Display, Case and Peripherals
With all the core components covered, all we need now is a box to hold everything, power to make it go, and a display, speakers, keyboard, and mouse so you can actually use the computer. We have several options listed, all of which should work with any of the previously covered system platforms. Given that this is a budget buyer's guide, we definitely will not be spending a lot of money getting an aftermarket power supply (with one exception). Our experience with midrange systems and below is that they tend to work fine with the cheap case + PSU combinations that you can buy. If you want to get a better power supply, you can always do that after the fact, and as usual we would put Enermax, Fotron Source, OCZ, SeaSonic, and Silverstone at the top in terms of overall quality. One good reason to upgrade your power supply - other than providing more stable power and perhaps saving on electricity costs - is to reduce system noise. Many cheap power supplies can be obnoxiously loud, whereas all five of the manufacturers we just listed tend to be much quieter. SeaSonic S12 would probably be the best of those five, and PC Power and Cooling is another company known for their high-quality power supplies. Most of the really good power supplies from any of these companies are going to be difficult to get into a budget price range, unfortunately.
| Budget Case and Accessories |
| Display |
Sceptre 19" X9WG-NagaV 8ms 1440x900 |
$194 |
| Case and Power |
Rosewill R804BK Black Steel ATX with 300W 24-pin PSU |
$39 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Microsoft CA9-00001 Black with Optical Mouse |
$21 |
| Speakers |
Logitech X-230 2.1 Speakers |
$32 |
| Operating System |
Linux Distro + OpenOffice.org |
$0 |
| Total |
$286 |
| Windows XP Budget Case and Accessories |
| Display |
Sceptre 19" X9WG-NagaV 8ms 1440x900 |
$194 |
| Case and Power |
Rosewill R804BK Black Steel ATX with 300W 24-pin PSU |
$39 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Microsoft CA9-00001 Black with Optical Mouse |
$21 |
| Speakers |
Logitech X-230 2.1 Speakers |
$32 |
| Operating System |
Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B - OEM |
$95 |
| Total |
$381 |
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If you are looking to keep prices down at all costs, even a few $10 upgrades can quickly add up. We still have several of those upgrades in place, but for the basic build we have trimmed things down about as far as we're willing to go. We selected a 19" widescreen monitor from Sceptre, a brand known for targeting the budget sector. 17" LCDs might be slightly cheaper, but we would rather spend the extra $12 in this instance. That gives you a widescreen 1440x900 resolution as opposed to 1280x1024, and the size of the screen is also larger. Discerning viewers might have issues with the overall quality, but if you were to put even the cheapest 19" LCD next to your typical CRT, the vast majority of people are going to think the LCD looks better. It may not
perform better, but it's hard to compete with thin and sexy when you're fat and large.
(Ed: No offense intended towards any fat or large people out there - and hey, I'm working on my gut!)
The case and power supply come from Rosewill, another brand known for targeting the budget sector. You will likely find some sharp edges within the case, and the generic 300W power supply shouldn't be used if you plan on installing multiple hard drives, higher-end graphics cards, or doing serious overclocking. If you just plan on putting the system together and running it at stock settings, however, you shouldn't have any problems. The mouse, keyboard, and speakers are also budget choices that will still work well, though if you prefer something else get what you like instead.
For the operating system, we have two options. The first is to go the free route and install Linux, OpenOffice.org, etc. The obvious benefit is the price, but you also need to know your way around Linux and you may not be able to run every piece of software you would like (even using a Windows emulator like WINE). On the other hand, this would allow you to join the elite group of people that like to make fun of Microsoft and Windows. For basic computer tasks, Linux is more than capable of doing everything you need. Advanced users will even prefer the high level of customization available.
