Up for a challenge?

[Cordero]

OK- just like any construction, you need to start with a good foundation. To build a reliable PC you need a good power supply and the 520watt seasonic will fill that requirement (1). Windows is needed (2) and you will want to have something you like to look at- case(3) So...

(1)- Seasonic 520w PSU- $59.99
(2)- Windows 7 64bit- $99
subtotal- $158.99
Now let us know what case you are liking

The Silverstone Temjin TJ04-E is beautiful but I think it is kind of a pricey overkill. I'm really fine with any case as long as it's sleek looking.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Here's something just as nice
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Graphite grey and blac...

NZXT Phantom 410 CA-PH410-B1 Black Steel / Plastic...

NZXT Crafted Series Tempest 410 Elite Black Steel ...

ZALMAN Z9 Plus Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower...

There are a few others but wont bog you down with alot of choices. Really you should get in contact with sneekypeet, he's got ALOT of good stuff.

 

[eidairaman1]

check this out

edit- bummer no OS included

 

[Cordero]

Here's something just as nice
Corsair Carbide Series 400R Graphite grey and blac...

NZXT Phantom 410 CA-PH410-B1 Black Steel / Plastic...

NZXT Crafted Series Tempest 410 Elite Black Steel ...

ZALMAN Z9 Plus Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower...

There are a few others but wont bog you down with alot of choices. Really you should get in contact with sneekypeet, he's got ALOT of good stuff.

I'm digging the Corsair Carbide Series 400R but I guess I'm just gonna stick with like a $30-$40 case.

 

[Norton]

The Silverstone Temjin TJ04-E is beautiful but I think it is kind of a pricey overkill. I'm really fine with any case as long as it's sleek looking.

OK let's add it in- Silverstone has great products and even though it's expensive you won't regret buying one (I have an FT-01B Fortress )
(1)- Seasonic 520w PSU- $59.99
(2)- Windows 7 64bit- $99
(3)- TJ-04E case- $149.99
Subtotal- $308.98

This leaves about $300 in your budget which may be enough for:
A- an AMD A series setup (board and chip), DVD drive, 2x2GB ram, refurbished hard drive
B- a used setup here on TPU (board, chip, ram), DVD drive (new), refurbished hard drive

or
C- Going for a cheaper case like a NZXT Source 210 Elite ($49.99) will give you a budget of about $400 for the rest of your setup

Look over your choices and let us know which way you think you want to go....

 

[Cordero]

OK let's add it in- Silverstone has great products and even though it's expensive you won't regret buying one (I have an FT-01B Fortress )
(1)- Seasonic 520w PSU- $59.99
(2)- Windows 7 64bit- $99
(3)- TJ-04E case- $149.99
Subtotal- $308.98

This leaves about $300 in your budget which may be enough for:
A- an AMD A series setup (board and chip), DVD drive, 2x2GB ram, refurbished hard drive
B- a used setup here on TPU (board, chip, ram), DVD drive (new), refurbished hard drive

or
C- Going for a cheaper case like a NZXT Source 210 Elite ($49.99) will give you a budget of about $400 for the rest of your setup

Look over your choices and let us know which way you think you want to go....

I actually like the NZXT case a lot better. It's simple and plain looking, not too loud. So that leaves me with about $400 for a videocard and processor?

 

[JrRacinFan]

I actually like the NZXT case a lot better. It's simple and plain looking, not too loud

Here yah go!
APEVIA X-DREAMER3-PK Pink Metal ATX Mid Tower Comp...

J/K, Yeah couldn't agree with you more. Very very nice case for price per features.

 

[Cordero]

Here yah go!
APEVIA X-DREAMER3-PK Pink Metal ATX Mid Tower Comp...

J/K, Yeah couldn't agree with you more. Very very nice case for price per features.

Go to hell.

Edit: APEVIA X-Gear ATXB5KLW-GN Green Steel ATX Mid Towe...
lol

 

[Norton]

I actually like the NZXT case a lot better. It's simple and plain looking, not too loud. So that leaves me with about $400 for a videocard and processor?

Wise choice! I have one of these as well and it's a nice starter case for the money....
*note- click the Twin Cruncher link in my sig if you want to see it with some parts in it

Ok let update!
(1)- Seasonic 520w PSU- $59.99
(2)- Windows 7 64bit- $99
(3)- NZXT Source 210 Elite- $49.99
Subtotal- $208.98

This leaves about $400 in your budget here's your parts list:
- Motherboard, CPU, and 2x2GB ram*
*options include... AMD A series board and CPU, AMD AM3+ board w/AM3 CPU, Intel board and CPU (AMD A series has very good integrated graphics)
- Hard drive (7,200 rpm SATA)
- DVD RW drive (about $20)
- Graphics card (option)

OK folks lets see some options for the above for our new member!

Here yah go!
APEVIA X-DREAMER3-PK Pink Metal ATX Mid Tower Comp...

