Strict Budget Build - Need input

[DGalt]

I'm helping a friend put together a system to play WoW on, but he's on a really tight budget.

I'm helping him out with the GPU (giving him my radeon hd 4890 since I'm upgrading...I also have a disk drive laying around so I'm giving him that too).

So basically, need to get him:
Case
CPU / Mobo
Memory (4GB, which is going to be a flat cost, so don't worry about that)
PSU
HD
OS

unfortunately I think his budget is only in the $200-$300 range, so I'm not even sure if this is possible. I don't have any experience building budget machines (the couple I've built I've just tossed near-top-of-the-line hardware in), so any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[moody89]

The following article may be of some help to you:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-pc-build-a-pc-overclock,review-31989.html

However, keep in mind that it is from Sept. 2010 so take it with a pinch of salt since new hardware may have replaced the old as far as value/performance goes. Good luck!

 

[DGalt]

hey may have to run linux to get this anywhere close to budget

 

[kitaware]

I'm helping a friend put together a system to play WoW on, but he's on a really tight budget.

I'm helping him out with the GPU (giving him my radeon hd 4890 since I'm upgrading...I also have a disk drive laying around so I'm giving him that too).

So basically, need to get him:
Case
CPU / Mobo
Memory (4GB, which is going to be a flat cost, so don't worry about that)
PSU
HD
OS

unfortunately I think his budget is only in the $200-$300 range, so I'm not even sure if this is possible. I don't have any experience building budget machines (the couple I've built I've just tossed near-top-of-the-line hardware in), so any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

I understand you build...but....just a thought....with your parts added it could fit his bill....

Given you tight budget....here's a real budget box from HP office outlet (under value desktops)...
at: http://h71016.www7.hp.com/html/hpremarketing/daily.asp?jumpid=re_R295_store/buspurchase-refurbished/computing/price-list#HHO1

for $311

Pavilion p6550z W7HP-64 Athlon2 X4 630 2.8GHz 500GB 4GB DVDRW(LS) NIC 15-in-1 Rmkt PC

 

[imaurer269]

Athlon II X3 450 & BIOSTAR A880G+
Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with 350W
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA
Windows 7
With email promo codes EMCKJJJ85 EMCKJJJ88 EMCKJJG34 cost shipped is 295.95. Not the best PSU & case and Biostar mobo's have had some reliability issues from what I have been told but trying to stay in buget.



Do you have (or live with anyone who has) a .edu e-mail address? If so, it's possible that you can get Windows 7 Pro for $65--see here. (thanks to Hastibe for the link)

Could upgrade case to this if u saved on windows: COOLER MASTER Elite RC-310-OWR460 Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case RS-460-PSAR-J3, Elite 460W Power Supply

Couple other options that get you away from that Biostar mobo: Athlon II X3 445/785G HDMI SuperCombo
$130 Gigabyte mobo & Athlon II X3 445
$145 Gigabyte mobo & Athlon II X3 445
Or the Asrock mobo from the $400 build mentioned above ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard and a Athlon II X3 chip