New Computer For Friend

C

Corbin

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
509
I’m going to build a computer for my friend. All I have is the hard drive with windows xp on it. He doesn’t really have any preferences except he wants to be able to play Call of Duty 4 and the Half- Life series (HL2, ep1, ep2) He just wants the games to be playable (doesn't have to be on high graphics). His budget is $500. Any ideas for each computer on the computer. He’s going to do everything with a 17” CRT monitor until he has more money to upgrade. Preferably I would like the stuff from newegg.
 
I don't have a whole lot of suggestions for what new to get (my upgrades are usually...pricier, so I don't look too much at budget stuff), however, I just want to let you know that you may have trouble getting xp to work off the hard drive. You'll almost definitely have to do a repair function from an install disk, and if you don't xp will probably be unstable or just function badly. Windows installation changes (behind the scenes) with different hardware, so unless his computer matches what the hard drive was previously in, it may not work right.
 
Oh thx for telling me that. I guess I'll start looking for the xp box. BTW I just got Vista 32-bit and installed on my gaming rig. Can I put it on this one too or can you only have 1 OS per computer?
 
all from newegg like you requested.

$33.99-SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA
$44.99-COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$149.99-EVGA 512-P3-N861-AR GeForce 9600GT 512MB
$49.99-Antec earthwatts EA430 ATX12V v2.0 430W Power Supply - Retail
$44.99-G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
$89.99-GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
$69.99-Intel Pentium E2160
$26.99-ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

Subtotal: $510.92

because this was made in about 1-2mins here are some options you can do to lower total cost thats off top of my head and based on memory:

-get the a-data ram.
-get one of the $25 cases
-get the 8800gs that will be renamed a 9800gso or something like that in future
-get the gigabyte s3g p35
 
I agree with crhscoog - that seems to be a good setup right there for OCing the processor. I would get the $29.99 Samsung drive w/o lightscribe and A-Data ram for $42 or you could find Giel and Wintec for $38.99, but if you're going to OC (which you should cause that processor can OC like mad) you'll want DDR2-800.

Everything else looks fine..
 
but if you're going to OC (which you should cause that processor can OC like mad) you'll want DDR2-800. [/QUOTE]

Um thx for the suggestion. Can you point me out to a vid or website that explains how to OC. I've never done it before and would like to know how.
 
oops. Srry didn't get the quote thing right. Can you tell me that too?
 
Oh thx for telling me that. BTW I just got Vista 32-bit and installed on my gaming rig. Can I put it on this one too or can you only have 1 OS per computer?
 
Corbin said:
Oh thx for telling me that. BTW I just got Vista 32-bit and installed on my gaming rig. Can I put it on this one too or can you only have 1 OS per computer?
Click to expand...

Legally, you can only have 1 OS per computer.
 
tzk said:
Legally, you can only have 1 OS per computer.
Click to expand...

eh?!?!?!

If you have legit licenses that can be installed on any system you want, then you can have as many OS's on your system as you have licenses.

Any OEM version of Windows can only be installed on one machine, forever. If the system dies, the license dies with it.

Any Retail version of Windows can only be installed on one machine at a time. You can transfer the license to another system, but then it must be uninstalled from the old system.
 
The OEM version license is stupid - if you upgrade your machine til it's basically a new one - why bother with buying windows again? NewEgg sells OEM versions of stuff...I really don't think MS would care.
 
odin said:
I really don't think MS would care.
Click to expand...

Whether they care or not wasn't my point. My point was, you can LEGALLY have MORE than one OS on a system if you have the proper licenses.
 
What about if I only have the recovery disk for Vista. Does that count? Or does it have to be retail, or OEM.
 
The recovery disc is not the same as an installation disc. Most recovery discs have stored "images" of a preconfigured system using an established set of hardware. Any changes to the hardware may prevent the recovery disc from working properly.

Any Windows disc directly from Microsoft, regardless of whether it's retail or OEM, is an installation disc.

odin said:
The OEM version license is stupid - if you upgrade your machine til it's basically a new one - why bother with buying windows again? NewEgg sells OEM versions of stuff...I really don't think MS would care.
Click to expand...

If Microsoft didn't care, then we wouldn't have to activate our OS after every installation/reformat. The sole purpose of the activation process is to reduce (if not eliminate entirely) the number of machines using the same (single-user or illegal) license key.
 
Corbin said:
What about if I only have the recovery disk for Vista. Does that count? Or does it have to be retail, or OEM.
Click to expand...

Where did the original license come from?

If the OS License came with a pre-built, OEM system, then the OEM license is only valid on that system. If you built the system yourself and activated an OEM license with certain hardware, its only valid on that same hardware.

Regardless of who built the system, if its a retail license, you can install it on whatever system you want, but only one system at a time may use THAT license. You can have a system using multiple licenses, provided that they are the proper versions.

If you only have a recovery disc, that leads me to believe you have an OEM license, which is only valid on the system it came with.
 
Yes that is correct. I got my computer form CyberPower so it only will work with this Gaming rig. Gotcha.
 
Hmm now that your friend will need an OS, you will have to go with a different build:

Windows Vista Home Premium OEM - $100
AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+ CPU - $60
Asus M2A-VM AMD 690G mATX Motherboard - $64
G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ 2 x 1GB DDR2 800 RAM - $45
eVGA 512-P3-N861-AR GeForce 9600GT 512MB PCI-E Video Card - $150
Samsung SH-203B 20X DVD±R SATA DVD Burner - $30
Antec NSK4480 ATX Case With Antec Earthwatts 380W PSU - $70
----
Total: $519 Plus tax and shipping.

Just as fast as crhscoog's build at stock speed BUT has limited overclocking power and not as much room for upgrades.
 
Is your friend a student of any type? Sometimes you can get cheap Windows licenses in school bookstores and whatever.
 
Well, we are both 14 and go to middle school together so I don't think our library has any of that. Maybe if we were in college.
 
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