PC for about $450

[farmkid5]

hi guys its been a while since ive been on here. I am looking to build a computer to be used for video editing programming 3d modeling and some gaming. i would like to keep the price down around $400 because i need to buy a monitor as well.
budget about $500 including monitor and OS(prolly win7) this can change some but i would like to keep it about that.
here are some parts i am considering feel free to add to or change them as you think would work best.

Case:Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black $69.99
Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Motherboard:ASUS M4A88T-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD $109.99
Newegg.com - ASUS M4A88T-V EVO/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
CPU:AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz $99.99
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX640WFGMBOX
RAM:CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) $74.99
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9DHX
PSU:Antec BP550 Plus 550W $64.99
If there is a place where i can save money and get good performance I would really love it because i need to purchase win7 too.
Thanks for the help.
BTW i didnt include a graphics card because i dont know a lot about them and i wasnt sure if a cheaper mbo/cpu with a gpu would be better or not so please feel free to suggest stuff.

[glc]

I am looking to build a computer to be used for video editing programming 3d modeling and some gaming. i would like to keep the price down around $400

I'm afraid that's very unrealistic. As you can see, you are already over 400 bucks, and you don't have a video card, hard drive, or optical drive.

You aren't going to get a monitor AND an operating system for $100.

[farmkid5]

i want to build a computer for about $450. i have an optical drive and i forgot to put in a western digital cavair black 640gb 64mb cache hdd.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Farmkid, listen to the man, please. For what you want to do you will NOT be able to build a good machine. Either increase your budget or resign yourself to end up with a bionic typewriter.

And please elaborate on what you mean by 3D modeling and video editing, id est, which programs are you going to be running for those tasks.

[farmkid5]

is $500 reasonable with out os or monitor?

video editing will be low amounts of lower quality.
3d modeling 3ds mac milkshape blender etc.

[Nuclear Krusader]

OK. Good, now we know you won't be running Premiere Pro, so an nVidia high end video card is not needed. That makes it easier for the folks here to suggest components.

[farmkid5]

*chuckles* no need to worry about that. My video editing 3d modeling is mostly for a hobby. So does anyone see a big compatibility problem or a place where I could save money and keep performance?

[glc]

Okay - 500 bucks for just the case and its contents we can work with.

$495 shipped, after promo codes and rebates:

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE gz-ph2a3 Black SGCC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts EA-500D Green 500W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - ASUS P7H55-M PRO LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Core i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3550

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD±RW SuperMulti Drive - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV4GX3M2A1333C9

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-R567OC-1GI Rev2.0 Radeon HD 5670 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

I'll let someone else address AMD options.

[pam123]

I'll let someone else address AMD options.

Farmkid5's selected AMD parts (CPU, motherboard, memory) would fit in easily

[farmkid5]

hey thanks for posting glc. i haven't done an intel build before but this one looks quite nice. I have a question i remember when i 1st started using this forum there was a thread about GPUs and which brands were good quality. Was that deleted? or am i just not looking in the right place i checked the hardware forum but didnt see it. thanks
Any problems with my build that anyone sees please point them out(or places where i could save money gain or keep performance).

[Nuclear Krusader]

Good brands for video cards: Asus, Diamond, EVGA, HIS and Sapphire. Just note that Sapphire offers no end user customer support in North America.

[glc]

Gigabyte video cards aren't bad - the brand selection on that particular video card isn't that great right now without spending more money.

You could always build now without a video card and add one later. The i3 onboard video isn't bad.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Good, G. I was gonna put Gigabyte there, but wasn't sure. I was ogling a GB video card for myself, on account of the 3-fan cooling system.

[farmkid5]

Originally Posted by glc Gigabyte video cards aren't bad - the brand selection on that particular video card isn't that great right now without spending more money. You could always build now without a video card and add one later. The i3 onboard video isn't bad.

i might do that.

thank you guys for the help if i get anymore questions ill let you know.

