Low-level gaming/multimedia computer under $900

UsernameTaken

New Member
I want to build a computer. I priced one out on CyberPower but it was only a little under $1000, with onboard sound and graphics. I was expecting and hoping it would be a lot cheaper than that. So I was looking at the $600-$900 configs here and I figured I could mess around with them and get a config I would like at a price in between the two. I have a friend who builds his computers and I'm sure he could help me put it together.

Here is what I would like to run on my computer. I multi-task a lot so I assume dual-core would be good, but I don't really know that much about the technical details of computers.
I usually run these simultaneously:
-Azureus
-iTunes
-EAC/ImgBurn
-Photoshop/Inkscape
-SoulSeek
-Firefox

The most intensive work I do is capturing video from my handycam. I don't do that often and when I do it's the only program running.

I was planning on only getting 1GB of RAM, would this be fine? I know I saw something about using 2 hard drives somewhere, where you would use a small hard drive for OSes and programs, and then the larger hard drive for your stuff like music, video, etc. I want to be able to play Coutnerstrike, Half-Life, and StarCraft II when it comes out. I'm not sure if I'm gonna need a DirectX 10 card or not. I was thinking of maybe using the cheapest card (like a really low GeForce 6) and then upgrading if I needed to. I would really like a 65nm processor, so I was looking at the X2 4800+. I have no idea how it compares to Intel though. Also I read about Creative soudn cards interfering with nForce mobos. I was planning on getting a Creative sound card and maybe that Xmod thing, but I don't want to run into any problems.
Here is my base configuration, without the mobo, processor, video card, sound card, or RAM:

Case
Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147010
Hard Drive(s)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB 74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140
Optical Drives
Open Box - LG Model GSA-4167B 35.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136063R
LG Model GSA-H55NK 32.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136117
or I was thinking of getting a Plextor if I found a good deal on eBay
Other
Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Black Card Reader 9.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223073
Saitek USB Standard Eclipse II Keyboard 54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823175001

total: 234.94
 
you can do all those with a 500 dollar computer.

Awesome! How?

I'm not trying to get the absolute best computer I can for $900, I'm just trying to get something that will be sufficient for what I will use it for as outlined above. I don't need a fancy case, and I'll probably just get XP Home. I don't need no Vista.

Oh and this card is cheaper, if I really need DX10.
 
Last edited:
I would try something at Directron... I'll find you something under 450$

Intel Pentium 4 631 Cedar Mill LGA775 CPU BX80552631, 3.0 GHz, w/ EM64T and; HT Technology $74.99
http://www.directron.com/bx80552631.html

ASUS P5GC-MX LGA775 uATX Motherboard, Intel 945GC Chipset, Supports Intel Core2 Duo CPUs, PCI-E, SATA 3Gb/s, Dual DDR2 533 $69.98
http://www.directron.com/p5gcmx.html

HEC 6K60BS mATX Mini-Tower Computer Case with 400W Power Supply, 2x 5.25" Bays, w/ USB, 1394 $42.99
http://www.directron.com/6k60bs.html

Black LG E-IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner GSA-H54NK, 18x DVD+/-R, 10x DVD+/-R DL, 12x DVD-RAM. OEM $29.99
http://www.directron.com/gsah54nk.html

Black Sony 1.44MB 3.5inch Internal Floppy Drives, MPF920-1, OEM $7.99
http://www.directron.com/fdsonyb.html

Western Digital Caviar SE SATA 80GB Hard Drives WD800JD, 300 MB/s, 8MB, 7200RPM, OEM $41.99
http://www.directron.com/wd800jd.html

Buffalo Select 1GB (2X512MB) DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory D2U667C-KS1G/BR, Dual Channel Kit, 240-Pin, Non-ECC, Unbuffered. Retail Box $42.99
http://www.directron.com/d2u667cks1gbr.html

Used Black Dell CRT 19" Monitors, Grade B $45.99
http://www.directron.com/used19monitor.html

Black Altec Lansing Speaker System 120i, 2 Piece, for PC Music/Gaming, w/ Console Gaming Y-Adapter $11.49

$415.90
 
Awesome! How?

