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Written by: George Ou 4/29/2008 2:02 AM
It's been a while since I've put out a PC build list so I'm going to start with a value edition with an embedded NVIDIA graphics motherboard and Intel dual-core CPU. Note that this is more than powerful enough for any media center or office computer and even some casual low-end graphics gaming. It's a nice small computer that's designed to be very quiet and fast. Component Price MSI P6NGM-FIH (NVIDIA GeForce 7150) HDMI Micro ATX 84 Intel Pentium E2180 Allendale 2GHz dual-core 70 2 GB DDR2-800 DIMM 41 Cooler Master Elite 340 - SMALL MicroATX tower (in store pickup) 40 FSP300-60GLN 300W efficient power supply 44 Western Digital 500 GB SATA hard drive (lowest power consumption) 90 LG 20X DVD burner, SATA 32 Sub total (including shipping) 401
It's been a while since I've put out a PC build list so I'm going to start with a value edition with an embedded NVIDIA graphics motherboard and Intel dual-core CPU. Note that this is more than powerful enough for any media center or office computer and even some casual low-end graphics gaming. It's a nice small computer that's designed to be very quiet and fast.
Later this week I'll put up a more powerful value system that can game well on any LCD up to 22 inches.
10 comments so far...
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer i would like to know where your price listings come from
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer
i would like to know where your price listings come from
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer T-Bone - if you click on the prices, it will take you to the Web site George got the price from. :)J.Ja
T-Bone - if you click on the prices, it will take you to the Web site George got the price from. :)J.Ja
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer Hi George,where did you find the power consumption figures for the HDD? Or did you just assume that from WD's website? Just curious as I haven't seen power consumption data for HDD anywhere yet.Mikey
Hi George,where did you find the power consumption figures for the HDD? Or did you just assume that from WD's website? Just curious as I haven't seen power consumption data for HDD anywhere yet.Mikey
No, I actually benchmarked that hard drive No, I actually benchmarked that hard drive.http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=828It really does cut power consumption in half. Normal 3.5" HDDs have 8/14 watt idle/peak power consumption. These Western Digital green power drives consume about 4/7.5 watts.
No, I actually benchmarked that hard drive
No, I actually benchmarked that hard drive.http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=828It really does cut power consumption in half. Normal 3.5" HDDs have 8/14 watt idle/peak power consumption. These Western Digital green power drives consume about 4/7.5 watts.
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer hah thnx jmjames i didnt even see that
hah thnx jmjames i didnt even see that
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer I really enjoyed your BiY projects from ZD, but when I searched ZDnet for the nifty ones you did with the poor man's all in one, I couldn't find it any more. Could you post them again in your new digs (very nice, cleaner interface, BTW), just for reference's sake?Richard+
I really enjoyed your BiY projects from ZD, but when I searched ZDnet for the nifty ones you did with the poor man's all in one, I couldn't find it any more. Could you post them again in your new digs (very nice, cleaner interface, BTW), just for reference's sake?Richard+
Links to old all-in-ones http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=790http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=901http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=971I'm working on a much nicer one that I hope I'll be able to take retail.
Links to old all-in-ones
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=790http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=901http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=971I'm working on a much nicer one that I hope I'll be able to take retail.
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer George, I'm in the middle of helping a co-worker build a $400-500 computer, and I'm a bit curious why you'd choose the E2180 and the Nvidia chipset over an X2 4800+ and a 780g motherboard.
George, I'm in the middle of helping a co-worker build a $400-500 computer, and I'm a bit curious why you'd choose the E2180 and the Nvidia chipset over an X2 4800+ and a 780g motherboard.
Re: Build list for a nice $400 computer Thanks for the URLs! I look forward to the next one, too!
Thanks for the URLs! I look forward to the next one, too!
Scruggs, the 780g is a great chipset from ATI/AMD, but the CPUs are weaker from AMD Scruggs, the 780g is a great chipset from ATI/AMD, but the CPUs are weaker from AMD. AMD at this point is completely out-classed by Intel's 65nm technology on power consumption and overclockability and Intel's 45nm has PEAK power consumption lower than AMD's IDLE power consumption.AMD's 780g is a great chipset for everything but storage as it lacks RAID-5 capabilities. Couple that with the weaker CPU offerings and that's why I'm sticking with Intel CPU plus NVIDIA integrated graphics. If I wanted a really nice system, it'd be Intel 45nm CPU plus NVIDIA discrete graphics and that's the next build list I'm putting up.If you don’t mind a little extra power consumption, you don’t mind having no RAID-5 capability, and you don’t mind weak overclocking, AMD X2 plus 780g is a very good solution that I would recommend.
Scruggs, the 780g is a great chipset from ATI/AMD, but the CPUs are weaker from AMD
Scruggs, the 780g is a great chipset from ATI/AMD, but the CPUs are weaker from AMD. AMD at this point is completely out-classed by Intel's 65nm technology on power consumption and overclockability and Intel's 45nm has PEAK power consumption lower than AMD's IDLE power consumption.AMD's 780g is a great chipset for everything but storage as it lacks RAID-5 capabilities. Couple that with the weaker CPU offerings and that's why I'm sticking with Intel CPU plus NVIDIA integrated graphics. If I wanted a really nice system, it'd be Intel 45nm CPU plus NVIDIA discrete graphics and that's the next build list I'm putting up.If you don’t mind a little extra power consumption, you don’t mind having no RAID-5 capability, and you don’t mind weak overclocking, AMD X2 plus 780g is a very good solution that I would recommend.
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