Building a WoW machine for $500.

[brandon1212]

Hey. Before I get started I want to thank you for your interest by opening this. Also I apologize as I'm comparatively computer illiterate. I'm building a gaming machine which at most can cost me $500. My five year old computer's motherboard died and the system is so old that I cant use hardly anything from it. I know the ram and video card slotting has changed so they will be pretty useless. I'm thinking I might be able to use the hard drive but I know its not SATA (whatever that means).

So heres my first question is there any way to move windows from one hard drive to another? I lost installation disks and key over the years and really am strapped for cash. So I might get stuck using my old hard drive if thats possible.

Also my old sound card was an audigy 2. Has slotting changed over the years and will i be able to use it?

So by looking at reviews I've kinda built this system on newegg. If you see anything that might need changing or where i could save a bit a money without losing preformance or switch a couple parts up and gain performance i would be greatful. Thanks again!



1

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822148395
Return Policy: 30 Day Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant
$64.99
$59.99
1

BIOSTAR TFORCE TA790GX 128M AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard

BIOSTAR TFORCE TA790GX 128M ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813138130
Return Policy: 30 Day Return Policy

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400 Brisbane 2.8GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core black edition Processor Model ADO5400DSWOF

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400 2.8GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core black edition Processor
Item #: N82E16819103289
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
-$20.00 Combo
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$172.98
$142.98
1

OCZ Reaper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1150 (PC2 9200) Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR11504GK

OCZ Reaper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 1150 (PC2 9200) Desktop Memory
Item #: N82E16820227406
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

MSI N9800GT-T2D512-OC V2 GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

MSI GeForce 9800 GT N9800GT-T2D512-OC V2 Video Card
Item #: N82E16814127406
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
-$25.00 Instant
-$20.00 Combo
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$205.98
$160.98
1

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black Foldout MB Computer Case With Side Panel Window
Item #: N82E16811156063
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

RAIDMAX RX-700SS 700W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Modular LED Power Supply

RAIDMAX RX-700SS 700W Modular LED Power Supply
Item #: N82E16817152030
Return Policy: 30 Day Return Policy
-$40.00 Instant
-$30.00 Combo
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$199.98
$129.98
Grand Total: $493.93

 

[EQPlayer]

For a CPU on-the-cheap, I'd go for something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103300

The Kuma is about the same price as the 5400+, but far better, as it's based on the newer Phenom core.

 

[Why_Me]

This cpu (E5200) will OC nicely to 3.3GHz @ 1066 fsb (12.5 x 266). That case is vented and set up for 3 x 120mm case fans. It comes with two of them, and I added another one in this build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811119106 <=== Some better pics of that case.

http://cmstore.coolermaster-usa.com/produc...?products_id=84 $22.99
Centurion 534 Black Mid Tower, W/O window, W/O PSU - Refurbished

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835150070[/url] $4.99
MASSCOOL FD12025S1L3/4 120mm Case Fan - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817341021 $59.99
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ400FTY 400W ATX12V / EPS12V Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128380 $84.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=E5200 $64.99 Free Ground Shipping
Intel E5200 Dual-Core 2.5GHz 775 800MHz 2MB CPU OEM

http://www.digiconcepts.com/arcticcooling_cooling_06.htm $22.95
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Intel Socket 775 CPU Fan

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468 $134.99
EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231122 $39.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136010 $39.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YD 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827106287 $22.99
LITE-ON Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM

Total: $496.12 *(not including shipping and rebates)

 

[dirtmountain]

Here's an AMD build, includes operating system and hard drive.

CPU/ power supply combo - $100 with rebate. AMD 64X2 7750 Kuma and a 450w Corsair PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.174725

Motherboard - Gigabyte MA770UD-3 $65 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

RAM - 2x2 GB DDR2 800 1.8v $30 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146692

Case - Rosewill $28 with free shipping, single 120mm fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147109

Graphic card - Sapphire HD4830 $75 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102822

HD - WD 320GB SE16 SATA $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

Burner - Samsung SATA $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

OS - Vista 64 $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

$521 before rebates, $15.30 shipping (to me), $45 in eventual rebates.

Will run WoW at 50-60 fps everywhere but Dalaran and Wintergrasp, including 25 man Naxx, EOE, Sarth. Nothing runs 50fps+ in WG and Dal since it's a server isssue.

 

[brandon1212]

thanks for your time and help. I think I'm going to go with the second setup except for the case which I'll use the refurbished one from the first guys setup. I'm also thinking of this cpu cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125

Again thanks for your help and if theres anything I might have missed let me know. Thanks!