$500 budget.

[ndworecki13]

Ok, so I am getting $500 to build a desktop. But I have a screen and want to stick with the pentium d 805 (will upgrade eventually). (LGA775)

I am looking for the best possible build for under 500 bucks. I could find one myself but I like seeing what other people have to say. thanks.

It will be used on occasion for gaming so I do need a decent video card, nothing special.

 

[WCAS]

I'd forget about the Pentium d all together. On july 22 you could build a good machine for 500 bucks with a c2d 4400.

It'd be a much better bang for your buck.

 

[ndworecki13]

Yea, but I would rather spend more on other things then in a few months upgrade the cpu.

I am thinking something along the lines of this:

Wish list details

 

[phucng_10]

E6320 would be a better processor and you can Over-clock it. And for the motherboard, try getting the Gigabyte P35-DS3R. It's better and for a cheaper price.

 

[ssjheero_yuy99]

slightly cheaper and slightly better timings.
Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Plus I'd go Crucial over Corsair, but that is my opinion.

I was going to suggest a different Video card but wow, at $30 ... hard to say... I was going to suggest the 6800GS at $99, or the 6800 at $43. (I have a BFG 6800GS and it handles most games on mid-high, note the highest graphically intense game I use is GRAW right now, although 1701AD eats alot when your over the water with everything is up as well.)
Slightly better performance and better reviews...
Newegg.com - PNY VCG68128XWB GeForce 6800 128MB 128-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - OEM
Newegg.com - Recertified: EVGA 256-P2-N386-RX GeForce 6800GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
edit -- sorry didn't notice it was recert....
edit2 -- this is the one I have. BFG GeForce 6800 GS OC 256MB GDDR3 AGP 8x DVI VGA TV Out Video Card BFGR68256GSOC at TigerDirect.com
edit3 -- too many edits.... just a couple more that are fairly cheap, (and a brand I've used and would use again):
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2490606&CatId=1560
EVGA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB GDDR3 SLI Ready PCI Express Dual DVI HDTV Video Card 256-P2-N550-T2 at TigerDirect.com
edit 4 -- slightly better, more expensive... (alot more)....(nothing over $110 though):
EVGA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB GDDR3 SLI Ready PCI Express DVI VGA TV Out Video Card 256-P2-N615-TX at TigerDirect.com
XFX GeForce 7900 GS Extreme Edition 256MB GDDR3 SLI PCI Express Dual DVI HDTV Video Card PVT71PUDE3 at TigerDirect.com

your wish list shows $189 on the E6400, after monday, you should be able to get the E6750 for $183. check the prices and see what you want.
AnandTech: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 and Massive Price Cuts

Also, why drop money into something your going up upgrade in a few months? save the money or spurge a little up front and get the processor you are eying a few months from now. I'm necessary suggesting the E6750, just saying that it will be cheaper then your E6400.


Hope that helps some,

Side note: I tried to get a budget machine like that once, now my budget machine currently has $1800 worth into it and i'm cursing up a storm that I just didn't buy big in the first place...