new computer for around 300-400

[gamerxx13]

Okay, my friend wants to get a new computer. He is willing to spend about 300-400 dollars on this new computer. What kind of specs will be the best value. Like whats the best type of computer we can get for that money. Thanks for the help. I was thinking a P4 with 512 ram and a 80 gig harddrive...well hope you guys can help, thanks

 

[Bona Fide]

Is he willing to recycle old parts? Because I think $400 is gonna get him next to nothing unless he is willing to reuse the monitor and peripherals.

 

[gamerxx13]

He has the moniter and speakers, just the computer. Thanks.

 

[blckgrffn]

I just priced out a rig, and I think that it should come pretty close. Maybe $450 if you include a mouse and keyboard set...

Nat

 

[o1die]

You'll need a Fry's combo deal to come close. Some give you the motherboard free. Outpost.com also has some combo specials, but Fry's is the best.

 

[jpetermann]

Can you say... "DELL"

 

[sangyup81]

we're talking about integrated video and 512 or less ram then

 

[Furen]

are you willing to OC?

If so I'd say go s754 sempron...

I recently built a semrpon system (no floppy, by the way) for $340ish.
Sempron 2800 @2.128 (stock volts/cooling)
512MB of corsair value ram
80gb spinpoint harddrive
Some random STEEL case (only get aluminum if you're getting a highend one, cheap aluminum cases are flimsy as hell)
A rosewill powersupply (dont remember if it was 350 or 400 watts)
3420 DVD+-RW
and a refurbed dfi lanparty NF3 250GB.

I didnt buy a video card 'cause I had an old one (though I kind of wish I'd gotten something like a 9600xt).

The DFI mobo is overkill if you dont plan to overclock or will only overclock very little.

 

[blckgrffn]

heck no, check out this:

Mwave - 2800+ A64 Retail (118) on Shuttle nforce3 250 mobo (40) w/ 512 crucial DDR400 ram (44)= about $215 shipped

NewEgg - Case of your choice, keep it to about $50 shipped w/a decent PWS, gigabtye 9200 (128 Bit - that is really important! - 48), NEC Black DVD-RW(48), Samsung 80 gig IDE hard drive(54), Logitech Keyboard and mouse combo(20) - $235 shipped

What do you think about that? It would be a great general purpose box, and could still play most games (forget FarCry, HL2 or D3 though...) But for $450 it would be hard to beat. The only consideration might be a semron 2800+ to spend a little more on the vid card, but that is it... with the 2800+, you could always get a nicer card later and not be to bottlenecked.

Additionally, to get it closer to $400, get some cheap rosewill ram and the sempron and call it good 🙂

*Edit* - oh yeah, a 2800+ sempron retail from newegg is $83 shipped, and cheap ram like OCZ value would save another $5, getting you right down to $400

Nat

 

[Sentry2]

Maybe he'd be happy with something like this.......

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Shopping/shoppingcart.asp?submit=view

Would be great for most games. Just add a cheap case/power supply combo and maybe a cd burner if needed. Probably looking at around $425 or $450 but it would be nice for games.

 

[Sentry2]

256MB 9600PRO
2 256MB(for dual channel) Geil DDR400 w/heat spreaders
2800+ A64

All brand new.....
can't beat all that for the price 🙂

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: gamerxx13
Okay, my friend wants to get a new computer. He is willing to spend about 300-400 dollars on this new computer. What kind of specs will be the best value. Like whats the best type of computer we can get for that money. Thanks for the help. I was thinking a P4 with 512 ram and a 80 gig harddrive...well hope you guys can help, thanks

Hey man..this is your lucky day. In the For sale/trade section. I'd been eyeing on this deal for quite a while

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=45&threadid=1628455

this is what this guy is selling for 300$ dude

PC #1 - $300
NO VIDEO CARD [I sold it to a friend and never replaced it]
P4 2.8gz 533M 478Pin/512K RET
Asus P4PE with Gigabit LAN, SATA, 1394 (firewire)
Soundblaster Audigy w 1394
1 GB Corsair CMX512-2700C2
Western Digital WD2000 (200GB) IDE
Western Digital WD1200 (120GB) IDE
Enermax EGP 465P-VE 431W PSU
Plextor PX4824TA (black) 48X CD-R, 24X CD-RW
Toshiba SD-M1502 16X DVD-ROM (beige) [I couldn't find a black one at the time]
Mitsumi 1.44 FDD (black)
Enermax SOHO server tower (black)