Thread: Need a new computer for about $600    

I don't need anything special, just want a good solid computer. I have a 22" widescreen LCD monitor so I want a video card and computer that can run things to fit on that just fine. Just looking to see what might be best for me to buy. I can go higher, just would prefer to fit into the $600 range.

Video Card: 8800GTS (G92) w/ witcher game http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814127325
Motherboard: Gigabyte P35 (select Vista home premium combo) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128059 & http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116202
CPU: Intel E2200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116063
RAM: 2x1GB G.Skill (I'd recommend a 2x2GB kit, only $35 more) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231098
PSU: Silverstone 29A 12+v rail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817256032
HDD: 160GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822210004
DVD-RW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106228

Total: $674.67 After shipping, before tax, before rebates.

You could build it a bit cheaper, but with the 8800GTS (G92) you can max out all your games (save for maybe Crysis).

Originally Posted by Shuemue

Originally Posted by mootsfox

PSU: Silverstone 29A 12+v rail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817256032

That one says it has 36A on the 12, no?

Go by the max watts it lists on the 12v then divide it by 12 (348/12). Of coarse you can only really do that when the PSU tells you the max though.

Dell has a deal on Inspiron desktops, pretty much the same specs, choose the one on the far left and add the ATI video card for a 100 bucks, about $468 total,

http://www.dell.com/content/products/fe ... l=en&s=dhs

Originally Posted by mootsfox

Video Card: 8800GTS (G92) w/ witcher game http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814127325
Motherboard: Gigabyte P35 (select Vista home premium combo) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128059 & http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116202
CPU: Intel E2200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116063
RAM: 2x1GB G.Skill (I'd recommend a 2x2GB kit, only $35 more) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231098
PSU: Silverstone 29A 12+v rail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817256032
HDD: 160GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822210004
DVD-RW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106228

Total: $674.67 After shipping, before tax, before rebates.

You could build it a bit cheaper, but with the 8800GTS (G92) you can max out all your games (save for maybe Crysis).

I don't need an OS, but these specs are higher than what I need. This computer would be better than the one you guys helped me make my brother a few months ago, I don't need that powerful, lol. I also need a case, keyboard/mouse/speakers (though I can pick those up at Best Buy or something fine too) and so need to reduce the specs on these things to afford all that stuff. My brothers computer is having overheating issues so I'd like to get a couple extra fans for this computer too.

I was looking for a case and found: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811166004

Was thinking that and some extra fans. But that also seems to be a lot bigger than what I need, just looked best for the front page of cases price-wise. Thanks for the help so far, love the quick responses.

Originally Posted by Eaglestrike

Originally Posted by mootsfox

Video Card: 8800GTS (G92) w/ witcher game http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814127325
Motherboard: Gigabyte P35 (select Vista home premium combo) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128059 & http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116202
CPU: Intel E2200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116063
RAM: 2x1GB G.Skill (I'd recommend a 2x2GB kit, only $35 more) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231098
PSU: Silverstone 29A 12+v rail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817256032
HDD: 160GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822210004
DVD-RW http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106228

Total: $674.67 After shipping, before tax, before rebates.

You could build it a bit cheaper, but with the 8800GTS (G92) you can max out all your games (save for maybe Crysis).

I don't need an OS, but these specs are higher than what I need. This computer would be better than the one you guys helped me make my brother a few months ago, I don't need that powerful, lol. I also need a case, keyboard/mouse/speakers (though I can pick those up at Best Buy or something fine too) and so need to reduce the specs on these things to afford all that stuff. My brothers computer is having overheating issues so I'd like to get a couple extra fans for this computer too.

I was looking for a case and found: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811166004

Was thinking that and some extra fans. But that also seems to be a lot bigger than what I need, just looked best for the front page of cases price-wise. Thanks for the help so far, love the quick responses.

Case is your pick, but don't drop $80 on a POS. Stick with Antec, Coolermaster... for your price range.

At 1680x1050 (22") a 8600GT or HD2600PRO will not cut it. The 8800GTS G92 is about the third best card on the market, following the 8800GTX and 9800GTX, which it can overclock to be more powerful then both. At $199, it would be stupid not to pick it up.

Go into Best Buy tomorrow and look for their RocketFish Aluminum case in a big red box. Get a price check on it. Best Buy has been clearancing their computer parts and that case has been seen for as low as $48.99 (I got one at that price). It's a huge case, but lightweight and extremely well built as it's a rebadge of a Lian-Li case.

This is the only picture I can find of it, but it's a great deal and case. (it's the one holding the PS2)
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...g?t=1207900887


Here is a link to check to see if stores around your area have them. But don't call asking for the price! Employees have been known to take notice to deals like that and claim them for themselves. One thing you can do is call a store that is out of stock, and ask which stores have them in stock and at what price.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... ductdetail

Ok, how about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119088 for a case?

