2nd build...$800

[paJAMbla]

I'm building my second computer for a friend and he wants to spend $800. He just does internet and wants to play some games like BF2. Any suggestions??? Doesn't need monitor, keyboard.

[Cricket]

AMD or INTEL?

Cricket

[paJAMbla]

I don't know enough about AMD to have a preference...my friend doesn't know enough about computers to care. My first build was Intel, my own current computer is Intel...so that's what I'm use to. I don't think I've ever even used a computer with an AMD processor. Are they harder to assemble?

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by paJAMbla Are they harder to assemble?

Nope. Both have their own way of installing the cpu and heat sink but everything else is the same. AMD offers a video on their site for how to install their cpu's as well as instructions that come with the Retail boxed units. Either brand would serve you well. What parts does your friend already have that he'll be using on the new build? Like keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor. Nice to know what parts to inlcude in the $800 budget.

Ooops! just reread your first post. I see the "don't need monitor, keyboard".

[paJAMbla]

With the problems I had getting the Pentium Prescott cpu to snap into the Asus board... I wouldn't mind trying something else, i.e. AMD. Having the experience with AMD would probably be good so I'll have a little practice under my belt before building a higher end gaming rig in the future.

So, having said that, I just need case, cpu, HD, DVD R/W, MB, etc. NO monitor, keyboard, mouse as mentioned. Just need whatever minimum needed to POSSIBLY play some BF2. He's not sure he'll even do that but I figured it wouldn't hurt to have just enough to do so.

thanks

[freakitchen]

Here's something to get you started. This build comes in at $828, minus delivery, so a little over budget. The most obvious way to reduce the price would be to drop to 1GB of RAM, although i kept 2GB since BF2 would benefit from having it.


Antec Sonata II Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155
$94

ASUS A8N5X Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131569
$79

AMD Athlon 64 3700+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103539
$212

Corsair VS 2GB (2x1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145579
$133

eVGA Nvidia 6800GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130267
$179

Seagate 160GB SATA HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148105
$83

Lite-on DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106019
$48

Total: $828

FK

[paJAMbla]

That looks good freakitchen. I think could drop to 1gb ram as you said and maybe go down a notch or two on the case. I still have to get XP Home squeezed into that budget.

thanks

[freakitchen]

Apologies for forgetting XP. No problem in dropping the case, just make sure you get a quality power supply, around 450w for that build.

FK

[glc]

I'd drop the processor speed down before I'd drop the ram down for BF2 - and look at prices on smaller hard drives. You can also get a cheaper Lite-On DVD burner without the Lightscribe.

[nicolaus corelius]

you could get a $30 case with this PSU. tha'll save u around 30 bucks.

[paJAMbla]

GLC: What cheaper AMD processor would you suggest that would still be plenty fast?

Nicolaus: Do you have a case in mind that would have the right openings for that psu?

thanks

[freakitchen]

The most obvious step down would be the 3200+, since the 3500+ offers little saving.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535

Pretty much all cases conform to the ATX standard, and so will fit any ATX power supply, which that XCLIO is.

FK

[nicolaus corelius]

i remmend buying a case from your local store. because the shipping is like 15 bucks! otherwise, just go to newegg and search cases in the price range of 30 or less. example- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156002
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147025

[paJAMbla]

I've shared your recommendations with the friend for whom I'm building this computer. He wanted to know if only the initial list you provided freakitchen would run bf2 on high settings, or would either one of these processors do the trick with 2 gigs of ram???? (I'm sorry, at first he wasn't even absolutely sure he wanted to play bf2 and now he's talking about the highest settings.)

thanks again guys.

[MakeYourslf2012]

The 3200+ would give you great performance with 2 GBs of RAM. I'm running it right now on full settings flawlessly with the 3200+ and 1 GB of RAM. Before I got my 7800GT, I had it running on a 6600GT on medium-high settings.

You just have to remeber that the CPU and RAM amount don't count as much as the video card does. With that 6800GS - you'd be able to play atleast medium-high settings with no problem (maybe even with the AA kicked up to 2x or 4x).