Desktop replacement under $200

[joeperson]

I'll be shelving my full up server project for the time being but so I don't get bored I figure I'll turn to another pc in need of replacement.

Scavenging working parts from the original I won't need a Monitor, hard drive, dvd, keyboard, mouse, printer, or speakers. Barebone's systems don't seem to start at anything less then 300 and some of the refurbished ones I've seen are only slightly better then the system I intend to replace.

Here's the parts I've pieced together.

Apex DM-317 mATX HTPC Case Silver Black 1X5.25 1X3.5 1X3.5INT 275W Low Profile ASUS M2N68-AM SE2 mATX AM2+ DDR2 1XPCI-E16 1XPCI-E1 2XPCI SATA VGA Video
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core Processor AM2 2.7GHZ 2X512KB 65W 65NM Retail Box
Crucial Rendition 2GB 1X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 240PIN DIMM Memory

Can any one do it cheaper then $190 or see some piece I've overlooked?

[Realityshift]

Drop the 5200+ for an 5050E or a 4050E, maybe even a 7750 instead?

[joeperson]

5050E $74.99
7750 $70.12
5200+ $65.98
4050E $39.99(oem)+$10.49(cooler) = $50.48 + extra shipping incurred buying from two different places.

Most of the savings on the original set was gained through ncix sales/price matching. Checking the difference when considering shipping I'd save $1.79. Can you find a cheaper source?

[Realityshift]

the 5050E and 4050E are newer processors then the 5200+, they have lower TDP so take alot less to cool them as well as less power which is why I sudgested them. I had an 5200+ and honestly I was less then impressed with it. I would spend the $5 extra and get the 7750 personally, then again I would personally be building an E5200 machine instead...


NCIX.com - Buy EVGA nForce 610I GF7050 LGA775 mATX DDR2 1PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 2PCI Video Sound LAN Motherboard - 112-CK-NF70-TR In Canada. $62

NCIX.com - Buy Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 Dual Core Processor LGA775 2.5GHZ 800FSB 2MB Retail Box - BX80571E5200 In Canada. $85

Yeah its going to cost a tad more, but the E5200 is a MUCH better CPU then the x2 5200+, its AMD competition is the 7750, and the 7750 falls well short of the E5200. If you wanna stick with AMD go with the 7750 or the 5050e/4050e, youll be much happier.

[joeperson]

Things to think about. Seems the difference between the first set I posted and a set based on an e5200 is pretty minimal, I'll probably end up changing it.

get the 4200+ and oc it to 6000 speeds...it can be done with zero bios mods and its stable.

[joeperson]

So to update things a little ncix had an amd processor/motherboard combo for about the price of a low end processor/motherboard.

nGear TK-8330B 16IN mATX Case Black 4X5.25 2X3.5 5X3.5INT 450W Front USB
Crucial Rendition 2GB 1X2GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800
AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Dual Core Processor Socket AM2+ 2.7GHZ
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H AMD780G mATX AM2+/AM3

The case is nice for what it is but the bundled psu (atx form factor) is too loud. It seems like the 80mm fan is either always on full or goes from noisy to loud.

I'm now looking for a psu would support 1-2 cd/dvd and 1 hdd as well as the motherboard processor posted above. Looking in the $50-80 range there seems to be some five or six possible options. Can anyone recommend a low watt silent psu?

[stoanee]

I second the..NCIX.com - Buy AMD Power of Black Bundle Deal Athlon X2 7750 2.7GHZ & Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H DDR2 Motherboard - 7750-GA-MA78GM-US2H In Canada. Free shipping for entire order!!

and offer the...NCIX.com - Buy Seasonic SS-350ET 350W ATX12V 20/24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 80PLUS 120MM Fan OEM - SS-350ET In Canada.

[joeperson]

No more free games with the bundle though. I noticed that psu but the price concerns me. It's almost too cheap. Lack of a power cable isn't a problem though. Have you used it in something you've built?

[3 of 7]

Here's another excellent low power psu. I've never had a Sparkle (fortron) fail and these ones are dead quiet.
NCIX.com - Buy Sparkle Power SPI 350W ATX12V 2.0 24/20PINS Power Supply W/ 120MM Ball Bearing Fan - ATX-350-PN-B In Canada.