Need to put computer together for under $500

[CapnKiII]

This is for a friend. Just need some help with picking the right parts.

He wants to play DVDs and he wants to use his TV as a monitor. He also wants a burner.
Those are probably the 3 primary requirments. Games would be the secondary one.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[RedShirt]

I'd be sure to tell him that a TV makes a crappy monitor. They are only really good for watching movie files...

If gaming is not that great of a deal, I'd recomending starting with an Nforce with the integrated video, they do have ones that have integrated TV out also. Then later on if he decides he wants to do some more gaming, it has an AGP slot so he may upgrade his video. Sound and Lan would also be taken care of via the motherboard.

This is just a start.

 

[jcmkk]

First off, explain to him that he doesn't want to use his TV as a monitor. His eyes will thank you. If he still want's to, then he'll definetly want to get an ATI graphics card. Nvidia's TV out is terrible.

 

[RedShirt]

LEADTEK Motherboard K7N420DA for AMD Athlon,XP Duron Retail $110
AMD Athlon XP 1800+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - RETAIL $106
CRUCIAL MICRON 256MB 32x64 PC 2100 DDR RAM $43
BLACK EVERCASE E4252BEF5 $39
SAMSUNG 40GB 7200RPM Model# SP4002H $68
Floppy: $9
Lite On 32x12x40 CDRW Model LTR-32123S $64
Logitech Deluxe Access 104 PS/2 Keyboard $13
LOGITECH B69 CORDED OPTICAL MOUSE $12
ALTEC LANSING AVS 300W MULTIMEDIA $25

489 plus shipping. Put the samsung drive in there for money reasons. People say the drive is good though. All these prices are from newegg.

I "THINK" this mobo has TV out, but I am not sure, leadtek says its optional... You'd have to ask newegg if it has it or not, or look at the pictures I guess. Not a bad deal here for 489... pretty good comp that is certainly upgradable.

 

[RedShirt]

Crap... forgot about the DVD... you could just downgrade the proc to get a DVD player.. to like a gig duron or something... That's quite a bit of a preformance hit though.

 

[CapnKiII]

I did tell him that a TV will make it look bad, but he wants to try it anyway.

 

[TechyShAgGz]

Change the Lite On 32x12x40 CDRW Model LTR-32123S $64

to Newegg's

TOSHIBA CD-RW/DVD-ROM -COMBO, MODEL# SD-R1202 - OEM, DRIVE ONLY $93.00

put's you a little over, but not too much.