Posted: 5/1/2008 7:28:18 PM EDT
|
I built my own desktop about 7 years ago, but have not really kept up with computers or such since then. I am basically wanting to build a desktop for under $400 not including monitor. I have seen ready built systems at circuit city and best buy for that price so I am sure I can do it, I am just not sure what are the good hardware items to buy now. I basically use my desktop for games and I can tell it is getting pretty dated with the newer games, and I cant even play alot of them. So basically help me spend $400 or less on power supply case motherboard Dual processors (AMD preferred) Video card (decent quality) Sound card Hard drive Ram I think that pretty much covers it. I dont remember the webites I used last time to order my parts so any helpful links would be appreciated also. Is newegg about the best source? Or it may be possible that I would be better off just buying a built system from best buy or similar. What do you think? Thanks for any help |
|
Here's a possible configuration: Case: $44.99 (with PSU) MicroATX HDD: $64.99 250GB 16MB Cache RAM: $41.99 2x1GB DDR2 800 Mobo: $79.99 (with onboard video/audio) Socket AM2 CPU: $69.99 X2 4200+ Video: $79.99 ($49.99 after MIR) 8600GT 256MB Total: $381.94 ($351.94 MIR) The video card will not be able to handle any heavy gaming but will be much better than the onboard video solution. Modern onboard audio chips are very good and for my own build I didn't even bother getting one. Edit: Just a note on the brands since you mentioned you've been out of the loop for a while. Seagate, Gigabyte, and eVGA are all good companies with reliable products; AMD you already know of. Foxconn is a OEM and manufactures parts for a lot of other companies and G.Skill is a newer player in the RAM segment but I have a DDR2 kit from them myself that has been running very nicely. Also, please take the time to read the user reviews as I had only glanced them briefly. |
300 watts  No OS 1 year old technology. I throw away computers that old. The MB isnt even PCIx 2.0 He be better to buy a high dollar hooker. |
|
everything you need to know, right here. www.btfh.net/hardware_list.html |
|
Thanks for your help blstr Here are some current specs I just got on my current system from Steam. So any updates to this system would be great. Processor Information: Vendor: AuthenticAMD Speed: 1539 Mhz 1 logical processor 1 physical processor HyperThreading: Unsupported RDTSC: Supported CMOV: Supported FCMOV: Supported SSE: Supported SSE2: Unsupported 3DNOW: Supported Video Card: Driver: RADEON 8500 SERIES DirectX Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll Driver Version: 6.14.10.6517 DirectX Driver Version: 6.14.10.6517 Driver Date: 22 Feb 2005 Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel Monitor Refresh Rate: 60 Hz DirectX Card: RADEON 8500 SERIES VendorID: 0x1002 DeviceID: 0x514c Number of Monitors: 1 Number of Video Cards: 1 No SLI or Crossfire Detected Primary Display Resolution: 1024 x 768 Desktop Resolution: 1024 x 768 Primary Display Size: 14.17" x 10.63" (17.72" diag) 36.0cm x 27.0cm (45.0cm diag) Primary Display Type Not Detected Primary Bus Type Not Detected Primary AGP GART Not Detected Primary VRAM: 64 MB Primary Monitor Vendor Not Detected Primary Monitor Model Not Detected Supported MSAA Modes Not Detected Game Display Settings Counter-Strike: Source Resolution: 800 x 600 (Fullscreen) Counter-Strike: Source MSAA Disabled Day of Defeat: Source Resolution: 800 x 600 (Fullscreen) Day of Defeat: Source MSAA Disabled Sound card: Audio device: SB Live! Wave Device Memory: RAM: 511 Mb |
|
Built this for my "Out in the Garage" machine about 6 months ago. Abit KN9SLI Mobo AMD Athlon x64 X2 3800+ (dual core) 4 gig of Crucial Ballistix Traser 320 Gig Seagate Barracuda SATA 60 Gig Maxtor SATA Nvidia 8500GT at 512 Meg RaidMax Ares Case RaidMax 450W Power Supply HP dvd1040 dvdrw XP Pro Total out the door at Frys' electronics was just under $500. And I have no problem running COD4 and Oblivion on medium settings with the 8500GT. Already had a copy of XP Pro sitting around. |
The next one you throw out send my way. 
