$500 Gaming PC: Component Selection

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I'm not sure, but there is no way, unless you are putting on an old OS, that you can avoid including the price of an OS in the system.

I don't agree if even if you use a Vista Business license. You may have x number of unused licenses but the average builder won't have an OS, specifically if they are going to game. You are talking about a $85ish increase in price. I don't see a way around this addition.
 
How much for the OS? Maybe I missed something but I don't see it listed as part of the budget.

Just nit-picking but anyone looking to emmulate this build might want to have an OS laying around they can use.
 
Lots of things the site could have done to save money for higher-end parts look good for the buyer but smell like rotten fish to the site. Stuff like using "open box" parts and short-term rebates in the price list when not everyone can get the same parts at the same price. Newegg even had an "Amazing Deal" on SuperTalent low-latency memory, but those "killer value" performance parts are never actually in stock.
 
I've built a very similar machine for a friend, the only major difference being extra money for an 8800GT. I think that's a great build and expect good overclocking results too.
 
This is more like it. The $1000 machine featured in the system builder marathon was not at all cheap, not to me anyway. My new build with the e2180 @ 3.0ghz absolutely flies with the stock cooler and idles at 27 C. This is not going to happen for everybody but I think with the Antec case people will have better luck getting those kinds of temps. Just use arctic silver 5 and apply it correctly!

I would like to see some complete systems reviewed and priced, including OS and monitor. Not everyone has a monitor laying around or wants to use their old one.

Also, why not go with the crucial, a-data, or g.skill with heat spreaders for the same $$$??
 


Easy answer: The "good" RAM with heat spreaders wasn't the same $$$ (not even Crucial Ballistix). The RAM that was the same $$$ didn't do as well in the RAM roundup.
 
[citation][nom]iiiceaser[/nom]So they get no input devices and no screen? Sounds like it's back up to the $650 range to me...[/citation]

You're going in the wrong direction: I picked up seven monitors off the parking lot after a local auction, which were left behind by someone who bought a palet of parts and took only what he wanted with him. I also picked up around a dozen each of keyboards and mice. I sold some of the stuff, so I made money off of "taking" the junk. Now, if I were to SUBTRACT, say, $50 for the stuff I sold from the price of the $500 system, now it's a $450 system.

If you read the article, chances are pretty good that you have peripherals. If you're in the market for a $500 gaming PC, chances are it's a replacement box for the junker you're already using. In other words, use you're old peripherals.

Or, we could add a monitor to all the builds. To make it fair, the monitor would have to support the highest tested resolution. So, we'd need to add a $400 24" LCD to the price. And hey, while we're at it, why not a really nice $65 keyboard? And a $45 gaming mouse? And call it a $1010 PC?

hey, lets' add an OS, and since it's a gaming system let's add all the games too. And since it was compared to the System Builder Marathon system, let's add the multimedia and professional rendering software. Let's call it sa $5,000 PC!

Oh, but they say time is money. It took a couple days to select the parts, and a few hours to assemble and check the system. Let's say 8 hours, and if you're cheap enough to buy a $500 PC then maybe you make only $10 an hour. Let's add that $80 too.

OH! But it also took time to READ the article...
 
[citation][nom]zenmaster[/nom]The rules of the article are that they do not consider OS, Monitor, Keyboard or mouse.[/citation]

I understand that they are building a system for testing purposes. But it's misleading to label it "500$ Gaming PC". They're impling here that any average joe can buy a gaming PC for 500$, which is not the case. Maybe they're upgrading an existing setup and keeps their keyboard, mouse and monitor? Maybe, but then again most user buy OEM Windows licences, which are not transferable to another PC according to the EULA. As a computer reseller, I know that very few people buys full retail Windows licences.

Anyway, my point is only that it's misleading to label an article "500$ gaming PC" when clearly, no one can expect to buy this system and use it "out-of-the-box" for that price.
 
[citation][nom]zak_mckraken[/nom]They're impling here that any average joe can buy a gaming PC for 500$, which is not the case. Maybe they're upgrading an existing setup and keeps their keyboard, mouse and monitor? Maybe, but then again most user buy OEM Windows licences, which are not transferable to another PC according to the EULA. As a computer reseller, I know that very few people buys full retail Windows licences.[/citation]

Well then, you know that if someone is trying to replace their crap system, they already have peripherals and an OEM license OS...which is transferable to a new hard drive in the old system...which is then upgraded with a new motherboard, power supply, etc...which just so happens to be the $500 PC.

