|
|
|
help with a budget pc
|
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
15. January 2005 @ 07:15 |
Link to this message
|
|
I want to build a decent computer for under $500. Any suggestions would help.
|
|
Advertisement
|
 |
|
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
15. January 2005 @ 07:31 |
Link to this message
|
|
what do you intend to do with computer???
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
15. January 2005 @ 14:36 |
Link to this message
|
|
i want to do some video/picture editing, surf the web, microsoft office, listen to music, dvd burning. basically a lot of multimedia stuff, not gaming at all.
|
|
Divinus
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
15. January 2005 @ 20:09 |
Link to this message
|
|
If you don't plan on gaming at all you could build one under $500 easily. The big, bad video-card won't be waxing your wallet.
Do you have a preference for a cpu maker? Intel / AMD?
I'd grab a motherboard with onboard video and grab one of the cheaper Athlon XPs. Grab a stick of 512MB PC3200, nice case, good size IDE HDD, DVD-ROM/Burner and a good monitor shouldn't cost you over $500 if you shop cautiously.
Athlon 4200+ X2 @ 2.2 GHz | Asus A8N | 1x250GB SATA WD | 7900GTX | 512x2 Corsair PC3200 3-3-3-8 | NEC3500A 2.18 |
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
16. January 2005 @ 06:55 |
Link to this message
|
|
i prefer intel, but i can give amd a try. is there any specific motherboard/cpu you can recommend. I am having a hard time choosing what I need. I don't want to get stuff I am not going to use/need. Divinus, I see your computer specs, just wondering if that is enough for whatever you do on your computer. Thanks.
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
16. January 2005 @ 08:39 |
Link to this message
|
|
me, i'm running a p4-2.4 celeron, 256meg ddr soon to be 512meg, 80 gig hd & 52x cd burner but thinking about dvd burner.
$309 AMD Sempron 2400+
ASUS A7V400-MX MB
256 MB DDR333 PC2700 RAM
64M VIDEO (SHARED)
40GB 7200 HDD
LG 52X CD-ROM
Sony 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Onboard Audio/LAN
Front USB Case
Keyboard / Mouse / Speakers
AMD sempron 2500: $329
AMD sempron 2600: $349
$359 AMD sempron 2400+
ASUS A7V8X-X
256MB DDR 333 PC2700 RAM
Radeon 7000 64M DDR TVO
40GB 7200 HDD
52X32X52 CDRW
Sony 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Onboard sound & 10/100 LAN
Front USB Case
Keyboard / Mouse / Speakers
AMD sempron 2500: $379
AMD sempron 2600: $389
$439 AMD sempron 2500+
ASUS A7V8X-X
512MB DDR 400 PC3200 RAM
Radeon 9200SE 128M DDR AGP8x
80GB 7200 HDD
52x32x52 CDRW
Sony 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Onboard sound & 10/100 LAN
Front USB Case
Keyboard / Mouse / Speakers
AMD sempron 2600: $449
AMD sempron 2800: $479
Upgrade : ASUS A7N8X-X +$15
$319 Intel Celeron 2.4D533
ASUS P4VP-MX
256MB DDR 333 PC2700 RAM
64M Video Card (onboard)
40GB 7200 HDD
52X CD-ROM
Sony 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Onboard sound & 10/100 LAN
Front USB Case
Keyboard/Mouse/Speakers
Intel P4 2.4A FSB533 $389
$379 Intel Celeron 2.4d 533
ASUS P4V8X-X
256MB DDR 400
RADEON 7000 64M DDR
40GB 7200 HDD
52x32x52 CDRW
Sony 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Onboard sound & 10/100 LAN
Front USB Case
Keyboard/Mouse/Speakers
Intel P4 2.4A FSB533 $449
$599 Intel P-4 3.0G (530)
ASUS P5GD1-VM
512 DDR 400
INTEL GRAPHICS 900 (shared)
80GB HDD 7200 SATA150
1.44 Floppy Drive
52x32x52 CDRW
Onboard sound & LAN
Case w/Front USB Ports
Keyboard/Mouse/Speakers
P-4 3.2G (540) $649
P-4 3.4G (550) $729
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
16. January 2005 @ 10:25 |
Link to this message
|
|
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
16. January 2005 @ 10:31 |
Link to this message
|
|
forgot dvd burner
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
16. January 2005 @ 10:36 |
Link to this message
|
|
i have a dvd burner already. ill just move that from my old computer to new one.
