Building a new comp. Help?

[Teuthida]

My computer of 8 years blew up today, well I think the power supply did (smells like burnt death). Going to try to salvage the hard drive.

I was looking at computer reviews and was torn between Dell Vostro 460 (http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/vostro-460/fs) and Micro Express MicroFlex 25B (https://www.microexpress.net/prodcustom.asp?linenumber=206). Both had similar specs and prices how I configured them but then I got to the shipping on the MicroFlex...that was a lot. So I went to Dell and found it wouldn't ship until the 17th which does not work for me.

So I basically took most of the MicroFlex parts and found them on newegg along with whatever else I needed and got the attached pic (had to use MS Paint for the first time in a long time for that.) Anything look glaringly wrong and incompatible or have an idea for a better part? This will save me a few hundred bucks compared to the pre-built comps and arrive pretty fast. Noticed for the motherboard a lot of folks saying it was DOA...well maybe not this pro model....only reason I went for that over the ones offered on micro express. Still, everything came out cheaper overall. Trying to build something that will last just as long as my last or longer.

PS: I don't know a damn thing about graphics cards...just went with the lower end one from the MicroFlex.
PPS: And not shown: your run of the mill DVD Burner.

[manasecret]

I made the shopping cart and copy and pasted to get the links to make this easier for others.

First: Don't forget Windows and DVD-ROM, if needed.

Second: I recommend spending another $15-$30 and upgrading the video card. That one is way obsolete. This one for example: [/URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161315 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161315If) If you don't like ATI, this is a good chart that shows the best video cards for the money. [URL]http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card-game-performance-radeon-hd-6670,2935-7.html Use it to find an equivalent GeForce.

Third: That CPU is overkill and a very easy way to save $100-$150. Check this similar chart for best CPUs for the money. I recommend i5 to save some bucks.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-cpu,2951-5.html

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<dl><dd> Western Digital RE4 WD5003ABYX 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136697) </dd><dd>Item #: N82E16822136697</dd><dd>Return Policy: Standard Return Policy (http://www.newegg.com/HelpInfo/ReturnPolicy.aspx#44)</dd><dd class="select">
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<dl><dd> ASUS EN210 SILENT/DI/1GD3/V2(LP) GeForce 210 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Ready Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121422) </dd><dd>Item #: N82E16814121422</dd><dd>Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy (http://www.newegg.com/HelpInfo/ReturnPolicy.aspx#30)</dd><dd class="select"> <dl><dt>
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<dl><dd> APEX AL-D500EXP 500W ATX12V Power Supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817154026) </dd><dd>Item #: N82E16817154026</dd><dd>Return Policy: Standard Return Policy (http://www.newegg.com/HelpInfo/ReturnPolicy.aspx#44)</dd><dd class="select"> <dl><dt>
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<dl><dd> G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311) </dd><dd>Item #: N82E16820231311</dd><dd>Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy (http://www.newegg.com/HelpInfo/ReturnPolicy.aspx#41)</dd><dd class="select">
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<dl><dd> ASUS P8P67-M PRO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131707) </dd><dd>Item #: N82E16813131707</dd><dd>Return Policy: Standard Return Policy (http://www.newegg.com/HelpInfo/ReturnPolicy.aspx#44)</dd><dd class="select"> <dl><dt>
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<dd>
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[Teuthida]

Thanks very much for your help. Yeah, after a bit I realized I would be fine with the i5...and then I kept trying to get the price lower. Been at this all day. Long while since I had to build a comp. Feels like I would have buyer's remorse if I went with a pre-built more expensive one.


Is 500w a sufficient power supply? Had switched to a 550w of the same brand as the case (would fit better?) but not sure if needed. A bit more money.

Got it down to about $600 now not including the video card. 4GB ram instead of 8, can get a cheaper wifi adapter at amazon (also have an old still usable one but overheats quite frequently) when I buy the PATA adapter to get at my old HD. Iffy on the motherboard but haven't seen any with reviews that didn't have some end up being DOA, so will risk it. Seems fine if it actually works. Can it be tested before installing the cpu or would I not be able to tell?

EDIT: Nm, on the power supply. Newegg has a handy calculator. Would only need 345w based on what I'm getting so far.

And going with your video card recommendation. Compared a few more and that was definitely the best for the price I found. Thanks.

[manasecret]

Motherboard: I understand the fear of DOA motherboards. The idea of doing all the work to put the computer together only to find the motherboard is DOA is horrifying... :) My feeling, though, is that all motherboards have some DOAs. You just go with the one that seems to have (going by reviews) the lowest ratio of DOAs and hope for the best.

That is a good question about testing if it's DOA... there might be some tricks on Google, but I THINK you'd have to plug at least the CPU, RAM, and videocard (assuming no on-board video) to find out. That's not THAT bad to be able to test before screwing everything down.

I bought this mobo for the same reason (overall low ratio of DOAs) AND it had an IDE port for my old hard drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131707. But I do recommend getting a new hard drive if yours is eight years old. They don't last forever.

RAM: I think 4 GB is the way to go, though the one you chose initially was a really good deal. If you do get 4 GB, make sure to get a single stick of 4 GB instead of 2 x 2GB, so you can expand to the full 16 GB RAM later without having to throw out the old sticks. Actually, your initial mobo says it supports a maximum of 32 GB, so I'd recommend getting 1 x 8 GB stick if you get that mobo but those aren't available...

[Teuthida]

Man that was a terrifying experience. Got pretty confusing hooking up the power supply and front panel stuff and I had to remove the motherboard about three times for dumb mistakes. Then when I first turned it on only the fans spun for a few seconds, except the cpu one. At this point I was wishing I got the dell after all. The wires around the cpu fan were right up against the blades preventing it from spinning so I fixed that and then all the fans spun for a couple secs. Turned out I needed another power supply plug to attach to the motherboard. I thought I had needed an adapter since it didn't look like it matched up exactly (and read conflicting stuff about it online with folks having the same problem saying it wasn't required)...but it did fit. And then, bam, everything worked. And I even got my old hard drive up and running (transferred the important stuff over but pretty cool that I can just use it as an extra one now). My previous comp was a barebones shuttle so the "building" was pretty much just plopping in the cpu, hard drive, and disc drive. Phew, me am happy. Can finally get back to work.

PS: :( I got two 2GB. Was half the price for half the ram. Bought before you posted. Still have two more ports. Can upgrade to 12 and then maybe 16 down the line replacing what I have.

[manasecret]

Awesome! Hahaha yes building a computer is a harrowing experience for me as well. It always seems like it doesn't work the first time you turn it on, but has always turned out to be that I didn't have something plugged in right. Ha and yes, the power supply plugs and the front panel USB/audio ports/etc. are the most annoying part. Though the case and mobo manufacturers have gotten a lot smarter about making the front panel plugs much easier to figure out. I'm confused though by your shuttle comment. So you used your old case?

No worries about the RAM, the worst that will happen is that maybe you'll want 16 GB in eight years and you'll lose the ~$50 you spent on the original sticks.