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If you don't have any idea how to use a makefile, you're probably best off sending some money to Microsoft in order to use their operating system. You might not learn as much about computers that way, but it can also help you avoid arguments with other household members. After all, there's a reason Microsoft operating systems currently dominate the market. For single computer users, Windows XP Home is about the same as Windows XP Professional, but if you have a home network you might want to consider upgrading to MCE 2005 or XP Pro. As you can tell, the almighty dollar had its hand in our recommendation of XP Home.
| HTPC Case and Accessories |
| Display |
Existing HDTV (or other display) |
$0 |
| Case |
Silverstone SST-LC17-B Black Aluminum HTPC Case |
$141 |
| Power Supply |
SeaSonic S12-380 380W PSU |
$65 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Logitech Keyboard and Mouse - Wireless + Rechargeable |
$56 |
| Speakers |
Existing Home Theater |
$0 |
| TV Tuner |
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-500 MCE Dual Tuner + FM |
$140 |
| Operating System |
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2B (OEM) |
$115 |
| Total |
$517 |
One of the great uses for a budget computer, if you're the type of person that has several computers around the house
(Ed: or a computer in every room like some of us...), is as an HTPC (Home Theater PC). Why buy a TiVo or other subscription service if you can get all of their features for a simple one-time payment? You may not be able to record every single channel you get using an HTPC, but overall it offers far greater versatility. Recompress the videos you record into an MPEG-4 format, share all of your videos throughout your home network, download and/or watch movies from the Internet, burn your recordings to DVDs... you can do all of that plus other multimedia tasks with an HTPC. If you already have a really nice home theater setup, adding a computer may be the next logical step. You don't need a display or speakers most likely, so we left those out, but you probably also want something that's quiet and will fit in better with your other stereo components.
 |
We took the money we saved from skipping the LCD and speaker purchases and put that towards getting a nice HTPC case and a quiet power supply. We also added in a wireless keyboard and mouse and a dual TV tuner. The Silverstone case is one of the larger HTPC cases out there and it is capable of holding a full-size ATX motherboard (although it can be a pretty tight fit). It can also use any standard ATX power supply, and in order to keep noise levels down we went with a SeaSonic S12 380W power supply. An alternative power supply configuration you might want to consider is something with modular cables, as the confines of many HTPC cases are very cramped and the ability to omit unnecessary cables can be useful.
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Our HTPC configuration naturally chose to go with an HTPC operating system, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. MCE 2005 is a lot like XP Pro, only with video timeshifting and recording features and a 10 foot UI. Finally, our preferred TV tuner comes from Hauppauge, the WinTV PVR-500 MCE Dual Tuner + FM. While we haven't specifically reviewed any Hauppauge products in a while, they are still among the best quality analog TV tuners available. (They are also fully compatible with Linux - at least, the non-MCE versions are - so if you want to build an HTPC using MythTV you could also go that route.) The total cost of our HTPC accessories ends up being quite a bit more than any of the other configurations, considering it doesn't include an LCD or speakers. However, going with a really cheap HTPC case often brings undesirable results. We wouldn't necessarily consider this a budget selection, but depending on the other components used it could qualify as a "budget HTPC".
If you're looking for an HTPC case that is more "budget" than what we have listed here, one reader points out the Antec Solution Series NSK2400 as a good option. This case will require the use of a micro ATX motherboard, so you might lose some features, but you can save over $100 relative to the Silverstone + PSU that we've selected. Whether or not you prefer the appearance of the Silverstone or the Antec will probably play a part in your final decision as well.
(Truth be told, I was trying to find a case like this Antec NSK2400 for the article and apparently it never turned up in my searches. It is definitely a better budget choice! Thanks for the comment, "autoboy".)
| Upgraded Case and Accessories |
| Display |
BenQ 20.1" FP202W 8ms 1680x1050 |
$270 |
| Case and Power |
Cooler Master Centurion RC-534-SKR5
Silver Aluminum with 430W 24-pin PSU |
$77 |
| Keyboard and Mouse |
Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 with Optical Mouse |
$28 |
| Speakers |
Logitech X-530 5.1 Speakers |
$68 |
| Operating System |
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 SP2B (OEM) |
$115 |
| Total |
$558 |
 |
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The upgraded configuration of course includes more expensive - and better - components. Starting with the LCD, we upgraded from a 19" widescreen to a 20" widescreen model. While the screen isn't a lot larger, the 20" model does come with a higher 1680x1050 native resolution. We still consider BenQ more of a budget LCD brand, but we would rate them quite a bit higher than Sceptre. The case and power supply we selected are from Cooler Master, a well-known and generally respected brand. The included power supply still isn't a super high quality model, but with a 430W rating it is definitely more than enough to drive any of the budget systems we put together in this guide. We stuck with MCE 2005 as the operating system choice, even though this isn't an HTPC build (although it could be with the addition of the TV tuner). The keyboard and mouse have a few more buttons but are otherwise about the same as our basic setup - get whatever keyboard and mouse you are most comfortable with if you don't like our choice. Finally, we bumped up a notch on the speakers from 2.1 to 5.1 audio. The Logitech budget speakers all perform well for the price, so there's usually not much point in getting some other brand.
