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Build a midrange system for under $1000

E

Episode666

n00b
Joined
May 28, 2006
Messages
42
I think it goes without saying, I'd like to build a new budget gaming/media rig for under a grand. I realize that while that's not alot of money, the right part choices can make all the difference when it comes to squeezing out every bit of potential power. Details:

Budget:
No more than $950(US) for parts

Guidelines:
ATX Mid-size case
AMD processor
Nvidia grahpics
DVD-RW drive
Power supply > 500w
Hard drive > 200GB
at least 1GB RAM

Monitor, speakers, mouse and keyboard need NOT be included in the budget.

Let's see 'em!
 
You can build a good computer for this much but I would recommend a Intel Core 2 Duo system instead of AMD.
 
Amd it is
CPU $166 Amd 4400+ Brisbane
Mobo $119 Gigabyte Nforce 570 SLi
Ram $165 2 Gigs GSkill DDR 800
PSU $130 Corsair HX520
Case $50 Coolermaster Centurion 5
Hard Drive $70 WD 250
Vid Card $300 EVGA 8800GTS 320Mb
DVD Burner $32 Lite On Sata burner

All Prices from Newegg
For a grand total of 962 before shipping.
If you really want to save that last 12 bucks you could go to DDR 667 Ram.

And as stated it wouldn't hurt to look at the new Core 2s.
 
That is a good build, only thing I would think about changing is getting the x2 3600 Brisbane and a nice HSF (AS5) to overclock it to 3.0 to save $15, also look into getting 667mhz ram to save $20, could get a 160GB HD to save another $18, and depending on what games you play and at what resolution you could get a 7900gs for around to save around $150, one last point is you could get the Sunbeamtech 550w modular PSU and save around $40.

Theorectically if $ is a big issue you could save another $240 with the above changes.
 
If you decide to go intel (assuming you don't need an OS):

$163 - Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache
$105 - Biostar TForce965PT LGA 775 Intel P965 Express
$300 - eVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB
$69 - Kingston 1GB DDR2-667 KVR667D2/1GR
$69 - Kingston 1GB DDR2-667 KVR667D2/1GR
$70 - WD Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200RPM SATA300 8MB Cache
$50 - Cooler Master Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black
$52 - XClio GOODPOWER 500W ATX 500W
$40 - Scythe SCNJ-1100P 120mm CPU HSF
$31 - Lite-On 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-16A7S-05
=======
$949 + tax and shipping

Reason to go Intel:
http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2903
And if you can wait: http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5414

Reason to go AMD:
$460 - Dell E521: AX2 3800+, 1GB DDR2-533, 160GB, GF6150 Mobo, SATA 16x DVD Burner, Windows Vista, 1yr economy warranty
$300 - 8800GTS 320MB
=========
$760 + tax and shipping
 
Thanks for the replies. Here's what I've been looking at, trying to keep things as cheap as possible, but leave lots of room to upgrade in the future:

setup1hr7.jpg


What do you think? Yeah, I forgot to mention I'm putting Vista on it, and I also had my heart set on a modular PSU.
 
I personally would downgrade the mobo (on the AMD side I think a good overclockng board can be had for well under $100) and the memory (to 667 instead of 800) to save cash and upgrade the amount of ram and speed of video card with said cash.
 
Get a X2 with the brisbane core runs cooler and overclockes like a beast.
 
Yeah you really should read up on the articles that enginurd linked to. They'll prove to be helpful.

Anyway, here's a cheaper modular PSU thats still pretty decent: Sunbeam NUUO SUNNU550-US-BK ATX12V / EPS12V 550W Power Supply - $59.99

Or you can get an even better power supply than that Xion and at a lower price: Corsair CMPSU-520HX 520W Power Supply - $106.00

Also there is a much cheaper 7600GT out there. You don't need to pay an extra $33 for a slightly overclocked video card:
eVGA 7600GT - $109.99

There. I saved you about $90 If you go with the Sunbeam PSU or about $50 if you go with the Corsair PSU.

You can definitely fit a Core 2 Duo now into your new build.
 
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