Building PC with a budget.

[Buclao]

I've been thinking lately of building my own PC but Im on a budget between $800 - $1000. I need all the hardware and also Windows XP as a OS. Could someone help me out with picking out the hardware? It's going to be a Gaming PC. Not looking for water cooling.

[Indybird]

I'd help you out right now but I'm at school. I have a two questions though:

Do you need a keyboard and Mouse?
Do you need a monitor?

Just let me know and when I get home, I'll help you out.

-Indybird

[Buclao]

Yes I need a keyboard, monitor and mouse with that. I'm kinda wanting 4 GB of RAM and atleast a Nvidia 8600 graphics card. Also $800 - $1000 should include shipping.

[Fuganater]

Ok here we go...


RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098) $93.98

Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150229) $109.99 - $79.99 after $30 MIR

Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131030) $99.99

Case is up to you cuz I know our preferences differ.

Monitor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824252008) $249.99 - $219.99 after $30 MIR

Power Supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103941) $99.99

Primary HD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106) $42.99

Secondary HD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113) $64.99

Mouse (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826105093) $51.99

Keyboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126179) $71.99

SATA Cables (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104557) 3 for $8.97

DVD Burner with Light Scribe (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156) $39.99

Processor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115031) $125.99

Total $1060.85 + Shipping to where you live.

This is pretty much a system I would build. Not the same as my own but it would be a decent gaming system. And idk if you have the OS or not.

Change what you will but its not too bad of a system.

-Fuga

[Indybird]

This includes the all the internals (w/ case), windows, mouse & keyboard and monitor:

-Rosewill Black ATX Case w/ 400W PSU - $49.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811147001)
-Gigabyte Socket 775 Motherboard - $89.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128059)
-XFX 8600GT 256MB Graphics Card - $109.99 (+ $30 MIR) (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814150258)
-Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz Processor - $125.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115031)
-Patriot Extreme 4GB (4 x 1GB) DDR2 800 RAM - $114.99 (+ $10 MIR) (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820220267)
-Western Digital 160GB SATA 3.0GB/s HDD - $49.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136075)
-Saitek Ecplise Gaming Keyboard - $39.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16823175103)
-BenQ 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD - $189.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824014146)
-Logitech MX-518 Optical Gaming Mouse - $39.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16826104178)
-Samsung 20X DVD Burner - $24.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151161)
-Windows XP Professional 64-bit - $139.99 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832116378)

That all totals out at $975.89 ($935.89 w/ MIR), but that doesn't include shipping (I doubt it would be much more than $30-40).

I think thats a pretty kick-ass setup for the price. Enjoy!
-Indybird

[Buclao]

Ok...I was looking off of what Fuganater's reply and went to Newegg and made some adjustments. What about this?

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119129&Tpk=Cooler%2bMaster%2bMystique
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188017
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115031
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184
HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150229
CD/DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171013
Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009118
Keyboard & Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823173013
OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056
Cable: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104557


Grand total: $1,001.62 including shipping & handling.

Am I missing anything else?

[Indybird]

Ok...I was looking off of what Fuganater's reply and went to Newegg and made some adjustments. What about this?

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119129&Tpk=Cooler%2bMaster%2bMystique
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188017
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115031
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184
HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150229
CD/DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171013
Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009118
Keyboard & Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823173013
OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056
Cable: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104557


Grand total: $1,001.62 including shipping & handling.

Am I missing anything else?

I suppose thats pretty good, except you absolutely have to get a 64-bit operating system to use 4GB of RAM, otherwise it will only show up as like 3.5GB or something like that...

Also you don't need those cables, the motherboard comes with SATA cables. I'd also recommend that you get the 8600GT on my list because its the same price for an overclocked (and better cooled) card.

Last but not least, being a gaming system I'd highly recommend a nicer keyboard and mouse (at minimum, nicer mouse).

-Indybird

[Fuganater]

I suppose thats pretty good, except you absolutely have to get a 64-bit operating system to use 4GB of RAM, otherwise it will only show up as like 3.5GB or something like that...

Also you don't need those cables, the motherboard comes with SATA cables. I'd also recommend that you get the 8600GT on my list because its the same price for an overclocked (and better cooled) card.

Last but not least, being a gaming system I'd highly recommend a nicer keyboard and mouse (at minimum, nicer mouse).

-Indybird

Your kinda right... you would see 2.875 GB of RAM using XP PRO :P But you can still use 4GB, just not all of it on the same process. Also with the 64-bit version you would not be able to play most of your games being that "most" of them are made for a 32-bit operating system.

But if you went to Vista you would see all 4GB with SP1.


Also the XXX edition is better. It is a cool card to start with and this isnt and "extreme" system so it would be fine.

Cables... forgot it wasn't OEM so ignore those.

Mouse... nicer??? thats the latest gaming mouse and it as absoutly sweet.

Keyboard... again most popular gaming keyboard of probably all time. Will work great with the LCD screen on it to see game stats and computer stats while your gaming. Also most newer games are programable for that keyboard.

[doug91]

Sounds like a pretty good system to me. 4gb is overkill kinda, especially with an Xp system. However, memory is so cheap now so i don't know how much you'd save going for 2gb.
The only complaint I have is the processor. The E4500 only has a 800fsb and 2mb cache. That is somewhat on the low side for todays standards. If there was room to save, or you find money under your couch cushions, I would go for one of the E6xxx series.

[Fuganater]

Sounds like a pretty good system to me. 4gb is overkill kinda, especially with an Xp system. However, memory is so cheap now so i don't know how much you'd save going for 2gb.
The only complaint I have is the processor. The E4500 only has a 800fsb and 2mb cache. That is somewhat on the low side for todays standards. If there was room to save, or you find money under your couch cushions, I would go for one of the E6xxx series.

This much is true but this is a budget system... Going to a E6600 would up the total about $80

[Indybird]

Your kinda right... you would see 2.875 GB of RAM using XP PRO :P But you can still use 4GB, just not all of it on the same process. Also with the 64-bit version you would not be able to play most of your games being that "most" of them are made for a 32-bit operating system.

But if you went to Vista you would see all 4GB with SP1.


Also the XXX edition is better. It is a cool card to start with and this isnt and "extreme" system so it would be fine.

Cables... forgot it wasn't OEM so ignore those.

Mouse... nicer??? thats the latest gaming mouse and it as absoutly sweet.

Keyboard... again most popular gaming keyboard of probably all time. Will work great with the LCD screen on it to see game stats and computer stats while your gaming. Also most newer games are programable for that keyboard.

Nonono, I wasn't saying that to you. I was talking to Buclao, thats why I had his post quoted.

About the RAM though, I never really did find out how that worked, thanks for the tip.

-Indybird

[Fuganater]

Oh ok... Guess i didnt pay attention. :P

[cooldud02123]

do u guy sll shop at newegg.com cuz idk like tigerdirect.com has the same stuff but cheaper

[Fuganater]

Newegg is more reliable when it comes to warranty, RMA's and rebates. Tiger only has a few things cheaper than Newegg so its not worth the risk in my opinion. Ive only bought a few things from there but their rebates take about 4 months for you to get.