|
|
Instead of Steam, download and install Belarc Advisor to see what is in your system. Will even tell you the mobo manufacturer and CD install keys for MS software. By the way, why not post this in the Urban Commandos section? You will generally find the answers served with a little less of the general discussion crap. |
Not everyone spends all their disposable income on computers. The $400 system quoted will play hi-def movies and most games on the market today - I have a similar one driving a 1080p screen that I play RB6:LV2 and COD4 on. For the money, it's not a bad deal. |
|
ANTEC 300 600 watt PSU OS Burner/DVD Hard Drive Mother Board This is what I am building tomorrow. Thai will easily play Crysis. CPU cooler RAM Video Card |
It tells me that you have a 1.0 system that cant make use of a 2.0 card. Your running a excellent video driver, 16 streaming processors is low, 128 is the norm but AMD is running 320. You're bus with should be half of your GPU memory, yours is 1/4. You must of bought a slightly overclocked model because yours runs a 459. It beats on board graphics. |
Looks like the bus interface on the mobo you selected is also a PCIe, not a PCIe 2.0 or what ever it is. Hell, it doesn't even look to be SLI ready. Not overclocked. It is running default settings. Someday I may overclock it, but have not needed to as of yet. |
|
Antec 900 w/Antec TPT-650 ECS nForce 4 w/ AMD 5600 X2 w/ Zalman 9500 fan 2G. Kingston Value RAM 800/6400 Maxtor 300G. 133 IDE./ Maxtor 500G. 100 IDE. Asus E616A3 DVD-ROM/ Plextor 760A DVD+/- DVDRW 640 EVGA 8800 GTS SSC Edition Creative Audigy SE w/ Inspire 6100 speakers , SMC 1211 NIC. Razer Diamondback & Tarantula input devices. Hanns-G HW192G monitor  
|
All the AMD 770, 780, 790x and 790FX are all 2.0 boards, trust me. It is all part of the Spider system. No it is not Cross fire, that is AMD's SLI. I dont need it |
...Please tell me you're serious. PCIe 2.0 is backwards compatible with 1.0, not that it really matters, since video cards can't even saturate the bus yet. That 3870 you have is easily beaten by the 9600gt from nvidia, which costs the same. |
You cant fuckin, read...I said,"make use". You also dont know shit. That I am serious about. It is backwards compatible with 1.1. Alot are 1.0 or 1.0a. There is no way 5.0 mhz fits through 2.5. 3870m plays Crysis on max. How do you figure? 3870 specs Model Brand DIAMOND Series Viper Model 3870PE4512SB Interface Interface PCI Express 2.0 x16 Chipset Chipset Manufacturer ATI GPU Radeon HD 3870 Core clock 775MHz Stream Processors 320 Stream Processing Units Memory Memory Clock 2400MHz Memory Size 512MB Memory Interface 256-bit Memory Type GDDR4 3D API DirectX DirectX 10 OpenGL OpenGL 2.0 Ports DVI 2 TV-Out HDTV Out VIVO Yes General Tuner None Dual RAMDAC 400 MHz Max Resolution 2560 x 1600 9600GT Model Brand EVGA Model 512-P3-N861-AR Interface Interface PCI Express 2.0 x16 Chipset Chipset Manufacturer NVIDIA GPU GeForce 9600GT Core clock 650MHz Stream Processors 64 Memory Memory Clock 1800MHz Memory Size 512MB Memory Interface 256-bit Memory Type GDDR3 3D API DirectX DirectX 10 OpenGL OpenGL 2.0 Ports DVI 2 TV-Out HDTV / S-Video Out VIVO No General Tuner None Dual RAMDAC 400 MHz Max Resolution 2560 x 1600 RoHS Compliant Yes SLI Supported Yes Cooler With Fan Now you said what? You are frickin' high. You are one of those New Egg guys that have high experience but bitch that your DVD ROM doesnt burn DVDs. |
|
Bareboneswww.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3756596&CatId=332 $160 add another meg of ramwww.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1558837&sku=C19-4266$10 add video cardwww.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2900232&CatId=2669$120 add cpu fanwww.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2604150&CatId=2545$15 You get crappy case functional MOBO 400 watt power supply 80 gig sata 7200 rpm harddrive a dual AMD 2.0gHz processor cpu fan 2 gigs pc4200 ram a 320mg ddr3 8800 gts video card this can play CRYSIS on high settings. $305 |
But can you make hamburger with it? |
Yes. place your harddrive in the uppermost 3.5" drive bay remove the lowest 5" drive bay cover (this will be directly above aforementioned 3.5" HD bay) stuff raw hamburger meat into open 5" drive bay run hd stress testing benchmark software on HD for approx 2 hrs. remove hamburger consume. |
That 8800GTS 640MB is over a year old now and isn't nForce4 circa-2004? I'm surprised it hasn't been thrown out yet  .
Consider this article from Tom's Hardware. This article and virtually all others from various tech-sites have concluded that the 9600GT, despite it's specs is a very capable card. In fact, when antialiasing is not enabled, the 3870 is only 5% faster than the 9600GT and when antialiasing is enabled, the 9600GT is actually FASTER than the 3870. So this harkens back to the MHz-war days between Intel and AMD - seemingly superior specs do not guarantee better performance. |
Actually hard drives don't get too hot. Try one of the prescott processors. Hot damn. |
Screw the arguing, let's get this system built.
Plus another $100 for XP. That will play a 3/4 high and 1/4 medium. But yes, it will play Crysis, I agree with this build But I say SOB. You actually did a good system for the money. I am impressed, but crap like that impresses me. The last time I wasnt serious but I give this a serious YAY! |
I would suggest the 8800gts 512 if you really must have the 8800gts. The 512mb version is based on the g92 core, which includes a few tweaks and performance increases over the 320mb and 640mb version. |
They are $100 more...unless you know of one for a comparable ($120) price... |