Need help with a 500 dollar build

xBanzai89

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1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
The PC will be for gaming and what your average computer user will do.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
The budget is 500 dollars, tax and shipping is not included.
3) Where do you live?
Massachusetts
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
The parts needed are the RAM, CPU, MB, HDD, Monitor, VGA, and PSU.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Already have the case, Windows Vista, and DVD drive.
6) Will you be overclocking?
No.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
The monitor should be around 20-22 inches.
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
With in the coming weeks
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
I do not believe there is any need for extra stuff. Only need the essentials.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
Yes

The above computer is for my cousin. I am going to help him build him a new computer. He is going to be coming from a laptop w/ a low end C2D, and some crappy IGP. It cannot play any modern games anymore, so it will be a nice step up for him.

He was hoping to get a monitor around 22 inches in size. I managed to squeeze in one build, but I do not really know good budget components for a build like this. I was hoping to hook him up with at least a E5200 and a 4830 level video card. If needed I think a 9600 GT could do him good as well. The highest end game I can see him playing is Empire Total War. He isn't a graphics whore either.

Thanks in advance for the help!
 
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I recommend you take a look at the entry level section of this guide (AMD or Intel, whatever you desire) then subtract the things you already have and add a new R4770, you'll be set.

http://anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3563

Processor AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE Deneb
(Tri-core 2.8GHz, 45nm, 3x512KB L2, 6MB shared L3) $139

Video Sapphire Radeon HD 4770 512MB 100277L $100

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+/AM3
($70 less $10 Rebate) $60

Memory OCZ Platinum Model OCZ2P10664GK
2x2GB 5-5-5 DDR2-1066 ($63 less $25 Rebate) $38

Hard Drive WD Caviar Green WD6400AACS 640GB 16MB Cache $65

Power Supply BFG Tech LS Series LS-550 550W SLI/CrossFire Ready
80 Plus Certified ($80 less $20 Rebate) $60

$462 for quite a nice system indeed! First 40nm GPU, triple core processor, what more core ya ask for?

Well... the monitor I suppose but, er, couldn't fit one in w/o extreme compromise. Up the budget a little and you can get quite a nice deal indeed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824112013
 
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$500 AMD build with 22" monitor.


CPU/Mobo (Combo) AMD Athlon X2 7850 Kuma 2.8ghz + Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P both for $149
Ram - PNY 4GB DDR2 800 for $43 w/free shipping
Video - BFG Geforce 9600GT 512MB for $77 w/free shipping ($10 MIR)
HDD - WESTERN DIGITAL Caviar SE16 SATA WD6400AAKS for $64 w/free shipping
PSU - Antec EA380 380watt Earhwatts for $45 w/free shipping
Monitor - 22" Acer X223Wbd for $160 w/free shipping

Total: $538 before shipping & taxes

I like this AMD X2 7850 build over the Intel E5200 build if you're not overclocking.
 
HardwareGuru's builds are excellent for your budget. But if you could raise it a little more, you can buy something significantly better:

$159 - AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz Triple-Core Processor
_____ ASUS M3A76-CM 760G uATX Motherboard
$39 - Kingston 2X2GB DDR2-800 CL6 RAM
$105 (Coupon HARDOCPVGA5112) ($20MIR) - MSI Radeon HD 4850 512MB Video Card + Rainbow6 Vegas2 Game
$70 (Coupon EMCLSMR24) - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB Hard Drive
$44 (Coupon Maypsu20) ($10MIR) - Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W Power Supply
$170 ($10MIR) - ASUS VH222H 21.5" 1080P LCD Monitor
--------------------------------------
Total: $587 LESS $40MIR
--------------------------------------

You can also sell the game to lower the overall costs.
 
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