E x16 R527.64 (inc VAT)

Seagate Barracuda 7200 ST3500413AS 500GBb Sata6G 7200rpm R380.85 (inc VAT)

Total: R2465.03 (The other R1000 and something is for a 2nd hand +-R500 9800gt, a case and maybe 2 fans)


My biggest concern is the old lga775 cpu and motherboard,the platform is pretty much dead and I've never seen a E6500 in action, also I havent considered AMD at all (being unfamiliar with it)

THANKS
 
Last edited:
Why do you need thermal grease? The boxed processor's cooler comes with some on it already...
 
The E6500 should work for your purposes, its not a Sandy Bridge, but it does good enough and is very good value IMO.

I always use this list when I want to know how a CPU would do relatively to others I have used:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
 
notes on pc build

That motherboard only has SATA3G connectors and not SATA6G required for the hard disc you have in mind.
Consider buying an 450 watt psu (although preferably a 500watt). The price increase is marginal but you then have a pretty good base for a future upgrade. Many new generation graphics cards is specified as requiring 450watt plus PSU's.
If you add up the cost of the psu and case and an extra fan you might pay up to R900 plus.
Corsairs has real good psu's, but keep in mind there is some cases that come with 450watt psu's for less than R500.
I have a full ATX gaming case available with 2 fans (one 12cm and one 14cm) with a 750watt psu for R896.

The GT9800 is now a reasonable old card. For about between R850 you can also consider a Radeon HD5670.
 
Last edited:
There is a worlds difference between bargain basement a 450w PSU and a Corsair 430W. I am sure the Corsair will also deliver more power, not to mention more reliably. Plus the 450W "requirement" of new GPU's cannot ever be accurate, since they do not know what the rest of your system is comprised of. Add to that that the E6500 uses way less than its TDP, apart from being a relatively low power CPU to begin with, I would not "upgrade" to a cheaper PSU.

The HDD will work, but if you can find a cheaper 3gbps drive, go for that.
 
Last edited:
P924 said:
There is a worlds difference between bargain basement a 450w PSU and a Corsair 430W. I am sure the Corsair will also deliver more power, not to mention more reliably. Plus the 450W "requirement" of new GPU's cannot ever be accurate, since they do not know what the rest of your system is comprised of. Add to that that the E6500 uses way less than its TDP, apart from being a relatively low power CPU to begin with, I would not "upgrade" to a cheaper PSU.

The HDD will work, but if you can find a cheaper 3gbps drive, go for that.
Click to expand...

"Plus the 450W "requirement" of new GPU's cannot ever be accurate, since they do not know what the rest of your system is comprised of."

That's why I said many and not all.

Like I said, Corsairs is real good PSU's. Just gave some other options. Dont agree with "Loads more of power" statement though.
Just to note I had generic psu's that run 10 years in pc's no problems, and then it is not even the PSU that retired the pc. One of my own pc's worked 10year with a "generic". Some cases manufacture there own psu's thus not all "generic" psu's is created equally.

Someone is probably going to ridicule this. But dont take my word for it. Go to AMD.com and Nvidia.com

From Nvidia.com
GT220 300watt
GT240 300watt
GTX430 300watt
GTX440 300watt
GTX460 450watt
GTX560 500watt
GTX570 550watt
GTX580 600watt
GTX590 700watt

From AMD.com
HD5450 400watt
HD5550 400watt
HD5670 400watt
HD5750 450watt
HD5770 450watt
HD5830 500watt
HD5850 500watt
HD5870 500watt
HD5870 eyefinity 600watt
HD6850 500watt
HD6870 500watt
HD6950 500watt
HD6970 550watt
HD6990 750watt
 
Rock Bottom Computers said:
From Nvidia.com
GT220 300watt
GT240 300watt
GTX430 300watt
GTX440 300watt
GTX460 450watt
GTX560 500watt
GTX570 550watt
GTX580 600watt
GTX590 700watt

From AMD.com
HD5450 400watt
HD5550 400watt
HD5670 400watt
HD5750 450watt
HD5770 450watt
HD5830 500watt
HD5850 500watt
HD5870 500watt
HD5870 eyefinity 600watt
HD6850 500watt
HD6870 500watt
HD6950 500watt
HD6970 550watt
HD6990 750watt
Click to expand...

To account for all the no name/generic PSU's. :D
 
Rock Bottom Computers said:
"Plus the 450W "requirement" of new GPU's cannot ever be accurate, since they do not know what the rest of your system is comprised of."
Click to expand...

From what I have seen of powerful test systems used to review GPUs the total system power consumption rarely exceeds 450W. So a quality 600W80% PSU should do the trick.

People with 5 hard drives, 2 dvd burners etc will obviously need a bit more like 700W, same goes for SLI/Xfire setups.
 
