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General discussion

just found out I need a computer, basics ok...

Jul 8, 2005 5:35PM PDT

ok, I need to get a computer ASAP. Within the next few days / week or two would be really nice.
I'm on a limited budget, and am willing to make some sacrifices in performance. If I can keep it under $80 to $100 (or lower if possible) that would be nice.

software I will probably be running:
OS: Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Professional (I already have a CD)
games: Half-Life (original, not HL 2), Total Annihilation, maybe a few (no new ones probably though)
multimedia: Goldwave (an audio editing app) and Photoshop and maybe a few other things

I'll need USB (2.0 would be nice) as I'll be plugging in a digital camera, mp3 player, flash card reader into the computer.

ok, here's somewhat of a config idea:
probably Duron/Sempron/Celeron - at least 1 GHz is preferable (my parents have a 1.4ghz)
at least 256MB of RAM. My parents' computer has that and it's slow when I open a lot of stuff, but I can live with that much for now.
I already have an 80GB and a 250GB hard drive, so that's not necessary.
I could probably share my bro's or parents' DVD writer over the network (or I'd like an 8x DVD+/-RW)
I'd like something somwhat decent with video and sound - hopefully onboard would suffice for now.
also a network card is required
my bro has a 17" Sony CRT that I could probably use for now. otherwise I'd like a 15" LCD (but that would severely up the cost), and if I get the LCD I want a good quality wireless network card.

So what should I look for in the basics? (the extra stuff that I specified hopefully won't be required.)

Discussion is locked

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If I can keep it under $80 to $100
Jul 8, 2005 6:18PM PDT

assuming that there isn't a ''zero'' mising there, i would make a guess that it's impossible?

tower+PSU
motherboard(audio/video/ethernet/usb/modem onboard)+processor
RAM

an idea of prices
compusa

newegg

best buy

staples

hope this helps a little

.

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...
Jul 9, 2005 5:22AM PDT

I made some specifications, but DID say that it doesn't HAVE to have EVERYTHING.

price: I said under $100 would be nice but I didn't say it HAD to be there. (although hopefully I can find the stuff 4 less on ebay or a local non-national store (I'm in San Diego, CA))
board: just found out my brother might have one, but it doesn't like to run Windows. Linux runs fine, but L isn't going to be my primary OS (and I might not run it at all.) I plan to run Windows XP or 2000, for which I already have a CD. I think I'll still need a board.
RAM: preferably at least 256MB. That's what my parents have and it's about the minimum for my use.
CPU speed: 1 GHz is hopefully OK. I wonder how much less I can go with and still get ok performance with the software I'll be using? (my parents have a 1.4 and it's not blazing, but it's acceptable)
HD, DVD, monitor: I either have them or can share them
I DO need a network card (or on-board network).

BTW, I run Half Life in windowed mode with d3d (so I can see underwater Silly) and at 800x600 (or 640x480 sometimes) and get decent enough fps to play. One thing weird about my parents' system is if I try to step it up any higher than 800x600 windowed or 1024x768 full screen, I get keyboard to monitor communication lag - I press a movement key, and it takes noticable time to respond on the screen, even if I'm connected to a local tfc server.

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i'm going to agree, that's next to impossible...
Jul 8, 2005 8:30PM PDT

ok, compusa is a horrible place to shop due to prices and poor customer support/service

i'd suggest newegg unless you live an area where they charge tax

i'd use this mobo/cpu combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813138244

this RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820141168
(i priced it with 2)

this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811148029

(you can pick something else if you want, i just grabbed a half-way decent value level case)

and this PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817153006

total is $200.47 w/o shipping
and $227.62 with shipping (this is all at newegg)

advantages:
1.8GHZ CPU, which isn't so horribly slow
has an AGP slot, which means you can throw in a nice AGP card in the future
decent PSU, so it won't fail in 3 months

i'd say that's about the best you can get and still have performance for upgradability
cheaper mobo/CPU combos exist, but it's either an integrated CPU (Which means no removal of it, it's hard-wired into the board) or a slow slow CPU (think sub GHZ)

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can't build a $80 to $100 pc
Jul 9, 2005 1:16AM PDT

good luck running games on this budget.

rethink it

konny

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please consider...
Jul 9, 2005 1:35AM PDT

the games he wants

Half-Life 1, that's DirectX 6 or 7
Total Anhilation, that's pre-DirectX or DirectX 5
i mean, you can do Total Anhilation on 2MB Cirrus Logic cards

and Half-Life 1 will run on any half-decent 3D card (i've run it on nVidia Riva and some Z named card, granted the lesser (Z something) did 640x480, still ran at high FPS w/o much lag)

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(NT) (NT)yes, i DID consider
Jul 9, 2005 2:31AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) What about buying?
Jul 9, 2005 5:40AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) buying what?
Jul 9, 2005 6:07AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) A computer
Jul 9, 2005 6:19AM PDT
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That would be an option....
Jul 9, 2005 6:26AM PDT

what can I get that's 2 or 3 or 4 years old for a decent price that will run the stuff I want to run?

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Yes...
Jul 9, 2005 6:59AM PDT

I'm sure you could find a good used computer on Ebay for your budget but it will obviously be alittle flaky. It is next to impossible. If you can spend around $250 bucks check out my option below. I think it will be a safer option.

