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Author Topic: Building a Computer on a Budget  (Read 586 times)

Offline aknimitz

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Building a Computer on a Budget
« on: January 07, 2003, 11:10:42 AM »
Ok,

I have undertaken the task of building a computer for a friend of mine - on a budget of around $500 (w/o monitor).

He is not a gamer, but would like to get into burning CDs and stuff. So, here are the essentials as I see it:

1. Mboard with UPGRADE possibilities (he wants something that will allow growth into more expensive chips as the $$ allows).

2. ~1.8Ghz CPU

3. 256MB RAM (SDRAM, DDR, or even RDRAM?)

4. ~60GB 7200 RPM HD

5. Decent SBLive Sound Card?

6. Inexenspive Vcard (GF2 GTS or something?)

7. No speakers

8. 300 Watt power supply and case.

9. ~40-12-40 CD-RW

Have I forgotten anything? Any help you guys can provide would be appreciated!

Nim
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Offline AKS\/\/ulfe

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Building a Computer on a Budget
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2003, 11:17:51 AM »
Modem? Or some other communication device...

I'm thinking of upgrading to a SB Audigy.. if I do, I'll have a SB Live! available that works fine.

Is your friend going to play video games? If he isn't and doesn't plan to, I have a V5 5500 sitting around... can still run older games, and runs some modern day games pretty well.

If he does plan to, GF3 is minimum for "tommorrow's" games.

If he doesn't plan to play video games, PC100 or PC133 SDRAM is fine. But you need more than 256MB for Windows XP. They have 256 PC2100 DDR sticks at Best Buy this week for ~$40 after instant and mail in rebates. The mobo you are going to get to allow future CPU upgrades will have to use DDR memory.

I got a full sized Antec case with a 300W PS at Best Buy over a year ago for $60... Antec cases are really good and have good power supplies too.
-SW
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Offline Wlfgng

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Building a Computer on a Budget
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2003, 11:24:00 AM »
seawolf go with the Audigy 2.. it rocks, especially for games
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Offline AKIron

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Re: Building a Computer on a Budget
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2003, 11:28:24 AM »
Added some prices from http://www.pricewatch.com

Added a better video card within your budget.


Quote
Originally posted by aknimitz
Ok,

I have undertaken the task of building a computer for a friend of mine - on a budget of around $500 (w/o monitor).

He is not a gamer, but would like to get into burning CDs and stuff. So, here are the essentials as I see it:

1. Mboard with UPGRADE possibilities (he wants something that will allow growth into more expensive chips as the $$ allows).

2. ~1.8Ghz CPU                                                       $150-$170

3. 256MB RAM (SDRAM, DDR, or even RDRAM?)        $30-$60

4. ~60GB 7200 RPM HD                                            $80-$100

5. Decent SBLive Sound Card?                                 $30-$50

6. Inexenspive Vcard (GF3 TI500)                            $100

7. No speakers

8. 300 Watt power supply and case.                        $40-$60

9. ~40-12-40 CD-RW                                                 $45-$65

Floppy drive                                                               $8-$15

Total                                                                          $483-$620

Have I forgotten anything? Any help you guys can provide would be appreciated!

Nim
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Offline AKS\/\/ulfe

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« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2003, 11:32:51 AM »
You sold me Wlfgng, gonna upgrade tonite.
-SW
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Offline Nifty

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Building a Computer on a Budget
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2003, 12:25:14 PM »
uhmm, no speakers?  is he using existing ones or just not at all?  if not at all, why bother with a sound card?
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Offline midnight Target

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« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2003, 12:26:32 PM »
Never built a computer.  Is it difficult? How do you install the OS? Or does the OS come prepackaged on the MB?
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Offline beet1e

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« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2003, 12:27:31 PM »
AKNimitz, If you do decide to go AMD (not Intel) I would recommend an Asus motherboard. I've had two, and they've been excellent. My girlie replaced her old board with the Asus A7V333 on the strength of my recommendation, and never looked back. The reasons I like Asus are that you get proper support - a proper manual in .PDF format can be downloaded from http://www.asus.com and the site also provides BIOS updates. Given the frustration I have encountered when trying to work out how other boards work etc., the Asus website is like manna from Heaven.

Also, the A7V333 motherboard (to name one of several) has its own onboard sound, so you wouldn't need a sound card. My girlfriend says that the onboard sound is adequate, though a dedicated soundcard might be better - it just depends on how much you need to keep the costs pared back.

Good luck!  This week, I start the build for my cleaning lady's PC. I'm getting her the A7V333...
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Offline hardcase

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« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2003, 12:36:21 PM »
cc on the asus a7v333. I've been using Asus since the 95 and never had a problem with a motherboard at all.

HC
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Offline Kanth

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« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2003, 12:36:21 PM »
No

usually from a CDROM (you can boot to the CDROM and run the setup from there)

If you are building it yourself the OS doesn't come with it.

Quote
Originally posted by midnight Target
Is it difficult?
 How do you install the OS?
 Or does the OS come prepackaged on the MB?
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Offline Kanth

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« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2003, 12:38:19 PM »
If you are going with AMD make sure you get adequate cooling (get extra fans, decent heatsink, good thermal compound)
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Offline -dead-

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« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2003, 02:05:58 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by midnight Target
Never built a computer.  Is it difficult? How do you install the OS? Or does the OS come prepackaged on the MB?

Sticking the bits together takes 20 mins-1 hour and is mindbogglingly easy - it's basically just adult Lego. Installing windoze XX, downloading & installing the 4 million upgrades for windoze XX, and getting all the bits to be recognised by and work with windoze can take from 1-3 days, depending on your luck and, as far as I can tell, the relative position of the sun and the moon.
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Offline beet1e

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« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2003, 03:59:47 PM »
MT - I'm building one, so I'll take pictures of the assembly and email them to you if you want. But it's like -dead- says.

I shall be using the IBM utility to format the HDD (and designate a drive letter) The prog loads from the legacy floppy drive A:\ - all very dossy. Same thing with the OS - there's enough of it on the floppies to begin the install, and then the prog calls for the CD.

I will be installing the VIA mobo drivers; the OS install will detect a load of stuff, and then there will be stuff like DX
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Offline Raubvogel

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« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2003, 07:18:31 PM »
Motherboard: MSI KT3 Ultra2 ($78 at Newegg.com)
CPU: AMD XP2000+ ($90 at Newegg:retail boxed, includes heatsink/fan)
Case: Antec SX630II ($73 at Newegg)
Hard drive: Maxtor 40GB 7200RPM ATA133 ($79 at Newegg)
CDRW: Lite On 40/12/48x ($49)
Video Card: Gainward GF3Ti200 ($90 at Newegg)
Sound card: SB Live! 5.1 ($34 at Newegg)
RAM: 256mb PC2100 ($71 at Crucial.com)


Total: $564 and that machine will run any game out there with no problem for quite a while to come. Probably score about 7000 on 3dmark2001. Getting a floppy is up to your friend. If you have a good CDRW then a floppy drive isn't really needed.
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Offline aknimitz

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Building a Computer on a Budget
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2003, 10:56:57 PM »
Thanks for the tips everyone :) (for those of you that didnt hijack my thread anyway).

Nim
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