Need Building Help For BUDGET PC.

R

Rockstar

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 24, 2007
Messages
474
Hello all, my brother has been asking me to build him for a pc for quite some time now and i would like to get on it asap. Our budget is 300$-350 max. For just a tower and no windows.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
all web browsing and excessive youtube and music downloading and burning. movie watching too.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
300-350
3) Where do you live?
california- usa
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc.
Case,CPU,MOBO,harddrive,cd drive, power supply, i think thats all?
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
we will be reusing the monitor keyboard and mouse, and speakers
6) Will you be overclocking?
nope
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Using CRT currently, but will eventually upgrade to a 22 inch lcd.
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
sometime this week or next week?
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
nothing really
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit? windows 7 32 bit
 
$57 - AMD Athlon II X2 240 CPU
$68 - Asus M4A78LT-M LE AM3 AMD 780L mATX Motherboard
$52 - Crucial CT25664BA1339 2GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$46 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$24 - LG GH22NS50 DVD Burner
$50 - Corsair 400CX 400W PSU
$40 - Cooler Master Elite 310 RC-310-BWN1-GP ATX Case
---
Total: $337 shipped.

You missed RAM in question 4 and 5 so assumed that you needed RAM. Since everything is from Amazon, no tax for you.
 
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thanks guys much apreciated for the quick responses, im going to start ordering these tomorrow. not a fan of that case but maybe ill find something else. both those motherboards look good but i dont know to much cause i havent been paying attention to the pc tech for the past year :(
 
$75 - AMD Athlon II X3 440 CPU 3.0Ghz
$65 - BIOSTAR A785G3 AM3 AMD 785G
$58 - Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
$46 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$20 -SAMSUNG 24X DVD Burner
$50 - Corsair 400CX 400W PSU
$40 - Cooler Master Elite 310 RC-310-BWN1-GP ATX Case
---
Total: $354.56

With this spinoff of Danny's recommendation, you'd still get free shipping on all items. (You'd just order half on Amazon and half on Newegg) The benefits being, a faster three core processor and better integrated video.
 
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horrorshow said:
Don't you think the X3 440 for $74.99 would be a better fit Danny?

And doesn't this board offer better onboard video?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138182
Click to expand...
He won't be able to fit X3 440 in his budget. What you forget is that Newegg charges tax for the OP. As such, even with your updated build, it'll still exceed the OP's original budget for not that much of a gain in the usage scenario described.

And yes, the 785G has slightly better onboard video.

horrorshow said:
With this spinoff of Danny's recommendation, you'd still get free shipping on all items. (You'd just order half on Amazon and half on Newegg) The benefits being, a faster three core processor and better integrated video.
Click to expand...

The major cons being that it exceeds the OP's original budget and overpriced 2GB DDR3 RAM. The Crucial provides the same performance but for $6 less. Considering the very low budget, I see no reason to go for the Mushkin.

However if the OP doesn't care that it exceeds his budget, fine by me.
 
Danny Bui said:
He won't be able to fit X3 440 in his budget. What you forget is that Newegg charges tax for the OP. As such, even with your updated build, it'll still exceed the OP's original budget for not that much of a gain in the usage scenario described.

And yes, the 785G has slightly better onboard video.



The major cons being that it exceeds the OP's original budget and overpriced 2GB DDR3 RAM. The Crucial provides the same performance but for $6 less. Considering the very low budget, I see no reason to go for the Mushkin.

However if the OP doesn't care that it exceeds his budget, fine by me.
Click to expand...

Ah, I didn't know Amazon didn't charge taxes.
 
 
California sales tax information, from NewEgg.com:

California residents are charged sales tax as follows:
Los Angeles County residents: 9.75%
City of Pico Rivera residents: 10.75%
California residents outside of Los Angeles County: 8.25%
Click to expand...
 
ok let me take a shot at this, im pulling a little from all your posts and putting together one, tell me what you think

$100 - AMD Atlhon II X3 435 2.9GHz + MSI 760GM-51 mATX (DDR3 motherboard)
$51 Crucial 2gb ram
$45 thermaltake v3
$50 Corsair 400w psu
$46 WD 500gb HD
$24 LG BURNER
$13 Surge protector
$27 Wireless PCI Adapter

total for all this should be around $368. over budget because i added the adapter and surge protector.
 
