i need a good gaming computer for $425

shoRunner

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 2004
2,629
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yeah you can't get a "good" gaming system with that much money. save alittle more. the one you linked to on ebay would be a terrible gaming system anyway. you couldn't play any recent game with any sort of decent settings.
 

t3h l337 n3wb

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2005
2,698
0
76
$425 is way too little. Save up more. It'll definitely be worth it. Or, you could go for one of those like $100-$200 cheapo computers, stick a video card in it, add some RAM, and be prepared to throw the machine away in a couple years...
 
Nov 11, 2004
10,855
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Originally posted by: t3h l337 n3wb
$425 is way too little. Save up more. It'll definitely be worth it. Or, you could go for one of those like $100-$200 cheapo computers, stick a video card in it, add some RAM, and be prepared to throw the machine away in a couple years...

Hey! I have a 486 w/ 16MB EDO that still runs Solitaire and Minesweeper. :D
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
5,953
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Sure you can.

Barton XP2500 @ 3200 - $80
Abit NF7-S2 MB - $60
Kingston 2 x 256 PC3200 - $50
GF 6600GT - $125
Any 7200 RPM HD - $50
Any CD/DVDROM - $20
300W PSU - $15
Sound - onboard
NIC - onboard
OS - you're on your own
Case - don't really need one, or use an old one, or be creative and use your desk

^
Very similar to my rig except I have a better PSU, an Audigy2, GF 6800, CD-RW/DVD and 1 GB RAM and a case.

Grant total = $400
$25 for shipping or kb/mouse/case ;)



If all else fails, go used and save even more money.
 

Concillian

Diamond Member
May 26, 2004
3,751
8
81
Yeah, you can do pretty well.

I put together an AXP system for my fiance's little brother for around $350. It's not the king of the heap, but it plays BF2 at 1024 at medium settings quite well. I bought a lot of the stuff for it in the FS/FT forum here.

It dpends on your definiteion of the word 'good'

If you define good as capable of playing most games at 1600x1200, then no way. If good = 1024x768 then you can do it... IF you have a monitor already.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
It's called an XBox360, I suggest you look into it, because you ain't getting a good gaming PC for $425. Save up some more allowance money.
 

Kogan

Golden Member
Mar 21, 2000
1,331
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0
You CAN get a very decent computer for quite cheap actually :) There's just too many high-end folks around here who recently spent $2000 on a computer, so they don't realize it.

Here's a system I recently put together, along with the prices I paid last month:

$66 Epox 9nda3j
$114 Venice 3000+
$150 Geforce 6800 (nu)
$25 xp-90 heatsink
$67 1gb OCZ value ram
$25 Used 400w thermalright PSU
$25 Cheap case

-----
$472 total, assuming you've already got a monitor, keyboard, speakers, etc


I was going into some current prices, but was getting time consuming - but a current comparable system (made not to be overclocked) can be had for around $80 less.

If you're not good at building a computer, your best bet is to search for a Dell computer deal, then upgrade the video card and ram if needed. (upgrade yourself, not through dell for the best value). You'll need at least a 6600gt/x800 series video card and 512mb of ram to play current and future games with no problems.

Edit: this guy's system is not a bad deal. Includes everything except windows:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=45&threadid=1666623&enterthread=y
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: Kogan
You CAN get a very decent computer for quite cheap actually :) There's just too many high-end folks around here who recently spent $2000 on a computer, so they don't realize it.

Here's a system I recently put together, along with the prices I paid last month:

$66 Epox 9nda3j
$114 Venice 3000+
$150 Geforce 6800 (nu)
$25 xp-90 heatsink
$67 1gb OCZ value ram
$25 Used 400w thermalright PSU
$25 Cheap case

-----
$472 total, assuming you've already got a monitor, keyboard, speakers, etc


I was going into some current prices, but was getting time consuming - but a current comparable system (made not to be overclocked) can be had for around $80 less.

If you're not good at building a computer, your best bet is to search for a Dell computer deal, then upgrade the video card and ram if needed. (upgrade yourself, not through dell for the best value). You'll need at least a 6600gt/x800 series video card and 512mb of ram to play current and future games with no problems.

