System Summaries
With the Intel and AMD options, we end up with four configurations. The true budget setups will use the cheapest components in each area, while the upgraded alternatives will use the more expensive components. If you only want a few of the upgrades, it is also possible to come up with something in between, but we're only providing the maximum and minimum cost budget configurations.
AMD Budget Summary
| Budget AMD Sempron System |
| Hardware |
Recommended Component |
Price |
| Processor |
AMD Sempron 2800+ 1.6 GHz 256KB L2 |
$89 |
| Motherboard |
EPoX EP-8KDA3J |
$74 |
| Memory |
1x512MB PQI POWER Series CL2.5 |
$51 |
| Video Card |
MSI Radeon 9550 128MB DDR 128-bit 250/400 |
$67 |
| Hard Drive |
Hitachi 80 GB 7200 RPM 8MB SATA |
$60 |
| Optical Drive |
NEC DVD+RW 3520A |
$57 |
| Case |
Rosewill ATX with 400W PSU model TU-155 |
$59 |
| Display |
Samsung 793DF/793MB |
$145 |
| Speakers |
Creative Labs SBS240 2.0 |
$17 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Logitech Internet Pro Keyboard and Mouse |
$25 |
| Bottom Line |
|
$644 |
AMD Upgraded Summary
| Upgraded AMD Athlon 64 System |
| Hardware |
Recommended Component |
Price |
| Processor |
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.8 GHz 512KB L2 90nm socket 939 |
$146 |
| Motherboard |
Chaintech VNF4 Socket 939 |
$91 |
| Memory |
2x512MB PDP/Patriot PC3200, Model PDC1G3200LLK |
$131 |
| Video Card |
Leadtek GeForce 6600 128-bit 128MB PCIe 300/550 |
$109 |
| Hard Drive |
Seagate 160 GB 7200 RPM 8MB SATA |
$94 |
| Optical Drive |
NEC DVD+RW 3520A |
$57 |
| Floppy Drive |
NEC, Sony, TEAC, Samsung, etc. |
$8 |
| Case |
Antec SLK1650B with 350W PSU |
$65 |
| Power Supply |
Enermax Noisetaker 370W model EG375P-VE-SFMA |
$51 |
| Display |
Rosewill R710E 17" 16ms LCD |
$210 |
| Speakers |
Logitech X-530 5.1 or Z-3i 2.1 Speakers |
$57 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard and Wheel Mouse Optical |
$36 |
| Bottom Line |
|
$1055 |
Intel Budget Summary
| Budget Intel Celeron System |
| Hardware |
Recommended Component |
Price |
| Processor |
Intel Celeron D 325J 2.53 GHz 256K L2 Cache |
$84 |
| Motherboard |
EPoX EP-5EPAJ 915P |
$82 |
| Memory |
2x256MB GEIL Ultra Value 2.5-4-4-7 |
$62 |
| Video Card |
Leadtek GeForce 6200TC 64-bit, 64MB (256 shared) |
$71 |
| Hard Drive |
HItachi 80 GB 7200 RPM 8MB SATA |
$60 |
| Optical Drive |
NEC DVD+RW 3520A |
$57 |
| Case |
Rosewill ATX with 400W PSU model TU-155 |
$59 |
| Display |
Samsung 793DF/793MB |
$145 |
| Speakers |
Creative Labs SBS240 2.0 |
$17 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Logitech Internet Pro Keyboard and Mouse |
$25 |
| Bottom Line |
|
$662 |
Intel Upgraded Summary
| Upgraded Intel Pentium 4 System |
| Hardware |
Recommended Component |
Price |
| Processor |
Intel Pentium 4 520 2.8 GHz 1024K L2 Cache |
$152 |
| Motherboard |
Gigabyte GA-8I915G Pro i915G |
$99 |
| Memory |
2x512MB PDP/Patriot PC3200, Model PDC1G3200LLK |
$131 |
| Video Card |
Leadtek GeForce 6600 128-bit 128MB PCIe 300/550 |
$109 |
| Hard Drive |
Seagate 160 GB 7200 RPM 8MB SATA |
$94 |
| Optical Drive |
NEC DVD+RW 3520A |
$57 |
| Floppy Drive |
NEC, Sony, TEAC, Samsung, etc. |
$8 |
| Case |
Antec SLK1650B with 350W PSU |
$65 |
| Power Supply |
Enermax Noisetaker 370W model EG375P-VE-SFMA |
$51 |
| Display |
Rosewill R710E 17" 16ms LCD |
$210 |
| Speakers |
Logitech X-530 5.1 or Z-3i 2.1 Speakers |
$57 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard and Wheel Mouse Optical |
$36 |
| Bottom Line |
|
$1069 |