I am a member of a site called swagbucks.com and i thought id tell you guys about it. It is a site that rewards you for searching the web playing games etc. the part you guys might be interested is you get 2 swagbucks for every dollar spent at newegg.com which can be redeemed for things such as a $5 amazon.com gift card(450swagbucks). it is legit and so far i have made about $60 of gift cards(although i haven't used the shop and earn feature yet)
here is my referral link to the site. if you sign up i would appreciate it if you used my link. if you have any questions about let me know and will try to answer them. (referral link removed as per forum policy)
thanks again for all the help.

[glc]

I hate to do this to you, but we don't allow referral links here. Sorry about that but I have to remove the link.

[farmkid5]

thats ok its my fault i should have checked the rules but i didnt even think about it when i posted. I am wondering which would be faster as well my amd parts or your intel parts?

I would like to do wireless with this machine as well. Do you have any wireless cards you recommend for good reception and speed?

[glc]

I'm not going to get into an AMD vs. Intel comparison. If you want AMD, replace the mobo and CPU in my list with what you want. The ram is good for either one. I would have to guess that the Intel will be faster than the AMD for doing anything that can't take advantage of more than 2 cores simply because the clock speed is higher. I don't know how significant ANY real world differences would be.

This is a decent inexpensive wireless card, I've used several:

Newegg.com - Rosewill RNX-G300EX IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Card Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP, 802.1x, WPA, WPA2, AES, TKIP with 100cm cable external 2 dBi Antenna

[farmkid5]

hey guys i have a question. what is the difference between OEM and retail versions of windows 7 and which one should i get?

[Nuclear Krusader]

OEM is the one sold for system integrators. It's the same as the retail full version, sans the customer support from Microsoft (who actually needs that?), and it's way cheaper; so that's the one you should get. No need to pay for the fancy packaging and promises of support you will not need.

[farmkid5]

ok i thought so. so this is the one i want?Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems or should i go premium or professional?

[glc]

Home Premium is all most people need.

[farmkid5]

ok then it should work for me. What is the difference?

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by farmkid5 ok then it should work for me. What is the difference?

Compare Windows - Microsoft Windows

[Nuclear Krusader]

Home Premium lacks the Policy Editor and a bunch of administrative features that, although for most of the time are ignored, they do come in handy eventually. It's well worth the extra 50 bux.

[farmkid5]

so premium is work the extra$$

[glc]

For the average user, Home Premium is all you need. You can do without all the extra administrative features. The extra 50 bucks would serve you better in hardware.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Originally Posted by farmkid5 so premium is work the extra$$

Again, it all depends on what you're going to be using the system for. The average user never uses those extras. But it's you alone who determines which kind of user you are, or want to become.

Keep in mind that a number of the helpful people here never got to the point they're at by settling for being average.

[farmkid5]

hi guys I have been shopping around trying to see if i could make a better build using some of the parts recommended and some new ones. i came up with this build tell me what you think and let me know if there is any compatibility issues.
Case:Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
CPU:AMD Athlon II X3 455 Rana 3.3GHz
Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X3 455 Rana 3.3GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX455WFGMBOX
RAM:Corsiar 4gb recommended by glc above
HDD:WD Caviar Black 640GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6402AAEX 640GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Mobo:ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G
Newegg.com - ASUS M4A88TD-M/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
PSU:antec 620watt
Newegg.com - Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
and possibly down the road a ASUS EAH6850 DC/2DIS/1GD5/V2 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5.
thanks for the help.

[Nuclear Krusader]

What's wrong with the build G recommended? I hardly think that could be made better.

[farmkid5]

how long have you been building pcs nuke? it could be made better(might require more money) but it could defiantly be made better. but lets compare my build and his just for fun
His | Mine
CPU:2 core 3.2ghz $129.99 |3 core 3.3ghz 88.99
HDD:32mb cache 59.99 |64mb cache 59.99(6gb/s too)
RAM:same
Mobo:look at the links and decide im not putting both des. here
dvd:same
case:24.99 |59.99
GPU:nice for the budget i had |awsome upgrade later if i need it
glc please dont take offense at this im just pointing out that builds can be made better and that i am trying to get the most for my moeny by looking at different combos.