really poor budget to build a computer!! need advise?

[sadonhonghun]

i planning to spend $350 on a computer.i no there not much of a choice for me but yeah.
I WANNA KNOW IF IT POSSIBLE AND SAFE TO OVERCLOCK
a PCChips A13G+ v3.0 Motherboard with and AMD athlon 64x2 4400 3.0ghz using Thermaltake / Ruby Orb / Socket 775/754/939/940/AM2 / Aluminum Core/Fins / CPU Cooler as a cooling fan.

and for the video card which one do you thing the best?
EVGA GeForce 8600 GT Video Card - 1GB GDDR2
XFX GeForce 8600 GT Video Card - 256MB DDR3
PNY GeForce 8600 GT / 256MB DDR3

REALLY LOOKING FOR ADVICE . THANK YOU!!

[staffsMike]

If you want to overclock it's much easier to buy Intel rather than AMD. I've never heard of that motherboard and X2's tend to be a bit harder to get bigger overclocks.

You could get a nvidia 630i based motherboard and an intel pentium dual core or celeron dual core which should overclock to 2.8 - 3.0GHz.

Video card wise, try and look for good deals on ATi HD3850's. They can be found for good prices, close to the 8600GT and it's a much better card. If you do get an 8600GT i'd probably get the DDR3 256mb version.

[mediaboy]

Could you list EXACTLY what you're buying, and where from... and are you talking 350 dollars or 350 pounds? The difference is quite large.. as 350 dollars is around 200 pounds.


And what do you want to do with the computer? Gaming? Listening to music? Watching DVDs? Storing files? More information would be useful

[sadonhonghun]

Could you list EXACTLY what you're buying, and where from... and are you talking 350 dollars or 350 pounds? The difference is quite large.. as 350 dollars is around 200 pounds.


And what do you want to do with the computer? Gaming? Listening to music? Watching DVDs? Storing files? More information would be useful

i spending 350 dollars. tigerdirect have a 200 dollar deal for everything accept a for a graphic card.
i using it to play game like warwock. it a online multiplayer shooting game.

[arthurleung]

The power supply and cpu heatsink from tigerdirect is not going to have enough headroom for overclocking.
A 8600GT may not even work on that system.

If you really have to get cheap bundle, look at Fry's bundle (which usually have ECS board instead of crap PC-Chips)

You might as well buy a cheap Dell...

[Thorsson]

When you say you have $350 to spend is this covering the whole PC, or just the parts you mention (mobo/CPU & GFX)? If it's the whole PC you won't do better than Dell or think of buying used.

P.S. Those barebone kits don't give you KB, mouse, or OS. And the price doesn't include delivery.

P.P.S. Cheap PSUs are things to avoid. This list appears a little out of date, but covers most: PSU's to Avoid - [H]ard|Forum

[mediaboy]

I can vouch for the cheap PSU thingy... one of mine nearly killed my £350 computer at one point..

I immediately brought a new one that was £10-25 more expensive, and of a higher quality. No problems since.. apart from the fact the mobo stopped working and had to be sent back to scan.


8600 are interesting... make sure you get one from a decent supplier and make sure you tax the budget you want to the max. $350 is tiny... check the ultra budget thread on the hardware forum for something that might fit within it

Go to Dell.. or PC world. They'll rip you off about the same... although PC world ARE slightly worse for it.

Thorsson - barebone kits CAN give you an OS... but it's extremely unlikely and depends on supplier. I've seen one with a OS.. it was win98 and it was being sold for £50 on a site that was trying to get rid of it's computers in a warehouse somewhere... ah - the amusements of finding cheap computers.

[Eddd]

Get a cheap Dell or see if you can get a bargain on ebay, it'll probably work out cheaper than building it yourself.

[TAKTAK]

just keep an eye out for a used one, and when one turns up grab it and don't let go

[Thorsson]

Mediaboy, I checked Tiger and found the kit. It didn't have an OS. The benefit of those kits in the US is that if you buy separates then they charge a separate delivery on every item - the prices are never quite as cheap as they look.

[Max Tractor]

board $45 Newegg.com - Open Box: BIOSTAR TF560 A2+ AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 560 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

cpu $50 Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors

ram $40-45 Have a look Newegg.com - A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Graphics $109 Newegg.com - VisionTek 900203 Radeon HD 3850 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

hd $39 Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD800AAJS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

case/psu/hsf with the remainder might be possible

[arthurleung]

board $45 Newegg.com - Open Box: BIOSTAR TF560 A2+ AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 560 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

cpu $50 Newegg.com - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors

ram $40-45 Have a look Newegg.com - A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Newegg.com - GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Graphics $109 Newegg.com - VisionTek 900203 Radeon HD 3850 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

hd $39 Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD800AAJS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

case/psu/hsf with the remainder might be possible

If he is willing to do rebates, Outpost have 2x1GB for $19 AR
FRYS.comrubbish|rubbishCRUCIAL

Perhaps a cheaper card than the HD3850 as that will restrict him to using more expensive PSU.
Also is there any point to buy 80GB when larger size can be have for a few bucks more?

[Max Tractor]

If he is willing to do rebates, Outpost have 2x1GB for $19 AR
FRYS.com*|*CRUCIAL

Perhaps a cheaper card than the HD3850 as that will restrict him to using more expensive PSU.
Also is there any point to buy 80GB when larger size can be have for a few bucks more?

Personally speaking no, but my budget is not the point, if the OP would clarify what they would be using it for it might help to be more specific in spec

[Thorsson]

You ignored the cost of delivery.

[Max Tractor]

You ignored the cost of delivery.

I take it that is directed towards me, no I have no idea his zip/location what service they offer, mail in rebates etc etc. It was a quick spec, that could be tweaked/changed with more information from the OP. Delivery cost input from you would help. How much to the budget for delivery costs is needed to be added?