J/K, Yeah couldn't agree with you more. Very very nice case for price per features.

I'm sure by now you've realized you found where all of the nuts go when online!!
@jr- you couldn't find him a Hello Kitty case!

 

[Cordero]

Wise choice! I have one of these as well and it's a nice starter case for the money....
*note- click the Twin Cruncher link in my sig if you want to see it with some parts in it

Ok let update!
(1)- Seasonic 520w PSU- $59.99
(2)- Windows 7 64bit- $99
(3)- NZXT Source 210 Elite- $49.99
Subtotal- $208.98

This leaves about $400 in your budget here's your parts list:
- Motherboard, CPU, and 2x2GB ram*
*options include... AMD A series board and CPU, AMD AM3+ board w/AM3 CPU, Intel board and CPU (AMD A series has very good integrated graphics)
- Hard drive (7,200 rpm SATA)
- DVD RW drive (about $20)
- Graphics card (option)

OK folks lets see some options for the above for our new member!

Everywhere I've looked they've said to avoid another integrated graphics card at all costs.. so I'd be willing to try to go a little less on the others in order to have a somewhat decent quality one.

It also seems that the harddrives have had an inflation in price so I'll probably be paying around 70-90 dollars for 250GB won't I?

 

[JrRacinFan]

Again check out the 2tb I linked and the 7750 scope linked

 

[Norton]

To add on to the PSU, case, and Windows 7....

Here's an AMD AM3+ combo that includes an HD6850 graphics card for just over $400

Spoiler: AMD AM3+ combo

 

[brandonwh64]

This is what I would do if I needed an entry level gaming build

 

[JrRacinFan]

Needs OS also B.

Guys can you provide links instead of screenie.

 

[Norton]

This is what I would do if I needed an entry level gaming build

http://img.techpowerup.org/120416/Newbuild.png

Good combo:

but...the CX430 only has 1 PCIE connector doesn't the 560 need 2? and he still needs an OS (will probably add about $120 to the cost to up the PSU and add an OS)

 

[brandonwh64]

Good combo:

but...the CX430 only has 1 PCIE connector doesn't the 560 need 2? and he still needs an OS (will probably add about $120 to the cost to up the PSU and add an OS)

I think it has two IIRC

Also he can run MINT linux until he can afford Windows 7 X64.

*Edit*

Just checked, it has one WTF! The the CX500 would be the one to get

 

[Cordero]

To add on to the PSU, case, and Windows 7....

Here's an AMD AM3+ combo that includes an HD6850 graphics card for just over $400

Spoiler: AMD AM3+ combo

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46685&stc=1&d=1334609260

So this is about as good as it'll get?

 

[Norton]

So this is about as good as it'll get?

This combo and brandon's are both pretty good- the one I proposed is a little weaker but within your budget, has a good graphics card and is expandable (motherboard covers all AM3 and AM3+ CPU's that are currently available)..

Your free to pick and choose from the many options you have seen here or see if any other suggestions pop up for you. You said you have about a month so you have plenty of time to make up your mind.

 

[JrRacinFan]

22-136
AMD Athlon II X4 645 Propus 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W ...

Basing off your build Norton you could possibly substitute.

 

[Norton]

22-136
AMD Athlon II X4 645 Propus 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W ...

Basing off your build Norton you could possibly substitute.

Good option for the extra $20 or so. We'll need to hunt him down a cooler (OEM chip). I have at least 4 stock ones so no problem giving one up if he goes this route.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Check out the HDD combo comes with a cooler

Sorry link was broken
Refurbished: Western Digital Caviar Blue RFHWD3200...

Edit
Cooler fail. I'm done doing cell phone posting when I can't check exactly what I post

 

[nleksan]

I have been considering putting together a budget "gaming/media" pc while I wait to build my dream machine in a couple months (after the 3770K has some legs under it, the Z77 Maximus V Extreme-Z is out, and the full family of Kepler is available which hopefully includes a 4GB GTX680/GTX685/GTX680Ti; then decide to go with Z77 or X79...).

This has only been a recent idea, but I have been paying attention to the Sale section of TPU forums as well as a few other sites', Newegg, and of course Craigslist... I am currently considering the following:
- AMD Phenom II X4 960T ($60 from friend - 6 cores @ 4.8Ghz 68*C)
- Cooler Master Hyper212+ Evo ($20NIB local)
- ASUS Sabertooth 990FX Motherboard ($90 local)
- 4x4GB G.Skill Ripjaws X DDR3-1600 ($60)
- 2x EVGA GTX285 SC's ($100 for both) *locally; is that a good price?
- Corsair 500R Case ($80)
- OCZ TZ750 750W Full-Modular PSU ($55)
- 320GB Hitachi 7200rpm/32MB Cache SATA2 HDD (already own)
- 2x 80GB Samsung 7200rpm/16MB Cache E-IDE HDDs (already own)
- 120GB Western Digital Caviar 7200rpm/8MB Cache IDE HDD (already own)
- Lite-On DVD/CD Burner 2MB Cache IDE (already own)
- Samsung DVD Reader/CD Burner 1MB Cache IDE (already own)
- 6x140mm + 2x120mm + 2x80mm + 1x40mm fans (case/cpu/behind-HDDs/chipset)