P924 said:
There is a worlds difference between bargain basement a 450w PSU and a Corsair 430W. I am sure the Corsair will also deliver more power, not to mention more reliably. Plus the 450W "requirement" of new GPU's cannot ever be accurate, since they do not know what the rest of your system is comprised of. Add to that that the E6500 uses way less than its TDP, apart from being a relatively low power CPU to begin with, I would not "upgrade" to a cheaper PSU.

The HDD will work, but if you can find a cheaper 3gbps drive, go for that.
Click to expand...

It's the cheapest 500gig 7200rpm at Prophecy (plus it's in stock)

I also think there's a tiny Epeen increase with 6gbps even if it can't be used:)

PostmanPot said:
Not true, SATA6G is backwards compatible. :)
Click to expand...

I was counting on that

PostmanPot said:
+1, Corsair CX430 minimum.
Click to expand...

In the current computer (this is the family computer in the lounge) there's already a generic 450w psu but it's loud and dirty. So I was dead set on the Corsair but my dad found an i5 (the IT guy that works on his school's computers is selling it) for R3500. Everything besides that cpu has to be entry level but if you consider that the cheapest cpu mobo combo comes to R2601.16 (for the the old i5 using Prophecy prices) and R2456.25 (for the sandybridge i5) then isn't that a better deal overall? The psu must be terrible but the old computer has a 8500gt and im guessing the psu wouldn't blow if you add a 8500gt to the system.

I guess my question is should I rather choose "high quality entry level" for everything or take the MUCH better cpu but sacrifice the quality of everything else?
 
reedOsama said:
It's the cheapest 500gig 7200rpm at Prophecy (plus it's in stock)

I also think there's a tiny Epeen increase with 6gbps even if it can't be used:)



I was counting on that



In the current computer (this is the family computer in the lounge) there's already a generic 450w psu but it's loud and dirty. So I was dead set on the Corsair but my dad found an i5 (the IT guy that works on his school's computers is selling it) for R3500. Everything besides that cpu has to be entry level but if you consider that the cheapest cpu mobo combo comes to R2601.16 (for the the old i5 using Prophecy prices) and R2456.25 (for the sandybridge i5) then isn't that a better deal overall? The psu must be terrible but the old computer has a 8500gt and im guessing the psu wouldn't blow if you add a 8500gt to the system.

I guess my question is should I rather choose "high quality entry level" for everything or take the MUCH better cpu but sacrifice the quality of everything else?
Click to expand...

R3500 for an entry i5 machine can be done. But yes, the PSU and case will be severely skimped on, which personally I do not recommend nor would anyone on MyBb. I'm not saying it won't last (I have a 6 year old PC running off a tiny 250watt generic) but there are just so many reasons to buy a quality PSU. Stable power, efficiency, warranty... Generic PSU's usually have 6 month warranties.

Tell him you want all the components, except the case and PSU. Then get him (or yourself) to get a Cooler Master Elite chassis (±R300) and Corsair CX430 PSU (3 year warranty). If he does PC sales he should be able to do this.
 
PostmanPot said:
R3500 for an entry i5 machine can be done. But yes, the PSU and case will be severely skimped on, which personally I do not recommend nor would anyone on MyBb. I'm not saying it won't last (I have a 6 year old PC running off a tiny 250watt generic) but there are just so many reasons to buy a quality PSU. Stable power, efficiency, warranty... Generic PSU's usually have 6 month warranties.

Tell him you want all the components, except the case and PSU. Then get him (or yourself) to get a Cooler Master Elite chassis (±R300) and Corsair CX430 PSU (3 year warranty). If he does PC sales he should be able to do this.
Click to expand...

You see that's another R800 right there (the cheap psu and case will probably be worth next to nothing) and it'll be difficult to convince my dad of the power supply importance especially if I try to explain a 430w is better then a 450w.

He's not exactly slow when it comes to technology but he seems to believe stuff better when other people say it (like the IT guy who's selling this PC).

Anyway I just need to know if I should rather go with my build or the i5... I could always get a better psu later but I know that probably wont happen.
 
reedOsama said:
You see that's another R800 right there (the cheap psu and case will probably be worth next to nothing) and it'll be difficult to convince my dad of the power supply importance especially if I try to explain a 430w is better then a 450w.
Click to expand...

Simple.

Cheap 450watt = 1 year warranty max, Corsair = 3 year, meaning that the cheapo could end up costing more than the Corsair. Corsair is more powerful even though its advertised wattage is lower. Corsair produces cleaner power. Corsair is more efficient. Corsair is quieter and runs cooler. Corsair has much better components inside. Etc.

Regarding your build vs theirs. Theirs would be more powerful, but yours would last longer.

In any case, an E6500 is more than enough for the tasks that will be performed. Hell, even a dual core Celeron would be good enough.

Best is to get a combination of both worlds - i5 machine with quality components, especially PSU.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X