Here is a budget system i put together which is sufficient for RIPPING and for GAMING and is around $650 before shipping! https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=3182887&WishListTitle=BUDGET+BEAST Add your own monitor and you have a nifty system with lots of potential when the time for upgrading rolls around.
I agree 80% with this guy, the graphics card is very slow, you could use something like an X800GTO or 6800GT for not much more, and the CPU could cheaply be upped to a 3500+.
redice, the bottom line is the box systems arent going to get it done in the end ,cant upgrade etc. building your system is your best option for sure then a year down the road you can upgrade very easy. take your time ,its worth it in the long run
Despite various hiccups and calamaties, my off-the-shelf system proved quite upgradable, although I pretty much did anything and everything, there's only the original CPU, motherboard and DVD-ROM drive left! But generally, I'd advise against buying a premade system that needs upgrading, I was forced to change my case due to airflow, and also forced to change my power supply when changing the graphics card (and that's where problems began). If you can do it how you want it to start with, do it. Pre-built systems are fine, but only go with custom-built ones, not standard models, they're never enough.
Guy says his budget is strictly $650 and thats what i worked with.....of course you can add or upgrade this and that and get a great deal for a few hundred bucks more. First thing anyone should do when they build a computer is do a needs assessment and the first part of that is what you NEED your budget to be. Anyone that proposes the guy spend hundreds more when he has said several times he cannot isn't helping him out. I agree that it is better to build a system and the one i proposed is one that i have built quite a few of and so i know the components work great together. It is also quite upgradeable if he does wish to invest more money in it later. If you think you have something better for him that MEETS his specific budget, then lets hear it!
@sammorris & aabbccdd and to the others i was able to find a shop to custom build me the computer. Also thanks for all you guys help.
great ,let us know how it turns out you will have a very nice machine for the money .much better than any of the boxed systems
lol sammorris looks like we finally got though and isnt it fun spending someone elses money LMAO!!!! redice ,should be about 2 hours labor is all since you will have all the parts. and all the parts sammorris picked out will be great the only thing i would do different is go with a BenQ drive instead of the LG for a few bucks more. thats your call. looks like it on sale this week also this is a great deal excellent drive. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101010
@sammorris yea i believe that i will have a great computer. @aabbccdd yeah i know about the BenQ and i have already order a BenQ 1650. Looks like i pick the right time to buy it too cuz newegg had free three day shipping on it for this weekend only. Do you have a BenQ drive?
NO i have 2 Plextors PX-716As (per my sig) ,but they run about 130.00 each retail which was over your budget thats why i didnt mention it.considered the best drives on the market
@aabbccdd o ok i see. so i take it the BenQ drives are 2nd best to the Plextors PX-716As because i see around the forums and just about everybody has a BenQ drive or are getting them.
Is this it? Athlon64 3200+ (Socket 939) Asus A8N-E Motherboard 1024MB Single Module Corsair Value Select PC3200 RAM 250GB Samsung Spinpoint S-ATA 8MB Buffer Hard disk Antec SP 450 Power Supply ATI Radeon X800GTO Graphics No Operating System or Case included in price which is already $700 Add that NZXT case for $75 and $90 for XP Home and you are at $900 Then add in what you will pay to have it all put together and installed and you may easily be looking at another $100 to $200 Points: 1. Video Card is a Sapphire (nuf said) The MSI i mentioned in Mine was within budget, great quality and support, and decent for gaming and has higher Memory clock than most 6600LEs (700 mhz) 2. The Spinpoint drive is okay but for the same money the WD comes with 16mb buffer. 3. Why single module RAM when no expressed interest to go beyond 2 gigs No interest to take advantage of a Dual Channel support and better timings you'll get with 512 modules? 4. The only difference between the A8N5X and the A8N-E is the first has the NForce4 chipset while the later has NForce4 Ultra chipset and the difference between those in performance (toms, anandtech, Dig Daily)..nada...the difference for you with the A8N5X is $10 for something else. Read the reviews on Newegg as well...both are just over 300 and yet the A8N5X maintains 5 stars while the A8N-E is chopped to 4. 5. The NEC 3550a is the best bang for your buck 16X DVD Burner out there. Compare it's 5 star 600+ reviews with the 24 reviews (4 star) the LG got. Price for an NEC 3550a is 35.99. Bottom line: Is your budget $900? If it is might i recommend a slightly amended offering that BLOWS what SAM (with all due respect) out of the water. https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=3189286&WishListTitle=RED+ICE+FINAL Dual BURNERS, better Hard Drive, Far Better Video, 3500+ CPU
sorry but i cannot help myself OPTION 2 for $900 budget https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=3189326&WishListTitle=RED+ICE+FINAL+OPTION+2 Athlon X2 3800 with only one burner and different 7600GS video card with a rebate as well. NOW THIS BABY will give a KICK!
