<$700 build & first build

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peanutbutterkid

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Jan 7, 2009
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1. My build is aimed at heavy gaming and college work.

2. <$700 dollars.

3. United States.

4. I don't have a preference.

5. DVD drive, monitor.

6. Yea, even got all the parts picked out, just need extra reviewing.

7. OCing this current build sooner or later.

8. Ordering the parts on January 20th when I get the check.

======================================================


Need inspection, recommendations, and money savers for my build. As of now the HDD I'm looking to order is out of stock. Don't know if it'll be in stock when the 20th comes but you can recommend another HDD now in case it doesn't come in stock at said date.

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My Computer Build

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136298 - WD 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148160 - 4GB RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102803 - 4830
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359 - Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129024 - Case & PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116488 - Vista x64
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115132 - Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz CPU



Cost

HDD - $69.99 Free Shipping Out of stock!
RAM - $29.99
GFX - $89.99 Mail-in-Rebate
MOB - $104.99 Mail-in-Rebate
CASE* - $119.99 Free Shipping
OS - $99.99 Free Shipping
CPU - $119.99 Free Shipping
K&M** - $8.98 Combo Deal
CS:S - $19.99 Free Shipping <- Buying a game also
Total - $663.90
- $684.11 w/Shipping costs and Mail-in-Rebates


Student Aid Funds

Got - $1800
Fee - $615.05
Books - $491.49

Left - $691.46

*Case & PSU

**Keyboard & Mouse

==================================================


 
DSF

DSF

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2007
4,902
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71
Your parts generally look good, but the 4830 isn't a "heavy gaming" card if that's really one of your priorities. Depends on how much you want to crank up the graphics settings I suppose. How big is your monitor?
 
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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
7,608
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used is your friend :)

you may want to check out Dell Outlet. Find a basic computer with a PCI-X slot. Buy more ram (4GB) and a new video card (Radeon 4850 or something). Could probably get both those items out FS/T and you are in business.
 
Denithor

Denithor

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2004
6,298
23
81
Yep, Dell outlet or HP refurb (look at Tigerdirect and Buy.com for deals also).

Try to find a model with Vista 64-bit already installed.

Then drop in GPU + extra RAM.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
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Everyone should also note I'm willing to wait next semester to buy a beefer video card. I'm aware of the 4830 not being the best for 'heavy gaming'. I planned to use this until next semester to buy an 4850. I don't even have enough to buy many games so I won't be gaming that much.

This is basically an initial build that will be worked upon later.

@DSF
20 inch

@dmw16
What does FS/T mean?
 
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dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
7,608
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0
FS/T = for sale/trade (section of the forum)

Unless you need a computer NOW. Don't buy ANYTHING till you are ready to buy it all. Computers get cheaper quickly, so why buy anything if you are planning on replacing it in 3 months?
 
DSF

DSF

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2007
4,902
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71
Originally posted by: dmw16
used is your friend :)

you may want to check out Dell Outlet. Find a basic computer with a PCI-X slot. Buy more ram (4GB) and a new video card (Radeon 4850 or something). Could probably get both those items out FS/T and you are in business.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure he means PCI-e, but there is a difference. You don't want a PCI-x slot you want a PCI-e slot.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
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Originally posted by: dmw16
FS/T = for sale/trade (section of the forum)

Unless you need a computer NOW. Don't buy ANYTHING till you are ready to buy it all. Computers get cheaper quickly, so why buy anything if you are planning on replacing it in 3 months?
Click to expand...

I plan on replacing just the graphics card next semester. Which is more than three months away. And the graphics card I planned to get could be re-used for a less powerful computer that I plan on building for my parents to use. I don't really like throwing away parts.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
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@krnmastersgt

I can only do mail-in-rebates that are low like 10-15 dollars. I don't have that much to cover the initial cost of the RAM you picked out. I may not even use the mail-in-rebates of some of my items now.

EDIT:: I no longer need help on parts. I switched from the 4830 to the 9800 gt. It is good enough for my gaming needs and I only play on a 1024x768 resolution. I got another HDD for less space, a combo deal for a PSU, case, and it comes with the same motherboard I picked out. I found a good deal on RAM also. I came up to about 650 at the end and saved a bunch of money. If anyone who is looking to make a good budget gaming rig I can link you to some parts. It took a while to shop around for what I need but every part of my build is good enough to run every game on the high with good FPS.
 
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DoubleHelix747

Member
Aug 5, 2001
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how much did you pay for a 9800GT. I bought an overclocked MSI 9600GT from Newegg for 49.99 but am having buyer's remorse for having cheaped out. Even though I have only a 19" monitor and gme infrequently.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150316
$129.99. There is a $20 rebate if you're into rebates. Also it comes with COD4 so that is a plus. I really laugh at the guy who first post in this thread who thought I couldn't make a good rig for under 700 dollars. With the resolution I play at I don't need a high end graphics card to play all games on high settings. A 9800 GT is one of the best graphics card for people like me who are playing on a CRT monitor.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
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My final build has been constructed and ready to order. I call this the AMD beastly budget rig.

