Newbie building first PC on a budget

[Spade914]

My parents are getting me a new computer for my birthday next month, and I'm trying to see that instead of just going to bestbuy and spending $500 if they would let me build my own to get the best bang for my buck.I just need something:

• That can play CS:S (and like games) well
• Can hold a good amount of music/pictures without being bogged down
• Looks freaking cool ( I'm a suker for tacky looking, Neon lit cases)
• Can do simple day-to-day task without any trouble (burn CDs, photoshop, ect)
• Runs as close to $500 as possible

Hows this set up?

Case: NXTZ Apollo
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+
Mobo:?
RAM: G.SKILL 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
Video Card: eVGA Geforce 7600GS 256MB
Hard drive: SAMSUNG SpinPoint 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb
CD/DVD: NEC Black 16X DVD+R


Thanks.

[AnotherMuggle]

Good choice of Processor and Hard Disk I have to say. I can't really speak for any of ther other components as I dont have any experience of them.

Good luck with the build

[tempus]

I would change your hard drive slection to a SATA drive from Seagate(the bigger the better). Most motherboards support Sata2 and is the way to go...IMHO.

[AnotherMuggle]

yeah actually SATA is certainly a better idea, but Seagate Barracuda's are also very good hard disks

[minsonngo]

Don't use the PSUs that come with the cases you picked out.

Just make sure you get a quality 450w minimum ATX 2.x PSU from this list: http://www.forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195


For the motherboard stick with ASUS, you can't go wrong with them.

[Spade914]

Is this HD a better choice for me? Same size and price (give or take)

[minsonngo]

Yeah, that SATA drive is pretty good.

[Spade914]

Hows this mobo for what I need? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131014

[minsonngo]

That motherboard isn't bad but it is mATX and has onboard video. You don't need the onboard video and the mATX board doesn't leave too much room for future upgradability.

Here is one that is around the same price range that you may want to consider:

ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131022

[jayb1234]

$500 is really too low to build a gaming machine.

You won't be able to do it with any kind of decent parts at that price.

A case and decent power supply will run in the $100 range, and you will have to get a PSU separately if you buy a flashy case.

None of them have decent quality power supplies in them.

$90 for windows.

That only leaves about 300 bucks for everything else.

RAM for an AM2 build will be up near or over $100/Gb and you need to be sure it is compatible.

That leaves you down in the $200 left range for processor, motherboard, hard drive and optical drive.

[Spade914]

$500 isn't a cut off point, just a ballpark I was shooting for. I could most likely swing around $600, but of course I wouldn't want to if I didn't have to.

I know I should wait untill I have around $800 to build a PC, but I just can't keep using this piece of junk I am on now any longer...and I really want to start playing an online FPS.

[minsonngo]

800 and up is usually a good budget to have when building a gaming system. Anything less and it may be better off to go with a store bought system.

[Spade914]

Really? Looking around at prebuilts in this price range, most of them really aren't up to par with one I could make myself for the same price.

edit: also, and I know this sounds stupid, is there any way of getting around buying a new OS? like re-using my old XP instalation disk or something?

[Jester]

Assuming you have a monitor this will run you about 779. THere is no way around getting a new OS unless the OS you have is an actuall XP disk with a cd key. If it came with a prebuilt you cant use it. I'm pretty sure there is an AMD equivalent to what I listed.

AMS XG-4292RB Red/Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - OEM
Model #: XG-4292RB

ASUS P5LD2 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P5LD2

Intel Pentium D 915 Presler 800MHz FSB LGA 775 Processor Model BX80553915 - Retail
Model #: BX80553915

Maxtor DiamondMax 17 6G160E0 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Retail
Model #: 6G160E0

CORSAIR VALUE SELECT 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS1GBKIT667D2 - Retail
Model #: VS1GBKIT667D2

ENERMAX EG425P-VE SFMA 2.0 ATX12V 420W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: EG425P-VE SFMA 2.0

LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SHW160P6S05 - OEM
Model #: SHW160P6S05

eVGA 256-P2-N553-AX Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

Logitech 967502-0403 Black PS/2 Wired Standard Value Keyboard - OEM
Model #: 967502-0403

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM
Model #: N09-01528

[Spade914]

My friend just built a computer last week. He still has the XP disk and such. Can I just steal his?

[minsonngo]

That would be illegal. The general rule is one license per one system.

You are better off buying another copy.

[Spade914]

If it saves me $100, I'll take my chances with the popo.

[minsonngo]

Even if, you still have to activate the OS with Microsoft after you install it. Since your friend already has his activated with Microsoft, you not going to be able to do it with his copy.

[Alaron]

Originally Posted by Spade914 If it saves me $100, I'll take my chances with the popo.

__Moderator Note__

Spade914, we do NOT allow discussion of pirating software in these forums. Please review the rules, especially #9. http://forum.pcmech.com/rules.php

[Spade914]

My bad. Sorry.