Need advice for new cheap PC

Breath · 29-09-2008, 08:44 PM

Hi there...I'm looking to build a new PC, but I don't really know much about specs and all the technical stuff. So I need some help from you guys. I'm aiming to build the PC for mainly gaming purposes. I also want it to be 'upgradeable/scalable' in the future so that I can play future games, so no 'dead-end' parts.

I had some help from my bro but he's overseas right now, here is a list of what he recommends. Budget is from 600-700USD.

From Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!,
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 2.7GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5200DOBOX - Retail
$66.00
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX
- Retail
$62.00
BIOSTAR A770 A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$59.99
SAPPHIRE 100255L Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$79.99
Western Digital Caviar SE WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$67.99

I have not looked around for a case, PSU, monitor and dvd drive yet, so any recommendations would be welcome.

Thanks alot!

edgar · 30-09-2008, 07:38 PM

Dude,

I hope the budget doesn't have to include the monitor also as that would be pretty unrealistic if you want to play some new games. Even if it doesn't for that price you will struggle to avoid the dead end parts, you could even be mean and say the 4670 is already dead ended and will struggle with some recent games. You also need an operating system and, arguably, its gotta be Vista on a completely new build really so thats another significant cost. Its not fair but a system with any expectation of playing new high tech/graphics games don't come cheap and with monitor your budget may not cut it. Better to be realistic than sorry.

jaggy · 02-10-2008, 04:39 AM

Yes, I agree. Don't buy a monitor, you can play games without seeing them. lol, jk but edgar is right... you can't play today's games with a decent framerate on a $500 computer, that's just the way it is. $800-$900 for the computer plus $150 for the monitor- you are somewhere, but with your budget it's not very realistic. If you do plan to go through with it right now (instead of saving up $300- $400 more) you can still play last generation games just fine. Games like: Doom 3, Far Cry, any of the HL2 episodes, Call of Duty 2/3, GRAW, and maybe even Rainbow 6: Vegas, on relatively conservative quality settings. You will not play COD4, Crysis or Far Cry 2 unfortunately (Oblivion would be pushing the limit with 15-20 FPS in outdoor environments with grass ON at 1280x1024)

My strong suggestion is: save at least $200 more and then buy.
Best of Luck!

29-09-2008, 08:44 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
Breath Geek Trainee Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Status: Offline	Need advice for new cheap PC Hi there...I'm looking to build a new PC, but I don't really know much about specs and all the technical stuff. So I need some help from you guys. I'm aiming to build the PC for mainly gaming purposes. I also want it to be 'upgradeable/scalable' in the future so that I can play future games, so no 'dead-end' parts. I had some help from my bro but he's overseas right now, here is a list of what he recommends. Budget is from 600-700USD. From Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!, AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 2.7GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5200DOBOX - Retail $66.00 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX - Retail $62.00 BIOSTAR A770 A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $59.99 SAPPHIRE 100255L Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $79.99 Western Digital Caviar SE WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $67.99 I have not looked around for a case, PSU, monitor and dvd drive yet, so any recommendations would be welcome. Thanks alot!

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30-09-2008, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
edgar Geek Trainee Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 42 Times Helpful: 2 Status: Offline	Dude, I hope the budget doesn't have to include the monitor also as that would be pretty unrealistic if you want to play some new games. Even if it doesn't for that price you will struggle to avoid the dead end parts, you could even be mean and say the 4670 is already dead ended and will struggle with some recent games. You also need an operating system and, arguably, its gotta be Vista on a completely new build really so thats another significant cost. Its not fair but a system with any expectation of playing new high tech/graphics games don't come cheap and with monitor your budget may not cut it. Better to be realistic than sorry.

02-10-2008, 04:39 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
jaggy Geek Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 73 Times Helpful: 1 My Mood: In Love Status: Offline My Computer	Yes, I agree. Don't buy a monitor, you can play games without seeing them. lol, jk but edgar is right... you can't play today's games with a decent framerate on a $500 computer, that's just the way it is. $800-$900 for the computer plus $150 for the monitor- you are somewhere, but with your budget it's not very realistic. If you do plan to go through with it right now (instead of saving up $300- $400 more) you can still play last generation games just fine. Games like: Doom 3, Far Cry, any of the HL2 episodes, Call of Duty 2/3, GRAW, and maybe even Rainbow 6: Vegas, on relatively conservative quality settings. You will not play COD4, Crysis or Far Cry 2 unfortunately (Oblivion would be pushing the limit with 15-20 FPS in outdoor environments with grass ON at 1280x1024) My strong suggestion is: save at least $200 more and then buy. Best of Luck!

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