The 500$ budget build

[jpardue]

I have about 500 bucks to whip out and need some advice. Just want it for college, WoW, CS:S, HL2, and BF2142.

So far I have:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103747 = 83

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814102061 = 138

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231098 = 84

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817371004 = 87

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128034 = 75

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148140 = 54

Total: 515$

you guys deem this a compatible and viable PC?

 

[Mccaula718]

It is a very good pc for that price. Just oc the processor up to like 2.6 and it will be a quick processor.

 

[lunyone]

Just as a different avenue (Intel), you could get:
e2140: $76 OC this bad boy on stock cooling to make it rock!

Mobo: $101 One of the best P35 Mobo right now for the $
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Memory: $79 Screaming deal on DDR2
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

PSU: $68 Step down a little to save $, but still good quality
Antec Basiq BP500U ATX12V Version 2.01 500W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CB, CE, CSA, TUV, FCC - Retail

GPU: $166 - $40 MIR = $126!!! Nice, unless you can't wait for MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814161060
HIS Hightech H195PRF256DDN-R Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail

or: $126
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133186
PNY VCG7900SXPB GeForce 7900GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

HD: $54 Use your original one that you quoted.

Total Intel build: $539 - $40 MIR = $499!!!
If you use this AMD combo with above specs: $517 - $40 MIR = $477!!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCombos.aspx?Item=N82E16813138074&SubCategory=22&SortField=0&PageSize=10&page=1
x4400 w/TF7025 mobo. Only drawback w/this mobo is that it has only one IDE port. Don't know if that matters to you or not. Otherwise spend the $10 more for your original mobo.

 

[jpardue]

Appreciate all the help and feedback lunyone. I am not a big fan of over clocking, I dunno, I would just rather leave things stock and all. My current HD is like 4 years old. Is that too old? Should I be worrying about it giving out on me anytime soon? If so I can shell out 55 bucks for another.

 

[lunyone]

I would get a newer HD, just for the fact that you will see a little better performance with the SATA interface, compared to your PATA interface. Also go with the AMD build, since your not really going to OC, plus it will be cheaper. Prices change daily and Newegg sometimes adds in special combo deals that can save you even more . Enjoy your build.

 

[jpardue]

edited my things, trying to find a perfect system

 

[lunyone]

Can't find the x1950pro for $130, unless you get the one at newegg that is in stock and has a MIR . Other than that, I think that will fit close to the $500 price.

 

[jpardue]

it is 138$ but currently out of stock. i am just worried about a component not being compatible or something, i dont know. im nervous because this is my first homebuilt. i dont want to mess something up ya know.

 

[lunyone]

Understand The x1950pro's have been moving alot recently. I have seen in the last week the cheaper ones going out of stock. I'm betting alot of people are putting their "school" PC's together right now and that is why they are going out of stock. Plus I'm not sure if they are still being built. The x1950pro's are much better for gaming than the newer x2600xt's. When are you going to put this rig together?

 

[jpardue]

Hopefully within 2 weeks. Shouldn't be any longer.

 

[lunyone]

Hopefully within 2 weeks. Shouldn't be any longer.

NICE!!! Wish I had the $ to build a new rig Haven't built a new one since early 2006. Good luck with the build. Hope you can still find x1950pro's or 7900gs's around when you build it. Otherwise you'll be stuck with 8600gt's or x2600xt's, which game wise, don't perform as well as the 7900gs or x1950pro's.