I think it might be because they're just so cheap. I personally don't buy Benq or Acer stuff because in the past the quality of their products was absolutely appalling but I hear they may be getting better. Who are pretty much the best ATI GPU manufacturer - no copmplaints about either of my Sapphire cards at all. Which is barely faster and a lot noisier. This is partly true, with dual channel, as long as you're only ever going to upgrade once, you'll be better off. However, you can still get 1GB sticks with as good timings as 512MB modules if you wish. That system is better, although admittedly more expensive, and the X2 is a far better CPU, but the 7600GS is by no means a fast GPU, so "blows out of the water" isn't really an appropriate term. Also, don't forget you'll need cables with the system as well. Plus of course, that PSU may struggle with that CPU etc. Rails oscillating badly doesn't sound like a one off faulty scenario. A better Higher rated PSU would suit better, and that may push well over $900 ultimately. How about (I'm not US so I don't have a Newegg account) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562 - X2 3800+ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569 - Asus A8N5X http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023 - Thermaltake 430W PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822152025 Samsung Spinpoint 250GB HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151092 - Samsung DVDRW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146015 - NZXT Trinity http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102483 - Sapphire X850XT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450 - Corsair XMS 1GB Dual Channel Add say $10 for cables, maybe $20 for delivery and that lot comes to $912 all-in BUT there's about $40 worth of rebates in there, so it ends up at about $870. If that's too much, you can have an X800GTO for $30 less.
Quote:Video Card is a Sapphire Who are pretty much the best ATI GPU manufacturer - no copmplaints about either of my Sapphire cards at all. [bold]I TRY TO COUPLE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH PRODUCTS WITH REVIEWS OF MAJOR HARDWARE SITES AND RATED REVIEWS FROM ACTUAL BUYERS. THIS SAID, SAPPHIRE IS TO ATI what CHAINTEC and ALBATRON are to NVIDIA. THEIR SUPPORT IS AMONG THE WORST (they contract it out unlike most of those who make Nvidia Cards),,,,XFX and EVGA particularily have stellar records in that department.[bold] Quote:The Spinpoint drive is okay but for the same money the WD comes with 16mb buffer. Which is barely faster and a lot noisier. [bold]CHECK THE SPECS, NOT A LOT NOISIER (in fact noted for being quiet) and MORE BUFFER RESULTS IN FASTER PERFORMANCE and have better power consumption than the spinpoint and this means less heat. THAT SAID, I dont think either drive is bad to get, at least its not a Maxtor.[bold] Quote:Why single module RAM when no expressed interest to go beyond 2 gigs No interest to take advantage of a Dual Channel support and better timings you'll get with 512 modules? This is partly true, with dual channel, as long as you're only ever going to upgrade once, you'll be better off. However, you can still get 1GB sticks with as good timings as 512MB modules if you wish. [bold]FOR MORE MONEY. BUT THE NEW RAM you SELECTED was also a good choice.[bold] That system is better, although admittedly more expensive, and the X2 is a far better CPU, but the 7600GS is by no means a fast GPU, so "blows out of the water" isn't really an appropriate term. [bold]NOT MORE EXPENSIVE< REMEMBER, YOU DIDNT FACTOR IN CASE COST OR Operating SYSTEM WHICH WOULD HAVE YOUR BUDGET APPROACHING $900 easily BLOWING OUT OF THE WATER IS THE WHOLE SYSTEMS...EITHER of my options are easily more desirable than the one you propose.[bold] Also, don't forget you'll need cables with the system as well. [bold]HE HAS ONE DVD AND ONE HDD AND BOTH THOSE CABLE ARE INCLUDED WITH THE MOBO ACCROUTRAMENTS.[bold] Plus of course, that PSU may struggle with that CPU etc. Rails oscillating badly doesn't sound like a one off faulty scenario. [bold] SPEND SOME TIME IN THE HARD OCP FORUMS AND READ THEIR PSU GUIDE AND YOU WILL FIND THAT FORTRON IS TOPS WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET POWER SUPPLIES...i wouldn't be buying not 300 or 350 watt cheapie...because they make those....but their 400+ POWER SUPPLIES are AMONG THE BEST VALUE you can BUY for that kind of money and is MORE THAN ADEQUATE for the system i laid out AND Then SOME. NOTE the 7600GS card has no onboard Power connector needed.[bold] A better Higher rated PSU would suit better, and that may push well over $900 ultimately. [bold]NIP HERE< TUCK HERE.....on an even keel and budget yours just doesnt match up. Do a wish list with your configuration for $650 and $900 and stay within budget and lets see what you can do. I still feel bad for the guy because when this thing is built (if he does buy 900 in components) will be almost double over what he intended to pay. Will he like the computer...sure....but can he afford it?[bold] How about (I'm not US so I don't have a Newegg account) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562 - X2 3800+ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569 - Asus A8N5X http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023 - Thermaltake 430W PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822152025 Samsung Spinpoint 250GB HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151092 - Samsung DVDRW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146015 - NZXT Trinity http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102483 - Sapphire X850XT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450 - Corsair XMS 1GB Dual Channel Add say $10 for cables, maybe $20 for delivery and that lot comes to $912 all-in BUT there's about $40 worth of rebates in there, so it ends up at about $870. If that's too much, you can have an X800GTO for $30 less. [bold]Sorry for the caps. not used to using tags in forums and so my emphasis is patchy[bold]
