New Rig For Less Than $230 - Possible?

lucas122478

Member
Mar 22, 2008
32
9
81
Hi Guys,

Time is constrained as I have to run out and grab the parts in 6 hours & I must have a computer up and running by then. Can you guys help me out? (If it's possible to do this for under $230?) I'd go with Option 1 since priority is high - but if I can build Option 2 for under $230 I'll go with it rather than Option 1. Since Option 1 is NIL for upgrading EVER. Electricity costs are extremely HIGH where I'm at as well - so the "greener the better."

Details are as follows:

Old Rig: 17" LCD, Intel Atom, 2GB DDR2-800 stick, 200W PSU, 80GB SATA Drive, DVD-ROM
What Happened: CPU Fan went out, For whatever reasons Mobo/CPU are toasted.
Priority Level Extreme: No other Computers at home.
Budget: Money is extremely tight $200 or less.

Option 1: Buy a new Intel Atom Board: Which One?
Option 2: Build a Gaming Rig for under $230 - Possible?
Description: Something that can play games of today. It doesn't have to be super fast it doesn't have to be great. It just has to be able to play them and them to be playable without me tossing the computer out the window. There is no margin to go above $230 right now and no margin to hold off and save a few bucks more. I've included links to product listings from 2 companies that are in the area that price decent for this part of the world.

Have: DVD-ROM, Monitor, 80GB SATA Hard Drive
Possible Have(s): 2GB DDR2-800 Stick
Needed for Option 2: Case, PSU, RAM?, MOBO, CPU, Video Card?,
Later Upgrades: Video Card (if Onboard Video is sufficient)

http://www.pcgilmore.com.ph/downloads/pricelist_legalsize.pdf
http://enigma-phil.com.ph/images/stories/Pricelist.pdf
 

Skurge

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2009
5,195
1
71
Yeah, you can't really build a gaming PC for $230, you should try general hardware. They would be able to help you a lot more.

Also, how about an exchange rate or something.
 

Jionix

Senior member
Jan 12, 2011
238
0
0
Or, instead of Atom being option 1, go for Brazos. Should outclass the Atom is almost every regard.
 

Arkadrel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2010
3,681
2
0
Hi Guys,

Time is constrained as I have to run out and grab the parts in 6 hours & I must have a computer up and running by then. Can you guys help me out? (If it's possible to do this for under $230?) I'd go with Option 1 since priority is high - but if I can build Option 2 for under $230 I'll go with it rather than Option 1. Since Option 1 is NIL for upgrading EVER. Electricity costs are extremely HIGH where I'm at as well - so the "greener the better."

Details are as follows:

Old Rig: 17" LCD, Intel Atom, 2GB DDR2-800 stick, 200W PSU, 80GB SATA Drive, DVD-ROM
What Happened: CPU Fan went out, For whatever reasons Mobo/CPU are toasted.
Priority Level Extreme: No other Computers at home.
Budget: Money is extremely tight $200 or less.

Option 1: Buy a new Intel Atom Board: Which One?
Option 2: Build a Gaming Rig for under $230 - Possible?
Description: Something that can play games of today. It doesn't have to be super fast it doesn't have to be great. It just has to be able to play them and them to be playable without me tossing the computer out the window. There is no margin to go above $230 right now and no margin to hold off and save a few bucks more. I've included links to product listings from 2 companies that are in the area that price decent for this part of the world.

Have: DVD-ROM, Monitor, 80GB SATA Hard Drive
Possible Have(s): 2GB DDR2-800 Stick
Needed for Option 2: Case, PSU, RAM?, MOBO, CPU, Video Card?,
Later Upgrades: Video Card (if Onboard Video is sufficient)

http://www.pcgilmore.com.ph/downloads/pricelist_legalsize.pdf
http://enigma-phil.com.ph/images/stories/Pricelist.pdf



(CPU/GPU/Motherboard/CPU cooler, for 146$.)
GIGABYTE GA-E350N-USB3 AMD E-350 (1.6GHz, Dual-Core) ~146$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-468-_-Product


Kingston ValueRAM 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 ~42$ (21x 2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-812-_-Product


= Total cost = 146$ + 42$ = 188$


That would give you (spec wise):
E-350 1.6ghz dual core,
AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics (IGP)
DDR3 4 gb @ 1333

has:
onboard lan/audio/ 4x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.0

use your old pcs:
PSU, 80 gb sata drive, Dvd-Rom.


