$700

[computermstr]

I want to build a new PC but I was wondering what is best for the money? I mean, I can get one for about that price and it is pretty good, but I want to hear your guy's take on this becuase what I want is probably crap.

[Alaron]

It depends on your needs. If you want to build a high end gaming rig, $700 is not going to be enough. Especially if you need an OS ($90) or any peripherals like a monitor, speakers or keyboard/mouse.

It is possible though to build a middle of the road system with room for upgrades.

What kind of system do you need?

[computermstr]

Originally Posted by Alaron It depends on your needs. If you want to build a high end gaming rig, $700 is not going to be enough. Especially if you need an OS ($90) or any peripherals like a monitor, speakers or keyboard/mouse. It is possible though to build a middle of the road system with room for upgrades. What kind of system do you need?

Well the one that I was thinking of building comes with a 3.4GHz processor w/motherboard, and 160Gig hard drive, liquid cooling processor, 128MB video card, case.


Which comes to around 700 dollars.

Those are the only componits i need though, just a motherboard, processor, fan/liquid cooling, hard drive, and video card, and case.

[Alaron]

Do you have a link to that system?

I can configure a system with:

Abit AW8 Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813127213

Intel Pentium D 930 CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116238

1GB DDR2-533 RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145526

Radeon X1600Pro: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127201

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

Western Digital 250GB HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136010

Total is $695.

[blue60007]

I'd hold off on the water cooling - a good kit/parts start to get towards $100 or more. Stock cooling will do you fine.

What are you going to do with this computer?

[computermstr]

I'm mostly giong to be playing medium games, like CZ, Halo, stuff like that, nothing to special.
And Source, and America's army.

[Alaron]

We need a link to that system you mentioned to make a good comparison.

However, the system I configured earlier will be a perfect budget gaming box.

[computermstr]

The link to the system is.


Thermaltake case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133144
DVD RW- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827101010
Jetway ATX MOBO- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813153029
WD 160gig HD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144165
AMD SKT 939 2.0GHz processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103535
120MM fan for CPU-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118114
Radeon 512MB ATI Vid Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814103005
2Gig RAM Kingston- http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...tCode=85018-12

Equals to be almost 1 grand or so, which is way moer than what I want to spend, so I will probably be taking the one that Aalorn put up...Thanks for all the help.

[blue60007]

Yeah, I'd recommend Alaron's suggestion. You definitely can't be spending $160 on a case on a $700 build.

[computermstr]

The reason I was going to do that is becuase that way I can just upgrade the parts and not have to move everything from case to case.

[jayb1234]

The thermaltake case has no power supply, so there would be another 60-90 bucks involved there.

Jetway is a pretty low rated motherboard

No need for the Zalmann heatsink, the stock unit would be fine and the zalmann would void the cpu warranty.

2x512 of ram would be good to start.

Add in an OS for 80-90 bucks and you are back over a grand.

The setup alaron listed is about the best you are going to get for 700 bucks and still have decent quality parts, I would go with that if I was you.

[computermstr]

Originally Posted by jayb1234 The thermaltake case has no power supply, so there would be another 60-90 bucks involved there. Jetway is a pretty low rated motherboard No need for the Zalmann heatsink, the stock unit would be fine and the zalmann would void the cpu warranty. 2x512 of ram would be good to start. Add in an OS for 80-90 bucks and you are back over a grand. The setup alaron listed is about the best you are going to get for 700 bucks and still have decent quality parts, I would go with that if I was you.

I have EVERYTHING that I need, PSU, 600 Watt, brand new, OS, Windows XP Home Upgrade, DVD drive, CD-RW 48x Burner, crappy case. The faceplate is being held on by duct tape becuase when it was my dad, my dad got pissed and rippid it off without unscrewing it first. I also have a video card 32MB AGP 4/8x Sapphire Radeon. But the reason I want it liquid cooled, is becuase that way I can run the computer a lot longer without being as loud.