birthday computer

Comments

• Cleffy Member RarePosts: 6,412

  May 2010

  If you can build a PC yourself, my suggestion is an AMD 890GX system using a Phenom II X4 925 processor and 4GB of memory.  The 890GX should be the best video chipset available for running graphics below $500.  Because your budget is so low, offering a good graphics solution isn't possible so a top of the line IGP is best.
• raistalin69 Member Posts: 575

  May 2010

  if you know anyone who is into building pc's id suggest looking into upgrading your brothers system rather than trying to buy a whole new system at that price range. buying an entire system is possible at that price range, but you might get more bang for your buck if you upgrade a few key components(if possible). for an example, a high end graphics card can cost as much as the entire budget you listed, and a graphics card upgrade may fix some lag issues. of course upgrading may not be an option. if you list what the system components are you might get some much better advice though.

  good luck!

  IF THE ONLY DEFENCE FOR CRITICISM OF A GAME IS CALLING SOMEONE A TROLL OR HATER, THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE GAME
• bezado Member UncommonPosts: 1,127

  May 2010

  
  Originally posted by raistalinraistalin69

  if you know anyone who is into pc'sding pc's id suggest looking into upgrading your brothers system rather than trying to buy a whole new system at that price range. buying an entire system is possible at that price range, but you might get more bang for your buck if you upgrade a few key components(if possible). for an example, a high end graphics card can cost as much as the entire budget you listed, and a graphics card upgrade may fix some lag issues. of course upgrading may not be an option. if you list what the system components are you might get some much better advice though.

  good luck!

  This is where many folks get into trouble with older PC's since most older PC's are bottle-necked usually by the processor and motherboard, putting in a Ferrari video card and memory usually doesn't help much compared to a new PC build that would cost in same area.

  OP can you tell me how old the PC your brother uses and what type processor and motherboard he has and video card?  Also would this build require a monitor, keyboarectmouse ect? You can save if you don't need these things. You can get a really nice PC for $500-600 range if you build a AMD machine, Intel in this price range is slightly less powerful in performance, this is the AMD price range that is wining the performance to price war. Intel gets faster as you go higher but for a build like this AMD wins.
• raistalin69 Member Posts: 575

  May 2010

  yep, bezado is right, you need to know whats in the current machine before you decide what to do.

  IF THE ONLY DEFENCE FOR CRITICISM OF A GAME IS CALLING SOMEONE A TROLL OR HATER, THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE GAME
• bezado Member UncommonPosts: 1,127

  May 2010

  Quick build for you off newegg, all parts I know work well together and will be very fast for your brother for a long time.

  $525 total build without monitor and speakers, mouse, keyboard. Use the old ones, also no OS but the build is solid for you.

  Description	Savings	Total Price
  select item 1	quantity of item 1	ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM Item #: N82E16827135204 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options27-135-204|hide options27-135-204)   Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info27-135-204.0.18) 1 year: $6.99 2 year: $11.99		$25.99
  select item 2	quantity of item 2	Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case Item #: N82E16811147112 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$29.99
  select item 3	quantity of item 3	Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #: N82E16822136218 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options22-136-218|hide options22-136-218)   Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info22-136-218.0.120) 1 year: $10.99 2 year: $18.99		$69.99
  select item 4	quantity of item 4	BIOSTAR A785G3 AM3 AMD 785G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Item #: N82E16813138182 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy	-$5.00 Instant	$64.99 $59.99
  select item 5	quantity of item 5	VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card Item #: N82E16814129112 Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy		$99.99
  select item 6	quantity of item 6	Rosewill Green Series RG530-S12 530W Continuous @40°C, 80 PLUS Certified, Single 12V Rail, Active PFC "Compatible with Core ... Item #: N82E16817182199 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Protect Your Investment (expand for options17-182-199|hide options17-182-199)   Service Net Replacement Extended Warranty Plan The product will be replaced and shipped directly to you at no charge(more info17-182-199.0.18) 1 year: $6.99 2 year: $11.99	-$25.00 Instant	$74.99 $49.99
  select item 7	quantity of item 7	ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound Item #: N82E16835186020 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy		$9.98
  select item 8	quantity of item 8	G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM Item #: N82E16820231275 Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy		$108.99
  select item 9	quantity of item 9	AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor Model ADX435WFGIBOX Item #: N82E16819103724 Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
• Catamount Member Posts: 773

