I basically need a computer for said price, maybe a little over, that is the best I can get. I might be doing some video editing, basic iTunes stuff, Skype, and internet. Also I might later get a better gfx card so, maybe some room for that. (Also, our family has a lot of cameras, so some external easy-to-reach USB ports and SD/XD card slots would be nice)

I found this, and it seems great: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16883103147
I don't know much about AMD proc. or Radeon cards so some help would be nice

Do you need the keyboard and mouse that comes with it?

Other wise, it looks like a great computer for your needs.

It's a good processor, too.

Don't forget a monitor, unless you already have one you plan on using.

That system would be fine--but I think we could do better. What do you need, other than the tower? Monitors? Keyboard and mouse? Speakers?

Before you get too excited,() we should ask the OP if he wishes to build the computer himself or if he wants to buy it prebuilt. From the product he selected, it appears that he wants the keyboard, mouse, and speakers included.

Edit @ below: Yea, I know. I also know you love helping people build their computers instead of buying. Just throwing in my $0.02.

There ARE some decent barebone kits and also a few manufacturers that would provide just the tower. Why pay the extra money for keyboard+mouse if you already have them?

I have everything but the tower.
If you guys can find a better custom build that price, I'll fine with constructing, but until then, I like this

I'll do my best. That, and a custom build means you can overclock--and an overclocked system will run faster than a stock system. I'll start looking now--$300-500, so I'll aim for $450 or so.

Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2180
Foxconn G31MV-K
Super Talent 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800
FSP SAGA+ 400R
Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB
Samsung 22x DVD Burner SATA
Cooler Master Elite 330 ATX case
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit OEM

And as always... my two favorite and basically always-recommended items!
Arctic Cooling MX-2
Arctic Silver ArctiClean

Consider Ubuntu or another linux distro before jumping on vista when it comes to a $300-500 build i don't see the point in spending $100 on a vista license unless its required to run windows applications.

Actually, Acer is a pretty decent computer for it's price. My friends has one. I've never been a fan of AMD Processors, I find that they are a bit slow. (Maybe it's just the systems I used with them..) I've always used Intel. And ATI Radeon graphic cards are pretty good, my laptop has one. Lets see, reasonable amount of RAM, generous hard drive, overall, I decent system for it's use. Good Luck!

OMG HE LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other than that, Ubuntu should be fine to do basic stuff--but most people are of course too comfortable with Windows. Ubuntu is fine, and there are other distros out there.


It is a decent computer for the price--my problem with it is the processor is a power hog. The system will cost a bit more to maintain over the longer haul. Bumping the E2180 to FSB300 or FSB333 will be just as fast or faster, as well as still consume less power and put off less heat. You should be able to do ~3.33GHz or more on stock cooling.


If you want to decide between Windows and Linux, try a linux distro by a LiveCD. Get a feel for it--maybe ask your family to do the same.

just don't get an e-machine, trust me

Not a bad pc at all for its price.

Looks like a good buy but a monitor would help

The Athlon X2 6000+ system is decent--faster at stock than the one I pulled together, though the one I pulled together should do FSB333 just fine, which will match in speed and exceed in long-term savings (as the power supply will support more/better future upgrades and will still consume less energy).

Sorry guys I was at a week long camp. Thanks for the build suggestion, although you might want to make yourself aware that I know almost nothing about overclocking...

Simple. When you're in the BIOS, set Front Side Bus to 333. Up voltage by about 0.1V, and change your FSB:DRAM ratio to 1:1.20 (also referred to as 1.2x or 5:6). From there, there's not much to do other than optional stability testing (since it's a low overclock really).

Cool, but I think I might want to just go for $500 and upgrade a gig or 2. Also, could I get a custom graphics card? Maybe running COD4 on low? I can throw in extra cash, but depends how much.

EDIT: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820146731 This perhaps?

This one looks pretty good:
XFX GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB GDDR3 $99.99

The RAM is a decent kit.



Hell NO!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814102715

$99, not including rebate which brings it to $85. Much better performance as well.

