Trying to build a sub-$250 system...

[elpa]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

This PC will be used primarilly for Internet, media, light gaming (older games, nothing new), and most importantly, photoshop editing.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Would prefer to stay around $250, once the video card has been factored in.

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

U.S.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.

No brand preferences. I like Intel, but the value of AMD is winning me over at the moment.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Mouse, keyboard, Monitor, DVD-RW.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes, this is where I found most of the deals I've listed.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Default speeds.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Before Christmas.


Here's what I have so far:

$59.99 AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH4850DOBOX - Retail

$65.99 ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

$24.99 A-DATA Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1A16KN - Retail

$49.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

$69.99 Antec NSK4480B Black 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply - Retail

Total: $270.95 with Free Shipping.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

EDIT: I added/modified some items, bringing the price up (I had also forgotten to include a HDD). I'm okay with paying $270, but probably wouldn't want to go any higher than this.

 

[Denithor]

Asus 780G $66
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-800 $45
Antec NSK4480B w/380W PSU $70

780G motherboard has better onboard GPU. More RAM - Photoshop loves extra RAM, you cannot have too much available. Nicer case with solid PSU, easily worth the extra $20.

Overall this will cost you $241, still within your budget and you will happier with the results.

EDIT: I don't see a HDD in there, if you need one go for the WD6400AAKS ($70). And any SATA DVDRW (around $20) will work if you don't have a spare already.

 

[elpa]

Thanks for the response. I knew that was too cheap for what I thought that I had. I had accidentally removed the HDD from the cart, and was planning on going with:

$49.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

I appreciate the motherboard and RAM recommendations. If I go with the ASUS, I think that I can hold off on a GPU for a little bit. The Photoshop activity is primarily pixel art. Not sure how that ranks on RAM-intensive processes through Photoshop. Might see how well we fare with the 2GB and update accordingly. This machine will run XP, not Vista, BTW.

I'll update the list in the OP to reflect the HD.

 

[reallyfull]

I would go with something like this:

49.99 - COOLER MASTER Elite RC-330-KKR1 Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail

65.99 - ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Ret

23.49 - Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

54.99 - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

56.00 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

Everything has free shipping and comes to: $250.46 shipped. The 5200+ X2 is faster and cheaper than the CPU you listed. The on board graphics should be fine for older games. I am running almost this exact setup but with a 9600GT and couldn't be happier.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'd go with the Antec case if you only need 1-2 hard drives. Cooling is very good at the lowest fan speed on the 3-speed exhaust fan and at that speed the system will be near-silent. The Antec also has a very good PSU and is a but smaller.

The cooler master may be good too, I just have 2 of the NSK4 series (4400s) and am happy with them.

 

[theAnimal]

2GB Corsair RAM for $10.