Last edited:
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Danny Bui said:
$57 - AMD Athlon II X2 240 CPU
$68 - Asus M4A78LT-M LE AM3 AMD 780L mATX Motherboard
$52 - Crucial CT25664BA1339 2GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$46 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$24 - LG GH22NS50 DVD Burner
$50 - Corsair 400CX 400W PSU
$40 - Cooler Master Elite 310 RC-310-BWN1-GP ATX Case
---
Total: $337 shipped.

You missed RAM in question 4 and 5 so assumed that you needed RAM. Since everything is from Amazon, no tax for you.
Click to expand...

This build that Danny put together will do it already. It will fit your needs and certainly your budget. I do admit that hossdaddy and the other have configured some kick ass builds to. I didn't like that combo though on the Thermaltake Case + Thermaltake PSU. It's a good value but, that Thermaltake PSU has low efficiency and no PFC(Power Factor Correction) I wouldn't consider that all that good compared to an Antec Earthwatt 380 or Corsair 400CX

Let me through in a build. This should kick ass.

AMD Athlon II X3 Rana + MSI 760GM-E51 both for $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.429004

Antec Earthwatts EA380D + Antec VSK-2000 both for $84.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.410789

Patriot 2GB DDR3 1333 for $48.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220453

Samsung Spinpoint 500GB for $54.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Sony Optiarc SATA DVD Burner for $20.99 w/free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

Total: $309.94
Tax: $30.22
Shipping: $8.71
Grand Total: $348.87
 
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Rockstar said:
ok let me take a shot at this, im pulling a little from all your posts and putting together one, tell me what you think

$100 - AMD Atlhon II X3 435 2.9GHz + MSI 760GM-51 mATX (DDR3 motherboard)
$51 Crucial 2gb ram
$45 thermaltake v3
$50 Corsair 400w psu
$46 WD 500gb HD
$24 LG BURNER

total 316! with no tax and free shipping! what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

My goodness! This is even better hehe. But, there is shipping on the CPU + MOBO combo. It's only the motherboard though.
 
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i think i have perfected it with my post above, what do you think? its the same mobo and cpu as just listed and the rest the same danny has listed, besides the case because i wasnt a fan of the other one lol. and everything through amazon will be alot cheaper

its an extra 3 to ship that mobo, that will work :D
 
HardwareGuru said:
Yup. Very impressive build indeed. Beats all of our builds combined. LoL
Click to expand...

now that we have all that settled, brother just called and asked for a wireless adapter for it too! better to go with internal or external? ahh so much i dont knowww lol
 
Rockstar said:
now that we have all that settled, brother just called and asked for a wireless adapter for it too! better to go with internal or external? ahh so much i dont knowww lol
Click to expand...

PCI(e) is always be faster than USB when it comes to wireless adapters (atleast thus far) and depending on what slots you will have open you can make your decision on PCI or PCIe
 
Rockstar said:
ok let me take a shot at this, im pulling a little from all your posts and putting together one, tell me what you think

$100 - AMD Atlhon II X3 435 2.9GHz + MSI 760GM-51 mATX (DDR3 motherboard)
$51 Crucial 2gb ram
$45 thermaltake v3
$50 Corsair 400w psu
$46 WD 500gb HD
$24 LG BURNER

total 316! with no tax and free shipping! what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

For the price, this is totally ridiculous. That CPU/Mobo combo deal is awesome!

Here's the wireless card you needed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839121008 16.99
 
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Shadowssong said:
PCI(e) is always be faster than USB when it comes to wireless adapters (atleast thus far) and depending on what slots you will have open you can make your decision on PCI or PCIe
Click to expand...

+1

USB adapters tend to have higher latency.

Rockstar said:
how about something like this? pcie 1x?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320048
Click to expand...

Good choice. Last year they were double the price. At $27 it is pretty good price. Makes good use out of that PCI-e x1 slot. I own three of them and they been rock solid. The Rosewill ones and cheapos have always died on me.

horrorshow said:
For the price, this is totally ridiculous. That CPU/Mobo combo deal is awesome!

Here's the wireless card you needed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839121008 16.99
Click to expand...

There is also $2 for shipping. Also that adapter isn't wireless-N.
 
Last edited:
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A UPS would be preferred. You can use the surge protector for now, and wait for a deal on a 550VA for like $25.
 
Belkin surge protectors are pretty good.

$12.88 + FS is pretty good deal for that kind of surge protector.
 
i thank everyone for helping out and every post was much apreciated! just placed all orders. I will probably post pics of the build when im done with it :) total came out to $368.47 with the surge protector and wireless adapter.
 
that cpu/mobo combo is a nice find! i think ill bite on that for my htpc build. thx OP
 
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