I'm not trying to get the absolute best computer I can for $900, I'm just trying to get something that will be sufficient for what I will use it for as outlined above. I don't need a fancy case, and I'll probably just get XP Home. I don't need no Vista.

Oh and this card is cheaper, if I really need DX10.

The one i put was for performance rather than just being DX10
 
I am currently building a E4300 Core 2 Duo system for around $350. On PartsPC.com (I have done business with them before, ran smoothly) That have motherboard combos.. I am getting an CPU (E4300), Fan (stock), and Abit IP-95 mothreboard for $150.
 
DVD Drive: $26.49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106075

Case: $34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811148029

Hard Drive: $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098

Mouse: $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104178

Keyboard: $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823131076

Memory: $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145015

Motherboard: $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128017

CPU: $164.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115005

Sound Card: $85.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102013

Video Card: $179.99 ($30.00 mail in rebate $149.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102067


That will give you a Core 2 Duo, 2Gbs of RAM, a 320GB Hard Drive, a DVD-burner, a 500W PSU, a damn fine Motherboard, mouse, keyboard, the best bang for the buck video card (DX10 aside), and you'll run anything out there. Since you said you weren't using Vista there's no point in getting a DX10 card then, save money. Total is...

$807.41 -$30 for Rebate: $777.41
 
okay heres an update, im definitely ordering this week or next week.

i bought a gateway like 10 months ago and it has onboard video and windows is installed on a partition, so i am buying an extra hard drive and video card to install into the gateway and then put windows on its own hard drive to make it more stable and run WoW better for my brother.

the e6320 is 1.86 ghz $165.5 and the e6550 is 2.33 ghz $178.99. should i get the e6550 instead and keep everything else the same? i would have to change motherboards because its a different front side bus, whatever that means

components that ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT CHANGE

Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Black Card Reader
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223073 - $9.99

JBL Duet Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836101074 - $39.99 Silver
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836101013 - $39.99 White

Saitek Slim Eclipse USB Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823175104 - $39.99

Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - ST3320620AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140 - $79.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106 - $41.99 x2

components that PROBABLY WILL NOT CHANGE

PSU
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001 - $109.99

Wireless
TRENDnet TEW-443PI IEEE 802.11b/g 32-bit PCI 2.2 Bus Master Wireless Adapter up to 108Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP (Hex or ASCII), WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156165 - $24.99

Monitor
ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q20WB Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116075 - $199.99

Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015 - $165.50

Optical Drive
LG Black GSA-H54NK - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136119 - $27.99

everything else subject to change:

Case
Rosewill R5717-P SL 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower Computer Case withTool-Free kits - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147057 - $34.99

Mobo
EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188019 - $158.99

RAM
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145015 - $84.99

Video Card - x2

HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PRO 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161036 - $79.99
SAPPHIRE 100166L Radeon X1650XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102068 - $104.99

Leadtek WinFast PX7300GT TDH 128MB DDR3 Extreme GeForce 7300GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814122008 - $79.99
EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062 - $89.99
EVGA 256-P2-N554-AX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130017 - $99.99
 
If you don't want to switch motherboards, you can always bump it up to the e6420, but I think getting a new mobo would be better :x
 
okay heres an update, im definitely ordering this week or next week.

i bought a gateway like 10 months ago and it has onboard video and windows is installed on a partition, so i am buying an extra hard drive and video card to install into the gateway and then put windows on its own hard drive to make it more stable and run WoW better for my brother.

the e6320 is 1.86 ghz $165.5 and the e6550 is 2.33 ghz $178.99. should i get the e6550 instead and keep everything else the same? i would have to change motherboards because its a different front side bus, whatever that means

components that ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT CHANGE

Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Black Card Reader
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223073 - $9.99

