New Rig for $500

[penetrator27]

Hi, I am looking at building a new system but I only have $500 to spend I already have a case, HD, & PSU.

Should I go dual core or is a faster single core better value? i.e. 3700 San Diego 1mb cache

What graphics card? I was thinking X1900 or 7600GT.

Mobo I was thinking ASUS or DFI or MSI ?

any advice please......

[GeoffRowley]

Re: New Rig for $500

I'd say a evga 7600gt, the 4200+ AM2 or maybe the 6400, and any motherboard that will accept the processor and ram.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: New Rig for $500

HIS x1950xt for $269 ($249 after $20 rebate) You nVidia devotees can flame away, but the x1950xt is a speed demon at the right price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814161047

Core2 duo E6400 $217 (6600 w/2M cache per core v 1M/core is not worth the extra ~$100 imho)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004

Motherboard $54: this is where I would go for "cheap but gets the job done"--ECS makes decent boards with usually not alot of overclocking potential:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135023

There: a killer gpu/cpu combo on a value mobo for $540 plus shipping, and you get the shipping back if you send in the rebate.

oops. forgot to ask whether you already had any memory or an optical drive.

[ConscriptVirus]

Re: New Rig for $500

^ yeah a computer is more than just a mobo, cpu, and gpu

how long r u planning on keeping this comp? if money is tight, id go for the 7600gt.

[GeoffRowley]

Re: New Rig for $500

For ram, get the cheapest value ramyou can get, but try to get 2 gigs, really worth it in the long run.

[megawhompertoo]

Re: New Rig for $500

^ yeah a computer is more than just a mobo, cpu, and gpu

Very profound. :)

7600gt wouldn't be bad at all, but you have diminishing returns with "mid-end" cards, when another $100 can keep you gaming happy for two-three years.

[imported_Tren]

Re: New Rig for $500

--Moved to Tech Support--

[penetrator27]

Re: New Rig for $500

Would you recomend Core duo over AM2?

I am undecided also I think I can stretch to a 7900GS or something in that price range. I s there a good Ati alternative???

[cloakster]

Re: New Rig for $500

Go for a C2D!

[GeoffRowley]

Re: New Rig for $500

the 7900gs is great if you can fit it in your budget. A simple 3800+ or 4200 would do fine, unless you want to spend the extra bit going intel, I can't say if you would notice any significant increase in performance though.

[penetrator27]

Re: New Rig for $500

thanks for the advice guys :)

just one more thing, some budget ram

I think some 533 should do it should I just go for the lowest CL I can afford?
or is speed more important.

I have $100 to spend on 1 GB.

edit: found some 533 OCZ Value ram on 444 timings seems good. $110
also some 667mhz @ 555 timings similar price which should I go for?

[cloakster]

Re: New Rig for $500

thanks for the advice guys :)

just one more thing, some budget ram

I think some 533 should do it should I just go for the lowest CL I can afford?
or are timings more important.

I have $100 to spend on 1 GB.

edit: found some OCZ Value ram on 444 timings seems good. $115

Is it DDR or DDR2?

[penetrator27]

Re: New Rig for $500

planning to get some DDR2,

are the C2D boards backwards compatible? if i was thinking of using DDR?