Build <$700

N

Nightcast

[H]ere for the Blow!
Joined
Sep 13, 2006
Messages
754
Ok guys looking to build a new comp, I've been out of it for a while and don't know whats good.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
No more than $700
3) Where do you live?
Michigan, Close to a microcenter.
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Case(nothing fancy), cpu,ram,MB,psu,video card,dvd drive
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
This is a new build, I have a 500gb HDD
6) Will you be overclocking?
No
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
22inch WS 1920x1080
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
April
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support?
Simple stuff, onboard audio not really sure what else.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Vista 32bit


Thanks for any help guys.
 
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For gaming, you're not gonna notice that much of a difference between a Core i5/Core i7 based setup and a AMD Phenom II setup. So I recommend this setup:
$238 - AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition CPU + GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3 AM3 AMD 770 Motherboard combo
$106 - G.Skill Ripjaw Series F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM
$160 - XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$25 - LG GH22NS50 DVD Burner
$105 - Antec 200 ATX Case + Antec Neo Eco 620C 620W PSU
------
Total: $634 plus tax and shipping.

A higher end video card would be a waste on that small monitor. Let us know if you want to use the last $66 on a new case or something.
 
Thanks for the builds so far, I like your danny bui.
Also Its now a different size monitor, it's a 22inch 1920x1080 So i don't know if that effects the build anyway.
 
If you can afford to, you should consider an HD5850 instead of a HD5770 for a 1080p monitor.
 
Nightcast said:
Also Its now a different size monitor, it's a 22inch 1920x1080 So i don't know if that effects the build anyway.
Click to expand...
It does affect the build. For that higher resolution, a faster video card is needed. Unfortunately your limited budget and the current state of video card prices/market does pose a bit of a problem. The next step up within your $700 budget is the HD 4890 or HD 5830. Unfortunately the HD 5830 is a bit overpriced at the moment and it is outperformed by the cheaper HD 4890 by 5% or so. However the HD 4890 uses significantly more power than the HD 5830, does not support Eyefinity, or DX11. So up to you to decide now:

The slight better performing and cheaper HD 4890 or the more expensive HD 5830 with Eyefinity support, low power usage, and DX11 support.

EDIT: Or avoid the whole deal by going with the HD 5770 or the HD 5850 as Tiraides said.
 
You can shave a few more bucks off with this case instead of the Antec 200:
$25 - Rosewill R223-P-BK 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower (Promo: EMCYPNT22; Free shipping)
 
enginurd said:
You can shave a few more bucks off with this case instead of the Antec 200:
$25 - Rosewill R223-P-BK 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower (Promo: EMCYPNT22; Free shipping)
Click to expand...

But make sure you have a tetanus shot & your health coverage paid up so you can get checked out after tearing your hands up on the sharp edges of a cheap case..

IMO the case is someplace to never go bottom of the barrel.. Most people will keep the case through several builds so going cheap not only effects this build, but the next few of them as well.. Stick with the Antec & probably a 5770.
 
bastage said:
But make sure you have a tetanus shot & your health coverage paid up so you can get checked out after tearing your hands up on the sharp edges of a cheap case..

IMO the case is someplace to never go bottom of the barrel.. Most people will keep the case through several builds so going cheap not only effects this build, but the next few of them as well.. Stick with the Antec & probably a 5770.
Click to expand...

ROFL, this is [H]... go have someone build your comp for you if you're too weak to sustain accidental cuts from a case. :rolleyes: Besides, if you take your time, be careful, and use common sense, you won't cut yourself much, if at all. Personally, I've built hundreds of systems, many of which were during the "dark ages" of cases, before brands like Lian-Li were out, and Antec was cloned like crazy. I can count the number of times I've cut myself on a single hand, and the severity of those cuts were no worse than a papercut. :p

IMO, when you have a limited budget, the case is the easiest thing to skimp on, since it has no direct performance impact. Just make sure it has ample space for your parts, has room for at least 2x 120mm fans (1 intake and 1 exhaust), and thats all you need. A case is your least important part, so if you need to shave costs, the case is the best place to do it. ;)

If you can afford a nicer case, go for it. But if the money you save on the case can actually get you a better CPU/Mobo/GPU/RAM/HDD/HSF/etc (basically anything that directly impacts performance), I'd suggest going for that instead.

