Can a complete system be built for 450 bux? (have keyboard mouse and moniter)

[NinjaGnome]

My friends sister needs a new computer and I was wondering if I could built her a new one for 450? The only thing she does is play the sims and she wants to be able to do that maxed out basically. Overclocking is definitely allowed on this one so We can do that guys. I was thinking maybe a mobile athlon xp system

 

[cryogenic666]

Mobile AXP and a decent nForce2 based motherboard might be the way to go. Problem is, you can buy a socket 754 Athlon64 system for about the same price now. Might as well go that route, ya know?

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: cryogenic666
Mobile AXP and a decent nForce2 based motherboard might be the way to go. Problem is, you can buy a socket 754 Athlon64 system for about the same price now. Might as well go that route, ya know?

hmmm since it's a budget:

I would say 77 +66+58 for the cpu (mobile 2400+)/(nf2 mobo biostar m7ncg with onboard gf4mx)/58 for corsair ram all at new egg. (~$200)

Spring for a case with psu (50$ newegg). Vidcard(if needed), 40-50$ for HD (look in hot deals forum, it's usually 30-40 for 120 gigs with rebates).

edit: didn't see monitor and kb and mouse, monitor watch in hot deals for CRT deals usually 17in for around 50-70$ and cheap kb/mouse for 15$.

Total (450-475 after shipping/taxes taken into account).

 

[Ike0069]

Best bet is to buy a pre-built. Check circuitcity.com

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
Best bet is to buy a pre-built. Check circuitcity.com

good point!
or dell/bestbuy!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Even Intel Extreme can handle Sims 2. Not "maxed out" of course, but that's just to give you an idea of how little you truly need.

The OCed nF2 IGP (don't forget to use dual-channel RAM and Coolbits to squeeze more juice out of the core!) would do just fine.

- M4H

 

[nick1985]

Nick1985's budget rig.

PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING CHARGES

Case + PSU $40

Sony CD-RW $26.50

Hard Drive - Maxtor 40gig $50

RAM- 512 PC-3200 $50

Motherboard - Chaintech Nforce2-ultra 400 $42

CPU - Mobile Athlon XP 2400 $76

Heatsink - Speeze Whisper rock $15

Video Card - EVGA 6200 AGP $145

Grand Total: $444.50

That leaves you $.50 for a snickers bar.

 

[Pixle]

Originally posted by: nick1985
Nick1985's budget rig.

PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING CHARGES

Case + PSU $40

Sony CD-RW $26.50

Hard Drive - Maxtor 40gig $50

RAM- 512 PC-3200 $50

Motherboard - Chaintech Nforce2-ultra 400 $42

CPU - Mobile Athlon XP 2400 $76

Heatsink - Speeze Whisper rock $15

Video Card - EVGA 6200 AGP $145

Grand Total: $444.50

That leaves you $.50 for a snickers bar.

Nice choice of components...a gaming machine for under 450. Although for a $100-150 more you could go with a 64 build

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: Pixle

Originally posted by: nick1985
Nick1985's budget rig.

PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING CHARGES

Case + PSU $40

Sony CD-RW $26.50

Hard Drive - Maxtor 40gig $50

RAM- 512 PC-3200 $50

Motherboard - Chaintech Nforce2-ultra 400 $42

CPU - Mobile Athlon XP 2400 $76

Heatsink - Speeze Whisper rock $15

Video Card - EVGA 6200 AGP $145

Grand Total: $444.50

That leaves you $.50 for a snickers bar.

Nice choice of components...a gaming machine for under 450. Although for a $100-150 more you could go with a 64 build

Agree, but what if they have (or want) the sims 2 DVD edition, lite-on combo drive is $40.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Nick5324

Originally posted by: Pixle

Originally posted by: nick1985
Nick1985's budget rig.

PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING CHARGES

Case + PSU $40

Sony CD-RW $26.50

Hard Drive - Maxtor 40gig $50

RAM- 512 PC-3200 $50

Motherboard - Chaintech Nforce2-ultra 400 $42

CPU - Mobile Athlon XP 2400 $76

Heatsink - Speeze Whisper rock $15

Video Card - EVGA 6200 AGP $145

Grand Total: $444.50

That leaves you $.50 for a snickers bar.

Nice choice of components...a gaming machine for under 450. Although for a $100-150 more you could go with a 64 build

Agree, but what if they have (or want) the sims 2 DVD edition, lite-on combo drive is $40.

That would put me over budget, so i did not include it.

 

[MonkeyWrench4000]

Building a Low-end system is really not worth the time, you will probablly wind up spending more! Why not the Dell Entry system? I think its about $350, (with free shipping online) and although it has onboard graphics and only 256mb of memory, you could easily add another 256mb for $27. As for the On board graphics, they will run the SIMS, and im pretty sure the entry level Dell also has an AGP 8x port.

