[eagle99]

Hello.
I am helping a friend upgrade their 6 year old computer.
The money is tight so I would like to go with an older (not too old though!) Intel cpu .
I need a micro motherboard (again an older one if it saves $$) with built in video/sound and the ability to put in a more powerful video card later.
The board also needs firewire (for video transfers).
The system will need economical memory (2 gig?)

I will use the current Hard drive, case, monitor, dvd, etc. their dad will flip for vista.

I appreciate any help on this system.

Thanks.

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I will use the current Hard drive, case, monitor, dvd, etc. their dad will flip for vista.

Tell me all the parts you are going to reuse, and their makes and models.

Around how much are you willing to spend? You are only going to upgrade the motherboard and CPU, right?

[edge2022]

I will use the current Hard drive, case, monitor, dvd, etc. their dad will flip for vista.

Tell me all the parts you are going to reuse, and their makes and models.

Around how much are you willing to spend? You are only going to upgrade the motherboard and CPU, right?

[eagle99]

Here the parts I will keep:

APEVIA X-QPACK-NW-BK/420 Black Aluminum 1.0 w/ ABS plastic front panel MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Retail
Optical Drive
Hard Drive
keyboard/mouse

I am hoping that by keeping a little of the current components I could make this build for about $200-250.
I need the motherboard, cpu and Memory.

I am hoping I could get a bit older cpu for around $90-100. The motherboard for around $60 and Memory $40?

Can this be done for that price?
thanks.

[edge2022]

ASUS P5QPL-VM EPU : http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813131387
For $80
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 at 2.8Ghz: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115206
Can be overclocked to around 3.3Ghz... for $110

WINTEC AMPX 2GB RAM stick (DDR2 800): http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820161182
Buy another one down the road for 4GB of RAM. $25

That totals for $215... you can spend the rest for a better CPU or motherboard, or a CPU cooler.
Like this one: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835186134
Also remember to get the thermal paste: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16835100007
Or this one: http://www.newegg.co.....pk=OCZ freeze

[stettybet0]

Just because the budget is $250 max doesn't mean you need to look for ways to use all $250. If it can be done for less, it should be done for less!

Assuming this computer will be used for basic use (web browsing, video watching, music listening, word processing, etc.), I think you can put it together for about $150.

Intel E5200 - $63
Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L - $65
Mushkin 2GB - $25 (after $5 rebate)
Total: $153

Note that the downside is that this motherboard doesn't have a header for an IEEE 1394/Firewire port. To get this feature on a mATX motherboard, you will have to pay more:

Foxconn G45M-S - $90

It would be cheaper to just get a PCI IEEE 1394/Firewire card - $13.

Now that you're about $50-$100 under budget, the first thing I'd recommend "splurging" on would be a new PSU. The PSU included with that case is of poor quality. You can get a much better PSU for $40 (after rebate): OCZ OCZ500MXSP.

[eagle99]

Thanks for the replies and time I appreciate it.
I guess there are not that many micro boards to choose from.

The computer will be used for some web design, including photoshop. There won't be any major gaming be done but there will be some video editing.

I like the idea of the board having a header for an IEEE 1394/Firewire port. This way I could utilize the Firewire port in the front off the case and not use up one of the few slots on the board.

The board also needs to have both PATA & SATA, I don't think the Foxconn has that.

How different are the Intel E5200 vs Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 at 2.8G?
Is there some type of comparison you give me?

If I go with a less powerful cpu perhaps I should get a mb with a better on-board video (until the money comes to install a good video card). Do the boards mentioned above come close in graphic power to what is needed for basic gaming? I really don't know what the standards are.

Thanks for all the help.

[TheWhiteRose000]

Here the parts I will keep:

APEVIA X-QPACK-NW-BK/420 Black Aluminum 1.0 w/ ABS plastic front panel MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Retail
Optical Drive
Hard Drive
keyboard/mouse

I am hoping that by keeping a little of the current components I could make this build for about $200-250.
I need the motherboard, cpu and Memory.

I am hoping I could get a bit older cpu for around $90-100. The motherboard for around $60 and Memory $40?

Can this be done for that price?
thanks.

using Newegg.com look for a board that supports 775 socket,.
Perferibly with free shipping.

Then if your just upgrading a little go with a celeron processor for about 40.
They can be OC to 3.0 gighz without any serious damage.
Dual core if you want it.

:3

Thats what I recommend you could find something nice counting both for about 90.

[edge2022]

The only real differences from the E7400 and the E5200 is the stock frequency (2.8Ghz and 2.5Ghz), the E7400 has 1mb more L2 cache as well. The E7400 also has a faster FSB speed.

You can go with the Gigabyte, Asus, or Foxconn board... they are all good.
You might want to go with the E5200 to save some money, and any RAM module suggested will work fine.

The mobos suggested have enough graphics power to play basic flash and 2-D games... maybe some low-end 3-D games. What are you planning on playing?

As stettybet said, you should get a new PSU as that will make your system more stable and reliable.

If you got the E5200, Gigabyte board, Mushkin RAM, and the OCZ PSU... you would have spent $193.
Leaving around $60 for a graphics card.

You should get either a Radeon HD 4650 or 4670
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814125253
This card will push you budget a little: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814125277
If you are going NVIDIA, then a 9500GT or 9600GSO will do it.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814121320
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130378

Those cards are just a couple... look around yourself and read some reviews to find out which card is the best for you.

[stettybet0]

Given the criteria necessary for the motherboard you want (mATX, IEEE 1394/Firewire, PATA, SATA), the best fit is the Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H. The main downside to it (compared to the Gigabyte board I recommended earlier) is that it has much weaker onboard video.

As edge2022 said, you'd be able to play flash games (flash only uses the CPU), and probably most games that are at least 5 years old, albeit on very low settings. For anything more than that, you'd need to get a discrete video card.