Looking to build a computer for around $200

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pip_75

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Nov 16, 2005
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I am building a computer and want to spend $200-300 at the most

It will be mainly used for office work/internet/music/watching dvds

I just need the box part I don't need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.

I found this at tigerdirect.com

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3747029&CatId=333

I know I would also have to buy a hard drive and cpu fan with this one, I already have a copy of xp pro to put on it

any help/suggestions would be great
 
azimuth40

azimuth40

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The E2200 that they include is an excellent low end CPU. It only a Pentium in name; it is really a conroe (core 2) with half the cache. It has some over clocking head room if you wish to try it. I think the price is a little high for a OEM version (90 day warranty) with no fan. The Frys chain has been pushing the boxed version (retail warranty) with and ECS 945 intel chipset motherboard at $79 for over a month. With the fan included that is at least $20 cheaper with no rebate needed.

The $39 case more than likely has a crap power supply which probably is really 250-300 watts and not 450 when calculated or tested. The memory price is about right for a single stick but remember you need a pair to get full speed dual channel. With a single stick you will only run at 400MHz

You did not mention a CD/DVD. A decent bare burner is $30, and a 250 gig sataII drive another $60 to $70. You will only save $20 if you drop to a stock 80 gig drive. The video from the nvidia or intel chipsets will be just fine for the word, powerpoint, excel and occasional movie use.

The case looks OK but the supply would worry me if you ever put a second disk in or it runs in a warm environment.
 
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pip_75

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Thank you for the suggestions

Is that deal from Frys available online? because I don't live anywhere near a Frys retail store

And I have an extra optical drive that I can use

thanks for the info, I didn't realize that the CPU was a conroe

 
bc4

bc4

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I'd suggest looking for a cheap/ clearance retail tower.

I've seen some for around $350. comes with all the junk software, even though you have XP, it will come with all the garbage software like picture, video editing, word processor and so on.

unless, you are a real open office fan, i'd say just keep a look out for a good deal in store. Not much margin on the low end systems and when they go on clearance stores will actually sell them cheaper than you can make them
 
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pip_75

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This computer will be used for office related stuff, word processor, spreadsheets, internet, etc. It won't be used for games or anything like that

The max I want to spend is $300

I don't need a monitor or keyboard, mouse or speakers, etc. I will use what I already have

I also already have a copy of XP I can use

Here is what I have come up with

$30.99 Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply with 20+4 pin connector -Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811147010

$69.99 GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813128328

$55.99 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16819103774

$24.99 CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16820145040

$37.99 Maxtor STM380215AS 80GB 7200 RPM 2MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16822144466

$23.99 LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE Combo - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16827106082

Total before shipping=$243.94
Total including shipping=$274.54

Is this a decent setup for business use?

 
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pip_75

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Is this a good case or is there one that is better for around that price ($30-60)?

Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply with 20+4 pin connector -Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/prod [...] 6811147010

I would need one with a power supply unless I can buy the psu and cse seperate for around the same price
 
rwpritchett

rwpritchett

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Mar 17, 2006
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Just a few comments on your list, take 'em or leave 'em:

#1 The memory you've chosen needs 2.1V to run at 4-4-4-12 timings. I have a similar Gigabyte board (GA-MA69GM-S2H) and the BIOS does not have voltage adjustments for RAM. In other words, you must run 1.8V RAM. The board would probably boot at 1.8V, but would need relaxed timings (5-5-5-15) so you would be spending more money on low latency RAM and not getting any of the benefits. I don't know for sure, but I suspect this board would be the same so you might want to check it out. For options, you can either purchase low latency RAM that is spec'd for 1.8V AND CAS4 timings (that's what I did - PQI Turbo DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 @1.8V), or save some money and just get average-joe RAM that is 1.8V and CAS5. In fact, if you go with CAS5 DDR2-800 RAM, you could probably get 2 gigs because it's cheaper:

Transcend JETRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model JM2GDDR2-8K - Retail $35.99

#2 The optical drive you've chosen doesn't burn DVD's. You might as well get a DVD burner drive with SATA for about the same price:

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail $29.99 (or get OEM for even cheaper if you have burning software)

#3 I know the budget is tight, but try to get a case without a power supply, and then add a reputable PSU. A couple good cheap PSU brands are FSP and Sparkle (made by FSP). Here's a suggestion:

SPARKLE ATX-350PN-B204 ATX 12V 2.0 350W Power Supply - OEM $33.99

#4 Maxtor hard drives have kind of gone downhill lately. Spend an extra dollar or two for a Western Digital or Seagate.

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800AAJS 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $38.99

And lastly, here's a few budget minded tips: try to find a case that is offering free shipping since that will be the largest and most expensive item to ship, and last of all, be sure to check newegg's combo deals. For example, right now there is an 80GB WD hard drive bundled with AM2 processors for $10 off.

I hope some of this advice helps.
 
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spencercpu1983

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Rosewill power supplies (tier-5) are junk and if it fails it can fry your motherboard and CPU. Here's my recommendation it is $20 over budget but has a Tier-3 PSU, 2GB memory and a 160gb Western Digital HDD.

Antec NSK4480B Black 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply - Retail $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129032
BIOSTAR NF61S-M2 TE AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $47.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138103
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail $56.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103774
Transcend JETRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $35.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208283
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $47.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075
SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Model SFD321B/LBL1 - OEM $6.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821103203
LITE-ON 20X DVD Burner DH-20A4P-04 OEM $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228
Link Depot Floppy UV Cable Model UV-FLP18-SL - Retail $2.79
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104025
Subtotal:$293.72 + $25.52 S&H TOTAL=$319.24
 
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nanobreath

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In general you want to go with a good powersupply...but for this kind of cheap system I do not see the point in going for a "reputable" power supply. What you are paying for is the garunteed power output stated(which is generally really bad on off brand high end psu, not so much at this point), and lifespan. With a system like this thats not in anyway a power beast, nor something you plan on adding in new upgraded graphics cards go with the psu/case combo. In the event you want to upgrade later spend the extra on a power supply then.

I purchased a rosewill combination last year and its performing perfectly to this day.

I do second the opinion on the ram, you have absolutely no need for the 4-4-4-12 timings. Go with slower timings, will be cheaper or you can do as suggested and get 2gigs for almost the same price.

Same as to the suggestions for the hard drive and optical drive. A few bucks more for very good upgrades.
 
lauxenburg

lauxenburg

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Alright, now if you have Xp to use, building a decent cheap PC isn't that hard. It all really depends on what your main focus is. If you are going to be doing primarily email and documents, you can go with a solution like this...

Intel Atom 330 Dual Core CPU+Motherboard- $80

1 GB 667MHz RAM- $10

Winsis Wi-02 or Foxconn Mini-ITX Case w/ Power Supply- $40-50

120 GB Hard Drive OEM- $40


Its your opinion...$300 bucks could pay for a nicer case more reliable power supply, possibly a Pentium Dual Core, and such....

Have fun.


PS---I expect you already built. Sorry for bumping old post. Just saw it. ;)
 
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