Cheapest CS:S Rig

tuxify

tuxify

New Member
My buddy really wants to start playing Counter-Strike: Source, but he doesn't have very much money. What do you guys think the cheapest computer he could build that could run CS at a reasonable speed?
Forget a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and stuff like that.
 
Probably no more than like $300 if that is possible. I just want to know the cheapest rig that could run CS:S. I know my parent's old HP can run it, so I dunno if just getting an HP or Dell would be cheaper than building one.
 
To me, there is a difference between being able to run a program, and being able to run it well. Sure you could play it on a jank setup but you might get choppy gameplay. You could probably find a used or piece together a used system for that much. You could probably get away with 2.0+ghz, 1gb RAM, and a decent 128mb gfx card. Source isn't really that intense of a game.
 
 
I'd actually go for a PCI-E board and a 7300GS, I managed to get CS:S to run on that at 1680x1050 at around 40fps.
 
my rig on my sig below runs css at high settings but with no AA and HDR off on 1024x768.
 
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I have a sub $300 gaming PC configured on my other computer, I'll post it next time I get onto it. Anyways, I remember it was something along the lines of

AMD 64 X2 4000, 7600GS, 1GB (or 2GB now probably) ram, and cheap rosewill case.
 
My old comp
AMD 3000+ 2.0
6600 GT AGP 8x
1gb ram

played that game like a champ. About 50 frames with everything up except HDR and anti-aliasing

now my new one make that game look like a bitch. lol
 
Why not look at one of Tigerdirects refurbs? Cheap cheap cheap and most of em would run CS like a champ..
BTW I have no affiliation with TD, but I have bought 2 refurbs from 'em an Emachines and a Gateway and they were both rock solid and cheap.
 
I agree with what 3 of 7 said, you could also buy a decent brand new emachines for under $400 that would be more than competant of running CS:S. I think the Emachines I bought for my parents a few years back was $299 without a monitor or keyboard/mouse at best buy (it was on sale but they do LOTS of sales on emachines)
 
 
oscaryu1 said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116064&Tpk=e1200
E1200

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186112
Foxconn motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147065
Rosewill ATX Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220174
Patriot Extreme Performance DDR2-800 2GB CL5

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822210003
Excelstor Jupiter 80GB SATAII 8MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127273
MSI 7300LE 128MB PCI-E x16

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339001&Tpk=hec+orion
hec Orion 585W Dual Rails (39A)

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

Total after rebates including shipping: $302.52
Click to expand...

Looks very nice. It seems like you did not include the MIR for the Ram. If you didn't, I would recommend dropping down to 1GB of of ram, such as this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161198

And using the extra money to get a 7600GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134003

which would yield better gaming performance.
 
I did include it... (99% sure :P)

At the price, I'd just stick to the Patriot. Good manufacturer and a helluva price.

I was thinking about the 7600, but seeing as it only needs a GeForce 2 (DX7 with T&L), the 7300LE should run it fine. But price was also another issue.
 
If you are building a low budget pc I would not recommend vista just because it you will have to buy more memory just to be equal to the speed of running on xp.
 
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