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Sub-$500? Go Wild!

X

Xiode

Senior member
All you computer guru's out there, I challenge you: Come up with the best system possible for under $500. 😉

I've sort of been away from the computer enthusiast world for quite some time, and I'm not quite sure what all has changed as far as prices and technology over the past couple months. The purpose of this machine will be to run World of Warcraft at a good framterate. 😀

Also, you *dont* have to include a monitor as I have a 17" LCD laying around that runs a max res of 1024x768.

I'd like to get the biggest bang out of my buck in terms of price for power, namely including overclockability and such.


Have fun and go wild! 😀
 
NEC 7170A-0B 18x DVD burner
Rosewill R805BS ATX case w/300W PSU
Western Digital WD800JD 80GB SATA/300 hard disk
Epox EP-8NPA7I socket-754 board
XFX PVT71GUQF3 7900GT PCIe
PQI MD441GUOE 1GB DDR-400
Sempron 64 2800+ (SDA2800BXBOX)
TOTAL WITH SHIPPING: $502.44

I never play games, so I don't have any idea what makes a good video card. However, the point of the above system is that you get 1GB RAM and $200 budgeted for the video card of your choice, whatever that may be. With the Epox board you should be able to overclock the Sempron to 2.4 GHz or so, which amounts to a virtual Athlon 64 3300+. If you need to shave off that extra $2.44, you can do so any number of ways without making much of a sacrifice.
 
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
Athlon 3400+ S939 Combo - includes CPU, Asus A8R-MX Mobo, and 250gig SeagateHDD $155
X1900GT - $155
2x 512mb Corsair VS DDR400 - $100
Lite-On DVDRW/CDRW -$30
Thermaltake 430W PSU - $40
XION Mid-Tower Case - $25 AMIR
Cooler Master CPU HSF Combo -$5

prices do not include shipping.

Unshipped Price: $520 (-$15 rebate = $515)

Shipped Price: $566 (-$15 rebate = $551)

edited for descriptions
Click to expand...

great, just switch the psu to a fortron/sparkle ax-400 for $40.
 
Originally posted by: acegazda
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
Athlon 3400+ S939 Combo - includes CPU, Asus A8R-MX Mobo, and 250gig SeagateHDD $155
X1900GT - $155
2x 512mb Corsair VS DDR400 - $100
Lite-On DVDRW/CDRW -$30
Thermaltake 430W PSU - $40
XION Mid-Tower Case - $25 AMIR
Cooler Master CPU HSF Combo -$5

prices do not include shipping.

Unshipped Price: $520 (-$15 rebate = $515)

Shipped Price: $566 (-$15 rebate = $551)

edited for descriptions
Click to expand...

great, just switch the psu to a fortron/sparkle ax-400 for $40.
Click to expand...

and add OS
 
I have a copy of XP but only the one I'm using on this computer... it won't allow two installations will it? I'm a student if that makes any difference. 🙂 I thought I remembered something about getting it dirt cheap if you're a student.
 
Originally posted by: Xiode
I have a copy of XP but only the one I'm using on this computer... it won't allow two installations will it? I'm a student if that makes any difference. 🙂 I thought I remembered something about getting it dirt cheap if you're a student.
Click to expand...

It will allow two installations, but you would have to call MS to get it activated, and then tell them that you are only using it on one machine, and that would not be legal.

As a student, if your university has a bookstore or some place that sells software, you should be able to go pick it up for $100 as long as you are currently enrolled.

 
Originally posted by: regnez
Originally posted by: Xiode
I have a copy of XP but only the one I'm using on this computer... it won't allow two installations will it? I'm a student if that makes any difference. 🙂 I thought I remembered something about getting it dirt cheap if you're a student.
Click to expand...

It will allow two installations, but you would have to call MS to get it activated, and then tell them that you are only using it on one machine, and that would not be legal.

As a student, if your university has a bookstore or some place that sells software, you should be able to go pick it up for $100 as long as you are currently enrolled.
Click to expand...

my university has a site license... free for me! 😀
 
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