$300 challenge!

Avathos

Ok,

IOk here is the deal, my computer broke.. I can either put a new rig together for $2000.00 budget or put a band aid to old rig. After my dissapointment with WAR, I said what the heck. I am not going to do a full upgrade till I know for a fact that I want to play WAR or there is a kick ass MMO out there that is worth putting a new rig together. So here is my challenge I decided to upgrade my old machine and I want to do it on budget.

Here are my choices:

100 bucks or less of a video card (Option 1- ATI 3850)

50 bucks on a MOBO

50 bucks on ram

100 bucks on a processor (dont care about intel or AMD)

Everything else will be recycled. My current rig is 4 years old with AMD 3500+ , MSI Mobo 2 gigs of whatever ram was at the time and Nvidia 6800 Ultra AGP

So thats the challenge. Post away your COMBO... remember this is the best I can buy for $300.00 upgrade.

 

Thanks a lot in advance to all those wo help me with this issue

vingvega

300 bucks?  For a gaming Computer?  Don't think so man, sorry.  You might as well buy a console game.

Avathos

Originally posted by vingvega


300 bucks?  For a gaming Computer?  Don't think so man, sorry.  You might as well buy a console game.

 

You dont seriosuly think I can buy a video card, a mobo, a processor and 2 gig of ram for 300 bucks.

Gskill ddr2 800 ram cost about 60 bucks

ATI-3850 Diamond brand with ddr3 512ram was 99 bucks in new egg

the mobo and the processor combo can be a challenge but duable...

EVERYTHING ELSE I WILL RECYCLE>> WINDOWS XP PRO, HARD DISK, POWER SUPPLY 480Watts thermaltake toughpower, CASE, DISPLAY, ETC

 

PureChaos

for just those parts, if you want anything decent and assuming your running vista expect atlleast 400. But rather then spend 300 or 2000 why dont you just build a good mid end rig and call it there.

Fruti

Mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128014   $84.99

GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

Process - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103212   $59.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor

this would be a good mobo/cpu combo i think, though it'll make the total to just a little over $300

 

but if you maybe willing to get a cheaper memory like this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

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

then that would be within your $300 limit

 

 

PS = i'm not very knowledgeable with computers, so those may not be the best choices

CleffyII

I did it I did it.  I got the price under $300.
Jetway AM2+ AMD780V Motherboard ($79.99 less $15 for combo with processor)
AMD 5400+ Brisbane Core 2.8 GHZ ($87.00)
Mushkin 2GB PC6400 5-4-4-12 ($44.99)
Gigabyte 3870 w/ Neverwinter Nights 2 and Zalman Fan ($129.99 less $30.00 mail-in rebate)

Sub-Total: $341.99
Combo Deals: $15.00
Mail-In Rebates: $30.00
Total: $296.99

I was really trying to get the most bang for your buck which requires a bit of time consuming research looking at combo deals. I also didn't want to get you bad parts so I paid attention to the reviews. I went with the 3870 just because if you look hard enough a few of them have instant rebates or mail-in rebates dropping them under $100. I chose that model because it came with the free game and fan.

I chose the memory mainly because of timing. I can't really find any better DDR2 memory at this price with speed and capacity in mind.

I am sketchy on the motherboard mainly because I haven't heard much about it. Its a cheaper brand maker which is why it doesn't get much press. However, it comes with combo deals. Remember when buying this to select the combo deal and not each componenent individually.
 

Varlok91

Qty.
Image
Product Description
Unit Price
Savings
Total Price

	Update		GIGABYTE GV-RX387512H Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail Model #:GV-RX387512H Item #:N82E16814125086 Return Policy:Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy In Stock Mail-in Rebate Note (Add) Save   Cancel	$129.99		$129.99
	Update		GIGABYTE GA-EP31-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P31 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Model #:GA-EP31-DS3L Item #:N82E16813128334 Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy In Stock Note (Add) Save   Cancel	$74.99		$74.99
	Update		Intel Pentium E2180 Allendale 2.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E2180 - Retail Model #:BX80557E2180 Item #:N82E16819116052 Return Policy:Processors (CPUs) Return Policy In Stock Note (Add) Save   Cancel	$69.99		$69.99
	Update		G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail Model #:F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ Item #:N82E16820231098 Return Policy:Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy In Stock Note (Add) Save   Cancel	$84.99	-$40.00 Instant	$44.99
Subtotal:						$319.96

Comes out to under $300 with the $30 rebate on the video card.

