I'm helping my friend build a decent gaming computer that can play BF2142 and like games on high and used my computer to benchmark where this one would fall. I do realize that using a PSU that comes with a case isn't the greatest, but for budget's sake it is negligible. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please try to keep the total cost under $700 (not including shipping). All together this build below comes to $653.93

Case (w/ PSU)
APEVIA X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420W Power Supply
Link

Mobo
ASUS P5L-MX LGA 775 Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Link

Graphics Card
connect3D Radeon X1800GTO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16
Link

CPU
Intel Pentium 4 650 Prescott 3.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Link

Memory
Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) EDIT: This is 2GB (1 x 2GB) that's reflected in the price
Link

HDD
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
Link

Optical
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology
Link

A Pentium D 805 or 820 cost the same as the P4 use one of those.

yeah that cpu is garbage a 3.4 single prescott is like as good as 1.6 ghz single core core2duo would be. in reality its worth about $50. spend like 1.5 times as much and get triple the performance.

Blimey. That is cheap!

You could get an ATI X1950 PRO for the same price. It's a lot better too. You should definitely do this regardless of the following paragraph.

As other people have said, the processor is a dog, but you'd have to shell out $75 more for an E4300 ($175), and then you'd need a Gigabyte S3 mobo ($109) to overclock it properly. This would take you over budget by about $60. To say it would be worth it, however, would be a bit of an understatement: the performance would be miles better. It would be state of the art, not 2 years out of date.

If you want Intel quadcore compitable for the future:
A better CPU choice for the money:
Celeron D 356, 3.33Ghz $55 Retail at E-wiz

Mobo: Asrock 775 4COREDUAL-VSTA $55, where you can find it.

Suggest you take a hard look at the manufacturer "Apevia". Their warranties are really squirrelly. I ordered an Apevia power supply and thankfully did some research on the product before the order went through. I could not find warranty information anywhere. Finally I called them and they told me the PS had a one month warranty, after that it's prorated for repair for about $30 bucks. I promptly canceled that order, as a warranty that lousy is typically a cost control measure for an equally lousy product. Buyers remorse is the worst feeling, do some research based on what's important to you.

save up a few more $$$ and buy any Core2Duo you can get, a decent ASUS/Gigabyte motherboard and the rest is up to you - atleast you will have strong lasting performance and reliability there atleast

Lose that graphics card. Remember when it comes to games, graphics cards are the most important part of your system. 1950 pro is the way to go!

That CPU isn't worth nearly half of what newegg is asking for it. Go with a Core 2 Duo E6300 or E4300.

This processor is 26 Dollars cheaper than the one you selected and will run circles around it. You may want to put the difference into your motherboard and you will really see awesome performance while staying within your budget.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115005

Definately no on that processor. $213 bucks for a single core, Netburst, Prescott, Pentium 4 is a shaaaam.

Plus, you have a MicroATX motherboard with an ATX case. That won't work.

Get a P965 board, something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128017

And a Core 2 Duo E4300:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115013

For the about the same price, and get a system that is twice as good and much more futureworthy.

Edit:

I also see no discernable difference other than model number between the RAM you selected, and this slightly cheaper Kingston DIMM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134045

I would save the 4 bucks.

get a dual core if you are going with the pentium 4, the pentium d 8xx is way better than the 6xx. and for the video card a x1900 will work better than the x1800 and only for a cuple of bucks.

Erm... Is anyone hearing an echo in here?

Screw that entire setup and go with a AMD 3800+ X2, that will smoke any pentium setup, there is no reason to try and reach to high and go for a core 2 duo since his budget is so tight.

unless if you really think you can stretch the extra money try doing something like this

GUIDE: 3+GHz Core 2 Duo Budget System for $631 (Overclock)


just substitute the graphics card for a 7600GT, or unless you really want to upgrade go with the X1950Pro...

...Core 2 Duo wouldn't stretch his budget, he's considering a P4 for 213 dollars, he could go with a cheaper E4300 for $175 and a $100 mobo, thus equaling the same as the current proposition. 700 bucks is very easily within range of of a good, Core 2 Duo gaming rig.

I echoed, but with links!

And again I stress the fact that your current motherboard won't fit in that case.

Someone... PLEASE... stop this guy. He's looking at a single core Prescott for over $200?!? Hello?!? X2's and C2Ds can be had for under what he's looking at paying for that CPU.

Thats why i gave a link to that $631 setup...duh...

Micro ATX motherboards fit into ATX cases.

Hmmm, judging by the fact people earlier suggested spending more for a Core 2 Duo, I think Newegg may have done a little price changeroo in that past couple days.

But even so, Core 2 Duo is still well in range of the $700.

My bad then, sorry.

I agree.