Best Computer for $500?

[vbraun]

What is the best computer I could get for $500. I only need the internal stuff. I already have Monitor, Case, Mouse, Keyboard, CD drive, network card, and floppydrive.

 

[Turner]

You can get RAM, MoBo, and a decent processor for that, if you've already got the rest. Oh, and a hard drive too. Check out www.newegg.com and see what they've got. Not too long ago I priced a mobo, processor, ram, HD, graphics card, dvd ram, and something else, and it was about $600. The processor and mobo was 64 bit, too.

 

[vbraun]

Here is what I came up with:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Processor Socket 939 $165.00
-to be replaced by: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice $146.00
Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra Athlon 64(FX) Skt939 $114.00
Kingston HyperX 1GB (2 x 512MB) $149.95
-to be replaced by: CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) $89.75
Asus Extreme N6600 GeForce 6600 PCI Express 128MB DDR Video Card $111.00

+ power supply: Antec SL300S ATX 300W $45

Total: $539.95
New Total: $505.75

Would I be able to wipe my current hard drive and use that? or do I have to get a new one?

 

[vbraun]

I'm also going to need a new power supply.

 

[The Person]

You should be able to use your old hard drive, but depending on the disk space you think you'll need you might have to consider buying a second.

 

[vbraun]

I think my 80gb harddrive should last untill I get enough money to buy another.

 

[dannyevilcat]

vb, I thought you already had an A64? Anyways, you should be able to shave off some cost on a 3000+. I bought mine for $187 cdn.

Also, this RAM is full of affordable goodness.

 

[vbraun]

vb, I thought you already had an A64? Anyways, you should be able to shave off some cost on a 3000+. I bought mine for $187 cdn.

Shh, its for my brother.

Anyways, you should be able to shave off some cost on a 3000+. I bought mine for $187 cdn.

Hmm, the one I have selected is $165.

Also, this RAM is full of affordable goodness.

I was avoding this guy because of the words "ValueSelect" but it actually looks pretty good.

 

[vbraun]

Is this a decent power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103917 ?

 

[MarineCorps]

Hmm, the one I have selected is $165.

I got mine for $146 @newegg

 

[vbraun]

I got mine for $146 @newegg

I guess I could get that one.

 

[MarineCorps]

I guess I could get that one.

Well don't think you have to. You can always go with the $165 one if you want.

 

[andvruss]

I would definitely get a 6600GT instead of a 6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150098

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125156

both for around $145 a piece USD, but it does put you over $35 or so...

 

[Zelig]

Is this a decent power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103917 ?

*Disclaimer* Everything in this post is IMHO, and I don't necessarily condone doing anything that I would do that's contrary to what everyone else here is suggesting.

Yes, but I wouldn't try to run an nForce4 based computer on it, nForce4 rigs can take a lot of juice, I stick to 400W+ PSUs if at all possible.

My cheapo Athlon 64 computer build:

DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb Socket 754 - $92.00
AMD Sempron 64 3000+ Palermo 800MHz FSB 128KB L2 Cache Socket 754 - $88.01
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB - $89.75
PNY VCG6600GAPB Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X - $129.00 (After $20 mail-in rebate.)
SPARKLE FSP300-60THN - $32.00

Total - $430.76

Should outperform your NF4 build in almost all gaming scenarios, and with overclocking of either CPU, the Palermo should remain just shy of the Venice's performance.

You should take a look at the Sparkle power supply though, that's a beast for its price.

 

[vbraun]

The only problem is the lack of upgrade options. :\

 

[Cedric Greene]

Well for $500 or less, I'd go a little more old school:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136147 $92 DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104241 $88.01 AMD Sempron 64 3000+ Palermo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141166 $93.85 pqi POWER Series 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 333 (PC 2700) (1 stick instead of 2, plus can only have 2 3200 sticks in as opposed to 3 2700 sticks)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133137 $149 -$20MIR PNY VCG6600GAPB Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 AGP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153008 $58 Thermaltake Silent Purepower W0013RU ATX 480W Power Supply

=$480.86 before shipping and $20 MIR, very similar to Zelig, damn Im slow at posting.

 

[Cedric Greene]

The only problem is the lack of upgrade options. :\

I disagree, same board I have in my computer and I find it rather versatile atm.

Processor upgradable to AMD Athlon 64 3700+
RAM upto 3gigs of 2700 or, despite what box says, 1 gig of 5400
easily overclockable everything from bios.

 

[Zelig]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141166 $93.85 pqi POWER Series 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 333 (PC 2700) (1 stick instead of 2, plus can only have 2 3200 sticks in as opposed to 3 2700 sticks)

He'd be better off getting 1 1GB PC3200 stick, ram can always be slowed down if needed, and PC3200 is about the same price as PC2700.

And for budgets, Sparkle PSUs beat the pants off of Thermaltake ones.

 

[dannyevilcat]

Well for $500 or less, I'd go a little more old school:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136147 $92 DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb
...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133137 $149 -$20MIR PNY VCG6600GAPB Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 AGP

Since this a full-out upgrade, going AGP makes little sense at this point.

I do like the Sempron 64 suggestion, though.