Core components - $250 budget

[chedderslam1]

I don't know it this qualifies as a new system build, but I am thinking about upgrading the core components of my system. The budget it $250 dollars. For that, what is the best combination of motherboard, processor, memory, and graphics card I can get. If I can play games from a year ago on my 24" monitor, that's a bonus. Computer will also be used for some web design.

I know these will not be top of the line components with that budget. But that is what it would cost me to upgrade the agp card, memory, and processor of the current system using the existing motherboard.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[cyborg28]

What do you have now? It is a small budget if you want to include a Video card. Are you comfortable overclocking your processor?

 

[Transmaniacon]

ASUS M3A78-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131330 - 74.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103300&Tpk=kuma - 63.50

CORSAIR 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=N82E16820145184 - 54.99

SAPPHIRE 100265L Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102803 - 89.99

$284.47
-$40 MIR

Total: $244.47

Edit: If you need a new power supply for this build, this Antec Earthwatts is a great choice, and its only $39.99

Antec earthwatts EA380 380W ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005

 

[shortstuff_mt]

This is about the best I could come up with:

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 $72.99

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380&Tpk=ga-ep43-ud3l $79.99

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=N82E16820231207 $38.99

Apollo AP-HD4670 256MB Radeon HD 4670 256MB 128-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814140095 $69.99 - $10.00 MIR

Total - $261.96 - $10 MIR

 

[Onus]

Hmmm, Transmaniacon's mobo & CPU, shortstuff_mt's RAM, and this GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131128
POWERCOLOR AX4670 1GBK3-P Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - $85. You may or may not get it, but there's a $20 MIR.
75 + 64 + 39 + 85 = 273 - 20 MIR (if you get it).
If you have a good PSU, at least 430W (or an Antec Earthwatts 380), then this GPU will be better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127420
MSI R4830-T2D512 Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - $95 (-$20 MIR if you get it).
I think this will be a better choice than the Sapphire because 1) the Sapphire cooler is said to be noisy; I just installed one of these and it wasn't noisy, 2) it comes with a "free" game.

 

[dirtmountain]

All very solid build ideas, both the AMD mobo and the P43 have a solid upgrade path with the Phenomll or core2 quad. I'd also suggest this 9600GT as a choice for a GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127362