Assembling a PC for $800

Haberdasher

Member
Sep 26, 2004
25
0
0
So, making a computer for a friend from ibuypower.com. I knew enough to buy a computer for myself, but that was a year ago. I'm a little behind the times.

How does this sound?
-Raidmax A8 Aluminum 8-Bays Super Light Weight Case w/420W Power Supply
-AMD® Athlon-64 3400+ CPU w/ Hyper Transport Technology (That's NOT 939)
-GigaByte K8NS nForce-3 250 Chipset w/7.1 Sound, LAN, USB 2.0 8x AGP Motherboard (While he doesn't need 7.1, he also doesn't need Firewire, and this is cheaper)
-512MB DDR-400 PC3200 Corsair Memory Module (I would get a gig, but I don't want to skimp elsewhere...unless you guys reccomend it)
-NVIDIA GeForce 6200 256mb w/DVI + TV Out 8x AGP Video (no PCI Express in this box, of course, but this is where I need the most help in picking.)
-120 GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive
-16x DVD-ROM Drive
-52x32x52 CD-RW Drive
-3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard
-600W PMPO 3 PCS Super Bass Subwoofer Speaker System (Actually quite cheap)
-10/100 Network Onboard
-Mitsumi 1.44 MB Internal Floppy Drive
-PS/2 104 Key Windows 98 Keyboard
-Microsoft PS/2 Intellimouse
-19" CRT Monitor supplied by me (+50 bucks or so)

Total: $787 (+50 for monitor, unless he already has one)

Now, I have to get all my components from ibuypower.com, so please no OMG TEH NEWEGG. They have a full line of midrange processors and videocards, so anything you guys suggest will probably be there.

Thanks in advance!
 

Bucks

Senior member
Jun 23, 2004
923
4
81
Instead of typing everything out, search the forum for people with similar threads. There are a ton of them. I will just emphazie to go Socket 939, go with a Venice 3200+, get the gig of ram, and get a different video card, a better quality power supply ( I would get a good quality 450watt one over a crappy 600watt one. Look for atleast 22A on the +v12 line). Also look into the DFI NF4 Lanparty UT Ultra-D.
 

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
OMG TEH ZIPZOOMFLY

seriously tho, looks like i can build a similar computer myself, for under $500. that system you spec'ed out has an older A64, and you picked the old nforce3 chipset. the case is cheap and i wouldn't trust that PSU. RAM is cheap (and i would get more on my own), the video card is junk, the HD is kinda small, there is no dvd burner, and the speakers are also pure crap.

sorry to be so harsh, but i think a dell would be a much better value.
 

Haberdasher

Member
Sep 26, 2004
25
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0
I'm sorry. It doesn't NEED to be from ibuypower...if you can show me a comparable or better website, that would be fantastic.

I meant I can't assemble a computer from ibuypower and then buy a hard-drive, video card, etc. from a third-party source.
 

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
Originally posted by: Haberdasher
I'm sorry. It doesn't NEED to be from ibuypower...if you can show me a comparable or better website, that would be fantastic.

I meant I can't assemble a computer from ibuypower and then buy a hard-drive, video card, etc. from a third-party source.

Text
 

CheesePoofs

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2004
3,163
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There's a reason Newegg, zipzoomfly, and monarchcomputer are popular: they have low prices.

Anyways, I wouldn't get a gigabyte Nforce3 board, they are very picky about ram. Instead, I would strongly recomend getting an nforce4 board (which has pcie), a s939 3000 or 3200, and a 6200 Turbocache 32mb card. Also, that case is junk, and the powersupply will be worse. Why get a CD-RW drive and a DVD drive when you can get a single DVD-RW drive (that writes CD's too)?
 

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
There's a reason Newegg, zipzoomfly, and monarchcomputer are popular: they have low prices.

Anyways, I wouldn't get a gigabyte Nforce3 board, they are very picky about ram. Instead, I would strongly recomend getting an nforce4 board (which has pcie), a s939 3000 or 3200, and a 6200 Turbocache 32mb card. Also, that case is junk, and the powersupply will be worse. Why get a CD-RW drive and a DVD drive when you can get a single DVD-RW drive (that writes CD's too)?

that was my point but i'd just skip the whole gforce 6200 since the chip is crap. i'd just get a 9800pro since they're so cheap now.
 

t3h l337 n3wb

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2005
2,698
0
76
That case/PSU is crap. You need to get a good quality PSU from a reputable manufacturer, or else it'l probably fail on you. Don't skimp on the power supply!