It's like cars. If you can afford a Lexus, go for it. If you can't, get a Toyota. If that's still too pricey for you, get a Scion. ;)
 
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enginurd said:
ROFL, this is [H]... go have someone build your comp for you if you're too weak to sustain accidental cuts from a case. :rolleyes: Besides, if you take your time, be careful, and use common sense, you won't cut yourself much, if at all. Personally, I've built hundreds of systems, many of which were during the "dark ages" of cases, before brands like Lian-Li were out, and Antec was cloned like crazy. I can count the number of times I've cut myself on a single hand, and the severity of those cuts were no worse than a papercut. :p
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I wont bore the forums with a pissing match telling you how long I have been building systems or how many. I will however point out that you may know your head from your ass, but you obviously don't know what sarcasm is..

enginurd said:
IMO, when you have a limited budget, the case is the easiest thing to skimp on, since it has no direct performance impact. Just make sure it has ample space for your parts, has room for at least 2x 120mm fans (1 intake and 1 exhaust), and thats all you need. A case is your least important part, so if you need to shave costs, the case is the best place to do it. ;)
Click to expand...

Except the flaw in your logic is that it was already priced out at 66 dollars under budget before you recommended going to a cheap case..

enginurd said:
If you can afford a nicer case, go for it. But if the money you save on the case can actually get you a better CPU/Mobo/GPU/RAM/HDD/HSF/etc (basically anything that directly impacts performance), I'd suggest going for that instead.

It's like cars. If you can afford a Lexus, go for it. If you can't, get a Toyota. If that's still too pricey for you, get a Scion. ;)
Click to expand...

So what your saying is that if you cant afford a good case to get one thats going to be recalled & if you cant afford that then get it re badged to a different brand with blue led's??
 
lol, recalled, hilarious. :D you said sent to the hospital, I said papercut... we both missed each other's sarcasm, how funny. -_- basically, you're saying the Antec 200 is the lowest you'd go because of the risk of cutting yourself. i'm sayin that risk is negligible if you're simply even the slightest of slightly careful if you go for an even cheaper case than the Antec 200.

under budget or not, the point remains: if you can shave off money somewhere in a budget constrained system, the case is the best place to do so. whether the OP needs to shave off money or not, is up to him, since its his money, not mine. I threw the option out there, in case he needs it. :p

BTW, @ OP:
[H]otDeals: ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB OEM 229.49 after BCB //unlinked, as its dead. anyhow, it at least shows you how cheap they can get, so keep an eye out. ;)
 
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enginurd said:
lol, recalled, hilarious. :D you said sent to the hospital, I said papercut... we both missed each other's sarcasm, how funny. -_- basically, you're saying the Antec 200 is the lowest you'd go because of the risk of cutting yourself. i'm sayin that risk is negligible if you're simply even the slightest of slightly careful if you go for an even cheaper case than the Antec 200.

under budget or not, the point remains: if you can shave off money somewhere in a budget constrained system, the case is the best place to do so. whether the OP needs to shave off money or not, is up to him, since its his money, not mine. I threw the option out there, in case he needs it. :p

BTW, @ OP:
[H]otDeals: ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB OEM 229.49 after BCB
Click to expand...

actually its not the risk of getting my hands cut.. its the overall quality.. Anything less & what you end up with is about 4 layers of tinfoil & the 1st time you knock a full can of soda (still closed) on it the whole case is out of whack.. & For the difference were talking about 20 bucks between the antec 200 & the rosewill tinfoil case you linked. & There are of course exceptions where bottom of the line cases can be a diamond in the rough.. Just search the forums for rocketfish & see what they were going for before they all dried up..


Edit: & Unless I am missing something that compusa 5850 is a dead deal?
 
lol, that case is not as bad as you make it out to be. the antec 200 isn't much of an upgrade, either, even for $15. while the $15 may be negligible to you, it may not be to the OP. ;)

bastage said:
... Edit: & Unless I am missing something that compusa 5850 is a dead deal?
Click to expand...

indeed it is, my bad.
 
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