Need some advice...

[InterWebGuy]

Hey all, I've been 'volunteered' to build a system for a relative, and could really use some help:

The system has to be decent, but has to:
-be under or around $400 excluding monitor (+/- $50)
-be very reliable/stable
-be decently capable- he wants to be able to play NOLF 2 on it (low res is fine)

I'm used to building $800+ systems, so this is a bit much for me; any advice or assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John.

 

[Zepper]

I just upgraded my system with an MSI KM2M Combo L ($60.) (has a P4 12v connector for CPU power so runs fine on a Sparkle 250W PSU) and a Duron 1200 ($35.) that I've OC'd 10% to start (see Honkin' Speeze ($8.) thread in the Cases/Cooling section). It's working great for me and should run most games reasonably well. Very good HDs are going for $1. a GB AR these days and (normal people only need 40-60GB) - add an Artec 16x DVD-ROM and an Artec 48x CD-RW (or the new Samsung Combo) and a nice 256MB stick of DDR-266 memory. You're in bizness for under $400. You could probably go with an Athlon XP 1800+ and 512MB of RAM and still come in on budget...
.bh.

1- mobo 60 (N or GG)
2- cpu 35 (N or GG)
3- HSF 8 (speeze N)
4- DDR 25. (Sunday big-box ads AR, Pricewatch, etc. only slightly more at N or GG)
5- DVD 38 (N or GG)
6- CD-RW 45 (N or GG)
7- Evercase w/o PSU 17 (N)
8- Sparkle 250W 25 (N)
9- FD 8 (N or GG - I like Sony, Panasonic,or Samsung)
10 - HP OEM kbd/mouse 16 (Centrix Intl.)
11- 40GB, 7200rpm - ~70 (N or GG)
-----------------
About $360. plus shipping!
N=newegg, GG=googlegear,
Tinkering with the specs and careful shopping might even bring the total down (check here in FS/T section!). This was just a Q&D estimate.
..bh.

 

[foofoo]

hi,
i'd go nforce2 igp for this.
chaintech 7NIF2-SUMMIT NFORCE2/IGP u-ATX-RETAIL $99
amd athlon xp1700 thoroughbred $50
Dane-Elec DDR 256MB 32MBx64 PC-2100 RAM - OEM 184-Pin. CL=2 $28
there are always hot deals forum deals going for cd/rw for $20
case w/ ok ps ~$60
floppy ~$9
hd - any name brand 7200 rpm ~40gb should be ok. lots of hot deal forums deals come up every week. i just got one from office max for $40 shipped.

parts listed on the top from newegg.
this is the basis of a reasonable system for ~$306 + tax & ship

from here, go wild. add kbd, mouse, speakers, dvd if you want, etc.

just my 0.02
good luck
edit
*****************************
oops, forgot the cpu fan. i'm partial to the svc gc68 $4.99 at svc.com