Need help building CHEAP setup

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XxAdioxX

New Member
Alright, I'm thinking about building myself a computer to play some games on. Mainly Counter Strike: Source. I don't really know a ton about computers but I think I'll be able to figure it out and I know some people that have built their own computers. I already have a laptop, but it is old and wont handle games. I am mostly just trying to figure what I am getting into and if I will even be able to built myself a computer.

This needs to be as cheap as possible. I have an old computer that I can maybe harvest parts off of (keyboard, mouse, speakers, case, and maybe some internal parts). Its an old computer, so I'm sure I will have to upgrade all of the parts in it. I want to be able to play counterstike and maybe some other newer games smoothly, but they don't have to be really good looking. I want to see if I can build something for $300 to $400 for everything I'll need inside the tower, if thats even possible. If I can get by even cheaper, that would be even better. I'm thinking if I can find some old stuff that used to be good and is still decent by todays standards, I might be able to pull off a cheap system.

So let me hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks.
 
Alright, look over this stuff and tell me your thoughts. Keep in mind that I really don't know anything about computers lol, and that I'm just trying to throw together really cheap parts that I think I may be able to get by with.

Video Card -
Nvidia 6600gt (around $80)
*I read that I should get the 128 version instead of the 256? True or not?
http://cgi.ebay.com/NVIDIA-GeForce-...4QQihZ013QQcategoryZ40161QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Memory -
Corsai ValueSelect 1GB (about $80)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

Hard Drive -
Samsung 40GB sinpoint m series (about $50)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822152501

Processor -
AMD Athlon 2ghz (about $50)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103605

Motherboard -
I don't know for this one, found this one for like $50
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=MB-K8U-939&c=pw

So thats about 300 bucks right there already, and I'm sure this isn't a very good combo. But it seems to me that you may be able to put together a pretty bare bones system for around $300.

And go easy on me, I'm sure everything I suggested is probably total crap. :)


Edit: another question, I live like 5 minutes from a tigerdirect store, would it be a good idea to just go in there and see if they can build me something? Or would it be best to just figure out all the parts I want and build it myself. How good are they at helping people out?
 
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Oops, I guess I should have caught though. :)

That setup looks decent? I was just kind of throwing parts together.

If any of the parts I picked look like parts I should definitely get on a very low budget build, let me know and I can start shopping for even cheaper prices. I'm not set on or in love with any of the parts I listed, I just kind of threw stuff together. So feel free to make suggestions for different parts. Thanks.
 
I would go with socket 939 or AM2 rather than 754...

Mobo- $73- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131569

CPU- $56- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103023

Hard drive- $53- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144415

Memory- $75- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

GPU- $75- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130075

PSU- $38- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003

Total $370...a good computer for the price..a few things could be changed to lower the price, but a computer that should do all you need, and excellent for the price.
 
About Power supplies- what should I look for with a cheap system like this? With the old computer I'm hacking up and using as the base, what should I look for on its power supply that I'll know whether or not its good enough to use?


Also, isn't the motherboard I suggested a 939? (i don't even konw what that means, but it says 939 and I heard thats what I want)
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=MB-K8U-939&c=pw
Is the one you suggested a lot better?
 
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if you buy that cpu ull need a fan and thermal paste since it doesnt come with any
edit: you also need a case and possibly sime peripherals
 
XxAdioxX said:
About Power supplies- what should I look for with a cheap system like this? With the old computer I'm hacking up and using as the base, what should I look for on its power supply that I'll know whether or not its good enough to use?


Also, isn't the motherboard I suggested a 939? (i don't even konw what that means, but it says 939 and I heard thats what I want)
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=MB-K8U-939&c=pw
Is the one you suggested a lot better?
Click to expand...

The power supply in your case probably isn't good enough..the one I suggested is an excellent power supply for the price.

The mobo you suggested was S939, but the CPU was S754.
 
Make sure you power supply has:
  1. All required connections, particularly the 4pin ATX12V
  2. At least 350W
  3. At least +12V@18A

If it meets the final requirement of +12V@18A it will probably meet the other two as well.
 
Alright, cool. Thanks for all the help.

Any other suggestions? How good do you guys think this setup will run games like Counter Strike: Source? Thats the main game I want to play. Will I be able to play some newer games like FEAR?

Edit: Oh yeah, another question. How important is a DVD drive? I have a CD-RW drive, will that be good enough for the really cheap setup I'm trying to get?
 
So would I be alright with just a DVD reader? I have my laptop for burning CD's and I don't plan on burning any DVD's. I just didn't know if most games are all on DVD's now . I think for 18 bucks I'll upgrade to a DVD player, I didn't know they were that cheap.

And would this hard drive be better than the other one suggested?:
http://www.upgrade-solution.com/detail.cfm?show=yes&PID=792&add=yes

Other one suggested:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144415

They are both the same price but the one 16MB cache over 8mb cache. I'm not really sure what that all means.
 
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Yea that's all you need.
Generally the more cache the better, but in case of CD/DVD drives, it really doesn't matter once you reach about 2mb cache IMO.
 
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