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budget build with a bit more power

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - budget build with a bit more power

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LIML   10-31-2008 at 11:59:09 PM

Hi,

Haven't built a system in a very long time. I will be using the system for web browsing, word processing and spreadsheets (OpenOffice) and MATLAB. I can't measure exactly how much power the matlab stuff will require so the best I can say is that extra power will be more useful to me than an average non-gamer. OS will be some kind of Linux.

This is my design (prices excluding tax and shipping from newegg)

$60 APEVIA X-QPACK-NW-BK/420 Black Aluminum 1.0 w/ ABS plastic front panel MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811144162

$150 Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009127

$57 Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2K2/4GR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134730

$53 ASUS P5KPL-CM LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131288

$84 Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116072

$50 DVD + HD bought from friend for (360GB Maxtor)

Total cost including tax and shipping is $512.

I figure the E5200 is cheap and powerful enough running linux. I would consider E7200 for $40 more. Mobo is cheap (aimed at corporate users) and since I don't plan to OC it looks like a good deal. Also I like microATX and space is a factor. I believe the RAM is the fastest supported by the mobo. Monitor is a good deal and the case power supply is reported to be reliable on newegg.

Mostly I would appreciate comments on any obvious problems, issues installing Linux on this system, whether it needs a BIOS flash and whether to use the E7200.

Cheers :-)

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ilovebarny   11-01-2008 at 02:12:05 AM
- 1 +

well it looks like this metlab program will be the most demanding program you run. i would suggest stepping up to the E7200 just cause it is faster. this metlab program is probably optimized to run on four cores, in which case it would be better to get the intel Q6600. you can probably find out metlabs website.

Reply to ilovebarny
LIML   11-01-2008 at 03:10:48 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking about the Q6600. Do you know if the mobo/ram/psu would be a bottleneck if I was using the Q6600? If it only took a change of processor I'd be willing to spend $100 more for the increased speed, but if I needed to spend $150+ more for a better mobo and maybe power supply I'd just stick to the above (with the E7200).

Matlab is optimized for 4 cores, I didn't realize that before.

Reply to LIML
Slomo4shO   11-01-2008 at 03:20:26 AM
- 2 +

You should be fine upgrading to a Q6600 with the current mobo and psu

Are you planning on using on-board graphics or recycling your old card?


Message edited by Slomo4shO on 11-01-2008 at 03:23:05 AM
Reply to Slomo4shO
ilovebarny   11-01-2008 at 03:23:45 AM
- 0 +

1+ slomo4sh0 great advice.

Reply to ilovebarny
LIML   11-01-2008 at 03:48:26 AM
- 0 +

I'm planning on using the onboard graphics. That's one reason I like the original card, though getting a cheap video card is not a big deal

Reply to LIML
LIML   11-01-2008 at 10:57:26 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for advice, I ordered the parts today. Will post again when system is running.

Reply to LIML
LIML   11-15-2008 at 09:29:23 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for the advice, the system works. Ended up installing Vista Business because I couldn't figure out how to install the ethernet driver in Linux. Vista runs well, at first the LAN worked intermittently but now it's fine. Internet explorer also hangs but Mozilla is ok. Only other problems were mobo only has one IDE port (and one Floppy drive port!) which might be a problem for some, and case power LED doesn't fit mobo connection.

Cheers everyone!

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