300-400 Computer?

[Kdar]

I plan to build, for some one, new comp... it should be around $300 to $400.

Not much gaming only some flight sims like IL2 and Windows Battle Flight Sim 98 or some like that.

What should I get?

 

[Drizo]

A little over budget, and I'm not sure if the choices of components, specifically the processor is good since I don't know much of anything about AMD's.

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Orleans 2.2GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA3500IAA4CW - OEM $86.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103034

ECS NFORCE4M-A (V3.0) Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce4 4X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $55.99 ($45.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135028

OCZ Gold 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2G8001GK - Retail $118.99 ($108.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227126

SAPPHIRE 100119L Radeon X550 256MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102565

LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model SHW160P6S05 - OEM $27.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106014

Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $43.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822135106

Antec NSK 4400 Black/Silver 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply - Retail $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129012

Total $457.94 before Mail-in rebates
$437.94 after Mail-in rebates

 

[Kdar]

You think go with AM2 socket? or 939?

 

[Shannon]

definitely go AM2 socket if you can

 

[lancec2c30]

well you might be able to get away with some cheaper ram if you go S939, but future upgradability will be shortened.

 

[reggie_da_man]

Personally I'd go with 939, it's a budget computer and it's going to last him a while none the less, especially with the games that he plays. Get some cheaper ram and up the video card.

 

[Shannon]

If you find a good enough deal, I'd say definitely go AM2 for the future proofing. But 939 would definitely be cheaper.

Of course if you can go AM2, you'll be able to use those components toward the next build as well so you would be basically contributing that cost of the next build.

BUT if your friend isn't going to be upgrading at all in the foreseeable future, you'll get more for your money if you go 939

 

[zerodayATK]

^^^ see if your building a budget rig and its going to be 400 bucks you have to realize that it isnt going ot last long speacilly in gaming.... but 939 will deff be cheaper so go with that a maybe get a bigger hdd... theres a promo code in the hot deals secton for barracuda hdds.......

 

[Shannon]

okay, I'm going to see if I can do a good sub-400 build with 939 although now that I'm looking at the CPUs I don't think there's a much better deal than that AM2 3500+, I actually have that flagged for my young cousin's first build, but I know we'll save on RAM so here's my go at it

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 2.2GHz Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3700CFBOX - Retail - $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103622

Motherboard - BIOSTAR TForce6100-939 Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138264

RAM - pqi POWER Series 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory * $97.99 ($87.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141198

HDD - Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $57.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144415

Case - RAIDMAX xA Combo Pack ATX-568WBP Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156043

DVD - LITE-ON Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM IDE Burner - OEM - $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106042

total(rounded): $396 (before rebate)

Yes, it's a micro-atx board with onboard video. So? it's a budget build and there is expandability with a PCI-E slot. If you decide to want to play some game that needs better graphics, that can easily be added on later.

 

[Kdar]

hmm.. thks.

You think what ever his play should be fine with on board?

IL2 and Microsoft Flight Battle Sim 98?