Trying to Build a Budget PC

[TheJoelster]

Alright I have been all over trying to get help in creating a good, yet inexpensive ($500-600) budget for my brother for his birthday. I do not need an LCD, Speakers, Keyboard or Mouse. I do need an OEM copy of XP (since I heard that was cheaper.. I am planning on going the AMD way as I have heard much more positive things from there end. So far I was thinking of going for a http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-506&depa=1]AMD XP2500+ Barton[/URL] With an http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-131-468&depa=1] ASUS "A7N8X-X" nForce2 400 Chipset Motherboard[/URL]

What do you guys think?? Also another big problem I am having is with the case and video card. My brother does like playing PC games although he is not really into the Doom 3's or Half LIfe 2, more so The Sims 2, Chronicles of Riddick, and he want Battlefield 2 to run. Also in the case department I was looking to get him one with a side window sort of a gamer style but all the ones I have been looking at people have been telling me that there to cheap.. So if you guys could comment on what I have and if you had my budget what would you get? Thanks so much in advance!

 

[coejus]

You could use the Ars Technica Budget Box as a base for your system- it comes to around $700 or so, but it also includes a monitor, speakers, et cetera, so you can probably pare it down to your budget.

 

[ts3433]

Yeah, the "gamer" cases as you see marketed like that are indeed cheap. Get an nice Antec case/PSU combo for a budget, like the SLK3700AMB or Sonata (no window on either, but I doubt he'd really want to show off 2003's parts at a LAN).

If you're buying an OEM processor, get a mobile 2400 45W (completely multiplier unlocked and should hit 11x200 EASILY). (For OEM procs, you'll need to get your own cooler/HSF. Look at some cheap Speezes or the Zalman 3100.) My Shuttle AN35N Ultra, which is slightly cheaper and has a slightly better chipset than that Asus, overclocks well.

For a video card, try to go with a used 9700 Pro. You can't really beat this for the $100-130 you'll spend. If that's too much, consider even a 9500 Pro used.

RAM: Get PC3200 value RAM; one or two sticks depending on how much you can afford.

HD: Any 8MB/7200RPM from WD, Seagate, or Samsung will do.

 

[mechBgon]

Welcome to the Forums If I have one single piece of advice for you, it is this: don't saddle yourself with a freebie el-cheapo power supply. Make it a high-quality brand and it won't hurt to have some extra wattage available for upgrade/expansion either. Enermax, Fortron and Antec are three decent-quality brands of power supplies. If you are buying an Enermax case, check the photos to see if it comes with a real Enermax power supply, or one of those scummy PowerUp ones instead :frown:

 

[coejus]

Originally posted by: ts3433
Yeah, the "gamer" cases as you see marketed like that are indeed cheap. Get an nice Antec case/PSU combo for a budget, like the SLK3700AMB or Sonata (no window on either, but I doubt he'd really want to show off 2003's parts at a LAN).

For a video card, try to go with a used 9700 Pro. You can't really beat this for the $100-130 you'll spend. If that's too much, consider even a 9500 Pro used.

RAM: Get PC3200 value RAM; one or two sticks depending on how much you can afford.

HD: Any 8MB/7200RPM from WD, Seagate, or Samsung will do.

Good advice.

Antec cases are a joy to build systems with, and saying that is a lot, considered I've been spoiled by my Lian-Li. They also come with very high-quality power supplies that'll easily be enough for this system. The SLK2600AMB comes with a 300W power supply, and only costs $54. This might be a good case to consider, and it's not quite as boring as it's little brother, the SLK1600/SLK1650.

I'd definitely select value RAM from a reputable company, like Corsair, Kingston, Crucial, Samsung, Mushkin, et al. They're a little more costly than generic alternatives, but they're also more compatible and reliable.

I'd also look around for a SATA hard disk, if the mobo you choose supports it.

 

[GroundedSailor]

What MechBgon said - very important.

The cheapest place I get Windows from is http://www.directdeals.com/manufacturer_microsoft.aspx

Apart from the usual places, Newegg, Mwave, Zipzoomfly etc. also check out the following for cheap hardware:
http://www.surpluscomputers.com/
http://www.dumpinggoods.com
I've used them before and always got what I ordered.

If you're going with the Athlon XP 2500+ see if you can afford a 400 FSB model and I would suggest getting the retail version for 3 years of peace of mind. You can always use another cooler.

Good luck

 

[Kaieye]

Wait a sec. The last two Enermax cases that I purchased(I will not buy them anymore)one was DOA and the other quit working after about four months. I sent in a RMA form to Maxpoint ten days ago and I have NOT received a RMA number. This was their CS-125 series mid tower case in black and it is a POS...

 

[TheJoelster]

Ok so here is what I came up with for my system you guys tell me if I am missing anything and or if you would change anything!! Thanks in advance!!

