Cheap Practice Build

[Twentytw0]

I'm looking to build a very cheap system, just to practice building a computer and to use on the side. Is this a bad idea? I want experience for when I use expensive parts later on and I'll probably only use the computer for internet / music. Is there any way it can be done for $200 or under? Doesn't have to include mouse/keyboard/monitor. Though would it be a better idea to just find an old computer and take that apart? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[Cricket]

Instead of buying new parts, why don't you look for a cheap used computer to take apart and rebuild. If you can take it apart and reassemble it and have it work normally you'll gain just as much experience as you would with new parts.

Cricket

[Twentytw0]

That's good to hear. I guess I have to go looking through pawn shops or garage sales.

[glc]

You can't build anything for $200 that's going to have any kind of quality or performance. Here's the closest you are going to get, prices include shipping:

Foxconn TS-1 case - $55
Asus P5GC-MX - $60
Celeron 420 - $45
2x512 ram kit - $30 (Corsair DDR2-667 value select)
80gb SATA hard drive - $50 (Seagate 7200.10)
DVD-Rom drive - $20 (Asus, Lite-On, etc.)

That's $260 - close enough? That motherboard is only compatible with XP and Vista, unless you plan on playing with Linux.

[Karnevil9]

If you have a thrift shop near you you may be able to pick up a "practice" computer for very cheap. In my area about 25 bucks.

[mwhaha]

Tbh, there is no point. My parts cost £800 or $1600, and ive found its all very simplistic putting it together, the hardest part I found was the fiddly wires - if your worried about it buy a book how to make a pc.

[Karnevil9]

You can buy a book or a DVD on how to build a computer from PCMech. Or if you don't want to buy a book or DVD you can just go to the Build Your Own PC section of this site and come back to the forums and ask if you run into problems.

[Dark Nova]

buying a book, LOL, all you need to do is read the mobos manual