Building a comp...any suggestions

[Greenmachine]

Ok...so my cousin wants to build a computer. It is going to be his first build and his budget is around $800. He definitely wants AMD athlon 64 socket 939, PCI express graphics, 1gb ram. Open to any suggestions....he will need everything. He does not do any heavy gaming or anything like that so keep that in mind. I was looking at the 6600gt for him because they are really cheap right now on newegg. Anyone recommend any good websites that would help him with his build?
Thanks

 

[truflip]

try newegg and zipzoomfly if u live in US.. ncix and tigerdirect.ca (but i recommend NCIX) if u live in canada..

do u need help putting a system together? or u got a set up u want already n jus looking for the store to get them from?

 

[DonNagual]

Windows XP Home Edition OEM - +$87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102151

Case: Antec Solution w/ 350watt PSU - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129148

Motherboard: Chaintech VNF4 (nForce 4 Ultra chipset) - $69
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813152049

Memory: 512MB Corsair Value Select PC 3200 DDR RAM - $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145477

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103537

Graphics Card: eVGA 128-P2-N368-TX Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail - $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130214

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar 120GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA - OEM - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144414

DVD/CD drive: NEC ND-3550A - Dual-Layer DVD±RW - $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152055

Keyboard/mouse: Logitech Cordless Desktop Express - $28 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126157

Monitor: NEC FE772-BK Black 17" CRT Monitor - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824002286

Total so far: $750ish

The system above will be able to handle today's games at decent settings with decent framerates for that price. And the best part is, it is EXTREMELY upgradable. It is socket 939 for the CPU, and PCI-e for the graphics. The sky is the limit as far as upgrades go.

With the remaining cash:

Option 1:
That motherboard includes a decent sound chip, so you don't need a sound card, but the above does not include speakers. You can use headphones if you have some, or use the remaining cash for speakers.

Option 2:
Upgrade your video card

Option 3:
Upgrade your monitor to a flatsceen, or to a 19"

Option 4:
Upgrade to a gig of ram

Option 5:
Upgrade to a higher CPU

Option 6:
Upgrade to the Antec SonataII case. It comes with a 450w power supply. The one I have linked you to above is a 350w psu, which should be enough for now, but if you ever plan on upgrading, it'll soon be too small for your system.

 

[truflip]

i have a system better than that for 800$ canadian... >_<

 

[DonNagual]

Including windows XP, monitor, keyboard, mouse etc?

I'd like to see that link.

 

[DonNagual]

By the way, if he doesn't do any gaming, downgrade the video card and get a better CPU or more ram!!

 

[truflip]

well the OS was from my old PC .. so i guess discount 100 bucks off that

my mouse and keyboard are 30$ combined.. its benq x-type.. the slim ones monitor.. i didnt notice u listed a monitor there hehe.. my monitor is an old compaq

 

[Greenmachine]

Thanks...that looks like a nice computer. His budget though is $800 for comp. only--> no monitor, no windows, no mouse & keyboard. Sorry I should have been more specific. I was also looking for recommended websites that assist in putting a comp. together. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[DonNagual]

Use the template above, and up the CPU to the 3500 venice, the ram up to 1Gb, the HDD up to around 250Gb and the Antec SonataII case and woosh. You're done!

Nice system.

And by the way, one of the best all-time "how to" guides for putting a system together are the manuals that come with your parts. Can't go wrong if you follow them step by step.

 

[Greenmachine]

Thanks DonNagual....you came through in the clutch again.

 

[jaroddog]

Wow! Don, you are getting really good at copying and pasting that system template here at the forum. Ok, now on to lesson number two: Cutting! :haha: No, seriously, that sounds like a nice system to me (not the first time I've seen that here...). You should see if you could scrounge a monitor. A used CRT will let you upgrade the rest of the system. I personally think a good video card is a good investment, even if you're not a gamer. I'm using a card right now that can barely even scrape by a basic game or a graphically intense application. I need a new one...

 

[DonNagual]

Yah. I'll update it when there is something better, but for budget systems, that vnf4 motherboard is pretty amazing for the price. I've recommended it to a few people who are under a budget. I don't see much better out there yet for a socket 939 system and PCI-e graphics.