Extreme budget CAD build

MRMATSON

Distinguished
Feb 26, 2010
5
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18,510
So a friend asked me to look into a budget CAD machine for him.

Approximate Purchase Date: 1-2 weeks


Budget Range: $500


System Usage from Most to Least Important: CAD (Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor) and web surfing


Parts Not Required: none, need everything


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com


Country of Origin: US&A


Parts Preferences: none


Overclocking: Maybe


SLI or Crossfire: No


Monitor Resolution: Whatever fits in the budget


Additional Comments:
 
At a minimum you will need:
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 => $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB => $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&cm_re=spinpoint_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
Windows 7 64-bit => $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=windows_7_system_builder_64-_-32-116-754-_-Product
Antec 650w PSU => $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371021&cm_re=antec_power_supply-_-17-371-021-_-Product
Antec Three Hundred Case => $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_re=antec_300_case-_-11-129-066-_-Product


$500 just isn't goint to cut it. The above is right at $400, and the remaining budget won't get you enough hardware to make a CAD workstation worth sitting at.... Still need the motherboard, CPU, graphics card, keyboard, mouse and monitor. Can this budget be expanded?