Extreme Budget Computer D:

[xutati]

I am looking to build a computer for under 300 dollars. It would only need to run world of warcraft because thats the main reason I am building one. I don't need a monitor, mouse, OS, or a keyboard.

Here's what I am thinking so far...

Case: Gaming ATX Case 17.2" x 7.8" x 17" (It comes with a 420W PSU) - 40 dollars

Motherboard: Not sure :/

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor - 113 dollars

A bit expensive in this budget but very cheap for the price..


Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 512MB video card - 36.99 (After rebate)

It would run WoW on full settings and that's all I need.

Ram: I am just looking for a 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 for under 40 dollars, which I am sure I can find.

Hard drive: 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - 79.99

I wouldn't mind downgrading this for a cheaper one, but this is a very solid hard drive for the price.

CD/DVD - RW Drive: These usually go around 20-30 dollars so no problem there

All together I want the rig to stay under 350 dollars (not including tax and shipping) because my budget isn't high for a computer.

So if you guys have any recomendations, I'd be happy to hear them. Thanks

 

[geofelt]

What case---PSU are you looking at? I don't think I would trust the quality of any psu included in a case, except for Antec. Particularly one for $40.

A motherboard will send your budget over $350.

I would suggest some smart shopping for parts or a system on e-bay if you want to meet your $350 budget.

 

[effel]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=9032506
Go with a 790GX motherboard, it'll play WoW great. This came out around 320, and there is no case or psu. I can't find it in me to recommend a **** case/psu combo. Don't get a 6000, it uses too much power, and is too expensive, the 5400 is only slightly slower, and half the TDP. Ugh, could you try to save just a bit more money and get a quality case and power supply?

 

[aevm]

Get this HD 3850 512MB for $60 after rebate. It's more than twice as fast as the 8500GT, and you get a game too.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121219

It wants a 450W PSU. Those recommendations are padded, but still, if you can find a case with a 500W PSU it would be better.

Here's a $49 motherboard that does work with the 125W X2 6000+.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131249

If you buy that MB, get an IDE burner. The MB only has 2 SATA ports, and it's best to keep them for hard disks.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Downgrade the processor, get a better video card.

Example...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211

Your cutting your cpu budget nearly in half. With the extra money then, you could probably have money to get a cheap 9600 gt for the video card, or a 9600 gso, something along that line. Which would handily thrash the 8500gt. Also, I have an Athlon 5200 x2, which is just a little faster than the 5000 I listed, but I think the 5000 would be just fine.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Also, you could cut down to say a 320gb drive, that would be plenty for a while I'm betting. I have a 320 seagate myself, great performance and still plenty of room on it.

 

[B-Unit]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/P...umber=12620307&WishListTitle=SuperBudgetBuild

Got a case and decent PSU thrown in that one. 780G integrated should eat WoW for lunch. Comes to arround $330 before shipping (but alot of those items are free shipping right now).

 

[Noya]

As others have said, you're on an extreme budget and you've chosen a $112 processor?

This one gives up virtually nothing in performance and is nearly half the price:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211

You definitely want an HD 3850/3870 or 8800GS/9600GT.
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=342840&t=887502
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=891302

 

[Physicz]

intel atoms FTW!!!!

 

[bobwya]

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor - 113 dollars

A bit expensive in this budget but very cheap for the price..

No its not actually... That is way too expensive for your build budget!! For WOW + intensive x264 encoding in the background?? :lol:

But:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819105219
54.00 USD
That is Opteron is socket compatible with desktop boards (one of those little known facts)!! Similar to the old socket 939 Opterons that could be used in socket 939 boards...
2Mb cache and 1.8Ghz base clock (to overclock from if you need the speed) = sweet!!
But best of all 54.00 USD - half the price of the CPU you are suggesting!!

Bob

 

[bobwya]

Forgot to say uhhhmmm el cheapo 420 Watt PSU is going to be a disaster for any build!! You will regret this purchase ... maybe not today but sometime soon!! When the cheap 50C degree rated capacitor(s) blow up in the bundled PSU.

I would definately go for the Corsair 450 VX Watt as a minimum.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003&Tpk=Corsair+450+VX
Its only 60.00 USD after rebate and its like buying piece of mind!!
(BTW Antec are quite good now in the budget end as well.)

Heck if you really want to save money on the case all you need (I guess) is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233036
38.00 USD
at least Coolmaster or Gigabyte case is going to have better build quality and cooling (like this one can have a front 120mm fan added). I have overclocked a socket 939 Opteron, from 1.8Ghz to 2.8 Ghz, in a similar case without any problems!!

