Matx new build help needed

Mlingard · 18 Aug 2007 at 20:43

Hi all over the next month or so i am trying to put together a new matx case to use as a second pc with my samsung hdtv , i dont want to spend too much on it so i thought a athlon64 x2 am2 would be a good choice .

CASE = i dont know which one to buy so some help is defo needed here , again i dont want to spend a fortune .

CPU = AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5200+ 2.60GHz (Socket AM2) - Retail seems a good one for the money .

MEMORY = havent got a clue what to buy so please help .

MOTHERBOARD = Abit AN-M2 Micro ATX (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

GFX = OcUK ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

I will sort a dvd writer and os out and other bits so just need help getting the main components for it .

I posted this in the general section forgetting we have a small form factor section so here goes and if you think a intel setup would be better then spec me one but i am not looking to pay more than about 350 for the components i listed .

Any help appreciated cheers mick .

Tute · 18 Aug 2007 at 23:47

Mlingard said:
Hi all over the next month or so i am trying to put together a new matx case to use as a second pc with my samsung hdtv , i dont want to spend too much on it so i thought a athlon64 x2 am2 would be a good choice .

That's a fair idea, the Athlon AM2 processors are often ideal for HTPCs due to their low price. The Conroe for the same price as yours (£85) is the E4400, which, with overclocking would leave the 5200+ in the dust. However, i'm guessing you don't want to go that route, so at stock, the 5200 is the better CPU.

CASE = i dont know which one to buy so some help is defo needed here , again i dont want to spend a fortune.

There's the Lian-Li V300, which is a nice tidy looking case, or if you're prepared to shop around there's my favourite range, the Silverstone Sugo range. The SG01e is a nice case with good cooling, but the SG03, which I have, is more of a "tower" design than the SG01e, and in my opinion, has far better acoustics, airflow, and design.

MEMORY = havent got a clue what to buy so please help.

Nothing special needed here if you're not overclocking, so something like the 2GB GeIL Value DDR2 kit would be perfect.

I will sort a dvd writer and os out and other bits so just need help getting the main components for it.

The Samsung SATA DVD-RW drive comes HIGHLY recommended here, it's a shorter drive so would work a treat in a mATX case. For operating system, well - Vista Home Premium x64 should suit you right down to the ground.

I posted this in the general section forgetting we have a small form factor section so here goes and if you think a intel setup would be better then spec me one but i am not looking to pay more than about 350 for the components i listed.

As I said, unless you're prepared to overclock then the AMD setup is a better choice here. It's not like blistering speed is essential for an HTPC anyway, that setup will run most games available very well at reasonable resolutions.

As a sidenote, unless you go for a Shuttle then you're going to need to add a PSU to the cost, something like the Corsair HX520 would do fine, it's a very high quality supply. The microATX cases will take any ATX supply anyway.

Mlingard · 19 Aug 2007 at 10:03

Thanks for your help Tute

i did see the lian-li v300 and a review of it looks good to me but now you recommended it i think i will get one of them .

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 "LGA775 Allendale" 2.00GHz (800FSB) - Retail is this the cpu you was talking about ?? if i could use the stock cooler for this and still get a decent overclock without it getting too hot then i would be more likely to buy this than the amd , lets say i go the intel route what mobo and memory ??

Components sorted

Lian-Li PC-V300 Aluminum Micro ATX Mini Tower Case - Silver or Black

OcUK ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

Samsung SH-S203BEBN 20x20 DVD±RW Dual Layer Serial ATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Edition DVD - OEM - 1Pk (66I-00788)

Thanks for the help so far .

Tute · 19 Aug 2007 at 11:36

Okay, well, i'd take either the Athlon X2 5600+ AM2 with the Abit AN-M2 board, or an E4400 with either the Asus P5K-VM or Gigabyte G33M-DS2R (both solid, good overclocking boards).

If you were up for it, you could even consider popping into the MM, E6600s are going for close to your budget, and they'd be much faster than the 5600+ even at stock.

If you do go for the Intel system and overclocking, i'd recommend going for slightly faster RAM, maybe the GeIL PC6400 ULL 2GB kit as opposed to the Value kit.

Beyond that, it's just a case of adding a HDD, PSU, keyboard, mouse, and CPU cooler, depending on how much you want to spend.

The PSU I recommended above is a really top quality model, I recommend those no matter what the system as you can always take it with you if you ever upgraded in the future. I mean take my build for example - I doubt it even breaks 350W at load, yet the PSU can probably handle 550W continuous.

Mlingard · 19 Aug 2007 at 14:55

Is there much difference for overclocking between these 2 ??

Gigabyte GA G33M-S2 Micro ATX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R Micro ATX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

because i might be able to buy the S2 board from someone .

joeyjojo · 19 Aug 2007 at 15:18

Rumour has it the D stands for durable. The DS is meant to have better quality capacitors. Probably very little in it.

Mlingard · 19 Aug 2007 at 15:35

The guy with the S2 board has sold it now anyway

i think i might just go for a Athlon X2 5600+ AM2 or quicker model and not bother with the overclocking i am sure it would be plenty quick enough for my needs anyhow .

Tute · 19 Aug 2007 at 15:37

Mlingard said:
The guy with the S2 board has sold it now anyway i think i might just go for a Athlon X2 5600+ AM2 or quicker model and not bother with the overclocking i am sure it would be plenty quick enough for my needs anyhow .

Yup, I doubt you'd notice the difference in most games, it's not like you're loading it with a pair of 8800GTXes!

Mlingard · 19 Aug 2007 at 16:03

Tute said:
it's not like you're loading it with a pair of 8800GTXes!

Now that would be a uber system

thanks for the help again i will start buying some of the components next week although it will take some time before i get everything .

Tute · 19 Aug 2007 at 16:16

Mlingard said:
Now that would be a uber system thanks for the help again i will start buying some of the components next week although it will take some time before i get everything .

It IS possible!

You'd have to go Socket 939 though.

Mlingard · 19 Aug 2007 at 17:44

Tute said:
It IS possible!

You'd have to go Socket 939 though.

every game 100000000000000000000000000000000000 FPS

.

I am the worst person for making my mind up i am tempted by the dark side of the force and not sure if i should go intel core 2 , darth Tute says it is your destiny

.

Tute · 19 Aug 2007 at 20:30

It's only worth it if you're going to overclock.

If I was you i'd stick with the AM2 system. It's really quite quick for the price, and you certainly won't be disappointed.

The Intel option relies on getting a good overclock. Which it probably will, but I wouldn't say it's 100%.

Or, a nice Socket 939 processor, the EVGA SLi board, and a pair of 8800GTX cards. It's your call.

Mlingard · 19 Aug 2007 at 20:34

Got a psu sorted from the MM and also looking to buy a E6600 off there which will save some money .

Tute · 19 Aug 2007 at 20:39

Nice PSU as well, just seen the thread. Modular is highly recommended in mATX cases!

Mlingard · 19 Aug 2007 at 21:13

Tute said:
Nice PSU as well, just seen the thread. Modular is highly recommended in mATX cases!

I know its not a new psu but it is a good un now i have to decide between to sellers of E6600 cpu's

.