Building a new PC

[Doggiedog]

I need to build a new PC for my sister. I want to keep the cost under $500.

But I'm kind of torn between giving her my current PC (which cost me $3500 when I bought it last year) and spending just a bit more and building a more up to date PC for myself. I've got the original 1Ghz Athlon slot A with the 1st generation Via chipset. My 2000 3dmark scores pretty much suck at around 5000. I can't overclock it at all and no further tweaking helps me.

Here is my rig.

1Ghz Athlon Classic (non-oced)
Abit KA-7 MB
256MB Corsair memory
32MB GeForce DDR
SB Live Value
Generic Compusa case
Generic Compusa 300W PS

I'm willing to spend a little bit more than $500 if I can get a good deal on a video card.
And I don't need new speakers, HDDs, adapter cards or modems.

Do you think for about $500-$600 I can build a system to beat my current one?

 

[Howard]

Nope. The video card and processor would kill most of that budget, and we're not mentioning the monitor...

 

[Doggiedog]

I don't need a monitor, HDD, speakers, keyboard or mouse.

I just haven't priced anything in a long time and don't know exactly what to buy.

I've seen MB and processor combos for 1.1Ghz T-birds for about $300 but I don't know anything about those MBs. Plus, is it better to get the new DDR DRAM or am I just wasting my money?

 

[Duvie]

Doggiedog, check out www.tcwo.com...you should be able to get her a complete system duron or tbird shy of 1gig for 500 bucks (and all for 6.95 shipped total)...especially since you have monitor....get mobo with sound or sound video combo (w/ agp slot for future)...maybe go with micro atx...I found a system yesterday for duron 700 with biostar (less problems than abit) combo vid/snd (minus monitor, cd-rom, FDD, and stuff you mentioned for under 300...so I think you can do it...


You paid 3500 for that system laat year? OUCH...I guess some times it doesn't pay to be early adopter....

What you have listed in rig and I notice you dont list HDD and cd-rom or any burner or dvd can be replaced for 500. Sounds like you would loose on giving her yours...build her one for 500 or 450 and keep 50 for the building hassle and the undoubtedly tech support you probably give...then start selling off the pieces of yours and upgrade...

 

[Doggiedog]

Thanks Duvie. I'll check it out. I have a bunch of stuff in my parts bin that I can give her. I must have like 10 HDD of various sizes, CD-ROMs and floppies.

 

[forouza1]

If you have so many HDD go on sale/buy forum and sell some of your parts for more cash.

 

[madbitch2001]

Try compuplus or newegg, and mwave. You should go ddr for sure!

 

[stso]

for around $600, you can build a pretty nice computer without the monitor.

Below is what I'm currently building for my cousin:

CPU/Motherboard------------AMD 900mhz---------$189.72-----------Tigerdirect.com
Cpu Fan and Heat Sink------AMD Fan----------- $8.99-------------Tigerdirect.com
Memory---------------------128mb--------------$64.50------------CompUSA president day sale, should be $0 sfter rebate.
Sound Card-----------------On board Sound-----$0.00
Video Card-----------------Radeon LE----------$82.78-------------Newegg.com
Case-----------------------250Watt------------$50.00-------------Generic case from local computer shop.
Floopy Drive---------------Generic Floopy-----$20.00-------------From local computer shop.
DVD-Rom--------------------Toshiba DVD-Rom----$67.34-------------Onvia.com
Hard Drive-----------------30GB Hard Drive----$100.00------------Bestbuy has it $99.99 after $30 rebate.

Total is less less than $600

 

[dayg]

Yo Nacho,

It's a no brainer to give your current system to your sister. I do that in a heartbeat. You could use a new mobo and a video card. Anyway you look at it, most of us upgrade our sustem every 9~18 months. It doesn't matter if you need to spend a bit more than 500 clams. It's a perfect execuse to upgrade. 🙂

BTW, is she paying?

Jago