Friend with a teen needs a build for under 500 dollars. It's for a teen so will need to at least function for gaming. The budget is strait for the PC it does not need a monitor or any peripherals.

Using Newegg this is what I came up with -

Linkworld 313-06-C2228 Blue/ Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $20.99

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5 $47.99

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard $79.99

MSI N8400GS-TD256 GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card $31.99

SONY Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1681S-0B $18.99

Antec Basiq BP500U 500W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.01 Active PFC Power Supply
$54.99

Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR1333D3N9K2/2G $56.49

AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX240OCK23GQ $55.00

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders $104.99

Subtotal: $471.42

I would love those with some hardware knowledge to take a look and either critique this build or try your hand at making your own build within the budget.

The ram seems kind of pricey but i'm not sure what the going rate on american pricing is right now. I know i picked up 4 gig for about 18 a gig not long ago canadian.

I don't use AMD.. thats purly my taste. I know some ppl like them but i personally don't. But personally i'd stay away from the low end chips. You can build some pretty decent stuff for $500 just gotta do some research. Either that or look for a very good sale and buy a prebuilt dell or anything else like that.

The cheaper 8400GS nvidia cards use a lower tier chip making them crap for games. Spend the extra $20 to get to last gen - mid range cards
SAPPHIRE 100295HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB - $65

Kingston's lost favor with me and if you're installing 64 bit W7 i'd say get 4 gb at least.
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 - $95

May take the price a little over but I think it'll be worth it.

Can also take a look at a $25 more power supply that's more efficient and quieter (12cm fan instead of 8cm). Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V

I know it's tempting to bust the budget, but it isn't my money. I'm with ya on the 4g of ram but that's an easy upgrade for a later day.

This is the video you recommend? www.newegg.com/Product...6814161287
If so it's $80 not 65. I had picked the above video card because it was BFG, a name I know and trust, it also was the lowest cost directx 10 capable card.(that also fit the MB) If the chip is sub-par though I could try the other card.

My first try at a build did have a different power supply, I switched to the one above trying to cut on costs.

It's a challenge trying to get the best bang for 500, but that's why I posted. I haven't kept up on reading about PC hardware and value you guys input.

Keep the ideas coming, I need to get this shaken out soon and get parts ordered.

Oh, I also looked at this pre-build - www.newegg.com/Product...6883229129

It seems to meet the criteria and budget but looks to me like I could build better from parts.

Link for the ATI 4670
www.newegg.com/Product...70%20512MB $65

If the screen is around 800x600 the ATI 4650'll be fine
www.newegg.com/Product...-_-Product - $50 (40 after mir)

BFG is a good company, it's just that the cheaper 8400 GS is, well, crap...
To give some perspective about where the 8400 matches up, it's equivalent to the GeForce TI 4800 (8 years old card)
The ATI 4650 is equivalent to the GeForce 7950 GX2 (2.5 years old) and the ATI 4670 is equivalent to the GeForce 9600 GSO (1.5 years old)


The pre-built has the same problem. Limited gameplay. The ATI 4350 is equivalent to the GeForce 6600GT (5 years old)

With the ATI 4670 I'm at $504.

Should I look at a dif motherboard or processor or possibly look at DDR2 instead of DDR3? If I cut elsewhere I could look at the higher power supply. The DDR2 might be able to get 4gig with.

Hrmmm, I have a good 500w power supply in my old computer, I could recycle and save there also.

I went a little over, but very upgradeable PC. Video has HDMI output. You can decrease memory and go with a case without the power supply to reduce cost. If he is going to run Win 7 you might as well get 4gb memory and skimp somewhere else. $20 in mail rebates as well, total $530. I use to buy the Apevia cases, they use to be called Aspire.



Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B
$26.99


APEVIA X-QBOII X-QBOII-BL/500 Black / Blue SECC Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate11-144-227
$74.99


Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
$47.99


ASUS M4A77TD AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card13-131-603
$84.99


SAPPHIRE 100254HDMI Radeon HD 4650 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$59.99


CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9
-$5.00 Instant
$99.99
$94.99


AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX240OCK23GQ
-$10.00 Instant
$65.00
$55.00


Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders
$104.99

Subtotal: $549.93

Hey Mort... there is a place in Austin called "Discount Electronics" on Anderson Lane (between Burnet Road and Lamar Blvd.) They have a ton of 2nd hand parts. I have seen some good video cards and monitors over there for cheap. They only deal in Intel Chips and Motherboards so if you want AMD you would have to get that at Fry's or online but cases, PS, video, cables, peripherals etc... you can get some decent stuff for cheap. Just a thought.

I agree with the ram. I know Kingston is a good brand, but I like G.Skill or Corsair. G-Skill is a little cheaper, but runs very good and comes with air cooled plating.

As for video card, ya don't get a 8400. Never trust Nvidia cards that have 200/400/500/700 in thier names for the 6,7,8,9000 series if you want to play games. In the 8 catagory, go with a 8600, 8800 GS/GT/GTX. Go with a better brand too. PNY, BFG are 2 that I like best, MSI's tend to burn out faster (though will still last awhile).


RAM - I like Corsair, but lately have been going with G.Skill for past 3 builds.
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) - 91.99

HD - Does the guy really need 300+Gig of HD space? I'd go with less, unless going to be a graphical designer or have a ton of movies on it
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3160813AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5 - 39.99

Video Card - Sorry but I like NVidia
For NVidia, go with a 8600 or9800 for gaming. The problem is these are hard to find due to being discontinued over the even more powerful cards. Several on Ebay brand new, but around $70-100. They are fast cards though and great for gaming.

These are based on Manufacture, Type and up to Overclocking
NVidia 8600 speeds - Core 675-710, Memory 1800-2000
NVidia 9800 speeds - Core 600-625, Memory 1500-1566

$149 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
Set FSB to 400 and OC to 2.8GHz!

$99 - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4770 512MB GDDR5 Graphics Card
Better then a 9800 GT, same price. Most reliable brand for ATI.

$50 - GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L Intel G31 Micro ATX Motherboard
All The features a PC could need, only $50. Very reliable.

$93 - G.SKILL PI Black 4GB DDR2 800 Dual Channel Memory Kit
Good for gaming and very reliable. Uses only 1.8v.

$70 - CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W 80 PLUS Certified PSU
80+ Certified means it will last longer then a month and won't use stupid amounts of power.

$39 - Western Digital Caviar Blue 160GB SATAII Hard Drive
Good brand, decent speed, just enough room.

$25 - Rosewill FE-M020 MicroATX Case
Small, cheap case. Better then a cardboard box.

$0 - Windows 7 Ultimate Edition
Pirate it.

Instant Savings - $44
Mail In Rebates - $10
Total Price - $526

Or if portability is important:

$400 - HP Mini 311
It's not blazing fast, or built for gaming, but its portable and has enough graphics power to play WoW and is $100 cheaper than budget. And best of all, you don't get called for tech support issues.

Oh yeah and it can go 6 hours without a recharge.