Put it together and do a tiny overclock on your APU and done.


Option 2: Build a Gaming Rig for under $230 - Possible?
Yes for around 188$ you can have a system able to play quite a few games, do web browseing, play dvds/1080p youtube videos ect.

you just have to buy a
GIGABYTE GA-E350N-USB3 AMD E-350 Motherboard
+
Kingston ValueRAM 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 x 2 (so you have 4gigz of ram)

for 188$
 
Last edited:

Arkadrel

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2010
3,681
2
0

cusideabelincoln

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2008
3,275
46
91
Looks like he lives in the Phillipines. Besides he provided two places where he can buy from. I don't know why everyone is jumping on newegg links, because those are worthless for the OP.

I guess he has about 10,000 to work with. Reuse your RAM, DVD, hard drive, and monitor and you can get one of these:

950 (gilmore) - Dynamo 500W
1250 (enigma) - Intex Orion Case
2550 (gilmore) - MSI 740GTM-P23

-----Option 1------
2995 (enigma) - Sparkle 9600GT 512MB
2220 (enigma) - AMD AM3 Athlon II 240 2.8GHz

-----Option 2------
1860 (gilmore) - Sparkle 9500GT 512MB DDR2 128bit
3380 (gilmore) - AMD Athlon II X3 440
 
Last edited:

maddie

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2010
5,148
5,523
136
Hi Guys,

Time is constrained as I have to run out and grab the parts in 6 hours & I must have a computer up and running by then. Can you guys help me out? (If it's possible to do this for under $230?) I'd go with Option 1 since priority is high - but if I can build Option 2 for under $230 I'll go with it rather than Option 1. Since Option 1 is NIL for upgrading EVER. Electricity costs are extremely HIGH where I'm at as well - so the "greener the better."

Details are as follows:

Old Rig: 17" LCD, Intel Atom, 2GB DDR2-800 stick, 200W PSU, 80GB SATA Drive, DVD-ROM
What Happened: CPU Fan went out, For whatever reasons Mobo/CPU are toasted.
Priority Level Extreme: No other Computers at home.
Budget: Money is extremely tight $200 or less.

Option 1: Buy a new Intel Atom Board: Which One?
Option 2: Build a Gaming Rig for under $230 - Possible?
Description: Something that can play games of today. It doesn't have to be super fast it doesn't have to be great. It just has to be able to play them and them to be playable without me tossing the computer out the window. There is no margin to go above $230 right now and no margin to hold off and save a few bucks more. I've included links to product listings from 2 companies that are in the area that price decent for this part of the world.

Have: DVD-ROM, Monitor, 80GB SATA Hard Drive
Possible Have(s): 2GB DDR2-800 Stick
Needed for Option 2: Case, PSU, RAM?, MOBO, CPU, Video Card?,
Later Upgrades: Video Card (if Onboard Video is sufficient)

http://www.pcgilmore.com.ph/downloads/pricelist_legalsize.pdf
http://enigma-phil.com.ph/images/stories/Pricelist.pdf
I have seen a system comparable to this play games OK for the average gamer. Enthusiasts are another matter, but if money is limited, you CAN get by with something like this. A lot of people in the richer countries do not understand what the rest of the world has to live with.

pcgilmore.com.ph:

Case & power supply Intex Supernova ATX 600W PSU Pesos 1000

Motherboard ECS AMD740G PCIE/DDR2/A/V/L Pesos 1900

CPU AMD Athlon II X2 245 2.9Ghz Pesos 2500

Memory 2 x Kingston 1GB PC6400 DDR2 800 Pesos 1400



enigma-phil.com.ph

Video card SPARKLE 9600GT 512MB 256BIT Pesos 2995


TOTAL Pesos 9795
TOTAL US $ 224.80

Exchange Rate US $ 1.00 = Pesos 43.57


This will be immensely faster than an Atom or Brazos system.
 