CPU: AMD Athlon 2700+ (RETAIL)

Mobo:ASUS "A7N8X-X" NForce2 400 Chipset

RAM:Kingston ValueRAM 512mb DDR2 PC2-3200- OEM

HD:Seagate 80gb 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive

Case:Antec SLK3700AMB Super Mid Tower Case w/ 350w Power Supply

Video: MSI ATI Radeon 9600Pro 128mb DDR

DVD:Lite-On Combo Drive CD-RW/DVD

XP:Microsoft XP Home


Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!!

 

[mechBgon]

I'd try for an Athlon64 2800+ retail, the price difference isn't too radical.

 

[TheJoelster]

Would the Athlon 64 2800+ give a big performance boost?

 

[Rip the Jacker]

Get a pirated version of XP and get an A64

JUST KIDDING...

*cough*

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: TheJoelster
Ok so here is what I came up with for my system you guys tell me if I am missing anything and or if you would change anything!! Thanks in advance!!

CPU: AMD Athlon 2700+ (RETAIL)

Mobo:ASUS "A7N8X-X" NForce2 400 Chipset

RAM:Kingston ValueRAM 512mb DDR2 PC2-3200- OEM

HD:Seagate 80gb 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive

Case:Antec SLK3700AMB Super Mid Tower Case w/ 350w Power Supply

Video: MSI ATI Radeon 9600Pro 128mb DDR

DVD:Lite-On Combo Drive CD-RW/DVD

XP:Microsoft XP Home


Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!!

That would be a solid budget gaming machine you got spec'd out there. If you can work a slightly better video card in there some how, that would help, but otherwise good.

 

[TheJoelster]

What would you reccomend for the video card that would be an upgrade yet not a huge price difference?

 

[imported_bushman]

the athlon 64 2800+ is socket 754 and the motherboard you selected is socket 462. it will give a performance boost, but for a price that will put you over budget (i think). it would mean getting a different motherboard. also the ram you selected, if it really is ddr2, i am pretty sure will not work or fit with an a7n8x. you need 184-pin ram. kingston pc3200 valueram is good just make sure it has 184 pins not anything more or less. you can get 1gb for less than $150 at mwave.com which is where i got mine. descriptions aren't the best, but prices are and i was satisfied with my purchase from them.

i made a couple changes:


CPU: AMD Athlon 2700+ (RETAIL) This Processor runs at 333Mhz not 400Mhz
if you want a cpu with 400mhz try finding a 3000+ or 3200+. they will be more expensive
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-394&depa=0


Mobo:ASUS "A7N8X-X" NForce2 400 Chipset

RAM:Kingston ValueRAM 512mb (or 512mbx2) DDR400 PC2-3200- OEM

HD:Seagate 80gb 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive

Case:Antec SLK3700AMB Super Mid Tower Case w/ 350w Power Supply

Video: MSI ATI Radeon 9600Pro 128mb DDR

DVD:Lite-On Combo Drive CD-RW/DVD

XP:Microsoft XP Home

GOOD LUCK:thumbsup:

 

[imported_bushman]

instead of a 9600 you could try to find a refurbished 9800se at newegg. don't get mixed up with a 128 bit memory interface. if you commit to a 9800se or 9500 make sure it has a 256 bit memory interface NOT 128 bit. Although all of the suggestions eveyone is giving you are good they will in total make you go over budget. i was lucky and got an athlon xp 3200+ for $132 at mwave.com. and since you've been all over the place you know that each store has different prices.

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...14-131-236R&depa=0

 

[TRUMPHENT]

To put the "B" back in budget, look at this mainboard and find 21 dollars for use elsewhere.
ASROCK K7UPGRADE-880

There is an inexpensive card out that allows you to upgrade it to a socket 754 Athlon 64. Asrock is supposedly the budget line from ASUS. This board seems to have quite a following in europe. I passed on it because it relies on jumpers. It caught my eye because of the CMedia soundchip, dual channel ram, AMD 64 upgrade path etc.

Even if you never upgrade, it still rivals NF2 and saves money.

 

[TheJoelster]

I actually had a AMD Athalon XP2700+ which was Socket A... I thought those two went together..

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: TheJoelster
Ok so here is what I came up with for my system you guys tell me if I am missing anything and or if you would change anything!! Thanks in advance!!

CPU: AMD Athlon 2700+ (RETAIL)

Mobo:ASUS "A7N8X-X" NForce2 400 Chipset

RAM:Kingston ValueRAM 512mb DDR2 PC2-3200- OEM

HD:Seagate 80gb 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive

Case:Antec SLK3700AMB Super Mid Tower Case w/ 350w Power Supply

Video: MSI ATI Radeon 9600Pro 128mb DDR

DVD:Lite-On Combo Drive CD-RW/DVD

XP:Microsoft XP Home


Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!!