  May 2010

  Add in a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM, and it'll put the above build up to $625, which isn't that far over budget. The above poster did a good job of finding deals, as almost everything there has free shipping, and that'll only add $10 or $15 if I'm figuring right. You could even just stick with the default thermal compound if you wanted to save $10 (normally I think MX-2 is great stuff, but unless you've overclocking, I wouldn't sweat a few degrees on a 95W CPU).
• mudstuck Member Posts: 203

  May 2010

  Trying to make this link work oh well.

  How do you get wish list links from new egg, to work here?
• bezado Member UncommonPosts: 1,127

  May 2010

  
  Originally posted by Catamount

  Add in a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM, and it'll put the above build up to $625, which isn't that far over budget. The above poster did a good job of finding deals, as almost everything there has free shipping, and that'll only add $10 or $15 if I'm figuring right. You could even just stick with the default thermal compound if you wanted to save $10 (normally I think MX-2 is great stuff, but unless you've overclocking, I wouldn't sweat a few degrees on a 95W CPU).

   

  Yup.  I added the MX-2 cause I figured the AMD thermal paste that comes with the oem coolers suck terribly, and if he decides to use the Biostars auto OC feature on bios then at least the cpu will be 10-15 degrees cooler using MX-2, also people rarely clean PC out and dust is notorious for getting stuck in top of OEM coolers just cause they got small gaps, over a couple years it really starts to heat up.

  @Mad I never use wish lists on these forums, I always just posted like I do above so everyone can view individually from here and the entire list without clicking link. SO I have no idea how do wish lists to link here.  =(
• mudstuck Member Posts: 203

  May 2010

  . Update11-233-061		GIGABYTE gz-ph1a3 Black SGCC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Model #:gz-ph1a3 Item #:N82E16811233061 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add11-233-061) Save   Cancel	$39.99	-$23.00 Instant	$16.99
  .	. Update17-171-028		COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 460W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply Model #:RS-460-PMSR-A3 Item #:N82E16817171028 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add17-171-028) Save   Cancel	$39.97		$39.97
  .	. Update19-103-688		AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX240OCGQBOX Model #:ADX240OCGQBOX Item #:N82E16819103688 Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy In Stock Note (Add19-103-688) Save   Cancel	$56.99		$56.99
  .	. Update20-231-122		G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ Model #:F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ Item #:N82E16820231122 Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add20-231-122) Save   Cancel	$99.99		$99.99
  .	. Update22-148-397		Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3160813AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Model #:ST3160813AS Item #:N82E16822148397 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add22-148-397) Save   Cancel	$38.99		$38.99
  .	. Update27-106-289		LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM Model #:iHAS124-04 Item #:N82E16827106289 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add27-106-289) Save   Cancel	$19.99		$19.99
  .	. Update32-116-754		Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM Model #:GFC-00599 Item #:N82E16832116754 Return Policy:Software Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add32-116-754) Save   Cancel	$99.99		$99.99
  .	. Update13-131-608		ASUS M4A78L-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 760G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Model #:M4A78L-M Item #:N82E16813131608 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add13-131-608) Save   Cancel	$64.99		$64.99
  .	. Update14-102-829		SAPPHIRE 100253HDMI Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Low Profile Ready ... Model #:100253HDMI Item #:N82E16814102829 Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy In Stock Mail in Rebate Card14-102-829 Note (Add14-102-829) Save   Cancel	$69.99	-$15.00 Instant	$54.99
  Subtotal:						$492.89