Last edited:

betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
2,677
0
0
OK, this thread really belongs in General Hardware section, where there is a very good Sticky with a pro-form of questions to answer to get informed advice on PC builds. Questions include:

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

^ So that recommendations are based on items available in OP's country/shopping sites, in OP's currency.
 

BTA

Senior member
Jun 7, 2005
862
0
71
I came up with this. Re-use your hard drive. Unlock the 2nd core in the Sempron. Video card should be alright. I've used the case/psu combo a couple times and they are great for your money. It's a few dollars over $230 but once you get the rebate back it's under your $230 limit. If you can wait on rebates then I'd do this instead for memory and you'll still be under $230 after rebates:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145260

Part LIST:

HEC 6K28BBX585 Black 0.8mm SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 585W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811121004
$61.99

BIOSTAR A780L3L AM3 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138290
$49.99

Mushkin Enhanced 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146744
$19.99

AMD Sempron 140 Sargas 2.7GHz Socket AM3 45W Single-Core Processor SDX140HBGQBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103698
$37.99

MSI VR5570-MD1G Radeon HD 5570 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127546
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$64.99

Grand Total: $234.95
 

lucas122478

Member
Mar 22, 2008
32
9
81
Thanks for your help guys. Everything, listed was pretty much "We don't carry, or out of stock" story of my life over here. Ended up going over budget just a bit - oops.

AMD AM3 ATHLON II 240 2.8GHZ 2,220PHP
ASROCK G41M-VS3 2,065PHP
INTEX SUPERNOVA INC. 600W PSU 1,240PHP
2 GB KINGSTON DDR3 1333 1,085PHP
SEAGATE 320GB 7200 SATA 1,860PHP
PALIT GT430 1GB DDR3 128BIT 2,890PHP
FREE KEYBOARD
FREE MOUSE
=======================================
TOTAL: 11,360PHP ($264)
DISCOUNT: 860PHP (-$20)
GRAND TOTAL: 10,500PHP ($244)
 

tincart

Senior member
Apr 15, 2010
630
1
0
I don't think the Brazos + discrete GPU suggestions are going to be helpful. Even the E350 can't really push a discrete card very well. There will be a major CPU bottleneck.
 

Cogman

Lifer
Sep 19, 2000
10,284
138
106
I don't think the Brazos + discrete GPU suggestions are going to be helpful. Even the E350 can't really push a discrete card very well. There will be a major CPU bottleneck.

It is going to push it better than the atom.
 

blckgrffn

Diamond Member
May 1, 2003
9,676
4,309
136
www.teamjuchems.com
Thanks for your help guys. Everything, listed was pretty much "We don't carry, or out of stock" story of my life over here. Ended up going over budget just a bit - oops.

AMD AM3 ATHLON II 240 2.8GHZ 2,220PHP
ASROCK G41M-VS3 2,065PHP
INTEX SUPERNOVA INC. 600W PSU 1,240PHP
2 GB KINGSTON DDR3 1333 1,085PHP
SEAGATE 320GB 7200 SATA 1,860PHP
PALIT GT430 1GB DDR3 128BIT 2,890PHP
FREE KEYBOARD
FREE MOUSE
=======================================
TOTAL: 11,360PHP ($264)
DISCOUNT: 860PHP (-$20)
GRAND TOTAL: 10,500PHP ($244)

Good work. That 430 is underpowered for gaming, but should get you in the mix.

oops. looks like you bought an Intel motherboard with your AMD processor. Probably going to need to exchange that...