FANTASY $300 PC CONTEST - need sponsor for the prizes

dragonsprayer

Splendid
Jan 3, 2007
3,809
0
22,780
OK - AFTER ALL THIS $300 PC WHINNING I TOOK ACTION!

For you new guys this $300 pc will beat both of THG builds - first it has 256 mb extra on the video card. Second its a dual core 805 which should overclock to 3.4ghz with out crashing the psu!

I took the risk of using the stock case psu - since i have used this psu on systems before -with no problems!

Shopping Cart

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
NEC 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black E-IDE / ATAPI Model 7170A-0B - OEM
Item #: N82E16827152076
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$29.99
1
RAIDMAX O2 ATX-302BP Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420Watt PRESCOTT/ SATA Ready Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811156182
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$48.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3802110A 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148095
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$43.99
1
BIOSTAR V6202AL26 GeForce 6200A 256MB GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814141040
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$49.99
1
CORSAIR ValueSelect 512MB (2 x 256MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model VS512MBKIT400C3 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145477
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$44.99
1
ASUS P5VDC-MX LGA 775 VIA P4M800 PRO Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131587
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

$54.99
1
Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model HH80551PE0672MN - OEM
Item #: N82E16819116249
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

$75.00
Subtotal: $347.94

stock intel headsink/fan combo - add $5

new total $353.94



Anyone got a better fantasy $300 pc then post it!!! I am still looking for prize sponsors do not hold your breath!
 

Heyhey

Distinguished
Sep 27, 2004
152
0
18,680
CAN YOU PLEASE STOP SPAMMING THE THG FORUMS!!!

Someone lock this thread please!!

your posts worse then spam. they are garbage.
 

dragonsprayer

Splendid
Jan 3, 2007
3,809
0
22,780
Your right! but toms was $361 so i match it with a better build - in my opinion. I posted this for people who might want to build a low end system that build i posted is great.

remove the video card and you get $300!
 

r0x0r

Distinguished
May 9, 2006
1,005
0
19,280
If your friends jumped off a cliff would you as well?

I did read the original article and it was a waste of time; both computers were over the specified price and the title didn't reflect that; perhaps it should have read "best PC for under $350" or something like that (in which case, the intel would have STILL been over budget).

Look at it in percentage terms; $330 is 10% over budget and $370 is 23.33% over budget; that's a fair amount, especially at such a low price bracket. If you've only got $300 to spend then no-one is going to cut you a deal and if $300 is your maximum budget then another $30 is going to be a big ask; I can make a healthy dinner for 2 weeks on $30 (rice, frozen fish and vegetables).

Now consider the people that this type of computer is aimed at. Something tells me that $30 is a lot of money for them too.
 

RandMcnally

Distinguished
Nov 28, 2006
347
0
18,780
OK - AFTER ALL THIS $300 PC WHINNING I TOOK ACTION!

For you new guys this $300 pc will beat both of THG builds - first it has 256 mb extra on the video card. Second its a dual core 805 which should overclock to 3.4ghz with out crashing the psu!

I took the risk of using the stock case psu - since i have used this psu on systems before -with no problems!

Shopping Cart

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
NEC 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black E-IDE / ATAPI Model 7170A-0B - OEM
Item #: N82E16827152076
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$29.99
1
RAIDMAX O2 ATX-302BP Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420Watt PRESCOTT/ SATA Ready Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811156182
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$48.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3802110A 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148095
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$43.99
1
BIOSTAR V6202AL26 GeForce 6200A 256MB GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814141040
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$49.99
1
CORSAIR ValueSelect 512MB (2 x 256MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model VS512MBKIT400C3 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145477
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$44.99
1
ASUS P5VDC-MX LGA 775 VIA P4M800 PRO Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131587
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

$54.99
1
Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model HH80551PE0672MN - OEM
Item #: N82E16819116249
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

$75.00
Subtotal: $347.94



Anyone got a better fantasy $300 pc then post it!!! I am still looking for prize sponsors do not hold your breath!
FanGirl?
 

Heyhey

Distinguished
Sep 27, 2004
152
0
18,680
OK - AFTER ALL THIS $300 PC WHINNING I TOOK ACTION!

For you new guys this $300 pc will beat both of THG builds - first it has 256 mb extra on the video card. Second its a dual core 805 which should overclock to 3.4ghz with out crashing the psu!

I took the risk of using the stock case psu - since i have used this psu on systems before -with no problems!

