The $300 build challenge!

[emp]

I was thinking, while tom's is doing their system marathons, we can have a little fun of our own. For all of the people that give their advice on this forum, I bring you the $300 build challenge, basically you have to provide the links for a sub $300 gaming capable system (rebates count), the parts that have to be named are CPU, GPU, Mobo, Memory, and Power supply (other parts like coolers are welcomed, but not mandatory). I did some light browsing on newegg on my own and came up with a little something, if someone tops me then I'm sure to come back with an even better system!

Build#1 features: AM2+, CrossfireX capable (2 PCI-E x16 slots), decent PSU, overclockable.

MSI K9A2 CF-F V2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130172

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103258

WINTEC AMPX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161229

Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

ASUS EN9600GSO TOP/HTDP/384M GeForce 9600 GSO 384MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121251

Cost after rebates: $307

 

[shadowduck]

Well, its a noble plan but without a case, this will purely be an upgrade vs a new build. Right?

 

[assasin32]

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspndt_530s?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&~oid=us~en~29~inspndt_530s_anav2~~AKJ!ba1J&m_5=N&mo=5~N

it even includes vista, i win LAWL

EEE PC, I think I top your Dell, mine has a keyboard, touchpad, screen, and Linux, lol.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220270

All right now all joking aside im bored enough and I try to get something under $300 just for fun.

*EDITED IN*

Since you can't build much in terms of a gaming rig for $300 I thought I try my hand at building an more energy efficient computer, something along the lines of what I would build for my parents if they asked me to build a computer for them. 1/3 of the money went towards the power supply and case because I want an 80%+ power supply and a nice case since you have to look at it all day.

Case - Thermaltake LANBOX Lite VF6000BNS Black SECC Gaming Cube Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133045

Power Supply - Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar Blue WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106

RAM - mushkin Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146112

MOBO/CPU/ONBOARD GPU - Intel BOXD945GCLF Atom processor Intel 945GC Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121342

DVD Burner - SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151154

Total = $293 with tax and rebates, not including shipping

*SECOND EDIT IN*

Just reread what you posted and noticed I didn't need all the components, and realized I basically did exactly this a few months ago.

E2180 paid $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052

2 gigs of ram paid $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227124

Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7 paid $15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134R

Thermaltake 430watt Power Supply paid $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023

MOBO paid $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188017

320mb 8800gts paid $120, free Witcher game included ($50 value)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127328

Total = $305 not including tax

Besides that purchase, I also picked up a $35 case, thermal paste/remover $14, fans/filter $20, 17.9in viewable flat panel CRT with a 1600 x 1200 resolution $17 (gotta love thrift stores), and a headache when the power supply decided not to work and took the mobo with it. (After an RMA I did get it working and im posting from it right now)

 

[pcgamer12]

$307>$300.

 

[earthandallstars]

With the $10 rebate it will be $298.93 w/o shipping. I tried to pick as much free shipping as possible.

$27.99 Linkworld 437-01-C2229 Black/ Champaign Gold Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811164097 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811164097

$39.99 PC CHIPS A15G (V1.0) AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813185113

$64.99 Foxconn 8600GTS-256N GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814186036

$39.99 pqi TURBO 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PQI26400-2GDB - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141064

$54.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261

$23.99 Sony NEC Optiarc 20X DVD±R Burner Black SATA Model AD-7200S-0B - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118012

$56.99 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO4600CZBOX - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103064

I think this rig would game at a reasonable frame rate for all but the latest and greatest games like Crysis and Age of Conan.