Budget Build - Less than $500

[mjkovis]

I'm putting together an extremely budgeted build for a good friend that needs run no more than $500 in price (including the shipping and handling). As of right now their main goal is to have a desktop machine for their two children to have to do school work on (which is easy enough). He is also interested in having the ability to play some older games on. If the video card runs too high in price, then they can just wait until they have a little extra cash down the road and I can install it.

Here is what I have currently come up with:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX - $49.99 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16813128357 CPU: Intel Celeron E1500 2.2GHz 512KB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core - $49.99 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16819116075 RAM: Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $49.99 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16820148163 PSU: FSP Group SAGA+ 400R 400W ATX12V - $39.98 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16817104953 HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s - $39.49 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16822136075 Video Card (Optional): GIGABYTE GV-R435OC-512I Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 - $37.99 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16814125251 Case: Rosewill R218-P-BK Black 0.5mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower - $29.99 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16811147073 Optical Drive: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner - $28.99 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16827106289 OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - $104.99 http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16832116754 Subtotal: $431.40 Shipping & Handling: $34.63 Total: $466.03

Now, I know I have this build within the price range, but I'm still open to suggestion and criticism. I have kept most of the components at about bare minimum, although I would have loved to go just a tad higher in quality and speed, but due to their budget I cannot. I do, however, want to leave this build open for future upgrades. That is a big concern. I want them to be able to have a PC that is going to last for 4-5 years for their kids. Let me know what you all think. Thank you!

[Masaki 7-11]

Looks good, the only thing I would change is the video card to a HD4650: http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16814161303 for a bit over $10 more than the card you linked to. The performance increase is pretty substantial so it might be a good idea to run integrated graphics until the video card can be bought.

[glc]

Double your cache and add 0.2 GHz to the processor for 3 bucks more with a E3200. Verify it's compatible with the motherboard.

[mjkovis]

Originally Posted by Masaki 7-11 Looks good, the only thing I would change is the video card to a HD4650: http://www.biz.newegg.com/Product/Pr...82E16814161303 for a bit over $10 more than the card you linked to. The performance increase is pretty substantial so it might be a good idea to run integrated graphics until the video card can be bought.

Good idea. Thank you. I'm not very sure about the ATI cards as I have never used them in any of my builds. I'm normally an nVidia guy. Pretty sure I may just drop the video card and they can get something later.

Originally Posted by glc Double your cache and add 0.2 GHz to the processor for 3 bucks more with a E3200. Verify it's compatible with the motherboard.

Gracias G. I think I will toss that in. Already checked on compatibility and there should be no issues. It was listed in the QVL for CPU's. Very nice!

[jdeb]

nice

[PAINx5]

Umm I don't think you should pay for windows 7. I'm pretty sure you can "borrow" it from someone. Some admins might get angry at me, but come on if you have low budget I don't think software should count.

[glc]

http://www.pcmech.com/forum/rules.php

Please read forum rule 9. This is your first and only warning.

- Admin -

[PAINx5]

I understand. Things are taken seriously here.

[theyosh]

It's not about taking things seriously or not. Using Windows without a legit license is stealing. Is it fair that everyone that pays for their copy of windows to be burden with the extra cost for covering for those that don't pay for it? This can be applied to credit cards, insurance scams and anything else where honest people are being taxed for the dishonest.

theyosh

[PAINx5]

You see, I'm not even about to pay 200$ for crap that I was suppose to get in windows vista. Also it is not 1952, good people don't go to heaven. I grab what I can.

(this doesn't mean i pirate or pirated any software)

[glc]

Ahem - let's put this issue to bed, folks. I have stated the forum policy, and further discussion in the open forum is NOT PERMITTED as per rule 7. That applies to BOTH of you. Also note that discussions may not go off into political and/or religious directions.

Yes, we enforce the rules here strictly.