Build for under $700

[Alexinator]

I need to beat this computer for under 700. I am not too knowledgable on the lower priced builds.

I need a 7200RPM drive, and room to upgrade the video card at a later date

EDIT: I'm sorry, I forgot the link http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+Elite+Desktop+with+AMD+Phenom&%23153%3B+II+X4+Quad-Core+Processor/9549465.p?id=1218122580572&skuId=9549465
It's for a buddy of mine who's convinced buying HP and Dell is a better deal. I'm wokring on a research paper right now and don't have time to research it heh, I know lots about the higher end products in the 1500-2000 range, but not for under 700.

Minimal gaming, Overclocking is a plus but not needed. I would like to stick with a cheap i5/7 build (With DDR3, duh) Cheap video card if not integrated

 

[apsoul]

What computer do you need to beat? Or did you mean build? Looking for a gaming rig? Will you be overclocking? Would Onboard graphics be enough until you get your video card upgrade? or do you want a dedicated video card, and an extra pci-e slot to sli/crossfire?

 

[Alexinator]

How's this?


i5 2.66x4
9600GSO 1GB
Foxconn P55 mobo
2 x 2GB 1333 DDR3 RAM
600Watt Rosewill (eww) PSU
750GB 7200RPM HDD

With win7 64bit, DVD burner, and shipping that comes to about 800. Good?

 

[bkolk]

will this computer be doing any intensive work? You mentioned little gaming, if its just for web browsing and basic apps like word, excel and whatnot I would go an AMD route rather than intel core-i5.

I made a similar core-i5 build in another post. It ended up being $823 before any shipping.
http://www.techist.com/forums/f76/i5-700-budget-rig-221204/#post1742692

You would have to switch the hdd, id recommend this for a 1TB 7200 rpm drive
hdd - Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$85

You could probably lower the graphics card from the 9800gt to something cheaper.

To get considerably cheaper you'd have to go AMD route, which may be just what your friend needs if there's no cpu intensive program he uses.

 

[Alexinator]

will this computer be doing any intensive work? You mentioned little gaming, if its just for web browsing and basic apps like word, excel and whatnot I would go an AMD route rather than intel core-i5.

I made a similar core-i5 build in another post. It ended up being $823 before any shipping.
http://www.techist.com/forums/f76/i5-700-budget-rig-221204/#post1742692

You would have to switch the hdd, id recommend this for a 1TB 7200 rpm drive
hdd - Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$85

You could probably lower the graphics card from the 9800gt to something cheaper.

To get considerably cheaper you'd have to go AMD route, which may be just what your friend needs if there's no cpu intensive program he uses.

That's a 9600 GSO... not 9800. And yes, lots of 1080P video processing and encoding/decoding. DVD converting and burning. Needs HDMI out support on video card with audio (SP/DIF port)

I think we're going with this build.

 

[Ste]

I would go with this one of these PSUs:

Newegg.com - OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - PC Power and Cooling Silencer 470 ATX 470W ATX12V Ver 2.2 Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - SeaSonic SS-500ES Bronze 500W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

 

[bkolk]

That's a 9600 GSO... not 9800. And yes, lots of 1080P video processing and encoding/decoding. DVD converting and burning. Needs HDMI out support on video card with audio (SP/DIF port)

I think we're going with this build.

My comments on HDD and gfx card were referring to the build i made which was linked in the post.

 

[apsoul]

AMD Phenom II x4 955BE and MSI 790FX-GD70 AM3, and OCZ Obsidian 2x2GB DDR3 1600 CL9 - $391.97 ($361.97 after MIR)

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W - $69.99 ($49.99 after MIR)

WD Caviar Black 750GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache and Nippon Labs Deluxe all in one Card Reader - $75.49

Optical Drive?? I'll guess $40

Coolermaster Storm Scout Case - $79.99

HIS Radeon HD4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 and WIN7 Home Premium 64bit - $169.98

Total Price: $827.42 ($774.42 after MIR)

if you don't need the card reader, you could cut that out and save a couple bucks, i just put it in there cuz your comparing to the HP which has one, you could buy an optical drive for cheaper than $40, I just rounded up for arguments sake.
Could also go with an AMD Phenom II x4 940 build which would probably save more money, but I was just trying to get as close as possible to the cost of the HP while getting the best performance. Could also get a cheaper case, and that would allow for a 1TB HD, I just chose that one because it could bring some of the "wow factor" to you friend What do you think?

Build Comparison:

HP Pav
AMD PHENOM II x4 910 2.6ghz
Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit DDR2
8GB DDR3 1066
1TB 5400RPM

Build your own:
AMD Phenom II x4 955BE 3.2Ghz (should OC to 3.4 on stock cooling)
Radeon HD 4670 1gb 128-bit DDR3
4GB DDR3 1600
750GB 7200RPM

Edit: Oh yea, and for something like $30 you could get the Sunbeam Core Contact CPU cooler which would probably allow a 3.6GHz-3.8GHz overclock on the CPU