New at building.

That's a socket 939 motherboard/processor. Also checking the ASUS support web site, I see no drivers for Windows 7. Perhaps Vista drivers are installed and working or just generic Windows drivers. Add in the age of the system and I just can't recommend it unless...

If that's a retail version (not OEM) of Windows 7 Home Premium, you could pick up this system for $250 and then upgrade the core components (AM3 motherboard/dual-core AM3 CPU/2x2GB DDR3 RAM) with the remaining $150.

-Wolf sends

With the AM3 Motherboard/Dual Core AM3 CPU/2x2 DDR3, would I be able to game effectively? Not games like Crysis, but rather games like TF2, Killing Floor, etc.?

I plan on upgrading the graphics card around Christmas time, so it's not a big deal if I can't play tasking games.

I suggested that because your budget is so tight. An OEM version of Windows 7 is going to take a quarter of your budget if you build it from scratch. If a retail version of Windows 7 is included in this computer, transferring it to a new motherboard saves you that $100 and you already have a Case, Decent Power Supply, Good Graphics Card, Hard Drive, and Optical Drive. These are items you're not going to get on a $300 (after OS) budget.

You'd get better performance from a quad-core processor, but that's outside your budget and you will get better performance than the system as it sits and better performance from a complete "from scratch" build. Again, this all depends on being able to transfer the OS to a new motherboard. If you get a kind Microsoft Support Rep, they *might* allow you to activate an OEM version on a new motherboard, but there shouldn't be any problems activating a retail version of Windows 7.

I will tell you this, however. That HD4850 is overkill for an X2-4200+ processor. I ran an 8800GTS-640 on my X2-4800+ (2.4GHz stock) and would not recommend going any higher as the CPU will bottleneck the graphics card.

-Wolf sends

The issue with this computer is that everything needs to be upgraded except the optical drive (never new asus made dvd drives but whatever), the ram. and maybe the harddrive. That mobo does not have bulldozer support, so I believe some 1 in that article said if you can come up with $500 it will save you money in the long run. this computer will need a better processor, to upgrade that you will need a new mobo, it will need a gpu upgrade, that power supply is not 80+ ceritified nor is it a good brand so eventually that is on the list as well, and with the mobo upgrade you would need a new OS.

IF you could affor this this would be like 10 times better http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.719545 but it would need an OS. This probably wouldn't run much gaming wise until christmas but it is much more upgradeable.
same situation as above but it is cheaper and a little worse on the case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.719539

you dont state your needs.

i would never buy a computer off of craigslist. you might find a good deal
but you dont know what that computer has been through and you dont
get any warranties or return policy

if you want a gaming computer your budget is too small

if you just want a computer that you can get on the internet with you have plenty

what do you plan on using your computer for