500$ budget build for my friend

[ShadowFold]

This build is for my friend. He plays WoW and a few other games. He also uses the internets alot. Pretty much it. If you can find stuff for cheaper or something in the same range thats better post some links :) Keep in mind 500$ includes shipping, the list comes out to 450$ with 30$ shipping but im gonna spend an extra 20$ for me(two of those DVD drives).

Rosewill Midtower 24$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147073

Western Digital 500gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136178

BIOSTAR 770 AM2+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138106

MSI HD 2600XT GDDR4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127305

ASUS Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135151

SilverStone 400w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256032

Kingston 2gb(1gb x 2) DDR2-800 (I got the same pair and there great)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134635

AMD Athlon X2 4200+ Brisbane
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103214

Rosewill RCX-Z940-SL 92mm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200023

[JrRacinFan]

Everything looks ok to me, but I would down the hard drive capacity a little and up the processor a tad, unless you plan on overclocking. Oh and go the extra $4 for the A-data's if you plan on overclocking too. May be able to push that ram more than those Kingstons.

[DaMulta]

This is what I would do on a budget build.
2 gigs of the cheapest ram, doesn't matter what speed it is.
cheapest motherboard I could find
An ok PSU
cheapest CPU money can buy.

Then blow the rest on a better video card.

[ShadowFold]

This is what I would do on a budget build.
2 gigs of the cheapest ram, doesn't matter what speed it is.
cheapest motherboard I could find
An ok PSU
cheapest CPU money can buy.

Then blow the rest on a better video card.

Hmm I like that idea but he already has the cheapest CPU pretty much. The cheapest ram is some no namers that are only 4$ less.

[DaMulta]

In a game machine the video card is the number one thing.

Yes, 4 dollars is noting.

[Silverel]

Single core Sempron for 34$ somewhere's, lol... Check dumpsters for old computers to save cash on the case. Might be able to find a workable PSU as well. :)

Nice build, doesn't get much cheaper than that ;)

[ShadowFold]

Well he has a Athlon single core 3800+ right now so a semperon would be a downgrade :p I have 300w but I dont think thats enough for what hes gonna be using.

[DaMulta]

Hell if he has that CPU anyway what socket is it?

939?

Does he have PCI-E on his board?

If so just upgrade his video card to something kick ass.

[Silverel]

Or even better, buy that cheap case, pull out all his old stuff, and install it in the new case with a GFX upgrade.

Keep the 300$ leftover for being so damn clever~!

[ShadowFold]

Its a HP board anyway.. Idk if he has AGP or PCi-E he lives a little far away and for some reason isnt getting on xfire so I cant get the CPU-Z... I think hes at work tho but like I said he just plays Warcraft and isnt much of a gamer. I know I maxed it with 2x AA with my 7600GS so I think a HD 2600XT/HD 3650 would suffice. Also should I get a HD 3650 512mb DDR3 or HD 2600XT 256mb GDDR4?

OOOH I might get this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127331

And not tell him it comes with the witcher :p

[newtekie1]

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=7191227

That is what I would do with $500.

[DaMulta]

Well if it's an HP it might not have a agp or PCI-E slot in it.

My cos has a pre built hp or something.

I have givin him a FX-62, and HD2900XT to put in it. It screams now LOL

I would have him open it and take a pic of the motherboard then you could see.

He could just need a ram/psu/video card update. I wouldn't buy anything under a hd3850/9600GT card.

[ShadowFold]

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=7191227

That is what I would do with $500.

I dont think a E2000 would go very well because hes not gonna be overclocking at all.

[DaMulta]

Shadow my friends PC

939 3200 single core, 2 gigs of DDR400, x1800XT 512

He was playing frontlines maxed out at 20FPS 1280x1024 with no AA.
That's a new game!!!

Also his CPU is stocked clocked, I admit I did oc his video card 100Mhz.

[King Wookie]

Well, for WOW that gfx card is more than adequate, but for other games it may be a little restricting.

And based on this:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_3650/1.html

I personally might consider a factory overclocked HD3650.
Performance wise, there's not much in it, but I believe a newer design might be a better bet.

It all depends on what res he will be running.

[ShadowFold]

Oh well ok he has a X2 3800+... he said it was single core but he sent me a cpuz and its a 90nm 3800+ X2.... just shows how much he knows :p it also has a PCi-E slot and 2gb of ram so im gonna get that silverstone and a 8800GTS for him.

[King Wookie]

OOOH I might get this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127331

And not tell him it comes with the witcher :p

Good call.;)

[DaMulta]

Oh well ok he has a X2 3800+... he said it was single core but he sent me a cpuz and its a 90nm 3800+ X2.... just shows how much he knows :p it also has a PCi-E slot and 2gb of ram so im gonna get that silverstone and a 8800GTS for him.

Yep, that's all he needs.

[ShadowFold]

Well he just plays wow tho.. should I get him a HD 3870 and have him keep the rest since he doesnt really need to get a 8800GTS?

[DaMulta]

He could play other games down the road, just get him the good video card.

Who knows what wow 2 will take to run.

Maybe just the 8800Gt which is also a very fast card.

[ShadowFold]

Ok im ordering these in a few mins, anything else he might need?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127315

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256032

[King Wookie]

Well he just plays wow tho.. should I get him a HD 3870 and have him keep the rest since he doesnt really need to get a 8800GTS?

Let him keep the rest for a future upgrade.

I'm on a 3850 at 1680x1050, and my framerate in WOW is almost permanently stuck at the 60fps cap. I used to play it maxed on the same res with my old 7950GT. :D

[DaMulta]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814261012

spend the difference on the GT

There is no way to put it on the performance difference.

[ShadowFold]

Does he really need 1gb at 1024x768 :p

[King Wookie]

I seem to be permanently behind in this conversation.:o

[DaMulta]

Does he really need 1gb at 1024x768 :p

If he keeps his PC running for another 3 or more years he might:)

[ShadowFold]

Well I gotta imagine there would be a little lag since your in Africa :)

[King Wookie]

That's why we call it african time!:pimp:

[MikeJeng]

9800GX2.





You're done.

[ShadowFold]

Thats overkill for just one game and its over his budget..

[DaMulta]

9800GX2.





You're done.
I like your thinking.

[Homeless]

Might as well get a dvd+r drive for that price. For a couple of extra bucks you can get a dvd+rw drive with free shipping on newegg

[newtekie1]

I dont think a E2000 would go very well because hes not gonna be overclocking at all.

I've change it. The E2200 will perform better than the 4200+, and the 8800GS is better than the 2600XT by a long shot.

[ShadowFold]

I already ordered the MSI 3870 and SilverStone 400w. :)

[newtekie1]

I already ordered the MSI 3870 and SilverStone 400w. :)

The HD3870 is a really poor buy at that price, even for the MSI overclocked version. The MSI 9600GT is only $165, and performs equally to, if not better than, the MSI 3870. Spending $190 on the MSI HD3870 is a waste.