If you were on a budget...

I'm on a tight budget for a new PC.
I've listed some links of decently priced PC's.
Can I build one for around the same price?
Keep in mind I have a monitor and keyboard etc already. Just looking for a PC that can get me playing GW with limited fuss.
The ibuypower.com PC sounds like it would be the best for upgrading later...

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_s... kjdgoodfkf.0

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...computer_store

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...computer_store

http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/c...r.aspx?mid=106

I would upgrade to 1 gig of memory on any I chose, and at least a 128meg video card, if not 256.

Thoughts?

Mind
_________________
-Dying ain't much of a living boy-

I wouldn't buy a Compaq even if it would've been the last system on earth.

be sure to check anybody out on reseller ratings as well
http://www.resellerratings.com/

EDIT

AVOID the Sempron processor as it has only half the on die memory and is the sucessor to the budget duron chip

Well here is my suggestion, I have bought a few things from them before with no trouble .. but yes feel free to check how they are doing at:

resellerratings.com

Configure this system to your satisfaction, I'd at least upgrade to the AMD 64 3000 for only 22.bucks more

Directron

It will definately get ya going.

Build your own. If you can finagle it right, it's drastically cheaper than anywhere else, especially if you don't need a monitor.

Splurge on your processor and RAM (Cosair XMS or bust), go for the 256MB graphics card (ATI is pretty cheap). Without PCI Express, videocards aren't all that bad, but you're looking at about 100 dollars on it if you want to get anything out of it. You don't have to buy a crazy good motherboard, but don't go for something insanely cheap, either (on my super-cheap mobo on the broken HP, the capacitors blew because of overheating). Salvage the hard-drive off your old computer, but you're going to have to buy a new OS for it (best option is to buy the OS from the place your are buying the hard-ware from so as to get the OEM version, which is 100 dollars as opposed to 200 retail).

Or, you could always just upgrade the computer you have. Depending on how old it is, you could pop in a new processor, upgrade your RAM, put it in a pretty, new case...

And, as I review your post, I realize that you just need the basic components to play GW. In that case, I would recommend upgrading what you already have to ever so slightly above the Recommended system specs.

Oh, right, also. While "Value" processors (Celeron and whatnot) and RAM may seem like a nice way to save money, it's going to cost you more in the long-run when they die quicker. So, my point still stands, splurge in those areas and conserve in the others.

one small note

the budget ram from corsair kingston or micron (any big name) will serve youwell

i have never had a problem and also not used anything BUT name brand budget ram unless you are overclocking or extreme conditions the lifetime guarantee budget ram is fine

I was thinking more along the lines of like, Budget Generic and all the other uber horrible things they have out there. Budget Corsair would, I would assume, be fine, but something inside me dims a little at the "Value Corsair" name.

their value line is simply the overstok on other lines

check out the actual memory chip numbers some time

as for cringing at the word value i am currently using a matched pair of corsair value ram(512x2) and it works perfectly

get kingston value or micron value

the one to worry about is saving a bit on true generic from a place with no business reputation to keep up

these companies have a good reputation and they are not going to trash it for a small bit of additional profit cutting corners

1) Build your own.

2) You didn't give us any sort of a budget.

3) Here's the parts you should buy.

AMD Barton 2500+
Asus A7N8X-E
1GB (2x512MB) Corsair "Value" RAM
Antec True Power Powersupply (anything above 400 watt)
Radeon 9800 PRO
Western Digital 80g 7,200 RPM w/ 8mb cache
Nec 16x Dual-Layer DVD burner (reads/burns CDs, DVDs, and dual-layer DVDs)
Any case to your liking, but go with something decent, $50+. You do not need a power supply as you already bought one.

This list is all guess work and all off the top of my head but it shouldn't cost you more than $800-900 from www.newegg.com (best place to get parts online or otherwise)

-Virt

Newegg is great! The last system I bought I bought about half from newegg and half from mwave (whichever was cheaper)

MWave has that cpu/mb/memory bundle for $235 (little extra if you want them to test it)

http://www.mwave.com/

Yeah, newegg.com is a great place to buy parts. I like to call it COMPUTER HEAVEN though, I used to just get things from Comp USA and Tiger Direct but newegg.com has became a god-send.

Hooray for the sys I am working on!!

-Athlon 64 3200+
-Asus A8N-SLI
-200 GB HDD
-SB Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition
- (2) GeForce 6800 Ultra
-Creative Inspire GD580 5.1
-OCZ performane Series Dual-Channel (1GBx2)
-19" LCD Monitor (DVI)

Should end up being about $2,300
Been saving up the cash for a while and almost ready!!!