Case and Power Supply[485W] was a standard mid tower case by HEC for $59.99

Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811121052

My HDD is a WD 320GB priced at $49.99

Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136098

For the graphics card I switched back to the HD 4830 priced at $99.99

Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102803

For the RAM I picked out G.SKILL 4GB [2 x 2GB] priced at $39.99

Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231122

For an OS I picked out Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit priced at $99.99

Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116488

For the CPU and motherboard I took advantage of a combo deal from Newegg and got the Athlon 64 X2 7750 @ 2.7GHz and an biostar TA790GX at $172.98

Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.150321

And lucky I had enough for a cheap, decent monitor to make all those games I wanna play look pretty with the 17" Hanns-G HB-175APB priced at $119.99

Link - http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824254032

My total cost for the build including a cheap mouse, keyboard, mic, and Team Fortress 2 with tax included went at $694.09. This is a good cheap rig for the cost and can play all current games very well at decent resolutions. If you don't have a really high resolution this rig would be sufficient for a good while.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
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I like small monitors. Also the product you pick isn't free shipping and costs 10 dollars shipping fees. I just already went over my budget a couple dollars and I planned to hit it right on the dot.
 
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imported_harlanpepper

Member
May 5, 2006
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Ditch that power supply/case combo. Spend $50 on a bare case and another $35-50 on a quality power supply. You could do something like this for $35 AR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817703018

That 370W pc power & cooling is going to run circles around the "485w" piece bundled with that case. Spending money on a quality power supply is an investment in your future. :) If you need more power, step up to 500w.





 
krnmastersgt

krnmastersgt

Platinum Member
Jan 10, 2008
2,873
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Originally posted by: harlanpepper
Ditch that power supply/case combo. Spend $50 on a bare case and another $35-50 on a quality power supply. You could do something like this for $35 AR:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817703018

That 370W pc power & cooling is going to run circles around the "485w" piece bundled with that case. Spending money on a quality power supply is an investment in your future. :) If you need more power, step up to 500w.
Click to expand...

Valid point, if you use a third-rate power supply you run a much higher risk of screwing up the whole system, then again I've been using a third-rate PSU in a random case combo I bought for $15 about 5 years ago and it's still going strong for me, but luck of the draw I suppose. In any case, you could cut the costs elsewhere in the build by using an E5200 and a P45 mobo. At least, that's what I would do.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
30
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@ krnmastersgt

I'm about nailed what I wanted for the monitor. I'll check out the 19" you showed but I'm more fond of 17" screens. The smaller they are the better they look to me and 17" is a perfect size for me.

@ harlanpepper

That would kill my budget and the 4830 recommends a +400W PSU

EDIT - I'm going to risk using this power supply for 6 months. So I won't OC anything on my system til then. And if the PSU is horrible than I will get a new one as needed.
 
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imported_harlanpepper

Member
May 5, 2006
96
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Yeah, you are right about it being the luck of the draw on power supplies. I guess I've been bitten, so I'm more sensitive ;) Two have gone out on me, plus the improved efficiency (and quiet) of the quality models is appealing long-term.

And BTW, that PCP&C 370w model is actually $25 after rebate if you put in the "Jansave20" 20% off code. I may pick one up just for the hell of it!
 
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imported_harlanpepper

Member
May 5, 2006
96
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Originally posted by: peanutbutterkid

@ harlanpepper

That would kill my budget and the 4830 recommends a +400W PSU

EDIT - I'm going to risk using this power supply for 6 months. So I won't OC anything on my system til then. And if the PSU is horrible than I will get a new one as needed.
Click to expand...

It would add about $20 to it, but I understand the need to stay under budget. Good luck with the new rig.
 
krnmastersgt

krnmastersgt

Platinum Member
Jan 10, 2008
2,873
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Originally posted by: peanutbutterkid
@ krnmastersgt

I'm about nailed what I wanted for the monitor. I'll check out the 19" you showed but I'm more fond of 17" screens. The smaller they are the better they look to me and 17" is a perfect size for me.

@ harlanpepper

That would kill my budget and the 4830 recommends a +400W PSU

EDIT - I'm going to risk using this power supply for 6 months. So I won't OC anything on my system til then. And if the PSU is horrible than I will get a new one as needed.
Click to expand...

Actually the watts listed aren't THAT important, and the 4830 assumes a certain amount about the system it'll be used in. It could be an 800w PSU, but if it doesn't have good amps on the rails that the vid card runs on, it's still a useless brick that'll go into some system running an integrated gpu. The PCP&C 370w should be able to run your system just fine, although the 410w/500w wouldn't hurt if you could open the budget for it.

On a second note, I still think that cpu+mobo combo is rather weak/overpriced, you could easily swap out to a Foxconn 610i/GF7050 Micro ATX with a E5200, save a ton of money and upgrade something else, or if you don't like the board, change it up for a P35/45 board or something.
 
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peanutbutterkid

Member
Jan 7, 2009
30
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Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. Also, I looked at the 19" monitor and like the resolutions it can max out at so I picked it up. I'm still drafting out this build and have a week left to improve it. Right now I'm happy with my build and it looks good so far. If you have ideas to cut costs by a considerable ammount without losing too much performance I will be happy to hear them.

Edit - @ krnmastersgt

But do you think this bundle PSU will be good enough to run this rig? I'm just looking for a computer that is good enough. I like performance and quality but right now it's about budget and being okay. Future upgrades can be made to the psu.

Edit - Looking at the reviews for the case I see a buyer who is using this case and has a GTX260 for two months without any hiccups. Maybe I can be lucky like this too.
 
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