That is AMAZING! Now you just need the hard drive, optical drive and the cost of Windows XP (for some reason people always forget to add this in). Oh look at that, way over $425. Get a console.
 

Kogan

Golden Member
Mar 21, 2000
1,331
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0
eh? why would he need windows xp if he's already got it? Just sell his old computer without XP.

If you'd like, I can put together a more complete system, rub it in your face, and show you how stupid you are :)
 

bulbasuar

Member
Aug 14, 2005
56
0
0
HDD, CDROM and XP are easily transferred from existing computer to new one. It's doesnt have to be 2000+ for a nice stable computer. Off course there are people who feel anything under 2000 isnt worth it. As well, you've gotta look around for good prices (BBF.ca in Canada) and you can even say "Hey (good friend) are you using that (HDD/DVD/CDROM/Case) in your (Closet/Desk/Drawer)." :D
 

shoRunner

Platinum Member
Nov 8, 2004
2,629
1
0
no one ever said anything about having to have $2000 for a nice system. we just said $425 for a "good" gaming system isn't happening...but it all depends on what you call good.
 

xTYBALTx

Senior member
May 10, 2005
394
0
0
I've seen some amazing builds in this thread. Hats off to kogan and psteng - but OP will still need some creativity to keep things decent.
 

Kogan

Golden Member
Mar 21, 2000
1,331
0
0
What I think is "good" can run all current games with no problems :) I actually have a system comparable to this one and I play doom3, world of warcraft, etc, with no problems at all. Don't forget that the normal consumer can't tell a difference between 50fps and 80fps, so there's no real reason for the average person to spend the extra $1000 to get those 30 more fps.

From pricewatch.com:

$41 512mb ram
$114 754 retail box 2800+
$132 Geforce 6600GT newegg deal
$30 Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR nforce3 motherboard
$42 80gb hdd
$20 Cheap dvd drive
$30 ATX Case with 550w psu
-----
$409 total


Cheaper with used parts from anandtech forsale/trade:

$$$ Other parts from above
$35 512mb ram
$100 2800+/3000+ A64 processor
$115 Geforce 6600GT
$35 80gb hdd
-------
$365 total


I don't see how anyone can say one of these systems is not good considering that most PC game players are still running systems similar to this:
P4-1.8 ghz or AXP 1700+
256mb ram
geforce4 or 5, ATI Radeon 7000-9800
(and I might add, can still play most games fine)

Edit:
And after looking at the other post, a video card upgrade would be good for the current 1.8ghz computer. Get at least a 6600gt / x800 video card and upgrade it to 512mb-1gb ram and it will most likely be fast enough to where he won't need a whole new computer.
 
Mar 20, 2005
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$425...?... that's a tuffy... save up a tad more... maybe $800 for good-adequate-decent (minimum) performance... come to think of it, i paid $500 for a commodore 64, with a few 100 games thrown in, but that was back in '87, '88...
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: Kogan
eh? why would he need windows xp if he's already got it? Just sell his old computer without XP.

If you'd like, I can put together a more complete system, rub it in your face, and show you how stupid you are :)

Um, I don't see where he is looking to upgrade, he said he wants a new computer. This line, "my little brother in law wants a gaming computer and he saw this one on ebay," would lead me to believe he is starting from scratch which would mean he needs an OS. If you are a Linux guy, you just saved yourself about ~$100 for the OS. If you want XP, that's about $80-100 you'll need to add. It's as simple as that. Now please, go ahead and list a "good" gaming system for $425. I'm ready for you to rub it in my face.

Edit: I see you've already comprised the list (I'm going to refer to your first list as it is a new PC build). What you forgot to include was the OS (I'm assuming XP) and shipping cost. Given that those are pricewatch prices, the shipping should be substantial, added to the fact that case and PSU for $30 is sure to be one big pile of crap. I thought we were looking for a "good" gaming machine, not some cheap piece of crap with questionable parts.

Lik eI said, XBox360 sounds more in your budget. Either you get a REALLY nice console or a sh!tty PC. It's your call.
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
5,953
0
0
Originally posted by: JackBurton
Originally posted by: Kogan
eh? why would he need windows xp if he's already got it? Just sell his old computer without XP.

