building computer on budget

N

nhnsen

New Member
I am a single father of two toddlers and a full time student in college. Needless to say I am on a very tight budget. I want to build a new computer as mine is about 6 years old. I need help deciding on the mobo & CPU. My main goal is to build something that I will be able to upgrade later. For this reason I feel that I should spend the bulk of my budget on the motherboard. Please let me know if you guys think I should just build something cheap and then start from scratch again in a few years.

BUDGET: $250 for motherboard and CPU
PURPOSE: Internet usage, light video viewing, and occasional gaming.

I am looking at this CPU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103234

and these Motherboards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131273
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090
or any other suggestions ...

I have thought about this cpu :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116004
but dont know much about intel chips and motherboards. From what I understand they can be pricier.


Thanks for any comments and sorry about the long post.
 
If you are really strapped for cash HP has a somewhat hidden refurbished program where you can get fairly new computers for cheap. My brother got a computer from 2007 with 1GB of Ram and an 80GB hard drive for 100 dollars.

You can also check recycling centers for old computers. I gathered parts from a recycling center near me and made a decent computer for no cost. It has about 700 MB of Ram, an 80 GB hard drive, a Pentium 4 processor, CD and DVD RW drives, and nice graphics and sound cards. I'm actually using it right now. If you know a little about computers this is the best option.
 
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cohen said:
What is your overall budget for the whole PC????
Click to expand...

Overall budget is about $500-$550 at most.
I already have:

-Monitor, keyboard, mouse, case etc.
-128 MB video card (radeon 9250) that I plan to use until I can get a better one. (so ATI hybrid video sounded nice)
-Dvd burner
-hard drive

Power supply: 650W for $23 on pricewatch
O/S: $80 for xp on pricewatch
Cooling: I $70 in budget for case fans, heatsink etc.

minus items in budget I have $250-$300 for CPU mobo and RAM

My main goal, if practical, is to get a motherboard that will support either a AMD phenom or Intell Quad core, and as fast RAM as possible. Then I plan on getting a CPU to get me by until the above mentioned processors become more affordable and I have more money. As of right now I am mostly just web surfing and doing school work so Im ok with not having a lightning fast processor atm but would like to leave open the possibility for the near future
 
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nhnsen said:
Located in the US.
Its looking like this may be an option:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...tails.asp?EdpNo=3343343&body=MAIN#detailspecs
cpu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131289R
mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...(Desktop+Memory)-_-Kingston+HyperX-_-20134218
ram
Click to expand...

1. - Why AMD???
2. - Don't get an Open Box Motherboard
3. - You can get better ram for that price, even 4GBs.

From what Maroon1 suggested i say get these:

CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115052
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131288
Ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184 (4GB) or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034 (2GB)

Hope this helps :o
 
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computer on a budget

seems like AMD is more bang for buck .... Either way, I feel like I should focus on buying an uber motherboard, and then in 6 months or a year getting a quad core when they get cheaper. Is this a stupid idea? Like I said Im only writing papers for school right now so cpu isnt as important but in the near future I want to leave open the possibility for gaming etc.
Thanks also to everyone so far for all their comments. you guys have been very helpful. :)
 
nhnsen said:
seems like AMD is more bang for buck .... Either way, I feel like I should focus on buying an uber motherboard, and then in 6 months or a year getting a quad core when they get cheaper. Is this a stupid idea? Like I said Im only writing papers for school right now so cpu isnt as important but in the near future I want to leave open the possibility for gaming etc.
Thanks also to everyone so far for all their comments. you guys have been very helpful. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, i suppose AMD will be fine then, as for the quad, it has recently dropped in price.... but i say go for the quad now, but it is up to you.
 
cohen said:
Yeah, i suppose AMD will be fine then, as for the quad, it has recently dropped in price.... but i say go for the quad now, but it is up to you.
Click to expand...

why would you need a quad core for internet, light gaming and whatever else... this is basic stuff that could be done on a single core p3

that having been said, yes if you have the cash, by all means go intel.. if you want a budget compy then amd is by far your best bet, for 500 you can build an amd (almost)gaming rig with their best x2 chip and a decent video card.
 
Seeing that my rig was built for $530 including shipping, and today's prices have dropped drastically, you can do MUCH better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
Q6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135063
ECS G31T-M LGA775 Mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220144
Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2x 1GB) Dual Channel Kit CL4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228
Lite-On Black DVD Burner PATA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106
WDC Blue 80GB 8MB 7200RPM SATAII

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010
OCZ StealthXStream 600W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131111
Powercolor 512MB 256bit GDDR3 HD4850 PCI-E 2.0

Total after rebates including shipping: $545.22
 
oscaryu1 said:
Seeing that my rig was built for $530 including shipping, and today's prices have dropped drastically, you can do MUCH better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
Q6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135063
ECS G31T-M LGA775 Mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220144
Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2x 1GB) Dual Channel Kit CL4

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228
Lite-On Black DVD Burner PATA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106
WDC Blue 80GB 8MB 7200RPM SATAII

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010
OCZ StealthXStream 600W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131111
Powercolor 512MB 256bit GDDR3 HD4850 PCI-E 2.0

Total after rebates including shipping: $545.22
Click to expand...

Good, but you can 4GB or ram, for the same really.... after the rebate of course.

Otherwise + 1
 
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