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$500 gaming pc

ninjarabbininjarabbi
edited February 2008 in Technology
Do you guys think it would be possible to build/buy and customize a pc for around $500? I may get a computer for my birthday and that is as much as they would spend.

Comments

  • AndrewAndrew
    Do you already own a monitor? Do you own any hard drives you could salvage? Do you have a case that you can use?
  • OmnutiaOmnutia
    I'm sure this has been on here already.
  • HMTKSteveHMTKSteve
    Do you want to play current games or older ones?

    I have been mostly out of computer gaming for the past 7 years. I only recently purchased new PCs for my house and I'm now going back and playing games I wanted to play years ago.
  • RochelleRochelle
    Too broad of a question. Simple answer is yes.

    Like in many other threads about building a PC, you need to ask yourself what certain specifications are needed for your PC.

    What sort of games do you want to play?

    What other programs/applications do you want to run on your computer?

    Do you need it to store a lot of data? MP3s? Anime? Porn?

    More specifics would be good. If you have the time, I would suggesting downloading the Geek Nights episodes on Buying A Computer (1), (2), & (3). Those podcasts helped me out greatly on helping me shop and buy the components for my new computer. It also taught me a few new things as well.
  • ninjarabbininjarabbi
    I already have a monitor, but no harddrives good enough to use. I want to play games like orange box, counterstrike, Elder scrolls 3-4. I would just use programs for video converting and normal computing.
  • AprecheApreche
    I already have a monitor, but no harddrives good enough to use. I want to play games like orange box, counterstrike, Elder scrolls 3-4. I would just use programs for video converting and normal computing.
    If Orange Box is the fanciest game you want to play, you can definitely get something that will do the job. Just don't expect to be able to crank the graphics all the way up or get amazing framerates. Video encoding will take for freakin' ever, but that will be true unless you pay a zillion dollars.
  • bodtchboybodtchboy
    edited February 2008
    I built mine for $600 in November. however, I didn't upgrade my monitor, keyboard, mouse, case, or dvd drive.

    Got an AMD dual core processor, geforce 8600, 2 gig ram, 250 gig hd, 500 W. power supply, motherboard and fan.

    The only thing I think I'd change is my graphics card. It really doesn't seem to be as powerful as I thought a 8600 would be. It's benchmarks are not impressive and downright shameful on some things. It'll play crysis and cod 4 on lower-medium settings without lag. I think it was $130-$150. Go for something at $200 or more (8800) if you can.
    Post edited by Apreche on
  • OmnutiaOmnutia
    My friend Jon can play Crysis on medium high with a 8600GT. Maybe you need some more power, 500W doesn't seem like enough.
  • am_dragonam_dragon
    I built a MythTV box last fall. Dual core AMD, 2GB Ram, 500GB HD, Case, Power Supply, DVD-Burner, 1 HD and one SD TV Tuner and it was just over $500. I would say you shouldn't have much problem at all, building a system that will run HL2 and Portal for that price.

    I'd like to know what it takes to run UT3 really well. I've always been a huge fan of the series. I don't currently have a PC that will run the game (or at least the demo) at anything over 20 - 30 FPS.
  • Sir_XanderSir_Xander
    I'm helping a friend build a new system from the ground up. All he has is a monitor, mouse and keyboard. He's getting a case, HDD, motherboard, dual core AMD 64, fans, dual layer DVD writer and a 8700. He's spending about $600 . It would be less with only a couple downgrades.
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