Seems like a lot of computer for relatively little money, but I don't know anything about the video cards... Not familiar with the generation at all. Any help? Guy is throwing in a second extra-length SLI Bridge alongside the 2way and 3way bridges that come with them.
I have the option to purchase, for $280 total, the 2 cards, plus a fully-adjustable triple monitor mount (holds up to 27" monitors) and 3x Dell 20" monitors (each is 1680x1050, 0.6" side bezels). Seems like a hell of a price for a plug-and-play triple monitor setup! But I do prefer to use 1x27" monitor, or 2x24" at the most, but I imagine gaming could be crazy on that setup (assuming that those cards can support it).


Anyway, I would suggest checking craigslist and watching for a week... I have gotten some good deals on stuff that didn't sell for a week or so, such as a 2TB RAID NAS (4x1TB RAID10 WD RE3 HDDs in the enclosure) that I flipped for a nice profit after formatting the drives.
Just today I came across a NVidia 8800GT 512MB for $10 which would make a great PhysX card I would imagine.
Keep your eyes wide and your patience up

 

[Liquid Cool]

The Dell 620 or 620s with a Core i3-2120 can routinely be purchased for under $400 from the Dell Outlet and comes with Win 7. They might be refurbs...but they come looking new.

LC

 

[techguy31]

If you are looking for a case that is bang for your buck. This one --->APEX PC-389-C Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer C... is probably the best. I have it, and the only con I have with the case is that there is not enough ventillation. Otherwise, the case is magnificent. I could easily fit a 7950 in that case. Apart from the color scheme of the case that Jr. recommended, that case would actually be a great bang for your buck. Just paint it all black, and it won't look so tacky.

 

[eidairaman1]

From your remark, several have done benchmarks and it takes a FX4100 to be at 4.5+ to match a Phenom 2 X4 955 @4 GHz a 980 beats up on the FX4100-8150

I have been considering putting together a budget "gaming/media" pc while I wait to build my dream machine in a couple months (after the 3770K has some legs under it, the Z77 Maximus V Extreme-Z is out, and the full family of Kepler is available which hopefully includes a 4GB GTX680/GTX685/GTX680Ti; then decide to go with Z77 or X79...).

This has only been a recent idea, but I have been paying attention to the Sale section of TPU forums as well as a few other sites', Newegg, and of course Craigslist... I am currently considering the following:
- AMD Phenom II X4 960T ($60 from friend - 6 cores @ 4.8Ghz 68*C)
- Cooler Master Hyper212+ Evo ($20NIB local)
- ASUS Sabertooth 990FX Motherboard ($90 local)
- 4x4GB G.Skill Ripjaws X DDR3-1600 ($60)
- 2x EVGA GTX285 SC's ($100 for both) *locally; is that a good price?
- Corsair 500R Case ($80)
- OCZ TZ750 750W Full-Modular PSU ($55)
- 320GB Hitachi 7200rpm/32MB Cache SATA2 HDD (already own)
- 2x 80GB Samsung 7200rpm/16MB Cache E-IDE HDDs (already own)
- 120GB Western Digital Caviar 7200rpm/8MB Cache IDE HDD (already own)
- Lite-On DVD/CD Burner 2MB Cache IDE (already own)
- Samsung DVD Reader/CD Burner 1MB Cache IDE (already own)
- 6x140mm + 2x120mm + 2x80mm + 1x40mm fans (case/cpu/behind-HDDs/chipset)

Seems like a lot of computer for relatively little money, but I don't know anything about the video cards... Not familiar with the generation at all. Any help? Guy is throwing in a second extra-length SLI Bridge alongside the 2way and 3way bridges that come with them.
I have the option to purchase, for $280 total, the 2 cards, plus a fully-adjustable triple monitor mount (holds up to 27" monitors) and 3x Dell 20" monitors (each is 1680x1050, 0.6" side bezels). Seems like a hell of a price for a plug-and-play triple monitor setup! But I do prefer to use 1x27" monitor, or 2x24" at the most, but I imagine gaming could be crazy on that setup (assuming that those cards can support it).


Anyway, I would suggest checking craigslist and watching for a week... I have gotten some good deals on stuff that didn't sell for a week or so, such as a 2TB RAID NAS (4x1TB RAID10 WD RE3 HDDs in the enclosure) that I flipped for a nice profit after formatting the drives.
Just today I came across a NVidia 8800GT 512MB for $10 which would make a great PhysX card I would imagine.
Keep your eyes wide and your patience up