JBL Duet Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836101074 - $39.99 Silver
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836101013 - $39.99 White

Saitek Slim Eclipse USB Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823175104 - $39.99

Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - ST3320620AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140 - $79.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106 - $41.99 x2

components that PROBABLY WILL NOT CHANGE

PSU
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341001 - $109.99

Wireless
TRENDnet TEW-443PI IEEE 802.11b/g 32-bit PCI 2.2 Bus Master Wireless Adapter up to 108Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP (Hex or ASCII), WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156165 - $24.99

Monitor
ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q20WB Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116075 - $199.99

Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Conroe 1.86GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115015 - $165.50

Optical Drive
LG Black GSA-H54NK - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136119 - $27.99

everything else subject to change:

Case
Rosewill R5717-P SL 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower Computer Case withTool-Free kits - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147057 - $34.99

Mobo
EVGA 122-CK-NF63-TR LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188019 - $158.99

RAM
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145015 - $84.99

Video Card - x2

HIS Hightech H165PRF512N-R Radeon X1650PRO 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161036 - $79.99
SAPPHIRE 100166L Radeon X1650XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102068 - $104.99

Leadtek WinFast PX7300GT TDH 128MB DDR3 Extreme GeForce 7300GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814122008 - $79.99
EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062 - $89.99
EVGA 256-P2-N554-AX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130017 - $99.99


Get this mobo instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

And E6550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030&Tpk=E6550


And don't get two video cards, just get one
I recommend this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127293
 

im getting two video cards not for SLI/Crossfire but because one card goes in the new PC and one is going into a year-old one to replace the onboard video in it. also i dont need directx10 so ill get a directx9 card it saves money
 
well in my search for a new motherboard ive come up confused.

im looking at 11 different motherboards right now and i have no idea what to pick.

the memory i have this one is DDR2 800. one of the mobos i was looking at says it supports DDR2 1200. would this work?

some of the motherboards have just one PCI-E 16x slot, which is fine because im only using one video card and i always will. but should i get one with 2 slots? some of the ones with 2 slots have SLI but it works in 8x/8x, 16x/8x, or 16x/1x.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128053
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130082
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186124
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128044
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131142
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130081
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186113
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188013

edit: the more expensive evga board has a lifetime warranty but the cheaper one doesnt
 
I'd go with gigabyte P35 or the msi P6 sli or the evga A1 any those 3 would do great the rest are ok, some of the asus have hardware/software issues but they aer still okay, foxconn meh stay away
 
ive narrowed it down to 6 motherboards. i know eSATA is the future and my external HDDs have eSATA ports so i would like something with eSATA but i can live without it (and definitely for a couple years). i do know that you can add this with an add on card (but are they PCI? PCI-E? or is it just a cable that plugs into a normal SATA slot?). i need firewire for my camcorder. i really like having lots of USB ports, i believe every computer should have 10 :D. 4 is fine but i REALLY LIKE that the EVGA has 6 :) and the lifetime warranty makes me feel a lot more secure buying it so im leaning towards that one. but i dont know about the other companies' warranties.

here are my thoughts on each motherboard

really cheap and has eSATA, but sound card seems cheap
ASUS P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $126.99

cheap and nice MIR, has eSATA
Foxconn P35A-S LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $149.99

cheap and has eSATA
MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $149.99

has a sound card (but it might be a gimmick), no eSATA and 1 PCI-E/PCI, expensive
ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $179.99

eSATA, expensive
Foxconn N68S7AA-8EKRS2H LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $209.99

lifetime warranty, 6 USB ports, 2 PCI and 2 PCI-E slots, no eSATA, really expensive
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $219.99
 
DO NOT GO WITH CYBERPOWER!!!! I got my computer from them they have the worst customer service ever...they build there systems poorly, they are not reliable at all and there warranty is complete bull.
 
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