$1000 Desktop

shortymet55

New Member
For graduation, my parents said they would buy me a computer for college up to $1000(This means shipping included). I immediately started looking at laptops, but then realized I never really would move it from my dormroom, so I might want to look at desktops too. I would like to build one.

I need everything, except keyboard/mouse and speakers.
What I need:
1.) Built-in Wireless BGN internet adapter (I assume PCI)
2.) Play games like Sims 3 and hopefully a little futureproof.
3.) Quite (No angry dormmate)
4.) Case w/o lights (No angry dormmate)
5.) CD/DVD burner
6.) Standard monitor

What I would like:
1.) Built-in Bluetooth (prefer not to use USB if possible)
2.) 4gb Ram
3.) 250gb Hard Drive

I was wondering if you could give me some ideas. I was about to build a computer a year ago, but decided not to. I come back now and everything have changed! Starting at square 1 now.
 
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daisymtc

Active Member
I have no idea how much shipping would cost, so I suggest a $950 list exclude shipping and MIR.

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649
You can choose 810 if you want, but again I have no idea about the shipping cost overall

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G16004GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227316

MSI R4850-2D512-OC Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127414

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

2 x Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

BFG Tech GS-550 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817702010

Antec Three Hundred - Just a common budget case, choose one you like...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

The following 3 items is chosen as budgeting purpose, no comment on its brand/ quality

Logitech 967973-0403 Black PS/2 Standard Deluxe 250 Desktop - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126017

ENCORE ENLWI-N PCI 2.3 Wireless Adapter - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833180052

cirago BTA-6210 USB 2.0 Micro Bluetooth Dongle support Bluetooth 2.1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833242003


Forgot to mention, if you buying laptop, I think this Asus provide good value
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9173262&type=product&id=1218044029168
 
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bomberboysk

Active Member

I would change these things:
Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119077

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341019

Higher res display:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236056

Cpu Fan:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

And at this price range... i wouldnt go ddr3 tbh, when the stuff is that high latency its not in reality much faster than good 1066mhz ddr2:

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

Vista ultimate is a waste, home premium is nearly $100 cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488
 

zer0_c00l

Active Member
i agree with the operating system but not enough of a price change to downgrade to ddr2 memory and AM2+ motherboard BUY THE BEST YOU CAN WHILE YOU CAN.he did say future PROOFIish and as far as the case goes he will be in a dorm and dont need a side window or anything flashy..to make someone think (ohh i want to steal that) :D 550 watt psu is is more then enough power for that setup
Play games like Sims 3 and hopefully a little futureproof.
 
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bomberboysk

Active Member
i agree with the operating system but not enough of a price change to downgrade to ddr2 memory and AM2+ motherboard. HE DID SAY FUTURE PROOFIish and as far as the case goes he will be in a dorm and dont need a side window or anything flashy..to make someone think (ohh i want to steal that) :D 550 watt psu is is more then enough power for that setup Play games like Sims 3 and hopefully a little futureproof.

Case has free shipping, and the 700W would make it "futureproofish":p Although something like this would be a less "flashy" case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119161
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119129

If he does go ddr3 though, id recommend this memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231180
 
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zer0_c00l

Active Member
Case has free shipping, and the 700W would make it "futureproofish":p Although something like this would be a less "flashy" case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119161
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119129

If he does go ddr3 though, id recommend this memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231180

why slower memory? almost the same price as the OCZ. the only reason i picked a 550 psu is because its Antec and it came with the case anyway
 
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bomberboysk

Active Member
why slower memory? almost the same price as the OCZ

Ive not really been a fan of OCZ memory, i know their early ddr3 sucked(i had to rma mine twice), but not sure how well the new stuff is. If he wants 1600mhz, i would go with patriot or g.skill such as this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

Plus the antec case/psu combo is nice, but i would say get seperate psu+case even though the antec has a pretty decent psu in it, for the fact you can get more power for less money.
 

shortymet55

New Member
I have a few questions.

1.) Why AMD? Last time I looked at building a computer, everyone suggested Intel. What changed? How can I compare the two?

2.) Why new cpu fan? Dont they all come with them?

Thanks

o, and I want Vista Home Premium and DDR3, just because. And Im not sure why the 2 drives. 1 is fine.
 
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zer0_c00l

Active Member
AMD's the new Mainstream sheriff in town , they overclock like a beast! and shove an unlocked multiplier up (intels insides)
 
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bomberboysk

Active Member
I liked zer0_c00l's build.

bomberboy, why were you going with the ddr2???
Mainly because ddr2 boards that support crossfire are quite a bit cheaper than am3 boards that support crossfire(except a really low end am3 asrock board for ~$90, but its a horrible board tbh, a good crossfire compatible am3 board is $130 vs $80 or so for am2+). And crossfire support= very easy way to almost double performance for cheap in the future.
 

shortymet55

New Member
ok, ok, very cool. Boy do things change in a year.

I knew basically how all the intels stacked up (Core 2 duo vs Extreme vs Quad) and now I got to start over! O well.

Thanks
 

shortymet55

New Member

bomberboysk

Active Member
Looks great, but it you have some room left in your budget, might want to think about a couple changes:

For the small difference in price...might as well upgrade to a HD4850 with 1GB Frame Buffer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161275

If you can fit it in your budget...I would recommend getting a mobo that supports crossfire, easy upgrade to gpu down the road by adding another 4850 in:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128378

Depending what you plan on using bluetooth for... this is $10 cheaper, only difference is 30M max range vs 100M(90 ft vs 300ft):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833242001

750GB for $10 more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136359
 

shortymet55

New Member
I changed the first 3.

The hard drive is way more than enough. If anything, I might downsize it. Right now, im using 50gb of the 80gb hard drive I have in the computer Im using. 500gb should be enough.

Thanks
 

bomberboysk

Active Member
I changed the first 3.

The hard drive is way more than enough. If anything, I might downsize it. Right now, im using 50gb of the 80gb hard drive I have in the computer Im using. 500gb should be enough.

Thanks

True, but then again with more space you would be more inclined to use it:p Id say since your building a good system, stick with at least 500gb, incase say, you want to dual boot vista and windows 7 or something;)
 
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