Is it possible to build a PC for 300-400 bucks?

axemanxt40

Senior member
May 13, 2003
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Assuming I have no old parts I can use.

Also any recommendations on hardware would be great, thanks!
 

Medicated858

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Nov 25, 2002
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Im building my mom one right now. I got a combo bundle from frys for a xp 1800 and ecs mobo for 70 bucks. I already got a video card and memory sitting around but those arent too expensive (if you dont buy the best ones). Im gonna go pick up a cheap case from compgeeks and refurbished drives. The monitor is what coud ruint he deal for you (if you need one).
 

Ionizer86

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
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Let's see:
Fry's ECS K7S5A and XP1700+ kit: $50.
Staples 19" NEC flat CRT -$40 (ie a hot deal; these are mostly out of stock though and I doubt the second $60 rebate will always work).
Kbrd/Mouse: Free after rebate
WD400BB hard drive and 48x cdrom: free after coupon and rebate (this happened once like two months ago at OfficeMax).
256MB PC2100: Kbyte or Kingston: $0 after rebate and $10 coupon at OfficeMax.
Case and PSU: $50
Geforce2 MX400 vid card: Newegg: $28

Yes, it's possible. You need tons of hot deals though. In fact, the above is probably under $200 even if the second $60 rebate for the monitor doesn't come. IE $20 monitor.
 

axemanxt40

Senior member
May 13, 2003
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Well I mean yea I got a monitor and keyboard...just none of the parts that go in the actual CPU.
 

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
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Personally, I dont think its a good idea.... You can get a 1700+ for $45, Cheap Case with PowerSupply $50, Mobo with On-Board Video $80, PC2100 256MB $25, HD 20GB $40....
 

newbiepcuser

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2001
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Sometimes you can buy whole PC from Dell at that price with an operating system.

But if you want to build one, do you live a near a Fry's Electronic. That would help a lot too for an ECS combo.



If not get the Asus nForce 1 motherboard with intergrated video, sound, nic. A 60 dollar retail processor like XP 1800. Look for hot deal on ram and well as hard drive. You can probably pick up a decent case for 60.00. A burner for 19.99 bucks after rebate and floppy for 10.00 if you wish to do so.


 

Ionizer86

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
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Axemanxt40, then it's possible to do a good system for $400:
CPU: XP2500+ $90
Mobo: Abit NF7-S $105
Ram: Buffalo 256 3700 $65
Hard drive: some cheap drive: $40
Burner: Free after rebate
Case and PSU: about $50.
Video card: Radeon 9100 $50.

A build like this could probably overclock to Athlon XP3200+. You won't have dual channel, but that won't matter. You will be a bit short of ram, but hey, it's expensive stuff to begin with (except for the $10 Kbyte and Kingston).
 

dexvx

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2000
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You might as well jump on the Dell 400SC deal. 2.4C/i875P mobo/128MB/40GB for less than $400, just add ram.
 

madthumbs

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Oct 1, 2000
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I regret talking my friend into a dell for his first computer. I thought it would take some burden off me, but that dell is a POS! The dell is worse than any computer I've built... but at least he know's the troubles that can befall him even with a top name brand.
 

chocoruacal

Golden Member
Nov 12, 2002
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Anything is possible. With a $400 budget, you should be cruising Fatwallet.com and looking for a deal on a Dell. You'll never be able to beat a Dell with that kind of cash, taking into consideration that it will be 2ghz or higher and come with Windows XP and other software.
 

Alkali

Senior member
Aug 14, 2002
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yes you can

I make Athlon XP 1700+, 256MB DDR Ram, Radeon 9100 Card, Case, Fans, (Onboard Sound), CD, Floppy, and a 40GB WD400JB Hard Drive machines for £270 at work. Cheaper than Dell or HP/Compaq, because my company has Enterprise agreement (ie. no software costs).
 

Dug

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2000
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Nforce2 with onbaord video, sound, nic, firewire, usb $85 from Newegg
AMD XP 1700+ $45
2x256MB DDR $60
40-60GB HD $45
case & ps $45
cdrom $10 or cdrw $20 usually after rebates
mouse, keyboard, speakers $45
17" monitor $70-80
 

madthumbs

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Oct 1, 2000
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Originally posted by: chocoruacal
Anything is possible. With a $400 budget, you should be cruising Fatwallet.com and looking for a deal on a Dell. You'll never be able to beat a Dell with that kind of cash, taking into consideration that it will be 2ghz or higher and come with Windows XP and other software.

Am I truly the only one here that thinks (or know's) that dell sucks? I'd honestly rather buy HP based on my experience with dell and HP.

 

TrueBlueLS

Platinum Member
Jul 13, 2001
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Originally posted by: madthumbs
Originally posted by: chocoruacal
Anything is possible. With a $400 budget, you should be cruising Fatwallet.com and looking for a deal on a Dell. You'll never be able to beat a Dell with that kind of cash, taking into consideration that it will be 2ghz or higher and come with Windows XP and other software.

Am I truly the only one here that thinks (or know's) that dell sucks? I'd honestly rather buy HP based on my experience with dell and HP.

I try to steer people away from Dell too. I just think that they lack on their build quality.
 

LuNoTiCK

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
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It's really hard to beat some of the hot deals dell has sometimes on a cheap complete system.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
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You can do it, but it won't have the greatest parts, and usually not even an OS.

I recommend you spend $650 on a Dell (AR), completely with warranty, monitor, operating system, and Microsoft Office. Yes, Dell at this price range sucks too, but at least when it goes kaput she calls Dell and not you. Plus this way you're actually using *cough* legal software *cough*.

But if you want a good machine, I still think $1000 and up is the sweet spot.
 

madthumbs

Banned
Oct 1, 2000
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>>but at least when it goes kaput she calls Dell and not you<<

-I thought this when I recommended Dell to a friend. I would have had less work, and less problems if I built for him. Dell was worthless to him.
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
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Originally posted by: madthumbs
>>but at least when it goes kaput she calls Dell and not you<<

-I thought this when I recommended Dell to a friend. I would have had less work, and less problems if I built for him. Dell was worthless to him.
Dunno about where you are, but around here, if it's broken and under warranty, they fix it.

I don't like Dell products, but they do seem to try to honour their warranties.
 

wetcat007

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2002
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Originally posted by: madthumbs
Originally posted by: chocoruacal
Anything is possible. With a $400 budget, you should be cruising Fatwallet.com and looking for a deal on a Dell. You'll never be able to beat a Dell with that kind of cash, taking into consideration that it will be 2ghz or higher and come with Windows XP and other software.

Am I truly the only one here that thinks (or know's) that dell sucks? I'd honestly rather buy HP based on my experience with dell and HP.

Dell sucks for power users, HP just flat out sucks horribly.
 

cainsdive

Senior member
Sep 4, 2002
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"DUDE!!! GET A DELL!!!"

But seriously, they ARE cheap. And you know what they say-"You get what you pay for":beer::D
 

Dug

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2000
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What's all the negative about Dell?
What do you mean they suck?
They use an Intel Chipset and cpu.
Major brand video card.
Quiet case.

The chances of something going wrong in a Dell is no more than if you build it yourself.
Sure you may get one with some bad parts, but chances are slim. Guess what the General Hardware forum is filled with? People having problems with home built machines.

So what if you can't tweak it and o/c it. It runs cool and quiet with a warranty.

Don't like the bloat stuff installed on it? Fine reinstall the OS.

 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
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dells are cheap? hardly
maybe you can get a crazy deal...
but the 400SC deal now does not come with an OS...
and even then.. you'd still need to buy ram, video card..