Under $500 build

herbage11

Senior member
Feb 10, 2002
707
0
0
My Dad's computer died and I need to build him a new one. It was a Gateway P3 500. The things I can salvage include the hard drive, then all external things (monitor, keyboard,...) I am going to use Newegg and need advice since I have not built since my P4 1.6A. I like the following name brands and just need some advice please. Intel what new but not too $$? Mobo. I like Asus...Video card (have Gainward now) and case any bargins at newegg that are good? . Little help anyone that has built a $500+- intel system from newegg lately.
thanks,
Herb
 

Twista

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2003
9,646
1
0
barton 2500+
A7N8X-X
Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM
WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM IDE HARD DRIVE, Model WD800JB, OEM DRIVE ONLY
radeon 9600 pro if games
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
PowMax Aluminum Mid-Tower Case w/ 400W Power Supply, Model ALV90 - Retail - 40$
Shuttle Motherboard for AMD processors Model AN35N-Ultra Retail - 62$ has a 15$ rebate
Sapphire Atlantis ATI RADEON 9600 PRO 128MB 8X AGP DVI/TV LITE BOX - 148$
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail - 90$
Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM - 98$

total = $438.99
after rebate its 423.99
 

fredtam

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2003
5,694
2
76
I would go with:

Antec Sonata case
Abit IS7
Intel Pentium 4/ 2.6C GHz 800MHz FSB
2X Crucial 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200

Total $481
Use the old vid card until funds allow for an upgrade.
With the exception of the vid card (and possibly the hard drive) you would have a near top of the line system.

If you could spare another 100 dollars I would get an SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP VGA+TV-out BULK .
 

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
27,099
16,014
136
Originally posted by: fredtam
I would go with:

Antec Sonata case
Abit IS7
Intel Pentium 4/ 2.6C GHz 800MHz FSB
2X Crucial 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200

Total $481
Use the old vid card until funds allow for an upgrade.
With the exception of the vid card (and possibly the hard drive) you would have a near top of the line system.

If you could spare another 100 dollars I would get an SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP VGA+TV-out BULK .

Just because you like Intel, doesn't mean that you have to make a recommendation that doesn't fit the budget. The ones above with an AMD processor of almost equal speed, DO fit the budget. That why most people like them, they don't cost an arm and a leg, and they perform.
 

optimistic

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
3,006
0
0
Originally posted by: Markfw900
Originally posted by: fredtam
I would go with:

Antec Sonata case
If you could spare another 100 dollars I would get an SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP VGA+TV-out BULK .

Abit IS7
Intel Pentium 4/ 2.6C GHz 800MHz FSB
2X Crucial 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200

Total $481
Use the old vid card until funds allow for an upgrade.
With the exception of the vid card (and possibly the hard drive) you would have a near top of the line system.

Just because you like Intel, doesn't mean that you have to make a recommendation that doesn't fit the budget. The ones above with an AMD processor of almost equal speed, DO fit the budget. That why most people like them, they don't cost an arm and a leg, and they perform. Please try not to troll....

Who warranted this lynching? The original poster requested an intel system. Intel system can be built affordably too, why do you so quickly assume that "most people don?t like them."

Anyways, this being a system for your dad, with no specific need to be top performer in games, I would recommend the same system.
 

fredtam

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2003
5,694
2
76
Originally posted by: Markfw900
Originally posted by: fredtam
I would go with:

Antec Sonata case
Abit IS7
Intel Pentium 4/ 2.6C GHz 800MHz FSB
2X Crucial 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200

Total $481
Use the old vid card until funds allow for an upgrade.
With the exception of the vid card (and possibly the hard drive) you would have a near top of the line system.

If you could spare another 100 dollars I would get an SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP VGA+TV-out BULK .

Just because you like Intel, doesn't mean that you have to make a recommendation that doesn't fit the budget. The ones above with an AMD processor of almost equal speed, DO fit the budget. That why most people like them, they don't cost an arm and a leg, and they perform. Please try not to troll....



Look here asshat he said he likes intel. It is my understanding that he has a hard drive and a vid card. Unless you can upgrade to something that will noticably outperform what you have there is no reason to buy something else. The system does fit the budget of $500 and will outperform any of the suggested amd systems in things that "dads" usually do and most things they don't ie. gaming. Also things like the case could be switched for lower price case. I suggested the sonata because its quiet and comes with a quality PSU. If he thinks his dad needs an expensive vid card then no the intel system may not be right. I was simply giving options.