Shopping Cart

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1
NEC 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black E-IDE / ATAPI Model 7170A-0B - OEM
Item #: N82E16827152076
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$29.99
1
RAIDMAX O2 ATX-302BP Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 420Watt PRESCOTT/ SATA Ready Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811156182
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$48.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3802110A 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148095
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$43.99
1
BIOSTAR V6202AL26 GeForce 6200A 256MB GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814141040
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$49.99
1
CORSAIR ValueSelect 512MB (2 x 256MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model VS512MBKIT400C3 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145477
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $9.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99

$44.99
1
ASUS P5VDC-MX LGA 775 VIA P4M800 PRO Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131587
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

$54.99
1
Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model HH80551PE0672MN - OEM
Item #: N82E16819116249
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $14.99 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99

$75.00
Subtotal: $347.94



Anyone got a better fantasy $300 pc then post it!!! I am still looking for prize sponsors do not hold your breath!
FanGirl?

Intel Fangirl??
 

Sirfiroth

Distinguished
Dec 31, 2006
136
0
18,680
This will last about 90 seconds, then it's toast. The 805 doesn't run very cool and to rely on the case fan to cool it is a pipe dream.
"No Cooling Fan" OEM package.

__________________
“When multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest hypothetical entities”. ~ William of Ockham.
 

joefriday

Distinguished
Feb 24, 2006
2,105
0
19,810
He's talking about your obvious ommition of a hsf for the CPU. Do you really intend to throttle the CPU to death?

I'm at a loss on this build. It's not a gaming build, and yet it's not a good single threaded app build. Nor is it a great multithreaded app build. It seems to be a jack of all trades, master of none. The sort of bland smattering of options you see in an OEM. If you really want to have a $300 build-off you need to state the objective of the rig in question.
 

joefriday

Distinguished
Feb 24, 2006
2,105
0
19,810
Joe your computer kicks the crap out of even the most advanced computer today.
:lol: :lol: :lol: (wipes tears from eyes)
good one. :D

Ya, my K6 rig is the ultimate MS Word/dial-up web surfing machine, and it does double duty playing Doom, Quake, Deer Hunter, and mutitudes of old DOS Star Wars titles (man, do I love TIE FIGHTER). I think it wins the Fantasy $5 PC contest.
 

HotFoot

Distinguished
May 26, 2004
789
0
18,980
He's talking about your obvious ommition of a hsf for the CPU. Do you really intend to throttle the CPU to death?

I'm at a loss on this build. It's not a gaming build, and yet it's not a good single threaded app build. Nor is it a great multithreaded app build. It seems to be a jack of all trades, master of none. The sort of bland smattering of options you see in an OEM. If you really want to have a $300 build-off you need to state the objective of the rig in question.

I agree with both of these points. You must have a CPU HSF. How much is the retail PD805 over the OEM version? It can't be that much, so throw another $10-15 at most on top of the price.

Now, anyone that can't afford more than $300 for computer hardware is not going to be putting down $60 for the latest gaming titles. I think they're likely going to be the type that's happy enough playing 4 year old games and mahjungg. Stick with integrated video, and leave a discrete solution as an option for down the road when the user might get a hinkering for more graphics power. I didn't check to see if the mobo that's been suggested has integrated video, but I'm assuming yes for now.

With those two changes, the new system total is $310, which is only 3% over budget, cheaper than either of the systems that THG reviewed, and certainly more powerful. Overclocking a good 30% or more should be easy even with the stock HSF and cheap PSU.
 

WR

Distinguished
Jul 18, 2006
603
0
18,980
In comparison to THG's system, yours:

1) plays current games better because of discrete card,
2) runs Vista and heavy applications worse because lack of RAM slows everything down a lot,
3) has a slower, smaller hard drive,
4) picks the worst architecture for performance-per-watt.

I guess your ideal revolves around playing older games on an older OS while not worrying about future electric bills as a cost of running such a system (especially when overclocked). THG's system isn't aimed at gamers as much as general-purpose users who just need a decent budget or secondary computer - that's why it can run Vista smoothly as well as save a good deal of media on the HD.

To each his own.
 

chyort

Distinguished
Jan 27, 2007
73
0
18,630
the mb he picked can do both ddr and ddr2 and you can drop in a C2D later (when they bottom out enough in price) and same with some decent ddr2 ram... so it isnt as bleak a comp as you make it sound

although i would personally go with this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127017

both ddr and ddr2, as well as a 16x pci for a "decent" video card when you scrap together enough cash to get off of the onboard video...
costs like $15 more though (Saves 44 with the onboard video though. *Shrugs*)