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Cheap $500 or less build

M

moussaka

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
253
1) What will you be doing with this PC?
Audio recording/mixing, watching HD content, web browsing etc..

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$500 or less

3) Where do you live?
IL

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget?
MB, CPU, RAM, PSU, DVD drive, HD, Case, possibly GPU but banking on using on board

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
None

6) Will you be overclocking?
No

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Hooking up to a 1080p TV

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Sometime this weekend (I will be by a MicroCenter)

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
Onboard Video, SPDIF out

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Yes, W7 x64

So, here is what I have mapped out - any changes or critiques appreciated

i3 2100 : $100
MSI PH61A-P35 : $80
This GSkill RAM : $35
Corsair CX600 $70 - probably go with a 500
This burner :$19
A case for : $50
1TB Spinpoint F3 : $60

Total ~$410
 
Are you by the Microcenters in Chicago?

Edit:

I should read more carefully...

Build looks decent, though the motherboard seems a little high priced considering it's an H61. Are you getting any sort of combo deal on them (add both to your cart -- some motherboards still get a discount with the i3-2100, at least they were when I was playing around earlier today.) This one is $10 for example (but lacks USB 3 and SPDIF.) This one is $45 (and has USB 3 and SPDIF.) Just play around, see what happens.

Also I would consider the Antec High Current Gamer for $65 at Microcenter instead of the Corsair CX600, though both are overkill when you don't have a dedicated graphics card. You could also consider Microcenter's AMD 965 Black Edition with free motherboard and consider getting a low end, passively cooled dedicated GPU as well.
 
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yea, thats why I asked for help... The only computers I really build are mid to high end gaming PCs so I really don't know much about low end stuff and where the best deals are. (building this for a friends brother) I might get that intel MB because he needs SPDIF to plug into a reciever.

I'm also willing to go the AMD route, I just figured with the onboard graphics on the new intels it'd be an easier process. I also know nothing about AMD lol.
 
If you use one of those derpy $20 cases from Microcenter, you can eek out enough budget to get an i5-2500K, which is a lot faster and a lot more future-proof than an i3.
Normally one of those cases is a bad idea (it sucks when your computer's performance is case-bound), but since this machine is not meant for OC'ing and you don't have to deal with the heat of a discrete GPU, it should be fine.
Also, GTX460's are reasonably priced on Newegg; sure, they're last generation, but GF104 was a fine chip, not too hot, and quite fast.
 
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