Search your post dumbass. Most of your replies are disguised AMD ads. I could care less what he puts in his system and I don't need a fanboy over-analyzing my post so STFU. Hows that for trolling b!tch.

 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: optimistic
Originally posted by: Markfw900
Originally posted by: fredtam
I would go with:

Antec Sonata case
If you could spare another 100 dollars I would get an SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600 128MB 8X AGP VGA+TV-out BULK .

Abit IS7
Intel Pentium 4/ 2.6C GHz 800MHz FSB
2X Crucial 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200

Total $481
Use the old vid card until funds allow for an upgrade.
With the exception of the vid card (and possibly the hard drive) you would have a near top of the line system.

Just because you like Intel, doesn't mean that you have to make a recommendation that doesn't fit the budget. The ones above with an AMD processor of almost equal speed, DO fit the budget. That why most people like them, they don't cost an arm and a leg, and they perform. Please try not to troll....

Who warranted this lynching? The original poster requested an intel system. Intel system can be built affordably too, why do you so quickly assume that "most people don?t like them."

Anyways, this being a system for your dad, with no specific need to be top performer in games, I would recommend the same system.

ill agree its not a bad sys and fits his criteria. but the AMD sys i suggested is just as fast and is less expensive that you cna get a vid card with it. both are great. i just like getting more for my money

i dont see him saying that he had a vid card so that why i included one
and if you dad doesent do any gameing get him a Matrox G450 or G550. they rule at 2D. i have a G550 and its awsome for word and excel. that would knock at least 50$ off the price i suggested
 

fredtam

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2003
5,694
2
76
Anubis from the benchmarks I've seen the 2.6c outperforms even the 3200 and that was on an Intel board that in no way matches the performance of an abit is7 while the 3200 was on the board Twista suggested. As I said if he has a vid card and cannot budget another one that would give a noticable increase or if 3D is not important Intel is the way to go. If not then an AMD system would be fine.
 

SUOrangeman

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
8,361
0
0
Seriously, even though I'm a tweaker much like everyone else here, I find that Dell's sub-$500 offerings hard to beat for systems *someone else will be using* (like parents, siblings, etc.).

Today's deal is a Dimension 2400 for $500 before $100 MIR. Includes Office 2003, but could use a little more RAM.

-SUO
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: SUOrangeman
Seriously, even though I'm a tweaker much like everyone else here, I find that Dell's sub-$500 offerings hard to beat for systems *someone else will be using* (like parents, siblings, etc.).

Today's deal is a Dimension 2400 for $500 before $100 MIR. Includes Office 2003, but could use a little more RAM.

-SUO

if you dont like AGP slots, then go for it
 

SUOrangeman

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
8,361
0
0
I doubt Dad will really care about an AGP slot. The PowerEdge 400SC deal is back ... and that one has an AGP slot (not to mention the Canterwood chipset).

-SUO
 

dexvx

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2000
3,899
0
0
Get the Dell 400SC Barebones...

Right now its onsale for $224 AR. If you add $99, you get a 2.4C instead of a Celeron 2.0. If you add $100 more, you get a PCI-X U320 card with a 36GB Seagate U320 10K.6. Just add memory and a video card and you're set, which I think you wiill still be well within your budget. And yes, it has a AGP 8X slot.
 

Bitdog

Member
Dec 3, 2003
143
0
0
Hello, I'm new to this, but NewEgg is not the only Egg on the block,
I looked around over at www.compgeeks.com
today and ended up buying a Liteon 40x12-48 CD-R for $30 which seemed ok to me.
There might be some stuff there that might work for you.
Then I saw a $10 A7V333-X/L Asus momma board at
www.DumpingGoods.com (thats, ten dollars American, wow)
if Pops just wants an ok computer, an
AMD 1.6 Duron applegate is a cheeeeeeeeep bang fer yer buck,
So if your old case is an ATX & you can use your externals (vga, kbd, mickey, etc)
you can get him going for under $100 (with a great CD-R burner.)
From a 500mhz to 1.6ghz is a big improvement for him and he'll think it's great.
If he wants more, adding $100 to his old computer makes a great second computer,
fer the paperless office thing.

Any way that's just a thought.
Bitdog
PS, AND the saveings can be spent on beer.