CheapGamingComp

[MoHaHa]

I'm trying to get a descent Gaming computer that can nicely run games like Company of Heroes for as little money as possible, so this is
what i've come up with, i'll get this Dell E521 for 399$ as configured (AMD 3800x2, no monitor, 1gig of ram, no GPU etc..)

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=bdcw5bz&s=bsd

Then i'll get a 170$ 19inch flat panel monitor from ABC warehouse, i have a coupon.

And i'll add a 100-150$ GPU, maybe a x800GTO ($100) or something a little better (a 1900gt maybe, $200) until the new dx10 cards come out.

So then the total would be $570 (with a $100 GPU), i could add another $100 and get another gig of Ram or a better GPU, that would take me to around $700, not bad ay, anyway..

This seems like a much better price to performance option than my original idea of building a
c2d system (with 2gigs, and similar GPU), which based on my research i can't build for less than $1100 (including monitor), but then again maybe the Power supply on the Dell would be a limitation for future GPUs, but then i can just get a new PSU right? and maybe i can only fit certain graphics cards on the mobo, i dont know....

any thoughts?

[blue60007]

I wouldn't do that. As you said the power supply won't cut it for a mid to high end video card. And it may not replacable. A lot of times Dell, HP, etc use proprietary power supplies. The wiring on the main motherboard connector is switched around and/or it won't mount into the case in a standard way. Also, that system may not even have a PCI-E x16 slot to put the video card in.

So, $700 is your budget? We could probably come up with a few ideas...although $700 is a bit light for a gaming rig. Will this include monitor (I see you mentioned one, but was that included in the budget?) or keyboard, mouse, etc?

[glc]

The only prebuilts suitable for a gaming platform are the higher end ones. You can NOT turn a $399 prebuilt into a gamer, there are too many deficiencies.

[chuck4456]

You'll wipe 700 bucks out 2/3 of the way there. You need to plan on spending a grand on a light duty gaming rig. Build it youself. It won't be a Saturn 5, but you'll have some mobility.

[MoHaHa]

My budget is around $900 including everything, I’ve never built my own comp and I’m having second thoughts about doing it after reading some problems people have been having. Adding some components to a cheaper prebuilt system was sort of my compromise between the fear of something going wrong with a build and buying an over priced pre-built gaming rig.

So glc, is it that you’ll create a bottle neck trying to turn a 399$ pre-built into a gamer?

The only problem I see is the power supply, Dells E521 comes with a 300 watt psu
It has a PCIe x16 slot, 533MHz Ram, nForce 430 chipset which I don’t know much about.
So assuming I can change the PSU and assuming I can fit lets say a 1900xt in there then wouldn’t I’ve found a way to cover the cost of the CPU, Case, Mobo, Ram, mouse/keyboard, Hard Drive, Optical Drive, and OS for 399$? That easily beats all the barebones I’ve been seeing.
Or will the 533MHz memory or Chipset create a bottleneck?
I just hate having to spend cash on things that don’t directly effect the performance of games i.e. pretty much every thing other than the CPU, GPU and Ram.

[whubbard]

If you take a pre-built, and try and customize it you can run into many problems, Just don't do it...PERIOD. (Certain things are configured differently because there pre-built, which will make them harder to swap parts in and out, espescially if you need a more powerful PSU)

[rwest]

If you already have a system, spend your money on a case, ps,mobo,processorand ram. Use your already existing hardware and upgrade from there. Maybe even a bare bones setup. Look to spend the most on the ps and mobo, getting a current mobo and maybe underpowed componets to upgrade later will benefit you mostly.

[glc]

I’m having second thoughts about doing it after reading some problems people have been having.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=163758

[jfk]

I’m having second thoughts about doing it after reading some problems people have been having.

That's 'cause mostly all you read on forums like this is people having problems. There are probably 20 times as many folks who had no problems building one and never post here, as everything went smoothly.;):) Read all you can, pick quality components and run your list by folks here, and take your time building. You will be MUCH happier with a PC that YOU built to suit YOUR needs.

I also second some earlier comments. To get even a remotely decent gaming rig, you need to budget at least $1000. If you can save a month or two longer and come up with $1200-1500, you can be in heaven...........;):D

[Tony Williams]

Usally OEM computers like Dell are not very good when it comes to later upgrades, I'd build (or buy a pre built custom - if building scares you) it'll be cheaper and you wont be stuck in a few years when it comes to upgrade. (well not like if you had the Dell)

[Sound Mind]

I don't know if you really need to spend upwards of a grand...
You can get a modest processor, so long as you get a respectable video card and memory to back it up. I'm only running a single-core 2.4gHz processor, but with an nVidia 6600LE and 1.25 gigs of RAM. These three things won't cost you more than $300 nowadays.
The difference is if you want a respectable gaming rig, or a "blow your ass out of the water" gaming rig. You can probably find a X800XT somewhere for real cheap with 256mb or 512mb onboard memory. The top of the line is, what, the X1950XTX? But regardless, the X800XT still packs a heavy duty punch.

While shopping for motherboards, I suggest going PCI Express x16 for the video card. Some future-proofing for upgrades is never a bad idea, especially since AGP is being phased out. My poor old dinosaur's video cards are getting expensive. :(

And just to mention, I've built two computers, and am moving on to my third, and I've never had any problems. All smooth sailing for me. All you have to do is take your time, do your research, double-, triple-, and quadruple-check that everything is compatible before you order it, and you'll have tons of fun.

I shouldn't say I've had no problems, though. I've had one, and it was on my first rig. I bought a case with a power supply included, and the supply was DOA. It happens, and you get what you pay for. But it's an easy fix - get a new PSU. So leave some room in your budget for that kind of occurance if you're going for a case with a PSU included.

Another thing I've noticed with LCD displays is... you get what you pay for. Dead pixels aplenty on lower end displays.

[nicolaus corelius]

if u really are short of cash then u could, i guess, get a 200W booster PSU. that would be plenty roon for a mid-high vid card.
there are people on these forums selling their comps. i would check em