Can someone build me a computer ....

[fpsblue]

That would cost $400 or less. I will only be needing the tower case and all the electronics inside it.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

What will the computer be used for? What size monitor (resolution) are you planning on using with it? Are you planning on putting all the parts together yourself?

 

[Kill@dor]

Intel or AMD...AMD will probably be key for cost ^_^

Performance is another issue...

 

[aevm]

With that kind of budget, I think you should consider buying an HP box (or similar). Amazon has one for $420 for example.

If you try to build one yourself, $100 goes away just for the operating system.

 

[fpsblue]

sorry about the vague post. I already have a sound card, 1440 resolution monitor, keyboard and mouse, winxp pro edition. I would be ussing it for everything from games, movies and music and microsoft office. I will bump up my budget to $500. And yes i will be putting the parts myself.

 

[aevm]

All right, $500 for the hardware sounds a lot better.

I'd start here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.188858
Antec earthwatts EA430 430W + Antec 300 case $115

 

[aevm]

HD 4770, $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835

WD6401AALS $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=wd6401aals
(or WD3200AAKS for $55, but it's less bang for the buck and slower)

X3 720 + TA790GX $209
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190738

G.Skill 4GB DDR2-800 $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207

Total $537. Is that acceptable?

I didn't include a burner. That's another $25 or so. Maybe you can reuse some older one?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Here's a pretty decent budget build:

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

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

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190819 $139.98 (CPU + motherboard combo)

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?Item=N82E16820231122 $47.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074&Tpk=wd3200aaks $54.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300 $54.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008 $49.99 - $10.00 MIR (+ an extra 20% off using promo code "Maypsu20")

SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835 $99.99

Total - $447.93 - $10 MIR

You could swap the CPU, motherboard, and RAM for these and the total would be $537.94 - $10 MIR. This is a considerable jump in performance from the E5200 if you can stretch the budget a bit.

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190734 $218.99 (CPU + motherboard combo)

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 $58.99

 

[fpsblue]

The AMD triple core is better than Intels Dual core? Yes right?

 

[jay2tall]

^
I'd take the AMD 720 over the E5200. When you are talking the $500 range, $50 can make ALL the difference.

 

[aevm]

The AMD triple core is better than Intels Dual core? Yes right?

It depends on applications. If you do something like compressing a mp3 or a DVD, it will be much better because all 3 cores will work.

For gaming, it will be better, but the difference is less spectacular. Here for example is a chart showing the X3 720 beating an E8400 in Crysis. (The E8400 is better than the E5200.)
http://hwt.dk/images/literature/9538/cfc_crysis.jpg

 

[tijmen007]

Lol! That graph shows some unexpected outcome, the Athlon X2 beating it ? And yes you should go for the Phenom X3 720...

 

[Kill@dor]

I agree...720 FTW in this post ^_^

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The MIR and promo code on the PSU make my build above with the AMD parts $517.94. It's well worth stretching the budget a few dollars to get the Phenom II X3 720.


Edit: Be sure to check for combos on all your hardware. For example, you can get a free SATA cable with the HD mentioned above:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.175869

 

[jay2tall]

^
I love free stuff, combos, and free shipping. I LOVE free shipping, it makes me happy. I saved about $40 because of this when I upgraded last time.