Gift PC - Low Budget

[Tracer9]

I'm building a PC for a family member. He'll mostly use it for internet access and some light gaming (HL2/Source mods). The ideal price point for this project is under $350-400.

I've got two builds going, the first was my original and the second is a suggested build from a friend. The second build goes a little higher in price than I wanted, but might be more worthwhile.
Basically, I'm just looking for tips/advice and to make sure all these parts will work well together. First time I've built a PC on my own...

Processor - AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Orleans 2.4GHz Socket AM2 62W Model
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103631
Or: Intel Dual-Core E2140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116037

Motherboard - MSI K9VGM-V AM2 VIA K8M890 Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130542
Or: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100172-64L Radeon X1550 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814102704
Or: HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PROp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161036&Tpk=HIS%2bHightech%2bH165PRF512N-R%2bRadeon%2bX1650PRO%2b512MB%2b1

Antec earthwatts EA380 ATX12V v2.0 380W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005&Tpk=Antec%2bearthwatts%2bEA380%2b380W

RAM - G.SKILL 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model F2-6400PHU1-1GBNR
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231085
Or: A-DATA Extreme Edition 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211174

Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144122
Or: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231&Tpk=Seagate%2bST380815AS%2b80GB%2b7200%2bRPM%2b8MB %2bCache%2bSATA

Computer Case - COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119115

First total is $312.92
Second total is $367

If I go the route of the E2140, I'd likely overclock it. Would stock cooling be enough to OC to around 2.4-5?

Thanks for any help.

[Ajmukon]

OEMs make better stuff for the same price- it only becomes effective (and cheaper) to build it yourself if you go high end.

saying that..
i would get a slightly better Video card- nothing too fancy, just a x1900 with a 450W- 500W PSU (always good to have some more room)

[Tracer9]

I'm open to OEMs if there is something specific you could recommend for the needs and a similar price.

[Ajmukon]

I can't find one... the cheapest OEMS go is around $400-600

the only change i would make:
SATA HD (SATA is faster and similar in price)(2nd HDD)
Radeon x1900 256MB (or 512MB)
and a Thermaltake 450-550W PSU

INTEL CPU, GIGABYTE, RAM that goes with the GIGABYTE MOBO, and it looks good!

[Tracer9]

I tried a couple of different websites that let you customize the PC, but the average cost and the lack of choices just didn't compare to what I'm trying to build.

The Barracuda HDD I'm going to get is SATA, so that should be okay.
I think I'm pretty much set on the Radeon X1650 Pro. Anything much better than that and it's going to jump out of my price range (already a little over the $400 I wanted to stay under).

One thing that's still got me puzzled, as a new and inexperienced builder is, is there any way to tell from specs if a set of RAM is compatible with a given Mobo? I'm worried about ordering it all and finding out the ram won't work :x

[Ajmukon]

is the RAM DDR2- 800?
any 240 Pin DDR2 800 RAM will work with the Mobo (Gigabyte)

the Radeon x1650 is a good mid range budget card.. so it should work fine ;)
and getting a slightly larger PSU will give some "elbow room" should he chose to upgrade in the future... (and the Gigabyte will support some nice chips)

the only thing i am worried about is the CPU...

i am not sure if the motherboard will support that CPU..

[Tracer9]

Processor - Intel Dual-Core E2140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116037

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Video Card - HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PROp
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161036&Tpk=HIS%2bHightech%2bH165PRF512N-R%2bRadeon%2bX1650PRO%2b512MB%2b1

PSU - nMEDIAPC Mute Power MP-500 ATX12V 500W
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817129003

RAM - A-DATA Extreme Edition 2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211174

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231&Tpk=Seagate%2bST380815AS%2b80GB%2b7200%2bRPM%2b8MB %2bCache%2bSATA

Computer Case - COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119115

That's where I am right now. The motherboard and CPU are both LGA775. The RAM is DDR2 800. I've bumped up the PSU to 500W.

[Ajmukon]

A poor PSU can take out an entire system. I have never heard of "nMediac". You want a PSU that is cheap and good.
this one is a name brand that is trusted on this forum:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153028

~443 total (all other stuff looks good)

the only concerns i have are the PSU and CPU, but i believe it should work "as is" on your list.

and you can decrease the size of the PSU a little; (i would not go below 400W)
it is just that i bigger PSU gives you some "breathing" room if you want to upgrade later on.

[Tracer9]

Good find on that PSU. I'm not very familiar with PSU brands, so I wasn't too sure.
I completely understand about getting a larger PSU to upgrade later, but I think when we come to that point, if we need to upgrade the PSU that will be a more viable option than spending more on it now.
That Case only comes with one fan, but has multiple vents (front and side), so I've added two fans: MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 80mm Case Fan (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835150007).

Thanks for all the help!

[Ajmukon]

Yes- but why spend 43.00 now, and spend another 80.00 later just to upgrade to a better processor? (a 123.00 investment on top of the 80.00) or to get a better Video card?

and i find that a good PSU should last you through several builds, as will a case.
those two components are investments for future builds (buy a better PSU now, and you may not have to buy another one for 2 or 3 more builds)

and the fans- well, fans are fans.. but i would "up" one fan to a larger size- the exhaust fan up to a 120mm if possible.

[Tracer9]

I agree with buy more now, spend less later, and if it were going to be built on my money, I'd probably toss in a 650W or so. I'm still waiting to hear back how much I'm allowed to spend (this is a family project..pooling our money to build this). If I get a little more leeway I'll definitely be going for a larger PSU.

The exhaust fan is already 120mm, I could bump up one of the others there too.

[Ajmukon]

then i would add a intake 120mm fan if possible- the case may not support that..

now- What OS?
XP, Vista (not good for anything BUT gaming), Ubuntu/Lunix (FREE!, but few games)

[Tracer9]

I've got a spare copy of XP home that I bought and opened before I realized it was the wrong version :x
Was just planning on using that.

I'll give the 120mm a try, can always put it on the side if it won't fit in the intake.

[6Sons]

Hey I think the second one seems better .

[Ajmukon]

we have established what he will build.

like i said, the only concern i have is the CPU not being compatible with that motherboard. but this is unlikely. (it does not say it specifically supports the Intel Pentium Dual Core)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000280&Description=pentium+dual+core%5c&name=Intel+Motherboards

but...

[saphalline]

The CPU support (http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2583) is fine.

[Ajmukon]

The CPU support (http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2583) is fine.
Good. I wasn't 100% sure about that.

wow- that supports a lot...