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
16. January 2005 @ 10:38 |
Link to this message
|
|
what windows are you running now??
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
16. January 2005 @ 10:39 |
Link to this message
|
|
xp home, why?
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
16. January 2005 @ 11:24 |
Link to this message
|
|
your not buying it again are you??
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
16. January 2005 @ 11:41 |
Link to this message
|
|
im making a computer for myself so i won't have to share with my brother. i can install it with the same cd but i won't be able to get sp2 or any updates with the same key would I?
|
|
Divinus
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
16. January 2005 @ 12:11 |
Link to this message
|
|
I don't think you'd be able to use the cd key on both and install the sps. There are ways of getting around that, that would get us in trouble here so lets leave it at that.
I like the build you've come up with. If you don't plan on doing ANY game, at all. I'd drop the 5200 and just get a mobo with onboard graphics. Maybe grab one of the nforce 2 boards with the integrated Geforce 4.
Yeah, my computer does everything I need it to. It's basically set up for gaming, albeit my video card is starting to feel the squeeze on the newer games. I used to have another 512MB ram but I was tricked by the evil Mushkin Corporation. I'm also running out of hard drive room really quickly, especially when backing up lots of DVDs.
Let me just ask you... What components are you keeping from your previous PC? That way we can skip some of the stuff like monitor, or cd-rom, or burner, etc... This way we can just focus on spending the $500 on what you need to get maximum performance.
Athlon 4200+ X2 @ 2.2 GHz | Asus A8N | 1x250GB SATA WD | 7900GTX | 512x2 Corsair PC3200 3-3-3-8 | NEC3500A 2.18 |
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
16. January 2005 @ 12:20 |
Link to this message
|
|
From my old PC I am going to keep my dvd burner, already have an extra monitor and speakers, and video-capture card. I want to OC but don't know much about that. What you said about the onboard video, I am trying to save some money by getting the motherboard and CPU bundle, so if you can find a better price/item from somewhere else that would help, a lot. Thanks again.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 16. January 2005 @ 12:32
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
16. January 2005 @ 13:16 |
Link to this message
|
|
|
|
Divinus
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
16. January 2005 @ 17:25 |
Link to this message
|
|
Wow, you went right for the Athlon 64, lol. Yeah, I suppose that's ok. If you're just going to download music and burn it, and do some video and sound editing, though, it's over kill. Those processors are pretty much meant for gaming, not saying they under perform in every day applications, though. That combo you have will be plenty fast.
In getting that system you would definitely have upgradeability, seeing as it's the 939 socket, you could upgrade the CPU later. Nice mobo, nice case. Plus you have a pretty damn powerful computer if you ever did want to game. A 512MB stick of descent ram will be around the $60-$80 area. You still have a bit to play with. Grab a descent sized hard drive and a cheap video card you should be set.
On the other hand, if you're positive that you will never game. Have no interest. That system is over kill. I'd go with a nice nforce 2 board (with onboard video) and grab one of the 2600+ Mobile Athlon XPs (NOT the 65watt version , get the 45). This should be in the $175 range (if that). After this just grab a nice sized IDE drive (or SATA) and a 512MB stick. Nice case, etc... At this point you should be around... $400. Maybe a little more if you chose a nicer, more expensive case. You'll have around $50 or so to throw into a bigger hard drive or more ram, whichever.