You'll still need an Operating System as well, unless you plan on running some free OS such as one of the many flavors of Linux. XP Home runs about $90 for an OEM version, which you can pick up from most online sites if you buy qualifying hardware, while XP Professional will run about $135. The Professional version includes a few networking and security extras that we like to have, but most people will be fine with Home. Running on older version of Windows is also possible, but we don't recommend it due to outdated drivers and other usability enhancements that are only available with XP. There's no point in buying new hardware and then using an old OS, especially considering that XP itself is now over three years old.
Conclusion
That takes care of our current recommendations for the Budget to Mid-Range segments. The difference in performance and upgradeability from the base recommendations to the upgraded alternatives is pretty dramatic. We'll be taking a look at the Mid-Range to High-End price segment in our next Guide, which should cover all the options from the budget systems up through fire-breathing SLI monsters. As always, questions or comments are welcome.
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59 Comments
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JarredWalton - Monday, June 13, 2005 - link
58 - ??? The Mid-Range to High-End went up a couple weeks ago. Next update in a couple more weeks, I guess. :Dhttp://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=242...
SAV602 - Thursday, June 9, 2005 - link
This month?spartacvs - Saturday, May 14, 2005 - link
Yepeee!JarredWalton - Saturday, May 14, 2005 - link
It's coming soon! :pspartacvs - Thursday, May 12, 2005 - link
Hey guys, it's time for a new system guide :)TrogdorJW - Friday, March 25, 2005 - link
Sorry - ignore that last post, but I guess my comments name and pass don't work in the forums. Just wanted to check. :)TrogdorJW - Friday, March 25, 2005 - link
Testing....JarredWalton - Thursday, March 24, 2005 - link
jwf1776 sent me a reply email which updates the situation. I'll just post the text with links here:------------------
I don't know why I sent you the link the to enermax site, because the site does make it seem like its atx 2.03 ... but it's all lies...
The manual I got with the power supply was pretty clear about which models had 24pin rails. They have a 24P on the model number or something.
Anyways, the maxpoint site (American enermax distributor?) has the correct stats at
http://www.maxpoint.com/products/pow_supp/spec_pg/...
Also here is a review of the part
http://www.cluboverclocker.com/reviews/power/enerm...
Both sites make clear its atx 1.3
------------------
So, there you have it: the Enermax 375 is *not* a 24-pin EPS 12V compliant motherboard. It *does* have dual rails, which may be sufficient, but that's not the same as supporting the ATX 2.0x standard. It looks like Enermax needs to fix their spec pages....
JarredWalton - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - link
jwf1776: I sent this in an email to him as well, but here's my question to you all: is this a case of false advertising by Enermax or not? Here is an image for the alternative PSU:http://www.enermax.com.tw/upload/clgcable0217.jpg
It doesn't have a 24-pin connector, per se, but it has a 20 pin with a second 4-pin connector that makes it into a 24-pin. Note that there is *also* a second 4-pin +12V adapter for the standard P4 power connector. Unless someone can confirm that the PSU doesn't include the two 4-pin adapters, I believe it still qualifies as a 24-pin PSU. ATX 12V 2.01 vs. ATX 12V 2.03 - is there really a major difference other than the 24-pin adapter bein in one piece?
Jep4444 - Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - link
48 - the adapter doesn't do very much, it'll work without an adapter