[Angst]

Alright guys, im in need of some cash right now, cause i need a new computer, but i was thinking of building one instead. My dad won't pay for parts right now, so i have to buy the parts myself. First off, i need ways to get cashhhhhh. I know, you'll all say "get a job, lazy lard butt." Yea, but im only 11. Okay, so my budget is probably no more than $300. Right now, im using a Dell Optiplex GX1. Pentium fricken 3. 256 mb RAM, and my current card is an ATI 3D Rage Pro. I'm looking to run games like WoW, and CoD 2, and have the graphics quality look really good, without lag. Lag due to the computer istelf, i mean. I also want to know, if i buy a gaming case, right? And I buy the parts, rigHT? How do i know where to put the parts inside? I should get my dad's help, he knows this stuff, but i don't feel like it.

So, if i haven't bored you into coma yet, could i have a little assistance?

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Le Bump.

[Angst]

Le Bump.

[BlackPandemic]

Okay little boy (just kiddin' bro) $300 won't get you much these days. I built the computer in my signature for $1,061 and the monitor was $336. Now you should probably not change monitors now, but if you want help in terms of building the computer, I don't know if it's still around, but I have the PC Builder's Bible by PC Gamer and it has a step by step section in the middle of how to put together a custom computer.

Money tips:
-Get simple jobs: mowing lawns, pet sitting, babysitting (if you're desperate )
-Save save save!! I make $7.50 per hour working maybe 20 +/- a week and I couldn't buy anything huge since like Christmas to get my compy!

Building tips:
I'm no super techy but here's what I think you should shoot for (because my old PC ran WoW fine and CoD2)
-Pentium 4 1.8Ghz at least
-512 RAM (which is surprisingly cheap I think)
-RADEON 9600 SE did me fine for a while, maybe get the straight 9600...it was only $76 so, meh
-Onboard sound will have to do
-A DVD-R/CD-RW combo drive, because a lot of games are coming on DVD's now
-Power supplies I'm clueless about, I stuck a 500 watt in mine, but that's near overkill I think

I think that's the basics...am i missing anything? Probably...but my old 1.4ghz P4, 512 RAM, 9600 SE ran WoW and CoD 2 just fine, so shoot for that. In terms of cases...but one that's pretty cheap but durable. Check out NewEgg and find one you like, read the reviews (all of them if you can) and decide from there.

I get most of my stuff from NewEgg so check for prices there and read the multitudes of reviews!
Happy building!

}BP{

Edited by BlackPandemic, 16 April 2006 - 08:25 PM.

[jrm20]

Id say $600 is the absolute minimum for a quality pc to be able to play games well if you get someone good to configure you up a pc. $600 minumum for the pc itself, no monitor,keyboard,mouse, or speakers. Everything but those items and you will have to also buy an operating system unless you have one which run $89 for win xp service pack 2.

[Angst]

Thanks guys, my subtotal comes to 470 90 with tax. i think. My setup as follows:


APEX PC-336 Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply
$ 30.99

Intel Pentium 4 630 Prescott 800MHz FSB 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 EM64T Processor
$ 170.00

Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
$ 70.99

SONY Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE Combo Drive
$ 29.99

ASUS EN6800XT/HTD/256M Geforce 6800XT 256MB 256-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card
$186.00

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$89.00

Iwill DK8ES Socket 940 NVIDIA nForce4 Professional 2200 AMD 8131 PCI-X Tunnel chip Extended ATX Server Motherboard - OEM
$373.00

Logitech MX 5000 967558-0403 Black 102 Normal Keys USB Bluetooth Wireless Standard Keyboard Mouse Included
$113.99

SUB TOTAL w/o TAX
1063.96

Jesus Christ, that's alot. Gotta squeeze some cash outta my 'rents, i guess.

Edited by Angst, 17 April 2006 - 12:11 PM.

[warriorscot]

I would get an AMD system it will be cheaper. Also you will need to buy a new copy of XP the OS stays with the system its usually non transferable.

Edited by warriorscot, 17 April 2006 - 10:52 AM.

[jrm20]

Thanks guys, my subtotal comes to 470 90 with tax. i think. My setup as follows:
APEX PC-336 Black/Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply
$ 30.99

Intel Pentium 4 630 Prescott 800MHz FSB 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 EM64T Processor
$ 170.00

Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
$ 70.99

SONY Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE Combo Drive
$ 29.99

eVGA 256-A8-N330 Geforce 6600LE 256MB 128-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
$ 89.99

Like I said atleast $600 for a quality pc with decent everything. The only thing that looks low quality is the video card. That video card isnt that fast at all. Look for a video card around $150-$180


***edit*** just noticed that you didnt put a motherboard on there. How is it going to work without a motherboard. It wont fit on your old p3 board...

another thing stay away from the older boards with agp, get the newer boards that have pci express..

You will need to add a harddrive also unless you will be using your old. I would stay away from older ide harddrives. Since its an old p3 system with the harddrive it can possibly be an old 5400 rpm harddrive which is slow.

Edited by jrm20, 17 April 2006 - 11:47 AM.

[jrm20]

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128268

Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-K8NF-9
Item #: N82E16813128268
$76.00
Video Cards

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130283

eVGA 256-P2-N553-AX Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-P2-N553-AX
Item #: N82E16814130283

$15.00 Mail-in Rebate
$179.00
Power Supplies


http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820145440

Memory - System

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail
Model #: VS1GBKIT400
Item #: N82E16820145440
$72.00


http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819103537

Processor

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1GHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BPBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3000BPBOX
Item #: N82E16819103537
$117.00

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16837102059

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM
$89.95


Pick out one of these harddrives that are compatible... serial ata 150.

http://www.newegg.co...&SubCategory=14

Serial ata 150 is fine nowadays if you want the 3.0gb/s drives you will need to pick a different mobo that has serial ata 3.0gb/s.

For a harddrive they start out cheap and when you get to 160gb -250gb the drives are not that much extra only a little.. 200 or 250 gb harddrives are the best price for the money..


Pick you out a case and powersupply.

Pick you out a cheap cd rom drive.


Thats it..

Edited by jrm20, 17 April 2006 - 12:17 PM.

[BlackPandemic]

Yeah you need a newer mobo, and if you need to save money get a regular keyboard. A bad thing about wireless mice and keyboards is that my friend has one and at one point after a long day, he forgot to charge it then the mouse died in the middle of a game. Go with a basic keyboard and a good Logitech optical mouse. Also you may want to downsize the hard drive to save some cash.

And although I like Pentiums, an AMD is a cheaper and just as good alternative.

[jrm20]

Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YD 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD2500YD
Item #: N82E16822136010

$95.00

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136010


Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: GA-K8N PRO-SLI
Item #: N82E16813128301


$94.99

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128301


CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail

$72.00

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820145440


Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM
Model #: N09-01528
Item #: N82E16837102059

$89.95

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16837102059


AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Processor - Retail

$152.00

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819103535

eVGA 256-P2-N553-AX Geforce 7600GT CO 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-P2-N553-AX
Item #: N82E16814130283

$179.00

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130283

processor + video card combo is $331.00 -$10.00 Combo if you select the combo. You save $10..


Just pick you out a case and powersupply...

[Angst]

Much better than wha ti picked out, thanks guys.

[Angst]

Quick question... how do i install the chips for the processor, and my video card?

[BlackPandemic]

What exactly do you mean by "install the chips"? You mean...the actual components? Or drivers? Or what?

[Angst]

Pentium 4 chip, to be exact. See, I hav e a pentium three one right now, so i wanna take it out and sell it. And I wanna know how to put it in when i get P4.