What CPU/Mobo/RAM combo would you recommend for $150-$200 total?

[Epsil0n00]

I am upgrading a PC with a new CPU, Mobo, and RAM. Here are some requirements:

512 MB of RAM will probably be around $90-$100 (at Crucial) or $50-$60 other places (where do you recommend for cheap quality RAM?), so that leaves $100-$140 or so for the CPU and Mobo.

Must be AMD Proc, due to price it will probably have to be either a Barton 2500 or 2600 (Newegg has em for $80 and $85 respectively), or some type of TBred.

Mobo: I would like a fairly recent chipset with good solid performance. Needs to have 2-3 RAM slots, IDE (SATA not necessary), at least 3-4 PCI slots, on board sound is okay, needs to match the FSB of the proc and RAM. THis rig will not be used for high performance gaming... it might get a GF3Ti200, or something similarly old and cheap. It pretty much needs to run WinXP and do Office type apps.

Thanks for any suggestions!
Epsil0n

 

[Silkwormsgnr]

Here's what I'd recommend:

MSI KT6V-LSR $55
Athlon XP 2400+ $67
Corsair Value Select DDR400 $79

total = $201

 

[Epsil0n00]

Nicely done there Junior Member! --thanks for the input! I think I might have to bump it up just a hair and go with the Barton 2500 @333fsb... but you did a great job sticking to the $200 goal.

THanks!

 

[daveshel]

Barton for the 166/333. If you have a Fry's nearby, you might be able to pick up a combo like I got - a barton 2500 on an nVidia-based board from ECS for like 74 bux including tax. Nice board, too.

 

[zainali]

where do u live. as long as you have a frys nearby get the following.

amd 2500 xp combo- lowest was 69.99. price can go as high as 99.99 on xp2800+ combos.


current combo is xp 2700+ and mobo 0 89.99.

kingston 512mb ram from frys - 85-25 rebate = $60.

so out of pocket cost will be 89.99+85+ tax/shipping.

call the store and ask them if they will ship a combo to you(they might but YMMV on this).

 

[usernamemax20charact]

I agree with zainali. If there's a Frys near you, go there. Right now (at my Frys) they're selling an Athlon XP 2700+ and mob for only $89.99 out the door. While you're there, check prices on RAM too. Might find a good deal going on as well. Should keep you under $200.

 

[Delorian]

If you plan on OCing go 2400 XP-M only $88 OEM here

This is the Corsair RAM i'm using, CAS 2.5 PC3200 512mb here for only $83

Add this ASUS Mobo here for $56.

And this is a total of $227

 

[Tostada]

I hate it when someone gives a budget and then people start recommending a bunch of stuff that is over the budget... but if you can't get the killer Fry's deal, I would definitely spend $226 for the Barton 2500+, 512MB Corsair PC3200, and this board:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-150-045

Unless you're going to OC, then the $77 Mobile 35W 2200+ is as good as the other ones, but you also have to get a heatsink.

For $56, that's definitely the best board you can get.

 

[Epsil0n00]

any other suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[trexpesto]

If not frys deal then, and if you ARE overclocking:

Kingston 512 PC 3200 C3
$55 shipped (+ tax in AZ, CA, CT, OH, TX, NV,WA and IL) After $25 rebate til August 12

Shuttle AN35N Ultra
$57 shipped (+ tax in CA, NJ and TN)

Mobile Athlon XP 2400+
$77 shipped (+ tax in CA, NJ and TN) plus free alarm clock!

Total $189

Thermalright SLK900A
$27 shipped to 89449 area code - it varies ( + tax in CA) Got a fan for it?

Total $216


Or I just got Mushkin pc3200 C2.5 for $78
I never used that ASUS board.

 

[trexpesto]

If NOT overclocking, and you can wait til they get more, maybe this (Thoroughbred B?) cpu+mb combo:
XP 2800+ Boxed CPU W/ ECS N2U400-A
$109 + shipping (+ tax in AZ, CA, CT, OH, TX, NV,WA and IL)


Since the Thoroughbred only has half the L2 cache of the Barton, it does not perform as well, but if price is critical...

With the $55 RAM = $164 but you can probably get cheaper RAM because in this case you would be running at 333 FSB so PC 2700 be OK
There are generic (ick) PC2700 256 MB listings on pricewatch for ~ 20$. Be aware this mobo only has two memory slots.

Anyways tha total would be $149 + ship and tax if applicable.

The advantages of overclocking in this price range are HUGE.

With the shuttle, moblile barton 2400+, and better HSF you can hit above 3400+ speeds of 2.3-2.4 GHz, for not much more cash. Plus the barton has bigger cache. Raising the FSB will also allow you to run faster memory, memory is only a few dollars more when looking at 512 MB modules.

Or you can add a little piece of wire into the socket on your tbred to unlock it's multipliers to allow raising the FSB, but this motherboard does not have multiplier adjustments, so it is not a good candidate for that.