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i have $800-850 now, need advice on building desktop

U

u7412369

Member
hi guys

i currently have 800 dollars and i can maybe stretch it to 850. i want to build a desktop (for the first time) that can play half-life 2 on all high. so as you can see, i'm not going to play hardcore newest games. i already have screen, keyboard, mouse, etc. so i just need advice on the rig itself.

the rig will start from scratch so i will need every little component that should be in it such as cpu cooling and such.

thanks a lot for helping me.
 
I need the same information so I will just piggyback your thread (and bump in the process 😛).

$800-850 desktop systems help us out fellas!
 
 
Originally posted by: tcG
bamacre,

1) No PSU

2) E4300 > E6300

3) Downgrade case to upgrade RAM to 2GB
Click to expand...


1) There is a 500w PSU in the case I linked to.

2) Same price right now. No room in budget for OC'ing, and video card > OC'ed cpu.

3) No room in budget for 2GB
 
If you want to go cheaper, you can get AMD Athlon 64 CPU. There are some great combo deals with mobo out there now. I have an extra 939 heat sink fan I can sell you if you decide to go down that route.

You can get a cheaper video card too. A 256mb PCI-E card can be had for $150 or less.

I wouldn't cheap out on a PSU though.

I use my rig below for gaming CS:S, DOD:S, BF2 and other current games. It works great.
 
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: tcG
bamacre,



2) E4300 > E6300
Click to expand...



2) Same price right now. No room in budget for OC'ing, and video card > OC'ed cpu.
Click to expand...

He's gonna need the 9X multi on the E4300 if he wants to overclock with that garbage RAM.

 
Originally posted by: tcG
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: tcG
bamacre,



2) E4300 > E6300
Click to expand...



2) Same price right now. No room in budget for OC'ing, and video card > OC'ed cpu.
Click to expand...

He's gonna need the 9X multi on the E4300 if he wants to overclock with that garbage RAM.
Click to expand...

Look, he doesn't have room in his budget to get more expensive memory.
 
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: tcG
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: tcG
bamacre,



2) E4300 > E6300
Click to expand...



2) Same price right now. No room in budget for OC'ing, and video card > OC'ed cpu.
Click to expand...

He's gonna need the 9X multi on the E4300 if he wants to overclock with that garbage RAM.
Click to expand...

Look, he doesn't have room in his budget to get more expensive memory.
Click to expand...

Which is exactly why he should be getting the E4300!



 
SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151133

COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP $30 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119115

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB $53
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144415

SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB $170 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814102061

pqi TURBO 2GB (2 x 1GB) $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820141211

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 $108
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

Enhance ENP-5150GH 500W $70
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-E5150GH

adds up to $859
 
Most, if not all, PSUs that come with cases aren't that great.

$190 - Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache
$205 - G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
$108 - Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express
$156 - eVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB ($176 - $20MIR)
$80 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250620AS 250GB 7200RPM SATA300 16MB Cache
$32 - Samsung 18X DVD±R w/LightScribe SH-S182M/BEBN
$40 - Cooler Master Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black ATX Case ($50 - $10MIR)
$52 - XClio GoodPower 500W ATX 500W
=========
$862 + tax and shipping (after rebates)

If tax and shipping pushes you over, go for 1GB of ram instead:
$110 - G.Skill 1GB (2x512MB) DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-1GBNQ

If you can upgrade to 2GB rather quickly (few months or so), go with a 1GB stick instead, and add another in a few months:
$115 - G.Skill 1GB DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5S-1GBNQ

Which would bring the total to ~$765 + tax and shipping (after rebates)

When you get some extra cash, get a better HSF so you can OC the CPU even more:
$47 - Zalman CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU HSF (Quiet)


That Enhance PSU thecrecarc listed above is better than the XClio Goodpower in my list. If you can afford it, go for it. Theres also this Antec NeoHE on sale at Fry's... 550W for $50AR (free shipping):
http://www.frys.com/product/4653878

The X1950Pro is also worth the extra $20... save a bit more cash, lol.
 
Originally posted by: thecrecarc
SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner $28
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151133

COOLER MASTER RC-330-KKN1-GP $30 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119115

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB $53
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144415

SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB $170 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814102061

pqi TURBO 2GB (2 x 1GB) $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820141211

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 $108
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

Enhance ENP-5150GH 500W $70
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-E5150GH

adds up to $859
Click to expand...

Now that would make a damn fine machine.

Good recommendations. :thumbsup:
 
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