Alright, so I'm on a budget, and I'm trying to make an affordable computer for 500 dollars. Here is what I plan to buy.
Internal
RAM
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145539
I bought this because corsair is a trusted brand, and has good timings. I could of gotten the other one for 3 dollars cheaper, but this one has heat spreaders, which drew me in because it would help. I figure 1 GB is enough for now, and I'll buy new ones when needed.
Cost - $79.00 + Free Shipping = Subtotal - $79.00
Graphics Card
PNY VCG7300GXPB GeForce 7300GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814133172
Since this does happen to be a budget computer, I picked out an entry level graphics card. This graphics card can handle the games that I plan to play, since I don't plan to do any heavy duty gaming. It can handle Guild Wars, WoW, Vista, CS:S, and hopefully Spore. That means I'm all set. SLI Compatible, so I can boost it's performance.
Cost - $76.99 + $5.64 = $82.63 + $79.00 = $161.63
Power Supply
Rosewill RP550V2-S-SL 550W SLI Ready-ATX 12V V2.01 Power Supply 115/230 V CSA,UL,TUV
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817182031
This is a good 550watt power supply with a nice LED fan. Reviews say it's a nice quality, and Rosewill is a trusted brand.
Cost - $59.99 + $8.02 = $68.01 + $161.63 = $229.64
Case
APEVIA X-Plorer ATXB8KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144102
I chose this case for many reasons. It has a fan control, which will be very helpful if I ever want to overclock. It also has a temperature display, also very helpful. LED lights are a nice touch, and it looks good.
Cost - $59.99 + $12.99 = $72.98 + $229.64 = 302.62
Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Orleans 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103637
Very good processor, would of went for the 3500+ but that would mean downgrading my graphics card for a processor. Don't need anything too large.
Cost - $76.00 + $302.62 = $378.62
Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-M55SLI-S4 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128321
A nice healthy choice for a motherboard. SLI capabilities, will boost up my graphics card which I need. Two PCI-Express x16 slots, helpful if I want a new graphics card but do not want to get rid of my old one. Dual channel DDR2, which means that I can go up to 16 GB of ram [Not like I would need to]. AM2 Compatible, best motherboard I could get for a budget.
Cost - $89.99 + $6.13 = $92.16 + $378.62 = $470.78
Hard Drive
I'll just keep my old hard drive, I'll upgrade it when I need to. 40 GB is alright for now.
Accessories
x4 MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 80mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835150007
I'm going to buy four of these. Why am I buying four of these you ask? Well, they're cheap and the reviews say that are very good. Also, the case I have has places for two 80mm fans in the front, and they say to replace the side air duct for a 80mm fan. Well, I say I'll probably need this if I want a very cool case.
Thermaltake Thunderblade A1928 120mm Green LED Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811999139
An LED fan for the back of the case. The case only comes with an 80mm fan for the back, even though you can slot in a 120mm one. So I decided to just get a 120mm fan to help exhaust.
Rosewill RTK-002 Anti-Static Wrist Strap
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16899261005
Where would I be without a wrist strap? Destroying everything I bought because of some static electricity of course! Essential for building a computer.
Grand Total = $498.92
However, they are having a sale on a dual core amd processor and a motherboard combination.
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO3600IAA5DL - OEM
* BIOSTAR TFORCE 550 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 550 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$159.99
Free Shipping.
If I buy that and get rid of the 3200+ AM2 processor and the other motherboard, I could have a dual core for 6 dollars less than the am2 processor. However! The motherboard in the combo deal is what is holding me back. For one thing, it does not have SLI capability, which will essentially slow down my graphics card. It also has one PCI Express card, slowing down my graphics even more. Other than that, it's fine. So i'll ask you guys. Should I get the combo deal with the dual processor, or should I just go with the single processor and the better motherboard?
Internal
RAM
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145539
I bought this because corsair is a trusted brand, and has good timings. I could of gotten the other one for 3 dollars cheaper, but this one has heat spreaders, which drew me in because it would help. I figure 1 GB is enough for now, and I'll buy new ones when needed.
Cost - $79.00 + Free Shipping = Subtotal - $79.00
Graphics Card
PNY VCG7300GXPB GeForce 7300GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814133172
Since this does happen to be a budget computer, I picked out an entry level graphics card. This graphics card can handle the games that I plan to play, since I don't plan to do any heavy duty gaming. It can handle Guild Wars, WoW, Vista, CS:S, and hopefully Spore. That means I'm all set. SLI Compatible, so I can boost it's performance.
Cost - $76.99 + $5.64 = $82.63 + $79.00 = $161.63
Power Supply
Rosewill RP550V2-S-SL 550W SLI Ready-ATX 12V V2.01 Power Supply 115/230 V CSA,UL,TUV
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817182031
This is a good 550watt power supply with a nice LED fan. Reviews say it's a nice quality, and Rosewill is a trusted brand.
Cost - $59.99 + $8.02 = $68.01 + $161.63 = $229.64
Case
APEVIA X-Plorer ATXB8KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144102
I chose this case for many reasons. It has a fan control, which will be very helpful if I ever want to overclock. It also has a temperature display, also very helpful. LED lights are a nice touch, and it looks good.
Cost - $59.99 + $12.99 = $72.98 + $229.64 = 302.62
Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Orleans 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103637
Very good processor, would of went for the 3500+ but that would mean downgrading my graphics card for a processor. Don't need anything too large.
Cost - $76.00 + $302.62 = $378.62
Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-M55SLI-S4 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128321
A nice healthy choice for a motherboard. SLI capabilities, will boost up my graphics card which I need. Two PCI-Express x16 slots, helpful if I want a new graphics card but do not want to get rid of my old one. Dual channel DDR2, which means that I can go up to 16 GB of ram [Not like I would need to]. AM2 Compatible, best motherboard I could get for a budget.
Cost - $89.99 + $6.13 = $92.16 + $378.62 = $470.78
Hard Drive
I'll just keep my old hard drive, I'll upgrade it when I need to. 40 GB is alright for now.
Accessories
x4 MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 80mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835150007
I'm going to buy four of these. Why am I buying four of these you ask? Well, they're cheap and the reviews say that are very good. Also, the case I have has places for two 80mm fans in the front, and they say to replace the side air duct for a 80mm fan. Well, I say I'll probably need this if I want a very cool case.
Thermaltake Thunderblade A1928 120mm Green LED Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811999139
An LED fan for the back of the case. The case only comes with an 80mm fan for the back, even though you can slot in a 120mm one. So I decided to just get a 120mm fan to help exhaust.
Rosewill RTK-002 Anti-Static Wrist Strap
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16899261005
Where would I be without a wrist strap? Destroying everything I bought because of some static electricity of course! Essential for building a computer.
Grand Total = $498.92
However, they are having a sale on a dual core amd processor and a motherboard combination.
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO3600IAA5DL - OEM
* BIOSTAR TFORCE 550 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 550 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$159.99
Free Shipping.
If I buy that and get rid of the 3200+ AM2 processor and the other motherboard, I could have a dual core for 6 dollars less than the am2 processor. However! The motherboard in the combo deal is what is holding me back. For one thing, it does not have SLI capability, which will essentially slow down my graphics card. It also has one PCI Express card, slowing down my graphics even more. Other than that, it's fine. So i'll ask you guys. Should I get the combo deal with the dual processor, or should I just go with the single processor and the better motherboard?