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Best CPU you could build for $400 or under

C

CronicallyInsane

Member
I got this idea while playing in the 'hot deals' section, and it got me to thinking: What is the best box you could build for $400. Just the box itself, no monitor, keyboard, OS, etc.

I'm going to go jump around and see what the best I can come up with. Anyone else as bored as I am?

grin

d
 
Well, I couldn't quite do it:

Shuttle SFF barebones SN41G2.............$200
Newegg Refurb Barton 2600+...............$075
Liteon 52x Black Burner.......................$031
Kingston or Mushkin 512M PC2700........$074
WD 80GB SE HD.................................$067

Total cost: $447

I'd prefer a little bigger HD, and deals do come along.

Anyone top that for a fiesty system for around $400?

d
 
For $386.55 you can build:

$80 Barton 2500+
$61 Biostar nForce 2 IGP board
$65.50 80GB Samsung
$77 512MB Mushkin Basic
$48.50 Lite-On 52X CD-R / 16X DVD combo
$32 + $15 APEX black micro-ATX case (which is a good 250W PS that I've used several times)
$3.55 + $4.00 Unicom 24" round ATA cable

That's the entry-level system I recommend for people. The integrated graphics can play Quake 3 in 1024x768 32-bit at 90 FPS, and modern stuff is perfectly playable in 1024x768 16-bit or 800x600 32-bit.

But it's still not exactly the best thing for a hardcore gamer.
 
Thats cool. Basically the same system, both barton core nf2 systems with 80 gb hd and 512m memory.


I don't actually play games, so I don't really care about that, but I was just interested to see what people came up with.

I'm actually building 2 computers for friends soon, and I think I'm going to try to go SFF with them...at least try it with the first one.

Those boxes look so damn cool.
 
It's very difficult to build a good SFF one for under $500, just because the SFF boxes with decent chipsets are $250. For example, you can take the exact same system I listed for $386.55 and make it SFF Shuttle nForce 2 and it'll cost $530.00.

I forgot that you really want dual-channel memory to use onboard graphics, so I'd recommend two sticks of the $41 Corsair PC3200 CL2.5 Value Select.

That APEX micro-ATX case is really nice, even if it's not quite as cute as a SFF. 😉
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-154-016
 
I could not build a CPU, as I have no fabrication facilities. I also do not have the time to design one.
 
Yeah, Windows is so expensive, it's hard to build a useable computer for that little, unless you're familiar with one of the free OSes.
 
Originally posted by: Ilmater
I could not build a CPU, as I have no fabrication facilities. I also do not have the time to design one.
Click to expand...

ROFL. THat was great man. You're a riot. 😀
 
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Ilmater
I could not build a CPU, as I have no fabrication facilities. I also do not have the time to design one.
Click to expand...

ROFL. THat was great man. You're a riot. 😀
Click to expand...


See, I knew you were the funny one with your friends!

And as far as an OS, I'm assuming you already have the OS. This is one of those, time to upgrade but my keyboard, mouse, and copy of XP work fine...I just need a better box, things...
 
Let's see if I can put my Hot Deals skills to work:

Athlon XP 2500+ Barton / ECS NF2400U Motherboard $59.99 Fry's
Antec SLK-1600 / Antec SL300 PSU $19.99 After MIR Fry's
Kingston Value RAM 512MB PC3200 $59.99 After MIR Kingston Direct
Maxtor 120GB 7200RPM 8MB $59.99 Fry's
NEC 2500A 8X DVD+-RW $69.99 Newegg
Thermalright SLK-947U / Panaflo 92mm Fan $25.98 SVC
Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer Rev3 $9.99 SVC
Chaintech AV-710 Via Envy 24HT-S $23.50 Newegg
Powercolor 9800SE 128MB 256-bit $150 Newegg

Total $469.43

Barton will OC to 3200+. The 9800SE will Softmod to 9800XT.
 
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Let's see if I can put my Hot Deals skills to work:

Athlon XP 2500+ Barton / ECS NF2400U Motherboard $59.99 Fry's
Antec SLK-1600 / Antec SL300 PSU $19.99 After MIR Fry's
Kingston Value RAM 512MB PC3200 $59.99 After MIR Kingston Direct
Maxtor 120GB 7200RPM 8MB $59.99 Fry's
NEC 2500A 8X DVD+-RW $69.99 Newegg
Thermalright SLK-947U / Panaflo 92mm Fan $25.98 SVC
Chaintech AV-710 Via Envy 24HT-S $23.50
Powercolor 9800SE 128MB 256-bit $150

Total $469.43
Click to expand...


Now that's quite a nice little system.

Too bad I've never seen a Fry's in person.

🙁
 
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