I don't think your ram will work - it is DDR2 - your mobo can only support DDR.

 

[Remedy]

Originally posted by: TheJoelster
Ok so here is what I came up with for my system you guys tell me if I am missing anything and or if you would change anything!! Thanks in advance!!

CPU: AMD Athlon 2700+ (RETAIL)

Mobo:ASUS "A7N8X-X" NForce2 400 Chipset

RAM:Kingston ValueRAM 512mb DDR2 PC2-3200- OEM

HD:Seagate 80gb 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive

Case:Antec SLK3700AMB Super Mid Tower Case w/ 350w Power Supply

Video: MSI ATI Radeon 9600Pro 128mb DDR

DVD:Lite-On Combo Drive CD-RW/DVD

XP:Microsoft XP Home


Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!!

I build and sell budget systems everyday, so I usually buy in bulk for certain products. Mostly working with the Socket a products, and just touching the 2800+ and 3100+ Socket 754 for the top of the line budgets.

$103 for an Athlon XP 2700+? I only paid $99 for my Sempron 3100+ for Socket 754. Overclocks to 2.4Ghz+ easily. I wouldn't pay over $95 for a Socket A processor knowing that a 2700+ bare oem XP according to price watch is $75 and I can get a $7 HSF from here. bring the total for that around $88.

Or if I was going to spend that much for a Box 2700 from N/E. An oem A64 2800+ and a heatsink.

A NF3 250 from Epox.

512MB PC3200

As far as Video cards are concerned. I would take a look in the Hot deals! forum and the FS/FT forum for a reputable member selling off product. I purchased a Radeon 9800 Pro used in the FS/FT with the whole retail package for only $125 less than a month ago. Works fine and was a good price.

Your case and HD listed are cheap enough and I would keep it. But, I was @ Microcenter here in Boston last week and picked up 2+ Maxtor 60GB 7200RPM HD's for $37 each. I had to put together some workstations and budget systems with them and the prices were damn fine. If I say so myself. The Dell XP home Disc is a different story though. :^)

If you're on a budget, you have to think like a homeless bum type of person. Dig in the online store trashbin sections to see what you can find before spending heavy on retail package products. JMO and advice.

 

[ts3433]

Your setup with the 2700+ costs around $650 after you subtract Windows (partially because you picked the wrong kind of RAM--that $150 buys you a gig of the regular DDR you need). With a 2700+ that expensive and the motherboard at a comparable price to some budget 754s, I'd go the Sempron 3100+ or Athlon 64 2800+ route. Both should beat the XP 3200+ in most everything.

HD: You chose one with a 2MB buffer--8MB is important. I've had no problems with this WD, though you can also consider Seagate or Samsung and/or going SATA if you want. $66.
CPU: A64 2800. $128.
MB: Chaintech VNF3-250. $79.
RAM: Mushkin 512MB PC3200 2.5-4-4. $71 a stick; get two if you can.
GPU: For about the same as that 9600 Pro, you can probably get a used 9700 Pro. If it must be new, the only worthwhile step up is probably to a 6600GT, which is around $220.
Optical: For not much more than that Lite-On combo, you can get an NEC 3520a DL DVD burner.

 

[TheJoelster]

Thanks for all of the help guys.. So I am wondering which would be the smarter choice right now go for the Semprom 3100+ or the AMD 64 2800+.... Also what do you think of getting a cheaper case and upgrading the PSU, like the Aspire Turbo Case??? Let me know! Thanks in advance!!

 

[DanDaMan315]

if you live near a Micro Center they are having a 20% off sale on all computer building supplies, this might help

 

[ts3433]

A64 2800+ is a better choice. $5 more and has 64-bit support and slightly better performance.

I would advise against getting a generic case (especially of that style) even if you're going to upgrade the PSU. They tend to be of dubious quality and often have poor ventilation or loud cooling.

 

[TheJoelster]

Well I know everyone has been reccomending Antec and I will most likely end up going to purchase that as my case, but I am trying to find a good gaming case for my fourteen year old brother. He really wanted a side window and the Antec case doesn't really look like the cases he was looking at. Anyone know of any reasonably priced case that has a sidewindow that looks kind of gamerish??

 

[ts3433]

If he must have a premod, a generic like that will probably be fine if he knows not to expect as much from it as one would from something higher-quality. (On a side note, I'm 14 myself tomorrow, and I initially looked at those cases too, but a little research showed that an Antec combo was the most cost-effective option. It's not like the SLK3700AMB looks very bad either--it just doesn't have the stupid bling on it that's going to scream... well, okay, he is 14, so I suppose it would be understandable. )