(+13 rating, 22 votes)
Loading ...- Processor (CPU) (x1) : Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 Allendale 2.4GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E4600 - Retail - $119.99
- Memory (RAM) (x1) : WINTEC AMPX 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 3AXT6400SE5-2048K - Retail - $39.99
- Video Card (x1) : HIS Hightech H387QS512NP Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported IceQ3 Video Card - Retail - $134.99
- Hard Drive (x1) : Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $59.99
- Optical Drive (x1) : LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-04 - OEM - $23.99
- Motherboard : GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $59.99
- Case : Rosewill R6422-P SL Black/ Silver SGCC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $20.99
- Power Supply : APEVIA WIN-500XSPX 500W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail - $39.99
- Total Price for this build : $499.92
My comments about my computer:
CPU: Its just about the best thing out there when it comes to cost to performance ratio.
RAM: Kingstons a good brand.
Video Card: Outperformed Geforce 9600s and 8800s. Great for the cost.
Hard Drive: Seagate is a good brand. 16mb cache.
Optical: Standard DVD-R
Mobo: Gigabyte is another good brand.
Case: Cheap but effective.
Power Supply: Cheap, but reliable and enough amps for the GPU.
6 Comments Received
Typo!
*RAM: Wintec is a good brand.
As a side note, I did my best to make every item on this list brands or items I have had success with in the past or have done the research on.
I ADMIT that the $500 dollar mark was a bit hard to hit. Here are some suggestions I would make if you are willing to spend a bit more money.
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz for $194.99
(I HIGHLY recommend getting a Zalman CPU Cooler. They are the closest thing you will get to liquid cooling or AC)
RAM: Personally, I love my G.Skillz RAM. I have heard good things about Crucial though when it comes to overclocking.
GPU: Id still get a Radeon HD 3700, just Id probably go with the ASUS one (comes with a Glaciator Fansink) for $144.99
HD: <3 Seagate. Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB (32mb cache!) for $89.99
Mobo: Spend the extra couple bucks to get a Gigabyte with the P35 Northbridge. Worth it, esp if you plan to overclock a lot. $89.99
Case: Check out the brand Sunbeam (saw one for $49.99). They have a pretty interesting Core Fan design (3 x 120mm fans!). You can purchase a few hard hitting Scythe brand fans to add in there and/or replace the existing ones if you aren’t worried about a little more noise *cough*46db*cough* ($9.99 per fan, 133.6 CFM!). This case comes with 3 fans and has room for 5 total (one more Core Slot and a front slot on the one I looked at). Next time I build a PC I’m getting one of these and putting in 5 Scythe fans. It’ll be like a wind tunnel up in here!
oh please. Wintec a good brand? I’ve had NOTHING but dead RAM from them. Luckily, Newegg refunded the purchase cost plus the shipping BACK to them, and I was able to order some kingston value ram for cheaper. Now I’m quite pleased!
Ive had good experience with them and they overclock pretty well. Kingston is better obviously but is going to cost you a bit more, and this is a budget build. In my opinion G.Skillz or Crucial are better than Kingston, but to each his own.
This RAM could have been a little better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141300
In your opinion perhaps. I have had bad experience with pqi (they don’t overclock well and I’ve gotten a few DOA ones, at least the ones I’ve had). I had to cut to make this build <$500, and RAM was one of the things I cut. Id probably spend the extra couple bucks on some Crucial RAM.
I noticed that your motherboard doesn’t fully support your videocard. kinda a taking a hit there when you could put the money towards improving other parts.
Leave A Reply