The basic trade off here is that if you grab the Athlon 64 bundle, you'll have to grab a video card. And unless you grab an absolute shitter you'll be paying $75 or more. You'll have to buy your HDD. Grab memory. You'll have killer performance but since you don't game, you don't need it. If you did your homework, and shopped around for a cheap nforce 2 board and just stuck with a nice Athlon XP, grabbed a descent case. You could come out well below the $300 mark. This gives you more money to play with other things such as hard drive space, or other accessories.
It's really up to you. The Athlon 64 bundle is a good deal. The other system will require more time and shopping around, but ultimately could lead to more hard drive room / ram or more accessories.
Athlon 4200+ X2 @ 2.2 GHz | Asus A8N | 1x250GB SATA WD | 7900GTX | 512x2 Corsair PC3200 3-3-3-8 | NEC3500A 2.18 |
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
17. January 2005 @ 05:16 |
Link to this message
|
I took your advice for the nforce 2 chipset, but I can't decide which to choose.
Configuration 1
CHAINTECH nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 Athlon 64 CPU, Model "VNF3-250"
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-152-043&depa=1
AMD Athlon 64 2800+, 512KB L2 Cache, 64-bit Processor
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-452&depa=1
Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-026&depa=1
Maxtor 60GB / 7200 / 2MB / ATA-133 EIDE Hard Drive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=440430
XFX GeForce FX 5200 / 128MB DDR / AGP 8X / VGA / TV Out / Video Card
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=674963&Sku=P450-8602
JustPC Black ATX Mid Tower Case With 450W PSU, Model "JPC727P4-BLACK" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-200-003&depa=1
I like this case, but would I need a new power supply?
Pro Source Mid-Tower Case w/350W Power Supply, Model: 602XU-BL-SF - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-132-020&depa=1
Windows XP Home-92.50
Floppy Drive-20.00
Total:488 w/first case/490 w/second case
numbers may be off a bit because I rounded
Configuration 2
BIOSTAR "M7NCG 400" nForce2 IGP Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-138-234&depa=1
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-381&depa=1
Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-026&depa=1
Maxtor 60GB / 7200 / 2MB / ATA-133 EIDE Hard Drive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=440430
JustPC Black ATX Mid Tower Case With 450W PSU, Model "JPC727P4-BLACK" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-200-003&depa=1
I like this case, but would I need a new power supply?
Pro Source Mid-Tower Case w/350W Power Supply, Model: 602XU-BL-SF - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-132-020&depa=1
Windows XP Home-92.50
Floppy Drive-20.00
Total: 469 w/first case/ 471 w/second case
numbers may be off a bit because I rounded
Please correct me if something is wrong or is incompatible with something else.
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
18. January 2005 @ 11:40 |
Link to this message
|
|
Divinus?
|
|
Divinus
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
18. January 2005 @ 17:34 |
Link to this message
|
|
Sorry about not responding, friend. I have dial up at the moment and when someone lists a bunch of links for me to go to, that could take a while, lol.
Honestly, after reviewing both of those. Go with the Athlon 64 system. The performance will definitely be better and you'll have a bit of headroom if you ever do find a game you enjoy. The only thing I can find that would be critical of the 64 system is that Socket 754 isn't produced anymore (or won't be soon), so that means that if you ever do go to upgrade to a faster CPU (not likely as you'll probably get a new board also, most people do) then you may not have a big selection to choose from.
The XFX5200 should do whatever you do fine. No problems at all.
That's a great system you've built. It should serve you well. Keep us updating on the building process and when you've finished, tell us how it runs.
If you have anymore questions, I'll be around here.
Athlon 4200+ X2 @ 2.2 GHz | Asus A8N | 1x250GB SATA WD | 7900GTX | 512x2 Corsair PC3200 3-3-3-8 | NEC3500A 2.18 |
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
modded
Newbie
|
19. January 2005 @ 10:15 |
Link to this message
|
|
Thanks for the advice Divinus! :)
|
|
