A "$30" computer

[Pandamonium]

My desktop was once a pretty speedy machine, but it feels slower with age. It's a lowly AXP 2500+ with 1.5GB RAM and a 6600GT. It's enough for me to get work done, but I want a new machine. I had to replace my PSU this summer because the old one finally died, and my original HDD also developed a bunch of bad sectors, so I replaced it with one of my spares. The point is, I want a new computer, but I don't need one. So I have set a goal for myself. It is the "$30" computer. Each part I order for this thing must be no more than $30 after rebates, before shipping. I think this is a fairly realistic goal, and I intend to chronicle my shopping conquests in this thread.

What I've got so far:

11/29: Antec Solo $75 shipped from newegg with $50 rebate
11/30: Coolermaster Hyper TX2 (universal mounts) HSF $28 shipped from newegg with $20 rebate

Edit: The only part I'm willing to exceed $30 for is the GPU, and I've got my eye on the 8800GT. I'm holding off on buying optical drives until I've got everything else ready. If I don't get a HDD, I can recycle one of my old drives in the meantime.

 

[Denithor]

You are also going to need some luck finding a CPU strong enough to push that 8800GT for $30 or less.

 

[0roo0roo]

yup, its a somewhat reasonable goal until u added the gaming card.
low end bundles of cpu/mb at frys are maybe 100 bucks. today a 4800+x2 +nforce mb is 100bucks.
still not gonna justify a 8800gt though.
but even a 805d would beat the pants off a axp 2500+ in desktop smoothness/multitasking.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Pandamonium
A "$30" computer.

Why not start a blog rather than a thread? :roll:

 

[SonicIce]

a new cpu would do wonders for you

 

[VirtualLarry]

Good luck on the $30 CPU. I just wonder if you aren't being penny-wise, pound-foolish in your goals.

Btw, ClubIT had a $38 C2D Celeron chip.

 

[Pandamonium]

Last Wednesday there was a Newegg deal for an X2 4000+/2x1GB ram combo for $61 shipped after rebate. I missed it by a couple of hours, but that would have brought me very close to a complete system.

Blain: I don't I have an existing blog; I do have an existing forum account. Threads are also a handy way for me to get feedback on what parts I ought to look into. I read about new hardware here and there, but I'm nowhere near as informed as I was just prior to my AXP build. If my $30 pricepoint is too low to be reasonable, I'd like to have a discussion about it.

Denithor: Shouldn't any dual core CPU (aside from pentium/celeron Ds) be sufficient for an 8800GT?

 

[fleabag]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Pandamonium
A "$30" computer.

Why not start a blog rather than a thread? :roll:

because blogs are lame?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: fleabag

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Pandamonium
A "$30" computer.

Why not start a blog rather than a thread? :roll:

because blogs are lame?

The same could be said for this "$30 thread". :roll:

 

[vailr]

Fry's has these combo deals in today's paper:
1. Celeron 430 & ECS PT890T-A mboard: $59.99
2. E4500 & ECS 945GCT-M mboard: $118.99
Keep the mboard from #2 and sell the E4500 CPU for ~$120, and replace the E4500 with the E2140 CPU from Microcenter.com for ~$60.
End cost of E2140 CPU & ECS 945GCT-M mboard: ~$60 + shipping.
Another way: get an "open box" socket 775 mboard from Newegg, and combine with the above-mentioned E2140 CPU.

 

[Pandamonium]

Thanks for the tips vailr. I don't have a Fry's near me though, and it looks like those combos aren't available online. I'm hoping to go dual core, so I wouldn't be getting a Celeron. Option 2 is very tempting, but I have a feeling that if I let myself get ahold of an E4500, I'm not going to want to let it go =P.