Most e2180s will easily OC to around 3.0-3.2 ghz, so it will give you pretty good performance.

Avathos

MAN YOU GUYS ROCK. The reason I am going soo cheap is becuase I will probably will upgrade this machine completely by JAN 2009 with a real budget ($2,500)

The reason I did this is because my old gaming rig (got t together when EQ-2 and WOW came out) died on me. After trying every possible scenario to make fix it I found out that my MOBO is dead.

This is what I had:

AMD Athalon 3500+

EVGA 6800 Ultra AGP

2 gigs of DDR1 ram

MSI Neo platinum motherboard

I said to myself I can spend my 2.5k now and get pimped out, but I never put a machine together unless there is a game out that I really want.  So I said let me do the cheapest upgrade I can do and lets see what happens.  If I spend 2.5k now in november the same rig can be purchased for about 2.0k so I might just lose 300 now. Anyway I can give this computer to my son who is 10 years old so he can enjoy after I do my serious upgrade.

ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HELP I WILL ORDER THIS WEEKEND

 

CleffyII

I don't recommend Intel E2xxx processors.  They aren't Core2 like some believe but Pentium.  Clock for Clock they don't match athlon.

Varlok91

Originally posted by CleffyII


I don't recommend Intel E2xxx processors.  They aren't Core2 like some believe but Pentium.  Clock for Clock they don't match athlon.

They might not match up clock for clock, but an overclocked e2xxx processor to about 3.0 GHZ is roughly equal to an e6750.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-gpu-upgrade,1928-15.html

And to the OP, if you decide to go the intel route, this is a better motherboard for the same price as in my previous post:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128084

SundersGhost

It is kinda pointless to do the upgrade.  If you are going to have a 2500 dollar budget in January to build a solid computer, save the 300 now and add it for some bells n whistles, or to tweak to top of the line products when you do your later build.  Putting 300 dollars into those upgrades not would be such a small bandaid that it is just waste.  If you do not NEED it since you are disappointed or whatever, stick with what you have, and plan what you are going to get later.  Couple hundred bucks can make a big difference then.

 

EbonHawk

Originally posted by SundersGhost


It is kinda pointless to do the upgrade.  If you are going to have a 2500 dollar budget in January to build a solid computer, save the 300 now and add it for some bells n whistles, or to tweak to top of the line products when you do your later build.  Putting 300 dollars into those upgrades not would be such a small bandaid that it is just waste.  If you do not NEED it since you are disappointed or whatever, stick with what you have, and plan what you are going to get later.  Couple hundred bucks can make a big difference then.
 

 

I don't think he wants to be without a computer til January.  His current rig is dead.  I don't think you read that part

Varlok91

Originally posted by SundersGhost


It is kinda pointless to do the upgrade.  If you are going to have a 2500 dollar budget in January to build a solid computer, save the 300 now and add it for some bells n whistles, or to tweak to top of the line products when you do your later build.  Putting 300 dollars into those upgrades not would be such a small bandaid that it is just waste.  If you do not NEED it since you are disappointed or whatever, stick with what you have, and plan what you are going to get later.  Couple hundred bucks can make a big difference then.

He doesn't know if anything will be out that will make him want to spend that amount of money on a rig. I think its a wise choice for him to only spend $300 and have a halfway decent computer he can try the games on rather than blow $2000 on games he might not like.

wicked357

For $688 I built my friend a computer that runs AoC on high setting at 50 - 70 fps.

SundersGhost

Originally posted by wicked357


For $688 I built my friend a computer that runs AoC on high setting at 50 - 70 fps.