That graphics has a special bundle deal with Vista Home prem.
Could that be of use, or does it exclude the rebate, which makes it the same price?

It's $10 saved, iirc, and it's the 32-bit version.

So it would be good to get that?

Also it might be helpful if you took what I've been talking about and made a updated list, with a budget of $550, not including tax & shipping.

Yeah--I'm not a slave. Also my milage will vary--I'm in a state right now where I'm charged sales tax--an abnormality when compared to other states. Off the top of my head, NJ, NY, NC, and CA all incur tax.

Oh and about the rebate--I've seen that on almost everything... I know what it is, but I do recommend 64-bit over 32-bit for future-proofing, though the 32-bit will be fine for quite a while.

I was just asking if the heighted budget would change your opinion on the best build, and if so, to tell me what
And what about sales tax? Um... I thought it was everywhere

I'll see what I can do. Before I was in a bit of a time crunch, so sorry about being rude. I'll take a look for $550 and see about it. And for sales tax--in the USA (which is the only nation that NewEgg serves), online retailers are only required to collect sales tax in states they have a brick-and-mortar presence in, such as an office or shipping center. And for New York, they are required to collect sales tax because the State is trying to force them--which is interesting since the case Amazon v. New York will push the issue and the constitutionality of the collection of sales tax from interstate companies that lack a physical presence in the state.

Oh, I see what you meant by sales tax. I live in IN.

Also does the case support 2 HDDs?

The case I selected for your prior does--it supports about a half a dozen, and that's just in normal 3.5" bays (not including converting the 5.25" bays to 3.5" bays or flipping internal 3.5" drives so they fit properly into the external 3.5" bays). Overall it's a good case, especially for the $40-45 you're spending on it.

Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2180
Foxconn G31MV-K
Super Talent 2x1GB DDR2 800
Seasonic SS-400ES
Antec Three Hundred
Western Digital Caviar GP 5000GB
Samsung 22x DVD Burner SATA
Radeon HD3850 + Vista HP 32-bit combo deal
Arctic Cooling MX-2
Arctic Silver ArctiClean

That comes to $596 for a subtotal, I'd get about $17 shipping, and there's a $20 MIR on the graphics card. That should be close to budget for you. I realize the subtotal's a bit high, but I cut out $25 on shipping by finding similar items with free shipping, including choosing a better case (the Elite 330 would be fine too, but would incur a lot higher shipping) and a larger hard drive ($5 more, but 50% more space).

Once again, I'll probably replace that 2GB with the earlier 4, and now we're looking for a flatscreen monitor, 16-20". If you don't want to llok for one, that's fine, but it would be nice.

Look for a Samsung 20" monitor--they're usually pretty good for the money. Still, an LCD will run you $150-250 or so. If you want to cut back a bit on the price, just go back to the CM 330 instead of the Antec Three Hundred. And I didn't take a long look at this topic, but I'm sure we can fit the RAM in.

Sweet

I just got the budget raised so it's $800 dollars total (Appr.) so if I get an about 200 flatscreen, I can afford the RAM upgrade

(btw Bob-sama, once again, I think I can do the rest on my own, but if you want to keep helping me )

Don't beat around the bush. Want my help or not?

Be gentle its his first time...




The jump between 20-22" isn't much. I picked up an LG flatron for fairly cheap (for UK prices) unfortunately your budget doesn't satisfy the need for a 22" LCD. You'll find cheap 17" LCD's about just look for a response time under 8ms and fair brightness.

I was just being polite.
It's like your whoever is building a computer's slave (That's a compliment)

Anyway, I found http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824001100 this, and from what I know about monitors it seems good. It only have VGA input but that's all I need...

hmm bit overpriced for a 19" i think, if your willing to spend that money go for a bigger size / resolution

22" @ $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824009094

19" @ $149
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824254030

Wow, thanks Acid, I think I'm going with the top one instead. $10 more but 3 extra inches, and it's widescreen. (I hate square screens )

I'me hoping to order it maybe late today or tomorrow, so double check to make sure we didn't order something wrong.