Uber-Cheap Desktop

[trekkie00]

Right now, I'm running an ancient P3, and would like to get something much newer. Unfortunately, I can only afford to spend about $300 (without OS). I don't need an extremely powerful computer. The only games I play run on my comp now (P3 @ 866), so they should run fine on the new one. (If you're wondering, the newest games i play are SW:Jedi Academy and ST: Bridge Commander)


I've already tried picking a few components out. I plan on pulling an old HDD, disk drive, and floppy drive out of my old computers, so I won't need any of those. I would like the option of using Vista when it comes out, so please keep that in mind.

**
Processor: Athlon 64 3000+ (here)
Motherboard: ECS Socket 939 ATX (here)
RAM: 1gb (2x512) (here)
PSU: Rosewill 450W (here)
Case: Cooler Master (here)
**
Before shipping and rebates, it comes to about $313.

Would this computer run? How well would it probably perform with those games? How well would it probably run Windows Vista/what would I need for Vista to run well?

Feel free to point out better/less expensive options than I put.

To save a bit of cash, I was considering dual booting Windows 98SE (old, but newest version I have that isn't a recovery CD) and Ubuntu 6.06. Would I take a large performance hit by using 98, or should it be fine for the things i use now?

Thanks for your help.

 

[b1gapl]

I wouldn't get Rosewill for the PSU....look at the more reliable brands like FSP, Antec, Enermax....

 

[macdude425]

Using 98 with over 256MB is not wise. Using it with more than 512MB can potentially cause crashes, because it doesn't know how to handle that much RAM and has been known to crash.

Just stick with Linux.

 

[aliasaid]

ah.. thats why when i tried an older os on a newer system it was having some problems...

anyways.. your build is pretty good. i tried to see if i could do better with the same budget, and i did come up with a slightly better build (added gpu) but i came out slightly over budget..



processor: 3500+ socket AM2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103633

mobo: ECS mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813135019

ram: 2X512
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820161669

gpu: 6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814133154

case/PSU: antec w/ 380watts (enough for you)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129012

total before shipping/taxes: $346.96

this system should handle games a lot better.

 

[trekkie00]

Would Windows 2000 handle the extra memory all right? If so, is there any way to get a legal copy now? The only ones I've seen were at Amazon.com, and those were just as expensive as the OEM Windows XP discs.

Or...would Millenium Edition work? I do have a copy of it; unfortunately, it's on a recovery CD. If there is a way to just copy the Windows part onto a new CD, how would that handle the extra memory? And if there is, how would you do that?

I'd just like to avoid buying a copy of XP right before it's made "obsolete", but if there's no other way I can get it.

And thanks, aliasaid, that looks like a great build.

 

[macdude425]

ME = bad idea.
2000 would probably work, but I ran into some issues with it on a Sempron 64 a while back, so I don't know.

 

[curtcheese64]

"cough" bootleg "cough" windows xp "cough"

 

[aliasaid]

dimetapp

 

[bum]

"cough" bootleg "cough" windows xp "cough"

lol microsoft has too much money anyways so f*** them, right? Just remember you graduated from grade school and you don't have to take **** from anyone!

 

[Drizo]

Windows 2k was extremely reliable for me, and that was on a P2 450mhz w/ 256mb ram, and the copy was third hand if ya catch my drift. Much better than Win98.