Cheap Computer!

[Triadcool]

This christmas my mom said that she would pay $400 dollars for a computer and I was wondering where I could find a computer that cheap. With that amount of money to spend would it be better to build a computer or just buy a computer? ;)

[Triadcool]

I can also use some parts from my current computer. 768mb Ram 133mhz, 80gb hard drive, geforce 4 mx.

[Keikan]

What are you using the computer for?

What are your current processer

[Triadcool]

My current prosessor is 1.0 ghz and im going to use it for playing games and the usual stuff.

[Keikan]

You think YOU need a new computer look at mine!!!!

Anyways, $400 hmmmm

I guess i would go buy a new processer, ram and a new graphic card, if your mom is willing buy cheap on the internet then it will be cheap on the internet

Maybe get:

Athlon xp 2400+
Some Asus Mobo
and like 2 sticks of 512mb ram pc-2700
and like ati radeon 9200 128mb You might not need the graphic card but you haven't completely told me what graphic card u have

[Broken]

Although i know some people have had some bad experiences with them i would go with a computer by emachine.

400 dollar computer (http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_T2542)

It's just a basic system, not a graphics machine but not bad for the price and you can always upgrade. I've had a emachine for about a year now and it's been great... customer service is friendly, i had to deal with them once when a stick of pny memory that i bought went bad and i couldn't figure out what was wrong.

[Wolfmight]

here's my suggestion for under $400 for a good upgrade.

I reccommend http://www.newegg.com

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Motherboard: (about $100)
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Asus, Gigabyte, or Soyo Dragon Motherboard (there are some others, but these are some good ones i know of) I got a Gigabtye.. awsome motherboard.
You can get a decent one for around $100.
What CPU type do u have (AMD or Intel?). I suggest an Althon XP cause u can get a 2.0ghz one for under $100. Intel is faster, but it does cost alot more.. thus going over your $400 limit and no room for a faster graphics card.
What type of ram do u have? (DDR or SDRAM?) Hopefully DDR, since it's faster... if not, you can go with an sdram motherboard.. but i suggest u sell that sdram and buy ddr if possible. Make sure the motherboard stats say: 8x AGP, Atleast FSB 400, DDR 400, Usb 2.0.


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2.0ghz CPU ($70-80)
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get an Althon XP 2400 2.0ghz only costs about $70 (dont use pricewatch.com to find this.. you will be scammed)


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128mb ATI Radeon 9500Pro Graphics card ($200)
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Note: The 9600pro is slower.. ati decided to use an older model chipset with 4 pixel pipeline or something.. the benchmark tests clearly show 9500 pro is faster. (search google yourself if u want more info)
You said you had a geforce 4 mx? Those had 64mb video ram and about a 4 pixel pipeline. The ATI Radeon 9500 Pro has 128mb video ram with an 8 pixel pipeline.. plus the clock and ram Mhz are much higher as well. I used to have an Nvidia Geforce 4 MX 440 64mb myself, so I benchmarked the same 2 cards myself basicly and noticed the Radeon 9500 Pro was about 5-6 times faster useing 3Dmark03. You will be able to run even the latest 3d games at max graphics settings at atleast 30 fps normally.

;) hope this helps

[Keikan]

Originally posted by Broken@12 October 2003 - 16:57
Although i know some people have had some bad experiences with them i would go with a computer by emachine.

400 dollar computer (http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_T2542)

It's just a basic system, not a graphics machine but not bad for the price and you can always upgrade. I've had a emachine for about a year now and it's been great... customer service is friendly, i had to deal with them once when a stick of pny memory that i bought went bad and i couldn't figure out what was wrong.
You can't play games with a celeron

[Triadcool]

why cant you play games with a celeron

[Broken]

sure you can, with a decent graphics card a celeron can out perform a p4 pc.

before anyone buys a computer i would recomend waiting till after the end of the year. intel will be releasing a new line in the first half of 2004. Intel will start producing Celeron chips with 256KB of L2 and 533MHz PSB. Making them really compariable to the current p4. However they will also release a new p5 called the prescott, which will blow everything out of the water... 5 ghz!

[ScotchGuy]

Originally posted by Triadcool@12 October 2003 - 16:30
why cant you play games with a celeron
You can, but I would not suggest a celeron. They're pretty low quality processors. Go for a P4 if you must, but I would recommend an AMD Athlon XP 2200.

And listen to Wolfmight, newegg.com is definitely the way to go.

[Triadcool]

ok thanks.

[sage0112]

You ont get a very good gaming machine for $400. Try ebay though.

Good video cards alone cost $100+. I suggest gettin a job and savin the $$ so u can get a good machine.