Do you really think that someone who doesn't already have a PC would be building this one?
 
[citation][nom]Crashman[/nom]Well then, you know that if someone is trying to replace their crap system, they already have peripherals and an OEM license OS...which is transferable to a new hard drive in the old system...which is then upgraded with a new motherboard, power supply, etc...which just so happens to be the $500 PC.Do you really think that someone who doesn't already have a PC would be building this one?[/citation]

Here's a segment of Microsoft's EULA of Windows XP OEM:

"In general, OEM software may not be transferred from one system to another system. However, the computer system can certainly be updated with new components without the requirement of a new software license. The only exception to this is the motherboard 1. If the motherboard is replaced 2, the computer system is deemed "new" and a new license would be required. Other PC components may be upgraded, including a hard drive. Though if the hard drive 3 is replaced/upgraded, the operating system must first be removed from the old hard drive. To restate: the operating system is "married" to the computer system on which it is originally installed."

Replacing the motherboard with a new or different model would require the user to purchase a new licence. You can read more about OEM licensing here.

As for a "new" user without a PC building this one... why not? I could easily suggest this build to a friend of mine who doesn't already have a PC. But then, he would have to buy peripherals and a OS.
 
There is a way around the "motherboard" issue, as "motherboard replacement" has been thoroughly discussed and worked out in the forums. As for getting the system validated, the old hardware validation is only kept for a certain period of time so that's not a problem.
 
I'm not saying it's not possible to activate your Windows licence on an "upgraded" computer (or any other computers for that matter), I'm questionning the legality of it. Even if the subject has been thoroughly discussed, that doesn't make it the offical Microsoft point-of-view. If you need a workaround to bypass Microsoft's EULA, you might as well use a pirated version of Windows.
 
This is an excellent lower-entry-level gaming PC.
However, I would ask you kindly to design a real entry-level gaming PC that would cost around $750, would you....!!!
Simply because CPU, Case/PSU, RAM and DVD-RW need upgrading,
Don't you agree.....!!!
 
[citation][nom]skythra[/nom]I wrote a blog about this PC, this exact same concept, and nearly every same part. http://skythra.livejournal.com/104337.html#cutid1The only difference? I wrote about it in december of 2007 and its $550 australian dollars (aud).IF you couldnt do the same in American dollars 4 months later with better parts for $500 USD, then i'd be disapointed.[/citation]

But you said OCZ is the best RAM manufacturer in the world, and I've tested enough OCZ RAM to know that this statement is far from accurate.
 
Is there no "build" word form in some countries? I see the inappropriate use of "built" in place of "build" far too often on these forums. There can't be THAT many kids daydreaming through English class...
 
Hey peeps. First time post. I purchased all of these parts because it was getting good feedback.

I am still waiting for a few bits but how do I overclock everything?

Is there a walk through where I can use the same settings in the review? It does say it changed x to y etc but I need to know where do I go etc to make these changes etc etc.

Thanks!
 
[citation][nom]needsAdvice[/nom]I can't find this RAM in stock at Newegg or anywhere ... not the AMPX version of it. Any advice on what I should get instead?[/citation]
Tom's Hardware test showed the AMPO (without heat spreaders) was better than the AMPX anyway.
 
Crashman - Thanks!

I just built this machine, right at around $500 (I was lucky enough to get free shipping on the case and oedered everything else from Newegg).

The machine is running like a dream. Huge thanks to you guys for making the parts selection easy for me.

ONE WORD OF WARNING: It was almost impossible for me to install the CoolerMaster - I could get 3 pins in but the fourth was just too close to the case walls. If you build this and don't have elfin hands, you'll need to unscrew pull out the power supply, then you can get to it easily.

(This may be common knowledge to everyone here, but it wasn't for me. This was my first time installing such a huge heatsink. Should be called CoolerMONSTER).

Anyway, the machine is relatively quiet and the machine is putting our laptops to shame.
 
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