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JarredWalton - Monday, October 30, 2006 - link
To some, yes. To someone else, $15-$20 is the difference between IGP and X1300/7300, or Athlon 3000+ and X2 3600+, or 320GB and 160GB HDD, or a better motherboard, or....You get the point. I still strongly believe that most people who grip on power supplies as being low-quality are trying to use them with higher end systems. As soon as someone starts to upgrade from the basic budget builds, yes I would definitely recommend going with a better power supply. However, when you are trying to save as much money as possible, $20 is a pretty significant upgrade on every single component.
Personally, I don't like building budget computers, because $10-$25 above "budget" in every category will get you a MUCH better computer. Yes, it ends up costing $200 more, but if anyone asks me for advice on a budget computer that's what I'm going to recommend (within reason). The "upgraded build" more or less represents what I would truly recommend, with the caveat that I would not recommend every single upgrade for every person. I really feel $750 is the best price point for a "budget" system. Unfortunately, when I get a few budget buyers guides targeting that I got complaints from people that wanted to stay closer to $500. You can't please everyone, so I figure a spread from $500-$1000 is pretty reasonable. I like to think that most people are capable of extrapolating the recommendations a bit and realizing that there are literally hundreds of computer parts worth considering. Which ones are best is going to be a matter of pricing, availability, support, and performance. Without trying to write 20,000 word buyers guides, I'm quite sure that I can cover every single aspect of what you should or shouldn't put into a system.
I still think a lot of people are way too concerned about power supply quality when looking at budget (~$500) computers. There's a reason those types of power supplies get put in cheap OEM systems: they're good enough for budget computers running budget tasks. Ripple current? When was the last time ripple current affected a $500 computer? How can you even tell? It's more like voodoo mumbo-jumbo than concrete evidence of what will happen. LOL!
Frumious1 - Friday, October 27, 2006 - link
You're not a power supply snob? You damn well could have fooled me! I think Jarred is beating around the bush and trying to be nice so I'm going to cut right through the crap and tell you how it is.There are a bunch of elitist enthusiasts out there that think every computer on the planet needs high-end components. Oh sure, you can skimp a bit on the memory, motherboard, CPU, and graphics card, but OMG you had damn well better not use a generic brand power supply! These "experts" have all sorts of experience replacing bad hardware. Amazingly, they never get calls from people wanting to replace good hardware.
Of course, the people that buy really good hardware almost never have to call someone to replace any parts that fail in the first place! I can tell you how many times I've gone to the local computer store with my broken PC and asked for help: NONE! Not a single fucking time! You know why? Because I am capable of diagnosing and replacing my hardware without anyone's help. Just like a lot of you.
The people who call up a friend or an expert to come and fix their computer are not capable of doing it themselves. These people are the same people that usually by OEM systems, or if they do get a "custom" system they almost never buy anything that's truly considered high-quality. I've had Enermax PSUs fail on me, quite a few Antec PSUs, and over the years many "generic" PSUs.
Because I've had more generic PSUs that have failed, I could quickly reach the conclusion that they are lower quality. The only problem is that I have built far more systems with generic PSUs. If I look at all of the power supplies I've used, very few of them last more than five years... or at least, after five years I'm ready get rid of the case, power supply, and everything else. In terms of failure rates, I would say about 20% have problems with the power supply in the first three years of life, but less than 5% have problems within the first year. And those figures really seem to have little to do with who makes the power supply. Okay, maybe if I went out and bought only expensive power supplies, my first-year failure rate would be even lower. Given monetary savings that come with cheap power supplies and cases, though, I'm more than willing to deal with a 5% failure rate. Sort of like Dell and HP I bet.
