$500 or less, is it possible?

[foomangoo]

Hi all, I am in need of some help. Been a loooong time since I built a pc, so I am out of the loop. Need of a new pc, but dont have much cash, so I come to you for advice. Thanks!

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: I can only buy the parts when I have the money, so I will probably string this out over a period of time and look for sales and such on the parts I need.

BUDGET RANGE: $500 or less ....eek!

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Music Recording using Digital Audio Workstation, Gaming (CoD), surfing the internet, making videos, flash animation)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, maybe OS?

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: whatever fits my needs best. (would like to use AMD, but bang for buck is more important now)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, wanting comparing prices, I have and wouldnt be against SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1024x768, 1280x1024

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: current pc is at the end of its life (7yrs)! I am poor, but work in IT so really need pc, but cant afford much. Maybe I can get something decent that will last me another 7 yrs with upgrades here n there.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Check out this deal for 300

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=5241596&sku=B69-0124&SRCCODE=WEM2028C&cm_mmc=Email-_-Main-_-WEM2028_-components

Would still allow an OS easily. But with your budget, you may be able to poke around newegg and get something with a triple core. Btw, don't be concerned about tigerdirect, I've used them before, never had a problem.

 

[jonnyboyC]

This could do it just a bit over you budget but I'm not including the OS which i hope you have otherwise it won't work

CPU: AMD phemon II X3 720 BE combo with motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.259850

motherboard: gigabyte AM3 ADM 770 ATX combo with cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.259850

GPU: EVGA Geforce 9800 gtx+ combo with psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.245392

PSU: Rosewell green series 530W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.245392

RAM: OCZ ddr2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227269

HDD:Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136161

Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147073


The total i got on newegg was $507 so it very close to your budget. If you have the OS your golden, I would also have to say that I did suggests these parts more on performance then anything else. If you can live with a smaller HDD and a not so pretty case you will actually have a fairly fast performing computer espcailly if you overclock i've read the 720 is a great overclocker and that most games don't us more the 3 cores. The 9800 gtx+ would actually probably play most games on high at your screen res. But if you looking for a more general purpose computer. drop the GPU down to a much cheaper dedicated and up your HDD or possibly invest in some ddr3 ram over the ddr 2