<$800 Budget Build for Friend...Need help. ( 2 Views )

1. My friend asked me to help him select parts for his new desktop because his lap top died on him. Basically, he has a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. All he needs is a tower with the components inside the tower. He doesn't plan on Overclocking and he isn't planning on doing any heavy duty gaming. He's using it for light gaming, but it is mostly for school. Here's a list of what I recommended and would like my fellow Hard forum members to critique on. Prices are from Newegg. LESS MONEY=BETTER
   
   AMD Build:
   
   Computer Case- Approximately $100-125
   
   AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX - Retail $150.00 (Buying from a friend, Brand new)
   
   CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 $104.99
   
   ABIT KN9 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX $74.99
   
   Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $79.99
   
   XClio 450BL ATX 450W Power Supply $39.99
   
   eVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 $129.99
   
   Total: $750 give or take after shipping!
   
   
   Intel Set-Up
   
   Same as above except for:
   
   Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz $181.00
   
   Foxconn P9657AA-8KS2H Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 $99.99
   
   Total: $800 give or take after shipping!
   
   
   Comments or suggestions are welcome because I'm trying to help my friend save some money and also get the best bang for the buck. Thanks!
   
   
   (ibrahim, Romania)


2. Best bang for his buck is the intel setup. It's only $50 more.
   
   
   (kübra, Macao)


3. $150 on that cpu from your friend
   $150 on this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16856110055
   $130 on 7600gt
   $210 on 2gb corsair valueselect
   $95 seagate 320gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148139
   $30 on 18x dvd burner
   
   prob around $800 shipped
   
   
   (onur, Comoros)


4. Get the mail in rebate on the 7600gt's right now, and they're around $110. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130062.
   
   
   (emin, Malta)


5. I'd go with the Intel setup, and get a CoolerMaster Centurion 5 as the case. All you're other parts are great.
   
   If by some chance you do go with the AM2 build, get DDR2-800 RAM. AM2s benefit greatly from DDR2-800 as opposed to slower ram. Intel's don't care at all unless you're OC'ing, in which case go for the Wintec AMPO DDR2-800 1.8v sticks at the egg.
   
   
   (alperen, Palau)


6. I'm bulding a budget setup for my father. here's what i've spec'd out, and will be pulling the trigger on shortly.
   
   $300 E6400 (stay away from AMD right now. Conroe is better bang for the buck, and much more efficient / upgradable / everything.
   
   $100 Intel G965 Mobo
   
   $125 DDR2 800 memory (make sure voltages match up with the mobo)
   
   $75 250G 16mb cache, HDD (Western Digital Caviar)
   
   $50 CoolerMaster Centurion Case
   
   $130 evga 7600GT VC
   
   $75 Enermax Liberty 400w modular PSU (dual 12v 20amp rails)
   
   
   total $850, great performance, great upgradability, great overall!
   
   :)
   
   
   (hatice, Switzerland)

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