 

I just built a pair of computers (One for me and one for my wife) only recycling a few parts.  Both of them cost under 1k, both are quad cores with at least 4 gig of ram and using current top of the line cards (I am still an Nvidia fan as a gamer, so pairing up some 9800 gtx cards) so yeah it is easy to stay WELL under the budget.  I do not think putting a 300 dollar "Upgrade" limit is very realistic or reasonable unless you are putting it toward something very specific.  Not a splash of products as he is talkin about.  Makes more sense to either put the whole thing together, and tweak it out later when those extra few bucks comes along, or just wait.  Doing bits and peices has never made sense to me. My personal preference.  Not saying my methods are for everyone.

GamerSteve

GeForce 8600GT(currently on sale at circuit city for $50), Kingston Technologies 512MB PC3200/2700/2100 DDR SDRAM Desktop Memory (KVR400/512R) Ram card for about $50, Intel core 2 duo processor (forgot price) and I have no idea what MOBO to get you, but that should leave you with a decent gaming computer.

Varlok91

Originally posted by GamerSteve


GeForce 8600GT(currently on sale at circuit city for $50), Kingston Technologies 512MB PC3200/2700/2100 DDR SDRAM Desktop Memory (KVR400/512R) Ram card for about $50, Intel core 2 duo processor (forgot price) and I have no idea what MOBO to get you, but that should leave you with a decent gaming computer.

No it won't... Cleffy's suggestion or my suggestion is far superior.

GamerSteve

If he has the budget, $300 will never get anything good.

Avathos

 THANK YOU GUYS.

I got

AMD 64 x2 6000+ for $113.99

4 gigs of OCZ DDR2 800 pc2 64000 for $40.00 (after mail and rebate) (free delivery)

BIOSTAR A740G motherboard for $55.99

GIGABYTE HD 3870 512 GDDR3  $99.00 (after mail rebate)

After all the mail-n-rebates i came to $320.00 but I got 4 gigs of ram instead of 2.

I know I hae said this before. I could spend $2,500 on a new rig, but there is no game out right that catches my interrest. I am on of those guys who lose interrest on WAR after the classes cut, but since my current rig took a $#!&, I wanted ot buy something to bring it back to live.

Like I said $300.00 now is better than spending $2,500 now without a game to play. If I spend $2,500 dollars now.. .on january I would have lost minimum $300.00 on it.

 

jatobi

I will say this, and I have said many times in multple threads like this.  You get what you pay for.  You pay $50 for a mobo, expect to get $50 worth of performance and lifetime on that product.  $50 isnt much =P.

A decent mobo will cost you $120~ or more depending on your needs.  Gskill is decent ram, but I wouldn't use it.  Muskin is better, and can be fairly cheaper.  Videocards...bleh if you spend only $100 on a videocard, you won't be playing WAR on anything more than lowest settings possible.  Let alone "or less".  $100 on a processor, you "can" get a decent one for around that, but as I said, you get what you pay for.

 

 

MarL

Originally posted by jatobi


I will say this, and I have said many times in multple threads like this.  You get what you pay for.  You pay $50 for a mobo, expect to get $50 worth of performance and lifetime on that product.  $50 isnt much =P.
A decent mobo will cost you $120~ or more depending on your needs.  Gskill is decent ram, but I wouldn't use it.  Muskin is better, and can be fairly cheaper.  Videocards...bleh if you spend only $100 on a videocard, you won't be playing WAR on anything more than lowest settings possible.  Let alone "or less".  $100 on a processor, you "can" get a decent one for around that, but as I said, you get what you pay for.
 
 

 

I would agree with this on anything but the motherboard, motherboards usually charge more for features(that most dont use). If you know what ya need you can get very good deals. Video cards depend on what resolution you run at, if you still run at 1280x1024 theres no need to get a 4870.

Raizeen

ah whats the point in buying a new comp if your only gonna play mmos lol like people who buy a whole new computer and  only have msn and wow on there comps retarded