[Pitbul]

Originally posted by Broken@12 October 2003 - 17:33
sure you can, with a decent graphics card a celeron can out perform a p4 pc.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:






























...you moron.

[lynx]

Originally posted by JPaul
That's a bit harsh

[Wolfmight]

did u even see my previous post? explains how to use $400 to upgrade to a decent computer.

[kurtsl0an]

that newegg.com site kicks major arse.

[_John_Lennon_]

Okay a couple of things, and forgive me if I offend anyone.

1. If you buy anything from E machines, your a moron that bought a piece of crap.

2. If you bought a computer (a whole one) from ebay, your a moron, and you made the seller an easy 200+ usually.

3. My old 2.2 Celeron was worse in every single benchmark except text searching, in comparison to a AMD XP 1700+.

Now, from what it sounds like you have, your good to go on your hard drive, and im curious to know what games you want to play and are planning to play, as well as what kind of Geforce MX card you have, there are Gf 2's and gf 4's 32-128MBs, all of the MX brand. I have a Geforce MX 440 128MB card, and it runs fine on Halo, even with detailing turned up. I thinks I get like 60-70 FPS, on a non lagging server, which means it runs smoothly to me atleast.

Now a few questions,
- what wattage is your PS.
- can you reuse your case
- your CD
- your video card
- your floppy drive

With that in mind, I just pulled up this motherboard/processor/ram combo from Newegg, hope it helps some too.

GEIL DDR RAM 512MB PC-3200 Value 400MHz Ultra- CAS 2.5, 2T Command With Extreme Performance Heat SpreaderGL5123200B Value. DDR400, CAS 2.5, 184 Pin Dimm, High Quality 6 Layer PCB OEM - Lifetime Warranty. High Performance at Affortable Price!!! more info>
N82E16820144305 $83.00


Motherboards - AMD
Biostar Motherboard for AMD Athlon/AthlonXP/Duron processors , Model# M7NCD PRO Retail.
$72.00

Processors
►Top Seller!
AMD ATHLON XP 2500+ "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR CPU- RETAIL - 90 dollars


Sorry, that was a sloppy copy and paste, but thats a similar to set up to what I have, and its a bit on the high end of the 400 dollar limit, seeing as how its 250 for just those 3 things, but if your video card is as new as mine, a case and a powersupply and maybe a CD drive is all you need to get going.

If you have any more inqiruies, just tell us!

[Keikan]

Originally posted by Broken@12 October 2003 - 17:33
sure you can, with a decent graphics card a celeron can out perform a p4 pc.


Your kidding right? :mellow:

[Cygnuz-Y]

I dont think you need a high end GFX card, buy a Geforce 4 MX440, is like $50 and is really worth the price, i have that one, and i can play UT2k3 at 50 FPS at 1024 * 768 with all SFX on....

[Monkeee]

Originally posted by _John_Lennon_@14 October 2003 - 02:30
1. If you buy anything from E machines, your a moron that bought a piece of crap.
your crazy my Emachines rule all i did is change the Vid card and add 512 ram to get a gig of ram and it OWNS all gaming SYSTEM!

[james_bond_rulez]

Originally posted by Monkeee+14 October 2003 - 05:20--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Monkeee @ 14 October 2003 - 05:20)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-_John_Lennon_@14 October 2003 - 02:30
1. If you buy anything from E machines, your a moron that bought a piece of crap.
your crazy my Emachines rule all i did is change the Vid card and add 512 ram to get a gig of ram and it OWNS all gaming SYSTEM&#33; [/b][/quote]
i now pronounce you officially insane <_<

[leonidas]

Originally posted by Broken@13 October 2003 - 01:33
However they will also release a new p5 called the prescott, which will blow everything out of the water... 5 ghz&#33;
How much will this cost? :huh:

[Broken]

Intel Prescott

Features

0.09 micron process
81mm©÷ die
800MHz FSB
16k L1 cache
1MB L2 cache
Advanced Hyper-Threading Technology
Prescott New Instructions (PNI) support
Expected ¡Ã3.2GHz (scaleable up to 5GHz)
Support for LaGrande security technology (may not be enabled)
Availability: Q4 03 or Q1 04

Price is will be somewhere around &#036;637 for the lower end models of the chip

[Pitbul]

will it be 64-bit? and shit with Windows Elements or something like that?

[Broken]

"News reports have suggested much earlier this year that Intel&#39;s upcoming Prescott CPU could sport some sort of 64-bit technology, and now The Inquirer confirms earlier this weekend that the Prescott will indeed feature 64-bit functionality after all."

if anyone needs more start a new topic so i don&#39;t start getting to far away from the origianl.... as if i haven&#39;t already