To build a computer now, or not to build, that is the question... HELP!

[Milito01]

Here's the story: Im leaving for college very soon (end of this month, the 29th) and I would love to go to school with a new computer, however, being a poor college student, I don't have the funds to make a crazy super-fast computer.

Right now, my parents a b*tching at me for even thinking about it, because we have a, "Perfectly fast computer here at home you can use". They're talking about the Celeron 300a with TNT original, and 8gb hd, 64 MB or ram. Now, this is hardly capable of doing what i want to do. So Ive broke down my options for anyone out there that could give me some advice:


NOTE: This computer will have to be ~$500 at the most

Options:
#1) I could just go for it right now, put together a thrifty computer. Something consisting of Epox Board, 1gig athlon, 256 mb ram, 7200rpm hd, Geforce2mx card.

#2) Take this computer to college for now, and wait until sometime around christmas in which the nForce will hopefully be out, and then buy up that board with all the trimmings.

If anyone has any good suggestions on what to do about this little predicament, i would appreciate it. Its already getting late, and i should make a decision on this soon. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks !!

 

[p0tempkin]

Overstock.com had a barebones kit (look in Hot Deals) for $65-$75.

Toss in a:
1GHz Athlon ($80)
256MB PC133 ($35)
20GB 7200RPM HD ($70)
12X DVD-ROM ($39)
Geforce2 MX ($60)
NIC ($10)
HS/Fan ($10)

$379 bud. If you want to make it kick some ass, get a Geforce2 GTS for around $110 instead of the MX.

Option 2 is an okay idea, but you will be truly miserable on your computer till Christmas, especially at college (we're talking about CS, UT, Q3, etc. 24/7).

 

[erub]

I would think it would be very hard to put together that computer for $379, those are the absolute lowest of prices. But you could probably do it for $500.

 

[dullard]

This may sound odd at first, but many poor college students do it. Use the old computer for now. Sell blood/plasma for about $80/month (plus you'd save many people's lives). By Christmas you'd have $320+$500=$820. Then ask your parents for some computer money/parts as Christmas presents. I bet you'd build a great computer then with $1000.

 

[p0tempkin]

erub, I don't think it would be hard at all.

$304.40 shipped (cut & paste this URL into your browser: http://www.geocities.com/mushdawg/newegg.jpg), prices current as of today, for all the parts I listed except the Andara barebones kit, details of which can be found here for $74 shipped.

So once again, the computer will come out to around $379, give or take a few dollars.

 

[Jittos]

<< Sell blood/plasma for about $80/month (plus you'd save many people's lives >>



Selling one of your Kidney works much faster

for $500, you can get a decent computer already, considering you can use some of the older parts form your older system, like the monitor. then save money to buy the rest later.

dont get geforce2 MX though, it's a waste of money. I'm sure you'll play games in college, so should get AT LEAST a GTS

 

[Nintari]

Don't knock the mx it's a good card for the time being, ut, q3, andespecially half-life based games will run plenty fast.I'd do what dullard says and use the current computer for now. See if you can o/c it to 450 mhz and get a good speed increase out of it. I cant remember how many of those things I got to 504mhz and up lol. Save your money, and get another pc later.
The only thing I'm afraid of is that since the pc market is in such a low pricing slump, and products are plentiful that by the time x-mas rolls around everything will shoot back up in price. God knows the pc shop I work at is in slump right now, and its the only one that has stayed in buisness for over 16yrs lol.