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Help me build a computer

D

Dra

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 4, 2004
Messages
196
okay before i get flamed for asking this question for the millionth time, please note that i'm a noob and don't know much about computers, let alone building them. with that aside, could you please help me build a somewhat moderate gaming machine? mine's crap as you can see (in the sig) so i need a new one. NOW. lol.

all i know is that i want it to be an AMD-based system, and my budget for the box is at the most $600.

thanks in advance.
 
I'll assume you can keep the monitor/keyboard/mouse from the old computer? I guessed on most of these numbers, so you can go search for more accurate ones.

Athlon 2500+ Barton - $90
An nForce2 Motherboard - $80
Decent RAM - $90
120 gig harddrive - $90
CD-RW Drive - $30
Radeon 9600 Pro - $100
Case you Like - $50
Decent Power Supply - $70
-----------------
~$600
 
$600 without monitor and OS = easy to build a nice 'puter.

$600 with monitor and OS = much more difficult. We'll have to wait til he tells us more before we can help him.
 
i have $600 set aside for the computer and WinXP alone (no monitor). I plan on starting from scratch, as everything in my current system isn't worth carrying over, except for my video card.
 
Ok then, I'm assuming you mean to say that you don't need monitor, keyboard, speakers, etc.

Couple more questions:

1) Do you need a DVD burner? Or is a CDRW good?
2) What level vid card are you looking at?
 
CDRW is fine. but i'm looking towards a DVD/CDRW combo drive.

as for the level of the video card, i'll be looking to play games like HL2 and Doom 3 at around 1024x728 and stuff like that.

thanks for helping out. i really appreciate it.
 
Hmm.... Ok, let me work on it a sec.

And no worries, it's why we all read the forums.
 
Ok, here we go. Pretty decent stuff all around. I'm assuming of course that you are up to putting it all together though it isn't exactly difficult. Let me also say that there is no modem or floppy built into this computer. It would certainly be possible to add those, but given the $600 price point I deemed it best to do without those and get the highest quality components possible. If you actually do want/require those components, it's actually probably better to go with a built system at a major retailer. If you are in the States, then Labor Day is next monday and there will be a pile of sales you could take advantage of. With that being said, here ya go:

Case: ANTEC Solution Series Super Mid Tower Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "SLK3700AMB" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-122&depa=1 = $75

Motherboard: MSI "K7N2 Delta-L" nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-419&depa=1 = $66

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-379&depa=1 = $90

Memory: PDP SYSTEMS Memory Dual Channel Kit 184-Pin 512MB (256MBx2) DDR PC-3200, Model PDC5123200LLK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-220-002&depa=1 = $84.99

Video Card: SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9600XT Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP -BULK
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-326&depa=1 = $135.99

Hard Drive: Western Digital Special Edition 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD800JB, OEM Drive Only
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-122&depa=1 = $64.25

CDRW: Rosewill 52x32x52x16 CD-RW Black Combo Drive, Model C523216B, Retail
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=27-190-003&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE = $41 (-$5 because of purchase of WinXP Home) = $36

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack SP1a - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=37-102-141&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE = $90

Ok, that all adds up to $642.23 shipped and assuming you are in a no-tax state. If you absolutely must bring the toal in under $600...

Drop the case to a cheaper case:
DYNAPOWER Metis Series ATX Case with 300W Power supply, Model "CS-I3ASB.701" -RETAIL http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-138-001&depa=1 =36.50 (Gets you to $605.73)

and drop the MSI board for the Chaintech one (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-152-045&depa=1) = $61 bringing you to $600.73

There ya go... But I'm gonna post again in a sec with a slightly different idea. Hold on a sec.
 
Ok, doing things a bit differently...

Take this stuff from above:

Memory $84.99
Hard drive: $64.25
CDRW: $36
OS: $90

Add: EPoX Mini ME Barebone System for Socket A at 333MHz FSB AMD CPU w/ REMOTE, Model EP-EX5300NR
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=56-153-002&depa=0 = $237

Add: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-378&depa=1 = $80.99


Total = $593.23 shipped


What's the difference? Basically, you are getting a nice little SFF case with an integrated video card. You still don't have the floppy drive, but we have added a card reader, radio tuner and remote. You'll notice I saved some $$ by going with an OEM CPU. That's because the Epox comes with a specific HSF you need to use, so why spend the extra cash?

Why didn't I do this the first time? The integrated video will be significantly slower than the 9600XT from above. This case presumes that at some point in the future you will upgrade your video card.

Pros:
SFF case (nice for taking to LANs)
More accessories (remote, card reader, radio tuner, etc.)
Actually under budget

Cons:
Low-end video card
Not built for overclocking
 
theres NO WAY IN HELL hes gonna be able to play doom3 at 1024x768 on a integrated graphics card....so dont even suggest that....i would also suggest the 9600xt....although the best resolution for it in doom3 is 800x600.....so i dont know if thats what you want...if your dead set on 1024x768 you might have to scrounge up more money from somewhere....
 
Thanks Rori! i can't believe you went through all that trouble. lol. thank you very much. your first suggestion sounds like a pretty solid system. i don't mind that it's a little over 600.

thanks again. :D
 
Nope, I don't disagree that the integrated card is very low end. I was just tryin to get him in under $600 and give him choices. The 9600XT will be fair for gaming, but you are right... it aint gonna cut D3 at 10x7. That's why I suggested the integrated setup till he could scratch up the cash for a 9800Pro or even a 6800nu.
 
Frallan said:
Also concider addin 10$ replacing the XP-2500 with an XP-M 2400 35W
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=19-103-439&DEPA=0

That way you should be able to get 2.250 GHz instead of 1.83 by just upping the FSB from 266 to 333.
That would be an increase in PR rating from 2500+ to between 3000+ and 3200+ without any measurable risk.
Click to expand...


It's true, but requires a *further* investment in a quality HSF. I had looked at that along with a SLK-948, but it was just too pricey for his budget.
 
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