Best budget CPU/Mobo for $80 or less?

[rbk123]

I'm trying to build a budget system for my parents and was wondering what's currently a good combo in the $80 or less price point? My parents are noobs and will only use it for browsing and solitare so it doesn't need to be all that fast. Anything that performs like an Athlon X2 64 or faster will be more than sufficient. Thoughts?

 

[Gigantopithecus]

$80 for both the CPU and board limits you to single core CPUs, if buying new from an online retailer. This combo is basically as good as you're going to get for $80. If you can scrape up another Jackson, this combo would be a much better deal in that while it costs 25% more, it's a faster dual core.

If you are willing to purchase used parts, you should be able to snag a lower to mid range Core 2 Duo and a 965P, G31, G41 (or something similar) chipset board on the FS/T forums here for $80 or possibly less, shipped.

 

[Kenmitch]

$80 is a pretty tight budget. You could maybe pick up a dual core atom board or pick up a used combo from the For Sale/Trade forum.

What other parts do you have? Do you already have memory? If so what kind as in DDR, DDR2, etc.

For around $100 you could get a dual core celeron and motherboard from newegg.

If you live close to a microcenter you could pick up a PHENOM II X4 840 combo for about $100 also.

 

[nonameo]

you can get CLOSE to that.... athlon II 240 on the egg, and the cheapest board on there is the jetway. Honestly though, I'd rather spend a little more and get the asrock board.

jetway
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813153181

asrock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157202

cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103933

Those are really your only options in the 80$ range if you want to buy new.

ok wait, looks like intel has some stuffs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116348
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157173

that puts you at 90$ but still... however, I think the AMD combo will be faster.

Oh yeah, if you have a fry's or microcenter nearby, check them out. They tend to have STELLAR, unbeatable deals on combos.

 

[Vette73]

Yea if near a microcenter get this board and a X4 quad for $99
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0350746

 

[rbk123]

Thanks for the replies. I forgot to mention I have everything else including the memory - DDR2 (so it would have to be a DDR2 capable platform).

I do have a Microcenter nearby so I can leverage that angle, however the AM3 motherboard you linked is OOS so I don't think that's feasible right now.

 

[Vette73]

Here ya go, a DDR2 version plus the X4 for $99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0334113

 

[rbk123]

Here ya go, a DDR2 version plus the X4 for $99

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0334113

I apologize if this is a stupid question but when I go to that link it shows both out of stock and I don't see any way to add in the X4. I must be missing something, but I can't figure out what I need to order it if it's OOS? Thanks.

 

[toolbag]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813153181
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103933
$83.98

 

[Kenmitch]

I apologize if this is a stupid question but when I go to that link it shows both out of stock and I don't see any way to add in the X4. I must be missing something, but I can't figure out what I need to order it if it's OOS? Thanks.

Use this link. Just gotta do the drop down box on top of page to pick the store that is closest to you.

Just click on buy the combo and it'll show you in the cart if it's available.

Oops forgot the link

http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...ndlePROMO.html

 

[rbk123]

Use this link. Just gotta do the drop down box on top of page to pick the store that is closest to you.

Just click on buy the combo and it'll show you in the cart if it's available.

Oops forgot the link

http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...ndlePROMO.html

This worked - sort of. I saw the bundles and clicked on the bundle for the MSI board Marlin mentioned, however even though it said $99, in my cart each time it charged me $10 for the mobo. What gives?

Toolbag - thanks for the links; it lines up with the board nonameo had mentioned and is looking like the cheapest route for me.

 

[Kenmitch]

This worked - sort of. I saw the bundles and clicked on the bundle for the MSI board Marlin mentioned, however even though it said $99, in my cart each time it charged me $10 for the mobo. What gives?

That is strange and it does the same for me also. If you look at the ** footnote it states the MSI board has a $10 rebait which the link is missing for it and it doesn't show in the cart either.

 

[wahdangun]

you can get sempron 180 + biostar 760g for less than $80 and actually that sempron was x2 240 but underclocked to 2.4 ghz