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Gee Pianoplayer since you are
Jul 9, 2005 6:34AM PDT

making a reply, you must be serious on wanting a $80-$100 computer. The only way I see is for you to go to a used computer sales shop, big cities usually have them, and find a beat up old PC cheap computer still operating and try to build from there for $80-$100. Then again there are ''bare bones'' that can be had.

Ozos mention some prices...still over $100 total. CompUSA has a $199.99 computer (after rebates), without monitor, in their Flyer Special ending today.

http://tinyurl.com/dcqn2

http://tinyurl.com/a2ctn

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(NT) (NT) Even that one would not meet your requirements
Jul 9, 2005 6:40AM PDT
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What I would do...
Jul 9, 2005 6:53AM PDT

I would buy this PC at Walmart for $248.00 with:

-AMD 1.5 GHz Sempron 2200+ processor
-128 MB (DDR PC333) with another open socket
-40 GB Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive / 5400 RPM
-52x CD-ROM Drive
-Integrated 10/100 Ethernet Connection
-Available slots: 2 PCI, 1 AGP 8x
-No OS installed.

Check out the full specs on the site.

This computer gives you a good foundation to start with. I would add some more of that cheap RAM (PC333) that Ozos found. Then you could take out the 40GB drive and put the larger ones in. However, you may need a BIOS update for that large 250gb drive, idk. You could also put in the 40gb and 80gb drives both in and make 1 of them a slave drive for a total of 120gb of storage (Of course depending on you BIOS). Then install your Operating system that you have. You could easily add some more drives too, but the CD-ROM is a good start. There is an open AGP slot for a graphics card, but it also has integrated graphics. There are a total of 4 usb(2.0)ports for your peripherals. This solution is a very good option considering your budget. After all this you could have a decent computer for under $300 that meets your requirements.

If you were willing to spend more, you would obviously get more.

Yes I know you budget was $80-$100 but that is just impossible. This is the cheapest solution I found. You could go with Ozos solution but that is just the CPU, MOBO, CASE, and RAM.

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budget may increase a little...
Jul 9, 2005 8:50AM PDT

after I return 2 pretec 512MB 40x CompactFlash cards to Fry's. I paid $39.99 plus tax for each.

Basically I would probably be ok with 1 GHz and 256MB of ram, and the other specs. Pretty much everyone seems to be suggesting stuff upwards of 2GHz. I'm not planning to run Half Life 4 on this machine!

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Well buying new is out of the question....
Jul 9, 2005 11:22AM PDT

Just Google used computer and you get 84,400,000 results.

Used Computer
Affordable Computers

Just 2 examples of millions out there. I personally would not buy a used computer.

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budget may increase a little...
Jul 11, 2005 7:08AM PDT

" 512MB 40x CompactFlash cards to Fry's".
FRY's !!!! You went to a FRY's and DIDN'T LOOK AT PC PRICES????????????
Come on get real. FRY's lowest price PC Is $180. No monitor and it comes with linspire 4.5 not XP.

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I went to Fry's
Jul 11, 2005 4:58PM PDT

but that $149.99 PC comes with a > 1.8GHz processor (I only need 1 GHz), and 128MB of ram (I need >= 256MB).

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I went to Fry's
Jul 12, 2005 12:23AM PDT

Well this is the first time some one complained that a processor was to fast.
Get the FRY's PC ( sale ends today) you can add 128bm of ram latter. Will only be $20~30. If you don't like lispire you can install XP later. John

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P.S.
Jul 12, 2005 12:26AM PDT

I found the FRY'S flyer in the office at least for my area PLU# 4199563/ AMD Sempron 2200+/ 128mb/40gbHD/52x CD/nic/ $179.

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I only complained because....
Jul 12, 2005 6:00AM PDT

the $$$ on the super blazing processor (compared to what I need) and the HD (I already have an 80GB AND a 250GB) would be better spent on more memory (minimum 256MB - preferably 512MB or 1GB) and a DVD+/-RW.

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(NT) (NT) Find me a [b]NEW[/b] 1GHz OEM PC....Good luck...
Jul 12, 2005 10:28AM PDT
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USED is OK....
Jul 12, 2005 5:08PM PDT

so long as it doesn't have anything serious wrong with it that can't be easily fixed.

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USED is OK....
Jul 13, 2005 2:57AM PDT

Well I posted a link on the 11th for a company that has a lot of used PCs did you look? John

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Heres my suggestion
Jul 10, 2005 2:10AM PDT

AMD Sempron 2200+ Thoroughbred 333MHz FSB 256KB L2 Cache Socket A Processor 1.5Ghz --$60+ tax
PC CHIPS M863G V5.1A Socket A (Socket 462) SiS 741GX Micro ATX AMD Motherboard --$36+ tax
pqi POWER Series 256MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 266 (PC 2100) System Memory--$19.25+ tax <(Or get some used Ebay Ram)>

''Go Sell your 80 gig HD to get some more money''
All From Newegg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104208
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813185053
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141174

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$80 to $100
Jul 11, 2005 7:29AM PDT
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ust found out I need a computer, basics ok...
Jul 13, 2005 5:59AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) Yeaah but thats a 1.8GHz!...it's too fast for him!! lol
Jul 13, 2005 10:52AM PDT