Hello and welcome to Techspot.

For your budget you can certainly get a lot of computer.

I`d deffinitely say build. This is because you`ll get a lot better bang for your buck, also you can set up your system exactly the way you want to. Building in future proofing as you wish. Choosing the components and priorities you want.

Look HERE for a step by step guide on how to build a pc.

If as you say you`re good at building, then this should represent no problem to you. Also you`ll learn a lot about the hardware side of computers in the process.

If you are fairly confident, then go for it.

Good luck and happy building, regards Howard :wave: :wave:

 

Re: First post

By all means Build for 2Gs you can build a very good system and even more so if you go with an AMD 64 939 pin CPU. My soon to be kid brother in law did this; got an AMD 64 3500 and an Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Mobo 2 new 80 gig western digital Sata drives a good PSU a Gig of Kingston PC3500 RAM a Asus Nvidia 6800 Ultra, a mid range sound blaster and Crammed it into a Old moded Compaq Presario Case Made to look like something from Star Wars (You can barly tell it was a Compaq) I think he Came in at a price tage of $1600.00 CND and that was with the dual layer DVD R/RW CD+-R/W. Once you have all the basics It is far better to build your systems I have two systems I run on a KVM switch that saves space and money on Monitor Ketboard and Mouse. My gaming rig allso has a lazer mouse that I use oftem, well... gaming and the Intel runs only with the PS/2 Ball mouse that I have on the KVM as that is all that is needed for that system. I use about a $70.00 Linksys KVM switch.

But yah if you want to keep costs down use AMD as your CPU and spend good money one motherboard and RAM get a system that suports PCI-E and SATA you dont realy need SLI Unles you are an Extream Gamer, And get a lower priced ATi or Nvidia Vid Card Like the Nvidia 6600 GT or ATi's RADEON X600 or X700 PRO PCI-E FULL W/256MB DDR, SAPPHIRE and Asus Make Very good versions of this card but I would try and get the ATi built version these cards should be less then $200.00 CND or if you are in the U.S. and buy the ATi Built Card around $170.00 As Bush is in office and He has terafts on Canadian Hardware... Even though it is Free Trade... If you live in the States you can allso thank him for higher CPU prices as most CPUs; AMD, Intel, IBM and so-on they are often engieneered and or tested in Canada so they get marked up as well.

But this is not a slam a leader Forum so I should stop on this and yah "Build It and they shall compute". Go with the newest level of hardware and get the best that your budget can permit for what you are doing remeber RAM is good but don't go crazy with it I have seen people drope almost $900.00 On RAM and $1500.00 on dual Nvidia 6800 Ulteras and Third party cooling kits and they use the rig for online chat 95% of the time.

You can look at my profile System One is my new system I built and if I am not chating/playing MP3s/doing homework I am gaming on Doom III, HL2, TFC, U.T. or a number of other games, so the system is used well. If I have just finnished a test or project and I have the friday off from school and work I will spend 9-12 hours In game play. that system cost me $2700.00 to build, including alot of stuff that is not listed, if you go to the Dell website and Build that system it will cost you about $4300.00 and the Custom Case I have had offers of $5000.00 Hor the system as I have a lazer etched Plexy glass side with a Logo of the Company I will be starting soon (It realy looks slick as it is a Soldier comprised of little 0s Holding a laptop comprised of little 1s and Crested with in latian My School Moto "With out guts there is no glory".

 

I vote build your own, it's nice to get exactly what you want/need. Here's a good guide(for 775 or 939 cpus).
http://www.hardwarezone.com/core/search.php?keyword=diy&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0

 

That post is alittle out dated the cost of the chip has droped

That site is alittle out dated the cost of the chips have droped but the rest is still good.

 

Agreed, but the how to build part hasn't changed, building still requires the same process. If a person isn't quite sure how to build, it could clear some things up for them.