Please help me with a pc build

reflex99

reflex99

EGO Is My Life!
Joined
Dec 18, 2008
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For x-mas my bro would like a new pc, so i'm trying to figure out how cheap i can build him one.

I need every thing except:
HDD- this will be salvaged from old pc
dvd drive- also salvaged

i could use the case but its a dell case so its pretty crappy

my brother likes to play:
CS:S
L4D
L4D2
TF2

I have about $400-$450 to spend but less is better
this pc doesn't need to scream, it just needs to play the above games

this is what i've come up with already
Case/PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147117
Maximum PC trusts that PSU to run a 4870 so it should be adaquate

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186155
Its cheap but gets good reviews

Heatsink:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200042

Proc:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103242
OEM so above heatsink is needed i could go single core here and get him a better one when i have more cash

OS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511
Xp an oldie but goody

GFX:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500072&cm_re=9500gt-_-14-500-072-_-Product
it'll play the games fine

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148240
Damn this stuff is expensive, I might be able to convince mom to let me have 2GB from her 6gb rig

you don't need to use newegg tigerdirect is fine too

$382 with tax+shipping (tax rate 9.25%)

this is just a prototype build so feel free to modify

both intel and amd are acceptable, same with nvidia/ati
 
Better build

Go amd for budget build, unlockability is your friend. Gigabyte bios allows a dual core processor to become quad core, and costs less than half the price! Try this rig:

Case/PSU: Rosewill as before

Processor: Amd Phenom II x2 550 BE (can become quad core with my selected mobo)

Heatsink: Use the stock, it works really well, just get Artic Silver

MOBO: Gigabyte with unlocking powers!

Memory: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB)

Graphix: Sapphire 4670 ATI Radeon Much greater than your card and will do much better.

Total: $372.95

Much better rig, it still doesnt include operating system but I have an enterprise copy of xp to which i will kindly share with you from my small business to save you 90 dollars. This rig uses much newer technology therefore your brother can update parts as he goes rather than having a dead end rig.
 
You're missing a hard drive there, I'd say pick up a WD640GB AAKS.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
It's 70 dollars, but it's probably the best HDD you can buy out.

And I must stress the importance of getting a good PSU. NEVER skimp on a PSU because a crappy one will burn out quickly and take other parts of your computer with it. That, and all the Rosewill products I've used haven't been terribly reliable.

You won't need a heatsink other than the one they give you stock unless you plan on overclocking, and most of the time OEM heatsinks void your warranty.

And if you are a student (as in, have a .edu email address) you can get a copy of Window 7 for 30 dollars. Just go to this site: http://www.win741.com/ and sign up for it.
 
I actually have that case that you pointed to and it is a piece of crap. You dont want it. I am creating a build and you can like/disklike if you must :)
 
OK. Here is a build that will be more than suitable for your needs.

Case (comes with psu. I would upgrade psu in future, but will run as long as you dont overload it with high end gpus): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148030

Very sturdy and thick steel. I have one of these and it fit my 3870's back in the day. People always thought it was an alienware pc.


CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706


AMD Athlon II x4, speedy, cheap quad core processor that will be able to do anything you would want to. I have just recently used this cpu in a build and it performs very well.


Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130243

This is a cheaper MSI product that I used with my x4 build. I had no problems with anything about this board and it runs like a champ.


RAM/Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275

G.Skill DDR3 1333 memory. Should be sufficient enough for this build. I used G.Skill with my x4 build and had no issues.



Here is where you can decide on the video depending on price and performance:

I choose a 4770 GPU, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150369

A few things on this card:
Will be able to play any game you want on medium to extreme settings
Has GDDR5 memory at 3200MHz
More expensive than the alternatives


The second Option:

Going the Nvidia route, you can run a 9800GTX+ for approx the same price (slightly more expensive, but still under your budget) and run slightly better than the 4770. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133246

A few things on the card:
Runs at 256-bit vs the 4770 at 128-bit
Only GDDR3 memory on the card


Lastly, a cheap version of a card that will still run games at medium settings:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102854 as mentioned above, the 4670 card will be able to run any game you want, but is much cheaper than the other cards that I pointed to.



For the Operating system, You might want to check out win741.com for a 30 dollar windows 7. If you cant purchase it due to not being a student, let me know and I can get you a copy with my registration. Thanks for looking :)



EDIT: Here is a PSU if you would want to upgrade it to something more stable. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702010
Used it in my x4 build and a couple previous builds with no issues.
 
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Phlame said:
Go amd for budget build, unlockability is your friend. Gigabyte bios allows a dual core processor to become quad core, and costs less than half the price! Try this rig:

Case/PSU: Rosewill as before

Processor: Amd Phenom II x2 550 BE (can become quad core with my selected mobo)

Heatsink: Use the stock, it works really well, just get Artic Silver

MOBO: Gigabyte with unlocking powers!

Memory: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB)

Graphix: Sapphire 4670 ATI Radeon Much greater than your card and will do much better.

Total: $372.95

Much better rig, it still doesnt include operating system but I have an enterprise copy of xp to which i will kindly share with you from my small business to save you 90 dollars. This rig uses much newer technology therefore your brother can update parts as he goes rather than having a dead end rig.
Click to expand...

If I could get that enterprise copy Id give. You all my casino cash or whatever and id be your best friend

Also nice build
 
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Lol I've been up way too long. Meh... finals...

Breezed over the beginning.
 
So i looked at your recommendations and this is what it looks like so far

Raidmax case What do you guys think of this? i know the whole "don't buy a built in psu story", but raidmax is fairly reputable.

ASRock mobo (AM3) better?

RAM (probably buy 2 of these modules) DDR3 is nice

Radeon 4650 its slightly less than the 4670 you were suggesting

AMD Athlon II x2 240 Processor its AM3 and fast enough (i still could go single core amd sempron 140)

thats $324 w/tax (9.25%) and shipping ($30.35) to california

And for OS im not a student with a .edu (im only 9th grade.....) so i would be very grateful if either blizbiggy could order me win7 or if Phlame would let me mooch off his winXP


What do you tech talkers think of this?

all suggestions are greatly are greatly appreciated
 
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that looks good, the only possible concern might be the amps on the 12v rail for that PSU
 
i think it will power the 4650 fine and the CPU is pretty low power too

the 4650 uses no PCIe power connector but he psu on that has a 6-pin PCIe power connector anyways

if you find a better case and psu for cheap then tell me please

keep suggestions comming
 
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Ill do windows for you, however I will not give the key out. I require you send a harddrive and Ill image it and then return. Or buy and have it shipped to me, ill image, and then send back.
 
Sorry for double post,

The hdd I'm salvageing is from an old dell, to which I still have the restore disks.
I've used the restore disks once already and it seems that it is just a plain windows insatll dvd with a dell logo on it.
What I'm going to try to do is use the restore cd to get windows, and if that doesn't work then ill. Contact Phlame.

Sound good?
 
Fair enough, though its banned on here I have not-so-legal copies of other OS's, but my XP is fully legit.
 
now i just have to convince my mom that mailing my hdd to you is legit.....


If anyone would like to suggest a build still, feel free

i still haven't ordered anything
 
Im certified on paypal address and all plus im risking my legitness of this site. If you want to use a middle man or anything from this site, then fair enough. I am in this to be fair, help out, and to ultimately get promoted :-) e only 8 months and going.
 
8 months and only 53 posts on the forums...no wonder.
get active boy!
 
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