Bob

 

[zenmaster]

430w PSU - $30 (Antec 80+ Certified w/PFC)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

Cheap Case - $26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156085

Mobo - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186116

HD3850 - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121219

CPU - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052

HDD - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145213
===================================================
Total - $296+Shipping AR

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Or if you want to go with the final build here, you could even cheapen it more with the dual core celeron chip for 20 bucks less and OC that. Up to you.

 

[geofelt]

Good suggestion, zenmaster.
Add 2gb of ddr2-800 or 667 ram, whichever is cheaper.

 

[bobwya]

-1 zenmaster that case is obviously utter rubbish... :lol: Definately xutati should go for a Gigabyte or Coolmaster branded budget case.

An 1.8Ghz AMD Opteron (2Mb cache) + 790GX MB is a better deal for xutati. It will slug it out with a E2180 and is 10.00USD cheaper. No need to purchase a discrete GPU = saving $$$.

The 790GX chipset will run WOW and is able to support HD playback. Try that on the current Intel chipsets!!
A discrete GPU can be added latter. Saving on the GPU allows the purchase of decent case (with dual 120mm fans - essential for system stability in hot weather) and good powersupply. A Corsair 450 VX or Antec Neo ideally for longterm stability and excellent build quality...

If the guy isn't a hardcore gamer then he doesn't need an entry-level gaming GPU.

Bob

 

[claytonian]

Yes PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT GET THE 8500gt IT IS THE BIGGEST POS EVER, TRUST ME I BOUGHT ONE WHEN I WAS ILL INFORMED

 

[zenmaster]

-1 zenmaster that case is obviously utter rubbish... :lol: Definately xutati should go for a Gigabyte or Coolmaster branded budget case.

An 1.8Ghz AMD Opteron (2Mb cache) + 790GX MB is a better deal for xutati. It will slug it out with a E2180 and is 10.00USD cheaper. No need to purchase a discrete GPU = saving $$$.

The 790GX chipset will run WOW and is able to support HD playback. Try that on the current Intel chipsets!!
A discrete GPU can be added latter. Saving on the GPU allows the purchase of decent case (with dual 120mm fans - essential for system stability in hot weather) and good powersupply. A Corsair 450 VX or Antec Neo ideally for longterm stability and excellent build quality...

If the guy isn't a hardcore gamer then he doesn't need an entry-level gaming GPU.

Bob

The 790GPU is fairly good, but not nearly good as most lower end discrete GPUs.
It may be passible for WoW, not nothing to get very excited about.

As far as CPU power, the E2180 on a Stock Cooler should even match the X2-6400
(Please Checkout the X-Bit Lab Reviews on the E2160 and X2-6000. You will see the OC' E2160 on Stock Cooler performs significantly faster than an OC'd X2-6000. The X2-6400 only adds marginal improvement.)

As far as cooling, it's using an Intel CPU which uses a fraction of the power so no need to a super cooling case. ( I have a Q6600 in a SFF case which is stored inside a small unventilated enclosure in a desk except for the small holes for cables.)

As far as PSUs, The Antec Earthwatts is built by Seasonic and is considered higher quality than the "Neo".
PSU listed should even handle an HD4870 is he wanted to drop that in there.

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Btw, don't know if anyone else noticed, but there's a 9600gt at newegg for 85. It is ECS brand, but it was on there earlier. If I had the extra cash I'd try it for that price.

 

[bobwya]

As far as CPU power, the E2180 on a Stock Cooler should even match the X2-6400
(Please Checkout the X-Bit Lab Reviews on the E2160 and X2-6000. You will see the OC' E2160 on Stock Cooler performs significantly faster than an OC'd X2-6000. The X2-6400 only adds marginal improvement.)

I ain't no AMD Fanboiiii. Yeh!! But I standby the statement that the Opteron 1210 is a worthy budget CPU. Refering to:
http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=355794l
Question is does the raised FSB make any difference vs. X2-6000 X2-6400?? Uhhmmm THG need to do some research on this... As usual they have missed the boat!!

Noting that the Opteron 1210 is about the same as an E2160/E2180 with the real world difference being almost negligible. Both have good OC headroom (with the C2D being slightly higher). But the price for the Opteron is nearly 10.00 USD cheaper.

Agreed that the AMD desktop processors are a waste of money too little cache (2x 512Kb) or too expensive... The price for the X2-6000 and X2-6400 are a joke given C2D. But the Opteron 1210 is a great deal at the price.

Don't forget FPS will drop a little with a K8 AMD processor vs C2D Pentium but the GPU is still the critical factor here.

Just my $.02

Bob