500$ Pc

[Asus]

Rate it!

Just a PC for a friend who has a 500$ budget.
He would play some RTS and some other games but nothing as demanding as FarCry. :O

 

[Johan_Tayn]

You could get him a 64-bit PC for $200+ w/Windows XP Pro.. I lined this up for some friends a while ago, so please don't take it as something with current prices(probably dropped by now).

Albatron 754 mobo $87
+
AMD64 2800+ $175
+
Kingston 512MB DDR400 $95
+
Powercolor 9600XT 128MB $140
+
ASPIRE X-Alien Black Case with 420W Power Supply $81 + $15 FedEx shipping
+
Windows XP Pro Full $98
=
$691

I've had great experiences with GameVE and Monarch is a very well known and respected company. All items unless listed otherwise come with free shipping.

 

[SnowBall]

I'd say its all he should need if hes gonna be played less demanding games. Woulda preffered an Asus mobo though. But thats just me.

 

[Hazar]

Maybe Asus doesn't like Asus. j/k

Pretty good. It's about what I have and thoes specs will suit your friend just fine.
I payed ~$600 but that was including the monitor which isn't on the list.

 

[Johan_Tayn]

I'd say its all he should need if hes gonna be played less demanding games. Woulda preffered an Asus mobo though. But thats just me.

Have you seen the new LOTR RTS game? It looks like a system hog, although I haven't looked into it. Can't wait! Looks like I may be playing it before HL2, anyhoo..

 

[blahblahblah]

I've been seeing some great Motherboard and Processors bundles recently, you may want to look around. The other day I almost picked up a Nforce 2 motherboard and a XP 2100+ for $65 at Fry's Electronics.

Otherwise, looks good.

 

[SidewinderX]

looks good, although I've heard that the 5700 is around the 9600pro in performance...and there are cheaper 5700s.. And if you stick with ATI...well, i'm sort apissed at shappire right now cause they have the weakest customer support i've seen in awhile....But looks good in that way

processor wise... it's spend the 3 extra dollars and get him a 2500+ barton

 

[amneziac85]

I've been seeing some great Motherboard and Processors bundles recently, you may want to look around. The other day I almost picked up a Nforce 2 motherboard and a XP 2100+ for $65 at Fry's Electronics.

Otherwise, looks good.

I like to call Frys...

"Fry's! The returned electornics for retail price superstore!"

 

[Asus]

Thx for the suggestions guys.
Remember...

... who has a 500$ budget.

The reason I didn't go with the 2500+ is because I think the 2GHz clock rate would help more than the extra L2 cache at 1.83GHz.

Donno, I'll think about that one.
The extra bandwidth might help but I'm not sure with the Apps he will be using.

 

[RTFMish]

Yea, but doesn't the 2500+ have 333mhz FSB and the 2400+ only has 266?

 

[SidewinderX]

Yea, but doesn't the 2500+ have 333mhz FSB and the 2400+ only has 266?

yup. besides, if you build it fo him, you cna jsut bump the fsb up a little, and then hell be fine.

 

[Daegon]

Go with an OEM 2500+ and a decent hsf, it'll lenghten the life of the chip and letCHA OC. (those 2500 bartons man...) Aside from that, i'd suggest looking around for a different board. I really like the asus A7N8X-X it's like the full n8x, but with a few less features. Good lookin box. (heh, what about windows?)

OOOH. look in the refub section. pick up a 9700 np or 9800np or 9500p but i'd shy away from that 9600.

 

[Asus]

I'd really like to include those suggestions but I need to keep it under 500$.
There isn't going to be any OCing since stability is #1 priority for his PC.

I had cut a few things back (e.g. Memory) just so I could get the CPU and GFX card I included.
He is a regular guy who isn't into hardware but dabs in a few games here and there and would just like a system that he could play FPS/LAN games (since his PC is old enough were it can't handle that currently). He also does his work on this PC.

If you can price the a system with similar improvements for under 500$ (shipping too) then I'll apply them.
So far it looks like this is about the best he could get unless I can grab a good CPU/Board combo.

 

[Shuzer]

Why don't you get him a 9600XT for about $5-9 more? There are a few that looked pretty appealing that were clocked properly

 

[blahblahblah]

Asus - That computer system doesn't have any case fans. :O