$500 Budget Build

[TONYTHETIGER916]

I'm replacing my laptop that crapped out on me (old dell inspiron 8500). I mainly used it as a multimedia (ripping/burning CD & DVD) and business (word, excel, powerpoint, internet) with some minor gaming. This is what I'm thinking:

Mobo - ECS A780GM-A AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135075]

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor
=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103773]

CPU Cooler - ZALMAN CNPS 7500 AlCu LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118035]

HD - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB
=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073]

Memory - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166]

This set up puls me right around $300

Plus optical drive, wireless adapter, keyboard, and case

I opted to use the onboard video because I can save up and buy a better one later instead of squeezing one into the budget

 

[quinntheskamo]

Optical Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152
24.99

Network Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124115
39.99

Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126174
29.99
19.99 after mail in rebat

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041
59.99
34.99 after 25 dollar mail in rebate

That leaves you at 424.97 without mail in rebat and 389.97

Suggestion : With the exta money buy a cheap video card like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102804
which is 89.99 with 10 dollar mail in rebat

 

[enaher]

Optical Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152
24.99

Network Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124115
39.99

Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126174
29.99
19.99 after mail in rebat

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041
59.99
34.99 after 25 dollar mail in rebate

That leaves you at 424.97 without mail in rebat and 389.97

Suggestion : With the exta money buy a cheap video card like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102804
which is 89.99 with 10 dollar mail in rebat

Id agree with most of it, just go qith the cheapest 9800 GSO or HD 4670 you find just be sure its a GDDR3 OR DDR3 model...

 

[TONYTHETIGER916]

Finding the optical drive, wireless adapter, keyboard, and case is the easy part. Any suggestions/opinios about the core of the set up

 

[slomo4sho]

Antec earthwatts EA380 380W

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB)

COOLER MASTER Centurion 590

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB

SAMSUNG 20X DVD Burner with LightScribe

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz

MSI R4670-2D512 Radeon HD 4670 512MB

Rosewill RNX-G300EX IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Card

Only the video card has a mail in rebate

Total: $495.91 - $15 MIR = $480.91

Go to your local electronics shop and get a keyboard and mouse there... shipping for a keyboard and mouse costs as much as the item when you shop online!