If you'd like, I can put together a more complete system, rub it in your face, and show you how stupid you are :)

Um, I don't see where he is looking to upgrade, he said he wants a new computer. This line, "my little brother in law wants a gaming computer and he saw this one on ebay," would lead me to believe he is starting from scratch which will mean he needs an OS. If you are a Linux guy, you just saved yourself about ~$100 for the OS. If you want XP, that's about $80-100 you'll need to add. It's as simple as that. Now please, go ahead and list a "good" gaming system for $425. I'm ready for you to rub it in my face.

How about my system? :D

For about $10, you can get a crappy kb and mouse and you're set.
If he can skimp on some parts, he can save another $10 for a case/PSU combo and I'm still within his budget.

And I don't believe that price should include OS.
He asked for a gaming computer.
Computer = hardware in my book, not software.
If that were the case, then his $425 should include the price of the games as well.
After all, what's a gaming computer good for if it has no games?
 

theMan

Diamond Member
Mar 17, 2005
4,386
0
0
OR... You could pick up the latest deal from DELL!!!!!! The prices can't be beat!!!
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: psteng19
Originally posted by: JackBurton
Originally posted by: Kogan
eh? why would he need windows xp if he's already got it? Just sell his old computer without XP.

If you'd like, I can put together a more complete system, rub it in your face, and show you how stupid you are :)

Um, I don't see where he is looking to upgrade, he said he wants a new computer. This line, "my little brother in law wants a gaming computer and he saw this one on ebay," would lead me to believe he is starting from scratch which will mean he needs an OS. If you are a Linux guy, you just saved yourself about ~$100 for the OS. If you want XP, that's about $80-100 you'll need to add. It's as simple as that. Now please, go ahead and list a "good" gaming system for $425. I'm ready for you to rub it in my face.

How about my system? :D

For about $10, you can get a crappy kb and mouse and you're set.
If he can skimp on some parts, he can save another $10 for a case/PSU combo and I'm still within his budget.

And I don't believe that price should include OS.
He asked for a gaming computer.
Computer = hardware in my book, not software.
If that were the case, then his $425 should include the price of the games as well.
After all, what's a gaming computer good for if it has no games?
A computer whether it be gaming or not HAS to have an OS. There is no way of getting around it. It should be included with any new computer build. Now the OS preference is a different story. Games or any other software is pretty much understood as "sold separately" as it is not required to have the computer function normally.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: psteng19
How about my system? :D
It's not bad but dude, you've GOT to include a case and an OS. You just don't have a complete PC without either one of those.
 

Topweasel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2000
5,437
1,659
136
Here is my attempt to help, Machine is $515 with shipping and 465 without. I tried to cut corners everywhere without being to crappy. Nice to learn that they have a 2800+ Sempy with 64bit support. With the exception of having AGP instead of PCIe it is really upgradable. As a poor gamer this is going to be a nessesity as he will need to consantly be upgrading the machine to be able to play newer games.

I included Just about everything. Including O/S sof anything you can transfer or pickup locally would help. $425 is a little low man and is going to be almost impossible to hit without needing major changes almost instantly after purchase.


Edit: can't get wishlists to work. so try to understand this.

Linkworld 3210-04-C2628 Black/Silver Metal ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $24.99 -$5.00 Instant $19.99

ASRock K8Upgrade-1689 Socket 754 ULi M1689 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $52.00 $52.00

SAPPHIRE ATLANTIS RADEON 9600 Radeon 9600 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail $69.00 $69.00

SPARKLE Power Q ATX-350GU ATX 350W Power Supply - OEM $29.50 $29.50

AMD Sempron 64 2800+ Palermo 800MHz FSB Socket 754 Processor Model SDA2800BXBOX - Retail $76.00 $76.00

GeIL Value 512MB (2 x 256MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model GE5123200BDC - Retail $54.55 $54.55

Maxtor DiamondMax 8s 6E040T0 40GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $50.50 $50.50

LG Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model GDR-8163B - OEM $20.99 $20.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 1a - OEM
Model #: N09-00741 89.95 $89.95

Subtotal: $462.48