Cpu for cataclysm

Hiya, the problem here is the very old tech. Pentium 4 ....

Does it look like this?
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/gateway-e-4000-series/...

Here's the deal, any money you throw at that system will be lost. Yes you MIGHT find a small video upgrade. Yes you MIGHT find some over-priced DDR 1GB sticks. However, the CPU is a big limiting factor and there's nothing you can do about that.

You can probably salvage the drives, but you will still need the following:

Case
MB
CPU
RAM
PSU
video card
Operating system (The one you got from Gateway won't work on a new system)

That's going to go way over $300.

My advice would be to find a second-hand computer that can then be upgraded. You are welcome to run the specs by me before buying... if you are hesitant about revealing your exact location just shoot me a private message with links to any craigslist deals you see, or post them here.

Ya I wouldnt even bother trying to ugprade that. Just save your pennies.

Try to gather ~500 bucks and buy a new system. You just need the box you can salvage the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Holidays are coming so you should be able to find some deals at bensbargains.net or slickdeals.net i think it is.

Anyone have any suggestions for brandnames?

If you think you are comfortable enough with building your own system you can try that. You'll save a few bucks doing that.

Yes sir thats the one and yes it is quite old
As i mentioned earlier im not too tech savy but i am a pretty smart guy  
So I have decided to slowly gather pieces to make a new pc by buying parts one at a time and eventually slap them all together {from newegg}
A lot of specs I understand like intel cpus must match motherboards etc., but others go way over my head. Can you suggest a site to learn about making one on your own? Or even suggest i that i shouldn't attempt such a thing?
All the components for a new pc total $320 or so but i feel I'm missing things
so ill list them here
Computer Case
Internal hard drive Seagate Barracuda 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
Video Card GeForce 8400 GS Supporting up to 512MB(128MB 64-bit GDDR3 onboard) PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
Power supply Diablotek PHD Series PHD450 450W ATX12V V2.2
Motherboard BIOSTAR G31D-M7 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel MB
PC Intel Celeron E3300 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core
Ram G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
DVD Drive SONY Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B - OEM
I assume ill need to install a fan or heatsink (not sure how those work)
Is this everything or am i missing stuff?
Maybe a sound card?
Also is a floppy drive necessary?
Thanks a bunch for any help/advice you could give me
Why is an OS so crazy expensive? Thats like half the budget

Computer Case

Antec is a pretty good name brand for case and power supply combo's. Try to get at least a 500 watt PSU.

Internal hard drive Seagate Barracuda 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"

You should be able to find a 500GB drive 7200.12 for 50 bucks. I don't see you using 750gigs. Make sure you get the drive that says 7200.12.

Video Card GeForce 8400 GS Supporting up to 512MB(128MB 64-bit GDDR3 onboard) PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP

Try to get something more recent like a geforce 450 I think those are a 100 bucks.

Power supply Diablotek PHD Series PHD450 450W ATX12V V2.2

Try to save some money by getting a case/psu combo

Motherboard BIOSTAR G31D-M7 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel MB

Try and get a motherboard with a P55 chipset. You're trying to upgrade not go back to what you have now  

PC Intel Celeron E3300 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core

This won't fit if you go with a p55 chipset. a core i3 should be fine.


Ram G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
DVD Drive SONY Black 18X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B - OEM

I assume ill need to install a fan or heatsink (not sure how those work)

With intel they use push pins- you just push the pins into the motherboard. It's harder than what it sounds actually.

Is this everything or am i missing stuff?

Maybe a sound card? they're onboard now

Also is a floppy drive necessary? not needed anymore



Why is an OS so crazy expensive? Thats like half the budget. Go OEM save a couple bucks

We have all you need right here, between posts from myself and Techmo. Links are in my sig, and here is everything else:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/288241-31-read-postin...

Keep an eye on this forum and you'll learn about deals as they come up.

Here's a low budget combo deal that gets you a long way there:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?I...

Although probably AMD would be better for you... you'll have to set a total budget and then we can go from there.

Oh, and there are many problems with the parts list.

Last generation platform is not upgradeable.
PSU is one of the poorest you can get.

Generally for a low budget AMD is the way to go.

EVGA P55V 120-LF-E651-TR LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3530 - $113
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GIGABYTE GV-N450-1GI GeForce GTS 450 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - $109.99 after mail-in rebate card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

total: $473

As far as the OS You can probably ask for that for christmas maybe?

Yep I agree. I posted an intel alternative maybe he can use the parts there if he chooses.

in order to get a good gaming system, you are going to have to double your budget to $600. now Cataclysm is due out december 7th, so save until november 28! thats about $50 a week to save to reach your goal by then. then that monday (the 29th), order your parts from newegg and they should get to your house by thursday. that will give you 4 days to get your system together and set up before cata is released. with that being said, heres my recommendation for that system.

Case
Antec Sonata III w/500w psu
motherboard
ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770
cpu
AMD Athlon II X2 245 2.9ghz Dual Core
memory
Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
video card
Evga GTS 450
hard drive
500GB Samsung Spinpoint F3
Operating system
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Total shipped with ups 3 day guaranteed shipping is $592.57

there you have a complete system that will be a massive upgrade from your current machine and it will be able to rock out cataclysm and just about any other game at 1680x1050 monitor resolution.

Just a thought...

How about a refurb system like this Presario CQ5320F from MicroCenter?

OS: Win7 Home Premium
CPU: Athlon II X2 240 Dual-Core @ 2.8GHz
RAM: 3 GB DDR3-1066 (2GB/1GB installed)
Storage: 500GB SATA Hard Drive
Optical: Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD
Graphics: IGP --> upgrade this with a PCI-E x16 card

One of my co-workers found a better system, they were sold out. New deals for refurbs every week at different stores. It might save money in the short term because the OS is pre-installed, saving at least $200.

The down sides to a refurb are shorter gaming life and lower future upgrade options than a custom system.