Okay this system is as budget as I can get it, without sacrificing too much. So here it is:

CPU $79
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Orleans 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103637

Motherboard $70
MSI K9NU Neo-V Socket AM2 ULi M1697 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130056

Case/PSU $77
Antec Solution SLK1650 Beige Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129149

DVD Burner $37
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache ATAPI/E-IDE 16X DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106013

Hard Drive $63
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3160811AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148149

Memory $110
mushkin Enhanced Performance 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) System Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146438

Video Card $93
POWERCOLOR X800GTO256MBDDR3 Radeon X800GTO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814131007

Total is ~$510 w/shipping, which is $10 over budget, but I'm sure I can talk my friend (one who is paying for it) into paying the extra $10. Keyboard, mouse, monitor and OS isn't needed.

Is there anything that I might consider or change in this system? Remember I only have $500 budget with shipping included.
Thanks in advance for any input. :-)

Unfortunately I don't have them and I'm building this for a friend of mine. It's a birthday/christmas present. They have an older Dell, but they need that for other things. This system is for a budget gaming system, so this is the best that I can come up with. I'm hoping that I have good quality parts here and that this will work until they can afford to upgrade later.

I see that you have a 7300gt, which is about the same $ as a x800gto, right? I could go with a smaller HDD which would save about $10-15 or so, but unless I can find a more affordable case/PSU combo, I think I'll be stuck.

I can find a cheaper case/PSU setup, but it is from Atrix and I'm not sure it will hold up over time.

ATRIX CSCI-L8029-C34 Black/Silver SECC steel sheeting FCC class CB&CE approved ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 480W (20/24 pin Prescott version) Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811209026

If you think this is good enough, than I might consider it. I'm just leary of off brand PSU's, so I'm hesitant to say the least.

Yeah I forgot to check it, your right. Here is another example. I just don't know where I can save any more in the setup to fit the budget, except for the $10-15 on HDD and on the case/PSU setup.

Linkworld 431-06 C.2828 Silver SECC/SGCC rustproof and galvanized steel available ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811164060

If your buddy is 18 he should sell his plasma. Some places will give you $50 for the first donation. That'll help a bit.

No probably doesn't need burner, would like it though. I'm thinking that maybe just DVD/CD-RW drive and maybe a cheaper motherboard (not sure).

Motherboard $60 (saves ~$10)
ECS RS485M-M (V1.0) Socket AM2 ATI Radeon XPRESS 1100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813135011

DVD rom $25 (saves ~$12)
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5M Cache IDE Combo Drive - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106992

Hard Drive $51 (saves ~$12)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST380811AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148148

Video card $135 (adds $40 minus $20 MIR)
eVGA e-Geforce 7600GT PCI Express 256MB GDDR3 Video Card w/DVI-I, VGA & HDTV Support Retail ***Free Shipping***
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] ode=322834

Grand total w/7600gt card
~$528 w/shipping and subtracting $20MIR would reap a $508 cost.

The games he'll be playing will be probably HL2, Quake 4, WoW....

I'm glad to see that you changed your case from beige to silver. Installing a black DVD drive in a beige case is a major fashion faux pas around here. 8)

the system wont be that bad for games. it should play everything on at least medium 1024x768 and most things on max 1024x768

surely u can get a cheap case for like 30-40$? in aus cheap cases with sh*t 400watt psu's are like 40$. and thats like 30US$

y get a good case if everything else is sh*t. generic cases and psu's arent that bad.

Drop the 3200 for a 3000+... I have mine at 2.55Ghz right now. According to Sandra, it beats an fx55 with ease. . .

That should help you stay in your budget. You'll be much happier if you swing for the x850 or 7600gt over the GTO. So definately consider that.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 27&Go.y=33

Thats the optical drive you should be considering. Also, I have that ECS MOBO suggested earlier, and I tell ya, for its price, it is one awesome motherboard (I am getting 2.55Ghz outta my 3000+ with ease)

Honestly, just look at the system in my sig, it meets and exceeds all of your requirements.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820161662

This is my RAM BTW, holding steady at 700mhz with 3-4-4-12 timings


Also, if you get that ECS board, MAKE sure you get RAM that is capable of running at 1.8 . .. the boards vdimm CANNOT be adjusted. The RAM above works great at low volts

yea i agree with the guy above me.
drop the 3200+ for the 3000+

u will hardly notice a difference between them anyway.

Yeah I'm seeing a $4 savings if I go from 3200 to 3000.

So here's the adjusted system, please let me know if there is anything that I should change.

CPU $74
AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3000+ Socket AM2 (62W) Retail ***Free Shipping***
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] de=80699-8

Motherboard $60
ECS RS485M-M (V1.0) Socket AM2 ATI Radeon XPRESS 1100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813135011

Memory $110
WINTEC AMPX 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820161662

DVD/CDRW $25
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5M Cache IDE Combo Drive - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106992

Hard Drive $48
Western Digital WD Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer ***Free Shipping***
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] e=101206-1

Case/PSU $70
Antec Solution Series SLK1650 Mini Tower Case (Beige) Retail ***Free Shipping***
w/350W Power Supply
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] ode=140035

Video Card $135 - $20 MIR
eVGA e-Geforce 7600GT PCI Express 256MB GDDR3 Video Card w/DVI-I, VGA & HDTV Support Retail ***Free Shipping***
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] ode=322834

Total w/shipping: ~$523 - $20MIR= $503 ($3 over budget)...

Is there anywhere else where I could get these items from at a lower price? I like ZZF and Newegg, since I've ordered from them before.

Thanks for all of your help

If you have access to a Fry's retail store, you can get a better deal on the motherboard and processor...

For example, an ECS KN1 Lite (nForce4) and a A64 3800+ for $119 was on sale 2 days ago.