I went for 4GB of RAM, is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231122 a good choice?

Also, is the PSU you have listed going to be strong enough? I know I got a cheap PSU for my brothers computer and we had to order a new more powerful one to get it to work. So will the Silverstone one you listed work fine with my system?

I still need keyboard/mouse/speakers but I think I might do better at Best Buy, was browsing through mice and couldn't find one like my current one (wheel and back/forward buttons near the thumb) for cheap. I kinda want one with a wire as charging my current one has been a little annoying.

This is all a bit more expensive than I originally wanted to go, you're not going to let me get a cheaper card and such with my monitor though? lol Currently I'm looking at $700 once shipping is included and it'll be another $50-100 for the keyboard/mouse/speakers, that's $200 more than I asked. I can go back to 2GB of ram but it seems silly to go light on ram if everything else is so powerful, this is better than my brothers computer and I don't even need a computer that powerful, not until I actually get a call back for a job...lol

Originally Posted by Eaglestrike

I still need keyboard/mouse/speakers but I think I might do better at Best Buy, was browsing through mice and couldn't find one like my current one (wheel and back/forward buttons near the thumb) for cheap. I kinda want one with a wire as charging my current one has been a little annoying.

awesome mouse @CC really cheap if you can find one in your area
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Razer-De ... tDetail.do

Originally Posted by Eaglestrike

Ok, how about http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119088 for a case?

I went for 4GB of RAM, is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231122 a good choice?

Also, is the PSU you have listed going to be strong enough? I know I got a cheap PSU for my brothers computer and we had to order a new more powerful one to get it to work. So will the Silverstone one you listed work fine with my system?

I still need keyboard/mouse/speakers but I think I might do better at Best Buy, was browsing through mice and couldn't find one like my current one (wheel and back/forward buttons near the thumb) for cheap. I kinda want one with a wire as charging my current one has been a little annoying.

This is all a bit more expensive than I originally wanted to go, you're not going to let me get a cheaper card and such with my monitor though? lol Currently I'm looking at $700 once shipping is included and it'll be another $50-100 for the keyboard/mouse/speakers, that's $200 more than I asked. I can go back to 2GB of ram but it seems silly to go light on ram if everything else is so powerful, this is better than my brothers computer and I don't even need a computer that powerful, not until I actually get a call back for a job...lol

Well, I really can't force you to buy anything, I can just hope that you will listen and pick the best components per price range. If you went with a $100 video card like the 8600GT, you would be able to play all your games at 30fps, on low settings. With the 8800GTS G92, you should be able to nearly max out (no 8x AA) any game on your screen. If you've ever played a maxed out game on a PC... it's many times better than a console game.

Anyways, $600 is a bit low for the sweet spot, which I feel is between $700-900 right now. I have that RAM kit you pointed out, it's great and 4GB is WONDERFUL in Vista.

For the mouse, a lot of Logitech's mice have the forward/backwards thumb buttons. The MX518 has both and is a very good gaming mouse. The G5 has one back button, but is also good, and my new favorite, the G9 has both and a lot of features, it's $80-110 though. I saw the MX518's in Best Buy for $30 the other day, on clearance, so if you haven't looked yet, I'd run in store and look around.

Oh, and the PSU should be fine, it's a bit low really, but you're on a tight budget. Silverstone makes quality PSUs, and it's not going to die under a 250-300w load, which is what you would put on it.

Just for comparison, my rig during benchmarking never pulled more than 320w from the wall. This was with a Intel Quad core at 3640 and 1.55vcore, a HD2900PRo 1GB at I think 875/1999, 2GB of Tracers at 2.3v and around 1200MHz I believe. Figure in the PSU's inefficiency and my whole rig at 100% load, maxed out only asked for about 260-280 watts.

I use a 700 watt PSU with 52A across four rails (older model :/). It's way overkill for me.

Would http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814150252 be a good replacement to the card you suggested? It's $60 cheaper right away, although only $30 overall since the one you recommended has a $30 mail-in rebate. It has good reviews and looks to have most of the same specs as the one you suggested.

I haven't been asking for a $100 card, lol. But less than a $230 card this card would put me at the $700-750 range for total price after everything, which isn't too terrible.

Is Vista "worth" getting now? Or should I still stick with XP? This computer will run Vista fine, so that won't be an issue, just wondering if it's a stable and good enough OS to go after. Thanks for all the help so far guys.

The 8800GT is fine. You don't need the GTS for a $600 system. For $30 more though, I'd pick it up though. I have no problems with Vista. Some people do. Some don't.

The 8800GT is a good card, but as said, for $30 more, get the 8800GTS G92.

If you don't want the G92, then grab the 9600GT for $150/$120 after rebate: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814261002

It's almost as good as/better than the 8800GT depending on the game.