Need PC (buying/building) Advice

[yuspam]

I need a new PC, and I'm wondering if I should buy a pre-built computer (probably from Dell) or build one myself.

I have no experience in building computers, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'll be using the computer for basic things... internet browsing, listening to music, watching videos, and playing current (but mostly old) games; such as Starcraft, Diablo II, Counter-Strike: Source, basically anything exclusive to the PC since I mostly play console games and have a 360.

I'd like to stay around the $600.00 budget, but I can go as high as $700.00 if need be. This has to include everything, I need a monitor and such. Newegg links are welcome, as it'd be easier for me to order everything from one place (unless there's a certain component I need that is drastically cheaper elsewhere.)

[marine63]

starcraft ftw :)
tell me ur computer specs that u have now that way i get see wat u can upgrade on :)
and how big u want the monitor? crt or lcd?

[yuspam]

starcraft ftw :)
tell me ur computer specs that u have now that way i get see wat u can upgrade on :)
and how big u want the monitor? crt or lcd?

Heck yeah.

My current computer is not upgradeable, I'm using an old laptop. I'm currently using a 1 Ghz Pentium 3, 20 GB HD, 256 MB Ram, on-board laptop. So basically, anything will be an improvement... but I obviously want the best bang for my buck.

This was actually a temporary computer, as my main computer busted about two years ago (for some reason, won't turn on.) That one wasn't that great either, but due to my cheapness and laziness I've been using this old thing.

Edit: Oh, I was thinking around the 19 inch LCD range, I do have a 17 inch CRT but I figured it's time to get a LCD.

[marine63]

damn i thought my computer was bad lol :D
i need to no the price of the monitor... that way i no how much ill b working wit
about the budget i guess that would be wit shipping right..
i suggest this monitor but u may need to ask someone who nos more about monitors
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824222028
so its 179.16 with shipping
there for theres 420.84 left
could u recycle stuff from ur old computer like dvd cd player/burner and mouse and keyboard and such
with out the dvd cd player/burner and keyboard and mouse and such
amd athlon 64 x2 4800+ http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103778
corsair XMS2 2x512 1GB 800 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145566
250GB hdd http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148156
msi barebone http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16856167009 (onboard video geforce 6100 a hell better than my vanta 8'( )
geforce 8600gt http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814127286
lite-on 20x dvd burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106070
this is just a rough draft wit time and patience and research u can get the bang for ur buck

so total with shipping is 696.83
so if max budget is 700 ull have like 3.17 left
some of the things i picked out isnt really necessary but just tell me wat u think...
ugh this is hard to pick out a computer >.<
u can try going to outlet.dell.com

[jer888]

I would not recommend a barebone kit. Building your own PC is about being able to choose all your parts and know everything that is going into your system.

700 with monitor and accessories is going to be tight. You may want to use all 700 for the tower and use your old monitor for the time being.

Heres a parts list:

Motherboard - ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131180) = $139.99

This board will allow you to make future upgrades and is very stable. Asus is generally recommended for motherboards.

Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015) = $165.50

Memory - CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098) = $80.99

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140) = $79.99

Best bang for buck, and 5 year warranty.

Case/Power Supply - Antec Sonata III Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024&Tpk=sonata%2b3) = $119.95

High quality case and power supply. The power supply is not a place to cut corners.

Optical Drive - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106072) = $39.99

Video Card - EVGA 256-P2-N554-AX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130017) = $99.99

You said you would be playing mostly older games, so you shouldn't need a DX10 card yet. This card will run those games no problem.

Thats all a little under $700. It will defiantly run all those games and is wide open for upgrades. The AMD AM2 socket is going to be replaced by AM2+, and that will be replaced with AM3 while Intel is sticking to LGA775. Core 2 Duo's are still on top of AMD at the moment also, so it dosen't make sense to go AMD from a performance standpoint either.

EDIT: I would also stick to well known brands for a moniter. Samsung and Acer are good, as well as others.

[marine63]

:) i tried
sweet same dvd burner and hdd :) great minds think alike :D
i suggested a barebone b/c itll be easier to build... i dont no how much he nos about building computers so there >8(
and i put the 8600 b/c i was bored :) and plus it only cost 15 bucks more than the one u suggested