Hey nice combo!!--

I built a same type of system for my brother for Christmas-

Athlon 64 3500
Asus A8N SLI Deluxe
WD Raptor 10,000 RPM 80gig which is sitting inside a CoolerMaster Cooldrive 4 HD cooler/fan controller.
I cant remember what brand of memory I stuck in it but it was 1gig of ddr400 (2x512)
Audigy 2 ZS platnum pro
CREATIVE INSPIRE T7700 7.1 SPEAKERS
DVD
CDR/RW
LEADTEK GF PX6600GT TDH RT PCIx
22" CRT Viewsonic Monitor
Had a NEOPower 480 24pin that died after a week
Had an ULTRA 600 20pin In there for 2 weeks while we waited for his replacement which is now a 24 pin PcPower and Cooling 600watt
All inside a Lian Li Pc 75 Silver Aluminum Server Tower Case with a custom picture etched into the clear sidepanel.

All I can say is if your going to put similar things in there.. get a way good power supply or you will have strange problems or simply complete system failure. PcPower and Cooling or an OCZ.

Good Luck on your new system!!

The I power looks good but why a network card and a modem.??
And you should only get a CD/DVD/burner. If that will be your only drive.

Building computers can be fun...unless you break something

Nice Virt, nearly identical to my system and mine was <$600, but I am not convinced on the 9800 PRO

AMD Barton 3200+
Asus A7N8X-E
1GB (2x512MB) Patriot PDP 2225 RAM (Dual)
Codegen 450Watt
Radeon 9800 PRO
Seagate 200GB 7,200 RPM w/ 8mb cache
BenQ 8x Dual-Layer DVD burner (reads/burns CDs, DVDs, and dual-layer DVDs)

Lansing Kai Don

P.S. They don't make 80GB 10,000 RPM WD drives do they? I thought it was 74GB for the Raptor series?

Something I learned the hard way over a year ago. I stopped building my own, even though I buy from legitimate wholesalers (http://www.axiontech.com/). Why, because when you add the prices up, including new XP license and your TIME, you can't build as good as cheaply. And just try to get a bad piece exchanged for a home built. If you don't build consistantly, it's tedious to do. And you always forget something. Since you need something quick, order a Dell (I know, some of you who AREN'T doing this for a living will say otherwise, but I am confident in my advice).

I have bought new Dell's for myself and HUNDREDS for my clients in the past year and have been completely satisfied. Don't believe you need XP Pro for a home enviornment, especially if it's your ONLY computer. If you aren't going to tweak the OS, Home XP is just fine (networking mutiple computers is a completely different story with Home XP however).

If you are happy with your monitor, order a Dell without a monitor or get the new glass 17" for free with it. They have a deal now on a 4700 with a flat panel 17", 128MB ATI PCI express card, 512MB ram, 40 GB 7200 HD, and cd-rw, and modem for $778. That's with a full year warranty.

I have also had a lot of success with believe it or not, E-Machine computers. Gateway bought them last year, and ALL of their cpu's come with an AGP slot, so you can upgrade the video card easy. I send a lot of folks who bring in their old clunkers to Best Buy to get them on sale (when they sell them WITHOUT all the funky rebates) or to Wal-Mart. For $500 they work great.

If anyone tells you you can build a 2.8 GHz P4 with a GOOD MB and 1 Gig of ram AND a great video card and 40-80GB hard drive with case, powersupply, cd burner and Windows XP, including all of your shipping charges for $500, they can build them for me, because if your time is worthless, spend it building a computer between now and April 28. If your current computer played GW fine, buy what you are comfortable with within your budget, but buy it because you won't want to upgrade it when the next great game comes along.

You're right, they don't. He must have just been rounding it off. You have a Codegen PSU? Wow, I hate those things with a passion.

-Virt

I quite agree. I came across the same thing last year. It was cheaper and faster to buy it from Dell for my Co. then it was for me to build. The only thing I dislike now is that they do not offer AMD cpu's as they are cooler and faster than Intel. But don't lease BUY.

I specialize in auto dealers, and with the programs they run (Reynolds & Reynolds ERA , financial and warranty software) P4's with Intel integrated graphics are the only way to go. When it comes to personal preference, I prefer the intel's simply because you can get away with a 180W PS in a compact chassis (dell 4600-4800 series) where you need processing power in a limited space work enviornment and drop a 15" LCD on top. Dell also makes a beautiful Optiplex GX280 which is about the size of a Harry Potter novel. Pricy when properly equipped, but gorgeous in concept.