So let me wrap this up with a concrete story. When Rosewill first came onto the scene as a brand... 18 months ago? Two years ago?... I was curious. I ended up building four systems using Rosewill cases. I probably left a little bit of blood/skin on every single one of those cases, but such is the price of using a budget case. It's the Rosewill TU-153 with 400W PSU, if you're wondering. I have a Pentium D 805 system running in one of those cases, using a Biostar TForce motherboard, and the CPU is even overclocked to 3.4 GHz. I have another one of those with an Athlon X2 3800+, overclocked to 2.5 GHz. Then I built two more computers (one Athlon 64 3000+ and one Sempron 2800+) for a couple people I know.
All four systems are over a year old now, and no one has called to complain about instabilities or crashes, and my two dual core systems haven't had any problems either. My one complaint is that none of the systems are really quiet. The cases are also pretty flimsy, at least compared to some of the nicer cases out there. The one thing I need to make clear is that not one of these computers has anything faster than a GeForce 6600 GT graphics card, because none of them are being used for gaming. Case closed.
guyvia - Thursday, October 26, 2006 - link
I do appreciate Linux being mentioned in the article, but there are a few missed considerations / mistakes in the article.1. 'W'INE 'I's 'N'ot an 'E'mulator. It is a compatability layer.
2. Keyboards can be funny in Linux, and the more fancy buttons and scroll wheels you have, the more likely you are going to have to run extra software to make them work.
3. Using an existing home theatre may not be a great choice for your speakers, considering many onboard sound cards get squirrley with the coax / optical outs when run under ALSA.
bzo - Thursday, October 26, 2006 - link
FYI - Linux users interesteed in the M2NPV: This boards will not boot up recent 2.6 kernels without some hacks. Apparently, there is a bad ACPI table in the BIOS - at least that's what an Nvidia developer has posted. A google on M2NPV and linux will show plenty of references to this problem.yyrkoon - Thursday, October 26, 2006 - link
Actually, since we're nickpicking . . .'Wine is an Open Source implementation of the Windows API on top of X and Unix.'
'Think of Wine as a compatibility layer for running Windows programs. Wine does not require Microsoft Windows, as it is a completely free alternative implementation of the Windows API consisting of 100% non-Microsoft code, however Wine can optionally use native Windows DLLs if they are available. Wine provides both a development toolkit for porting Windows source code to Unix as well as a program loader, allowing many unmodified Windows programs to run on x86-based Unixes, including Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, and Solaris.
More information can be read in the articles Why Wine is so important, and Debunking Wine Myths. If you are wondering how well a particular application works in Wine, please examine the Applications Database. For installation instructions and step-by-step help with running Wine, take a look at the User Guide.
Wine is free software. The licensing terms are the GNU Lesser General Public License.'
http://www.winehq.com/">http://www.winehq.com/
kmmatney - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - link
"but we definitely wouldn't recommend purchasing and new socket 939 system unless you can get it for less money than the equivalent AM2 setup."I'm very happy with my $99 socket 939 + Athlon 3400+ combo from NewEgg. The processor overclocked to 2.6 Ghz with cheapo RAM. The $60 saved could get a better class of video card. In my case, it was an upgrade, rather than a new system, and I kept my video card and RAM.
JarredWalton - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - link
Upgrades are of course in a different category, but you also have to take into account the cost. If you *can* get a 939 configuration for less money than an AM2 config - and I'm not talking $5-$10 less, but more like $50+ less - then it's certainly worth a thought, especially for lower budget purchases. Heck, I'm very happy with my Athlon X2 4600+ setup which is also a 939 system. Determing when and where to upgrade is a very different subject from building an entirely new PC.CrazyBernie - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Cate...">http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...p;Manufa...AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.4GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA3800CWBOX - Retail
For $115.99 !!!
CrazyBernie - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - link
Bah.... they made a typo... it's a non-X2... nevermind.erple2 - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - link
On page 2, the second to last paragraph, the second sentence, starts "Dual channel performance might be up to ..." Should that read "Single channel performance might be up to ..."?