CPU, MB, Ram and case for R3000.....?!?

[Zenbaas]

Ok so I have recently bought a few new components for my PC and have ended up with quite a few spare parts...enough in fact to build my GF her own PC. So the only bits that I still need are the CPU, MB, Ram and case and her budget is about R3000 for the lot. Now I might consider adding a bit of money from my side to add in slightly better components but for the time being the R3k is what Im working on.I already have:
*PSU-Aerocool ZeroDBA 620W
*XFX 8800GT Alpha dog edition
* Samsung spinpoint F1 -1TB SATA II 32mb
* LG DVD writer
*Z-board gaming KB
*Razer copperhead mouse
*Samsung 2232GW


So far I am considering the following:
---P5KPL/1600 ASUS Intel G31, LGA775, 1600(O.C)FSB, 4xDual DDR2 1066, 2xPCI-x16(CrossFire), 3xPCI, 1xATA100, 4xSATAII, Gbe Lan, 8ch-Sound, Max 8xUSB, ATX R 650 excl. R 740 incl. --Pcint

---Core 2 Duo E7400 2.8Ghz (1066FSB 3MB) R 979 excl. R 1,116 incl. --Pcint

---OCZ DDR2 2048MB Value Series X 2 @ R250 each = R500

---Coolermaster RC-335 + Windowed Side Panel = R 413

So total is R2769 atm. Any other suggestions or alternatives...? I will probably only be purchasing everything in about 3 months time max but I want to start forming an idea of the possibilities and different components.
Thanks

 

[Toxin]

Don't see anything wrong with that setup for the price you're paying. Will be a system when it's done. You might be able to get a slightly better CPU in three months time that'll still keep you under the R3k mark. Keep your eyes open.

 

[Keeper]

try to get a better mobo - that thing has 0 upgrade possibilities IIRC.. think it only has 2 ram slots right?

 

[Zenbaas]

try to get a better mobo - that thing has 0 upgrade possibilities IIRC.. think it only has 2 ram slots right?

4xDual DDR2 1066

As far as "upgrade possibilities" go what would you suggest? The board supports all the yorkfield 45nm quads but anything that would support any of the newer tech is a hell of a lot more expensive AFAIK...?

 

[Keeper]

i'm not saying go i7, just get a better 775 board... you said you were going to add extra cash, and only buy it in 3 months so the parts should be even cheaper....

lets work on a price target of about R3500 or more - it should be less by then and you are adding a few bucks to her R3000 right?


EDIT: oh - see it's got 4...ok. still dont like that mobo though...heheh...

 

[Zenbaas]

i'm not saying go i7, just get a better 775 board... you said you were going to add extra cash, and only buy it in 3 months so the parts should be even cheaper....

lets work on a price target of about R3500 or more - it should be less by then and you are adding a few bucks to her R3000 right?


EDIT: oh - see it's got 4...ok. still dont like that mobo though...heheh...

Well...quite a few forumites here have the mb and seem happy with it...the next option would be a P5Q which is almost double the price and adds nothing that I would ever actually use.

The extra cash would probably go to a better CPU at the moment.

 

[Keeper]

cheapie mobo's are never a good thing - i'd say rather go for a p45 chipset than a G31, but hey - that's just me. you're buying a ATI Crossfire mobo but you're using a nVidia card?? rather go p45.

 

[Zenbaas]

cheapie mobo's are never a good thing - i'd say rather go for a p45 chipset than a G31, but hey - that's just me. you're buying a ATI Crossfire mobo but you're using a nVidia card?? rather go p45.

At the moment but thats not a certainty just yet

 

[scotty777]

cheapie mobo's are never a good thing - i'd say rather go for a p45 chipset than a G31, but hey - that's just me. you're buying a ATI Crossfire mobo but you're using a nVidia card?? rather go p45.

I dunno, I have the mobo, and it's got crossfire, 4 DDR2 slots, supports 45nm CPU's, and for a pc with a budget it's pretty decent , at least I'm enjoying it.

 

[chickenbeef]

I think that mobo is fine for the average joe. You don't need to get a P45 board if you're not intending on going crossfire/overclocking.

I say save the money and go for the G31 board

 

[Zenbaas]

I think that mobo is fine for the average joe. You don't need to get a P45 board if you're not intending on going crossfire/overclocking.

I say save the money and go for the G31 board

Normally I wouldn't "skimp" on the mobo but from what Ive read it seems quite decent for my purposes. I might even do a slight OC or at least fiddle a little bit.

 

[The_Techie]

Looks like a solid build to me

 

[DJNgoma]

Keep the cheapie mobo. It's not like you want to overclock your girl's rig to kingdom come anyway.

 

[Kuga]

I have that board and cpu you listed. I've OC'd it to 3.6 Ghz, but had to add extra voltage to keep it stable, ran 3D Mark 06. Since I don't like adding extra voltage, I downclocked it to 3.5 Ghz, with stock voltages, stock cooling and it's stable. It's good value for money.

*edit* Adding before and after overclocking 3D Mark 06 results:

Before : http://www.magneticdeath.co.uk/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=45

After : http://www.magneticdeath.co.uk/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=52

I do realize I benched the overclocked CPU on Windows Vista 64 as opposed to XP... I had gotten more RAM and had to install vista 64 bit.

I could probably push it to 4Ghz. But then I'd need an aftermarket cooler.

 

[Zenbaas]

UPDATE:

So I've changed the cpu to a Q8200
Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33Ghz (1333FSB 4MB) R 1,270 excl. R 1,447 incl.

Mobo is the same:P5KPL/1600 ASUS Intel G31

And this case:

And a little aftermarket cooler

Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus

 

[PostmanPot]

The board may have 4 slots, but it's still got a max capacity of 4GB like any G31 board.

I say go for a cheaper G31 board.

 

[Zenbaas]

The board may have 4 slots, but it's still got a max capacity of 4GB like any G31 board.

I say go for a cheaper G31 board.

Yeah thats something I've been struggling to decide on....Like you said the extra 2 slots are wasted on me as the board can take max 4GB and Im already sticking in 2x2GB sticks(with chips both sides). The cheaper G31 boards are all pretty much micro ATX and Im not 100% sure everything will fit onto the little thing (Heatsink, ram etc)
What do you think...?

 

[Zenbaas]

What about this...?
ASUS P5G31D-M Pro
OR this...
XFX G31i

 

[ponder]

The cheaper G31 boards are all pretty much micro ATX and Im not 100% sure everything will fit onto the little thing (Heatsink, ram etc)
What do you think...?

Go for the G31 & save money. Everything will fit, I have a Gigabyte G31 with a CM hyper TX2 which is about the same size.
Will a girl dig that case (looks wise)?

 

[Zenbaas]

Go for the G31 & save money. Everything will fit, I have a Gigabyte G31 with a CM hyper TX2 which is about the same size.
Will a girl dig that case (looks wise)?

Lol case wise it's actually more what I dig than anything else...she actually doesn't care at all