This will save you time, cause it will be pre-loaded and configured with winxp, not to mention any hardware woes you may have.

If you were doing a gaming rig, then of course you should build it because of the money you will save and the sheer expandability. But if were talkin a pc thats low end or mainstream, Dell will probablly wind up saving you both time and money.

If you do want to build though, you could Def get a tower built on newegg for around $275-300.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: MonkeyWrench4000
Building a Low-end system is really not worth the time, you will probablly wind up spending more!

i disagree. look at the rig i listed. that will own any dell in the price range. and own is an understatement.

 

[Kenazo]

Nick, how does the 6200 compare w/ other budget offerings?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: nick1985
that will own any dell in the price range. and own is an understatement.

Al Cap-Own?

Don Corle-Own?



I'm questioning the need for the 6200 personally, given the projected gaming level. I'd say go nF2 IGP, get the DVD/CDRW combo drive, and use the change to buy the Sims DVD edition.

And a box of Snickers bars.

- M4H

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: nick1985
that will own any dell in the price range. and own is an understatement.

Al Cap-Own?

Don Corle-Own?



I'm questioning the need for the 6200 personally, given the projected gaming level. I'd say go nF2 IGP, get the DVD/CDRW combo drive, and use the change to buy the Sims DVD edition.

And a box of Snickers bars.

- M4H

i had the impression that sims 2 was being played, i guess i misread.

if only the original sims is being played, you could tone down the video card to, as M4H suggested, Nforce2 IGP onboard video. but if you go this path you should invest in 2*256 sticks of RAM, because the IGP chipset greatly benefits from dual channel ram

 

[Anonemous]

hmmm what about the OS? does he want that as well?

 

[ComatoseDelirium]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
hmmm what about the OS? does he want that as well?

god-forbid.

 

[Nick5324]

Could we replace the video card with this one? Now we have enough to get the DVD/CDRW combo drive under budget.

 

[Ike0069]

Again:
? AMD Sempron? 3100+
? 512 MB RAM
? 17? flat-screen CRT
? JBL Platinum 2.0 speakers
? Double-layer DVD+/-R/RW
? 160GB hard drive
? 9-in-1 memory card reader
Includes Mouse/KB/Windows XP/other software.
$450 with free shipping from Circuit City.

 

[halfadder]

Building your own low end system is usually cheaper than buying a pre-built (like Dell or HP)...

UNTIL you figure in the cost for the OEM versions of Windows XP, DVD player, Anti-Virus software, and Corel Office. Adding these, even from NewEgg, can usually add $200 to the build cost.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: Nick5324
Could we replace the video card with this one? Now we have enough to get the DVD/CDRW combo drive under budget.

Better vid card for less .... why not?

 

[NinjaGnome]

Alrighty Here is what I came up with

Mobile AXP 2400
Abit NF7 mobo
512 of kingston 3200
80 gb Seagate SATA hard drive
Radeon 9600 pro
Benq 16x dvdrw drive
Antec case with 350watt powersupply

I went over and went to 493 but it was fine with them so we ordered. I also have a heatsink for an athlon xp sitting in a box, this computer should be enough to run her sims maxed out correct?

 

[Erssa]

I would change couple of parts just for the possibility of future upgrades.

CPU: Sempron 2600+ s754. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-104-226&depa=1 cpu 79$. Amazing value considering it's overclocking potential http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/print/sempron-2600.html

Motherboard EPoX EP-8KDA3J almost the same boards as anandtechs gold editor's choise, except this one is missing Sil3114 controller, not that you wouldn't miss those 4 extra sata-ports anyway on a budget system. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-123-219&depa=1 69.75$ If you could reach the same fsb that they got in anandtechs test (283) it would be 1.6@2.26. Pretty decent overclock considering you can do it on stock voltage, at least they got 285x8 at xbitlabs on stock voltage. This mobo easily beats that NF2 mobo on features e.g gigabit ethernet vs 10/100, 8-channel audio vs 4-channel, 2 sata ports vs no satas...

So the total price would be 79$ +70$ - 76$ - 42$ - 15$ = 16$ higher then with the mobo + cpu proposed by nick5324. It's worth the money imo, but it's your call...

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ike0069]

That's a nice system, but with a pre-built you get an OS, mouse/KB and monitor for the same price, plus a better CPU. If you don't need the periphials, then that build is a good idea.

 

[Erssa]

I was in the impression that he didnt need mouse/kb/monitor. Besides that monitor is 17" crt I wouldn't get too excited about it. Better CPU? Yes, but I bet you cannot overclock that computer to the speeds you can go with that Epox mobo coupled with 2600+ sempron.

But I agree, going with pre-build has its advantages.