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06-16-2009, 06:40 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Hardware Tech Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 3,707
OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04
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Budget $500 home computer
This is a build I've suggested to my dad as an upgrade over his old Pentium 4 machine, and I'm trying to give him the most he can get for around $500. Any suggestions for money-savers or more reliable parts while staying in the $450-$550 range?
Case: Cooler Master Elite 360 ATX Mini Tower $39.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119195 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L G31 Micro ATX $52.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128357 CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core 6300 2.8GHz $87.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116091 RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 2x1GB DDR2 800 $29.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134117 Power supply: Antec Earthwatts EA500 500 watt $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007 Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce 9500GT 512MB $64.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130378 Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE 320GB 7200RPM $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136098 DVD Burner/Drive: Sony Optiarc SATA DVD burner $29.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118033 Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116488 TOTAL PRICE: $515.91 |
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06-16-2009, 06:55 PM
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#2 (permalink) |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2
OS: Ubuntu 9.04
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
you could save a couple of bucks and go with an AMD dual core instead of the intel. or even get a faster one for the same price. What is he going to use it for?
Last edited by Jaesin; 06-16-2009 at 06:56 PM. Reason: more thoughts |
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06-16-2009, 07:24 PM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Hardware Tech Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 3,707
OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
I've seen that thread, but I'm aiming for something even cheaper. He mainly does web browsing and office stuff, with some light video editing/watching and occasional "vintage" games. He's very budget concious and doesn't need a whole lot.
What AMD CPU/motherboard would you suggest? I've only worked with Intel. |
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06-16-2009, 07:47 PM
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#5 (permalink) |
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Moderator Hardware Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 12,125
OS: XP, Vista, Win 7
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
This might fit the bill:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128383 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210 and you would not need the graphics card If you want to avoid Vista: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511
__________________
Rich Last edited by simpswr; 06-16-2009 at 07:48 PM. |
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06-16-2009, 08:10 PM
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#6 (permalink) |
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Hardware Tech Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 3,707
OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
Ok, here's a revised spec sheet. I wanted to keep a video card, since he does some light video editing and movie watching, and I know that an Nvidia 7100SE is barely sufficient for HD video, and I assume a 6100 is worse.
Case: Cooler Master Elite 360 ATX Mini Tower $39.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119195 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 AMD 740G Micro ATX $54.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128342 CPU: AMD Athlon 64X2 5200 Brisbane 2.7GHz $56.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210 RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 2x1GB DDR2 800 $29.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134117 Power supply: Antec Earthwatts EA500 500 watt $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007 Graphics Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD4350 512MB $39.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125251 Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE 320GB 7200RPM $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136098 DVD Burner/Drive: Sony Optiarc SATA DVD burner $29.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118033 Operating System: Windows XP Home SP3 $89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511 TOTAL PRICE: $470.92 |
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06-16-2009, 08:59 PM
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#7 (permalink) |
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Hardware Tech Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 3,707
OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
Would this be a better motherboard?
Motherboard: Foxconn A78AX-S AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX $59.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186147 |
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06-17-2009, 06:55 AM
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#8 (permalink) |
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Moderator Hardware Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 12,125
OS: XP, Vista, Win 7
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
I would choose Gigabyte board over Foscon every time . .
You list looks good, but I don't know if that video card will be an amprobement over the built in one . . you might try it then if it is not enough, buy a card
__________________
Rich |
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06-17-2009, 07:11 AM
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#9 (permalink) |
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Mentor Hardware Team
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
Your first build looked good. I would substitute the Kingston RAM for CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) $34.99 free shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145175 And the Sony DVDRW for an LG $21.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136144 Another consideration would be this Asus Mobo. I use a LOT of these. ASUS P5KPL $54.99 free shipping. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288
__________________
 Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently. |
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06-17-2009, 10:42 AM
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#10 (permalink) |
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Hardware Tech Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 3,707
OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
I think I've decided on an AMD CPU/mobo, but you're right, Asus mobos are usually pretty nice.
Don't tell him this ( ;) ), but I also plan to use this PC for light gaming when I'm over at his house. All three computers at his house have integrated chipsets (Intel 965 or Intel Series 4), and two have Pentium 4 CPUs, and can't handle any game newer than about 1999 or thereabouts. I'd like to at least be able to play some modern games on at least medium-low-ish settings, so there has to be at least some graphics card there. I'm shooting for the ATI equivalent of the 9400GT or 9500GT. Case: Cooler Master Elite 360 ATX Mini Tower $39.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119195 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX $54.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128342 CPU: AMD Athlon 64X2 5200 Brisbane 2.7GHz $56.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210 RAM: Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2 800 $34.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145175 Power supply: Antec Earthwatts EA500 500 watt $79.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007 Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon HD4650 512MB low profile $59.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102829 Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE 320GB 7200RPM $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136098 DVD Burner/Drive: LG 22x DVD+/-R IDE DVD burner $21.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136144 Operating System: Windows XP Home SP3 $89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116511 TOTAL PRICE: $491.91 |
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06-17-2009, 11:12 AM
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#12 (permalink) |
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Mentor Hardware Team
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
This is a nice ATI card that will go well with the build and do some gaming.
SAPPHIRE 3650 ; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102726
__________________
Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently. |
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06-17-2009, 02:19 PM
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#13 (permalink) |
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Hardware Tech Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 3,707
OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04
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Re: Budget $500 home computer
Thanks Tyree, but for $10 more I'll go with the 4650.
Ok, I looked at the CoolerMaster case a bit more closely, and its layout is kind of screwy. There's no back fan, and it looks like there's a PSU plug but no PSU? For $15 more and a bit bigger case I'm going to go with the Antec Three Hundred. I've used the Antec Nine Hundred, and the Three Hundred gets good reviews and looks to have a nice design, so I'll trust it. With an addition of two 120mm fans (side and HDD) and some Arctic Silver Five, my final price comes to $533.80. I'll order it all this weekend. Thanks for all the help. 
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