  Or

  Update11-233-061		GIGABYTE gz-ph1a3 Black SGCC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Model #:gz-ph1a3 Item #:N82E16811233061 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add11-233-061) Save   Cancel	$39.99	-$23.00 Instant	$16.99
  .	. Update13-131-613		ASUS M2N68-AM PLUS AM3/AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA Geforce 7025/nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Model #:M2N68-AM PLUS Item #:N82E16813131613 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add13-131-613) Save   Cancel	$54.99		$54.99
  .	. Update14-130-523		EVGA 01G-P3-1227-LR GeForce GT 220 SSC Edition 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card Model #:01G-P3-1227-LR Item #:N82E16814130523 Return Policy:VGA Standard Return Policy In Stock Mail in Rebate14-130-523 Note (Add14-130-523) Save   Cancel	$89.99	-$25.00 Instant	$64.99
  .	. Update17-171-028		COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 460W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply Model #:RS-460-PMSR-A3 Item #:N82E16817171028 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add17-171-028) Save   Cancel	$39.97		$39.97
  .	. Update19-103-688		AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX240OCGQBOX Model #:ADX240OCGQBOX Item #:N82E16819103688 Return Policy:CPU Replacement Only Return Policy In Stock Note (Add19-103-688) Save   Cancel	$56.99		$56.99
  .	. Update20-231-122		G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ Model #:F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ Item #:N82E16820231122 Return Policy:Memory Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add20-231-122) Save   Cancel	$99.99		$99.99
  .	. Update22-148-397		Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3160813AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Model #:ST3160813AS Item #:N82E16822148397 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add22-148-397) Save   Cancel	$38.99		$38.99
  .	. Update27-106-289		LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - OEM Model #:iHAS124-04 Item #:N82E16827106289 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add27-106-289) Save   Cancel	$19.99		$19.99
  .	. Update32-116-754		Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM Model #:GFC-00599 Item #:N82E16832116754 Return Policy:Software Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add32-116-754) Save   Cancel	$99.99		$99.99
  Subtotal:						$492.8
• Catamount Member Posts: 773

  May 2010

  Well, given the choices, I think it goes without saying that Bezado's build is by far the best performing. Normally I like to make suggestions in these threads, but I'm not even going to bother this time because I wouldn't be able to top his build.
• pepsi1028 Member Posts: 471

  May 2010

  
  Originally posted by mudstuck

  . Update11-233-061

  GIGABYTE gz-ph1a3 Black SGCC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Model #:gz-ph1a3 Item #:N82E16811233061 Return Policy:Standard Return Policy In Stock Note (Add11-233-061)

  
  Go for the i7.  Then slowly build it up higher,that way i7 acts as a building block.  Think of computers as muscles.  Develope them, then they tear down and rebuild into bigger machines

  
  

  †Pepsi1028†

  PEPSI!!!!!
  Get out of your box already...
• mudstuck Member Posts: 203

  May 2010

  
  Originally posted by Catamount

  Well, given the choices, I think it goes without saying that Bezado's build is by far the best performing. Normally I like to make suggestions in these threads, but I'm not even going to bother this time because I wouldn't be able to top his build.

  Yep, I was tryin and tryin to figure a way to be under $500, and still have an operating system, it's all I could come up with. 

  Hopefully the O.P. can re use his brother's O.S. and go with Benzado's build.
• orija7 Member Posts: 22

  May 2010

  
  Originally posted by Cleffy

  If you can build a PC yourself, my suggestion is an AMD 890GX system using a Phenom II X4 925 processor and 4GB of memory.  The 890GX should be the best video chipset available for running graphics below $500.  Because your budget is so low, offering a good graphics solution isn't possible so a top of the line IGP is best.

  Cleffy, I would not recommend that he build the PC himself seeing that he doesn't know about them. If you can give us an idea of what games he likes to play, we can tell you which parts to get.
• Arakazi Member UncommonPosts: 911

  May 2010

  At that price it isn't realistic to expect to get a great gamming  system with all the bells and whistles. If I only had that amount to spend I would be looking at buying a refurbished PC with a decent motherboard and processor, as a basis for building a good rig I would expect at least 4gb of ram and an i7 or at least a quad core 2 processor, that would take up most of your budget. After that invest in a power supply and a mid range graphics card, with that you should be able to play any game on the market today, although not at the highest settings. I did this before a couple of years ago when my money was a little tight, since then I rebuilt it starting with a new motherboard, processor and ram. Building a computer isn't as hard as it used to be, so long as you do your research.