Spec out a $700 PC?

[Justin]

Well, a friend of a friend wants me to build him a new PC for college.
He's looking to spend about $1,000 total so I figure spec out the
hardware for $700, XP Pro, Office and AVG Free should bring it to about
$1,000.

So... What would you guys suggest? Both fromt he AMD and Intel side
of things.

 

[Chris Hill]

Well, a friend of a friend wants me to build him a new PC for college.
He's looking to spend about $1,000 total so I figure spec out the
hardware for $700, XP Pro, Office and AVG Free should bring it to about
$1,000.

Just buy one. You can't build it cheaper than you can buy it.

 

[Rod Speed]

Just buy one. You can't build it cheaper than you can buy it.

You can if you know what you are doing, and
get a better machine for the same price too.

 

[Charlie Wilkes]

Well, a friend of a friend wants me to build him a new PC for college.
He's looking to spend about $1,000 total so I figure spec out the
hardware for $700, XP Pro, Office and AVG Free should bring it to about
$1,000.

So... What would you guys suggest? Both fromt he AMD and Intel side
of things.

Here is one I built early this year:

www.geocities.com/wilkes_charlie/new_system.htm

I'm completely satisfied with it. About a month ago, someone asked me
to spec the cheapest possible video editing system similar to the one
I have. Here is what I came up with, including shipping:

Motherboard MSI K8M800 PGA754 45.49 Page Computer
CPU Athlon 64 ADA3000BXBOX 96.52 Mwave
Video Sapphire 9600 pro 256mb (AGP) 65.99 Zipzoomfly
RAM Corsair VS 2x512mb 91.50 Zipzoomfly
Firewire card Q-SEE 19.98 Buy
HDD WD Caviar IDE 250gb 78.45 Newegg
CD/DVD burner Benq Litescribe 44.66 Newegg
PSU Antec sp350 40.84 Page Computer
Monitor Acer 1515b 141.69 YesMicro

$573.58

This assumes a scrap case, mouse, keyboard etc. Because it's a socket
754 CPU and an AGP board, it doesn't have much upgrade potential, but
you shave a few bucks. I would suggest upgrading to the 9800 pro,
available from Compuvest for $88 plus shipping, if you can figure out
how to navigate their terrible web site.

Charlie

 

[Chris Hill]

You can if you know what you are doing, and
get a better machine for the same price too.

Bolony. I'm not going to bother responding to you again. Needless to
say, I wouldn't make a claim unless I'd checked it.>

 

[Mike T.]

Well, a friend of a friend wants me to build him a new PC for college.
He's looking to spend about $1,000 total so I figure spec out the
hardware for $700, XP Pro, Office and AVG Free should bring it to about
$1,000.

So... What would you guys suggest? Both fromt he AMD and Intel side
of things.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2368121&Sku=B450-2200 E

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814145112

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148141

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106019

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145479 (note total
of 1GB, with tiger direct barebone including 512MB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102002

Then add speakers, keyboard, mouse, monitor. -Dave

 

[Carlos]

Well, a friend of a friend wants me to build him a new PC for college.
He's looking to spend about $1,000 total so I figure spec out the
hardware for $700, XP Pro, Office and AVG Free should bring it to about
$1,000.

So... What would you guys suggest? Both fromt he AMD and Intel side
of things.

Does he need a monitor? If so, that $1000 budget is looking pretty slim.

 

[Mike T.]

Does he need a monitor? If so, that $1000 budget is looking pretty slim.

Not really, I spec'd out a decent *dual-core* Intel system with 1GB of
high-quality RAM and a large hard drive, a decent video card and lightscribe
D/L dvd burner for about $550 earlier. Adding a 17" LCD monitor to the
system might bring it over $700 a little, but not much. Me, I'd stretch the
budget to fit a 19" LCD monitor in, though. -Dave

 

[Carlos]

Not really, I spec'd out a decent *dual-core* Intel system with 1GB of
high-quality RAM and a large hard drive, a decent video card and lightscribe
D/L dvd burner for about $550 earlier. Adding a 17" LCD monitor to the
system might bring it over $700 a little, but not much. Me, I'd stretch the
budget to fit a 19" LCD monitor in, though. -Dave

Perhaps you could share with us the parts... I think that's what the OP
was interested in. I too agree a nice lcd monitor is not a place to skimp.

As for the OP, it would be nice to know what your friend plans to do
with the machine... gaming, video editing, office apps? This is
important to know so that you can intelligently choose components.

 

[Rod Speed]

Bolony.

Completely trivial to prove it isnt.

I'm not going to bother responding to you again.

Great, there is only so much mindless
shit anyone should have to put up with.

Needless to say, I wouldn't make a claim unless I'd checked it.

Pity its drivel anyway.

You cant work out how to get the best value components ? YOUR problem.

 

[Justin]

Perhaps you could share with us the parts... I think that's what the OP
was interested in. I too agree a nice lcd monitor is not a place to skimp.

As for the OP, it would be nice to know what your friend plans to do
with the machine... gaming, video editing, office apps? This is
important to know so that you can intelligently choose components.

I gave you the $700 price limit because I have the monitor and all the
OS/software picked out. The upper limit is somewhat negotiable. I'll
make the suggestions and if he OKs the deal I start building.
I have a Viewera monitor and I think its decent - built in speakers
though.
Hey, he's in college to learn not play games. hehehe...