$800 PC

[zoozilla]

Unlike some others on this forum, I don't have $1500 to spend. Instead, my limit is $700. That's it, and I'd really like not to exceed it. I'm used to playing games that are a few years old, so I think a 7600 gt would be sufficient. I would also like a dual-core processor, but I know that it may not be possible. Could you help me find some good parts for a cheap build?

 

[firewolfsm]

X2 3600 (65nm Brisbane) - $85 for OEM, $95 with box (and heatsink)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103036 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103046 - Retail
You could use the extra $10 towards a better cooler like the Freezer 64 (around $30)

EVGA 7600GT - $110 - $10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130062
The step-up program lets you get a new card (8600GT) when it comes out for a low cost (around $80)

Biostar TForce 550 AM2 - $80 - $10
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138026
It's a great overclocker, and the AM2 socket will accept the new AMD chips coming out later this year.

WD 250GB HDD 16MB cache - $69 shipped
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101220-12

2GB Corsair DDR2-800 - $190 - $50
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe...?ProductCode=85025-5&prodlist=shopping

Lite-On 20X DVD Burner - $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106050

Seasonic S12 Silent (really) 430W PSU - $75
http://www.case-mod.com/seasonic-s12430...-pcie-power-supply-sleeved-p-1891.html******=fr

XClio 450bl PSU - $38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003
It's a good PSU, less efficient, louder, less sleeved cables and more likely to fail after the first 6 months than the Seasonic.

That leaves you the rest for your case, any upgrades you would want to make to these choices, and any fan/heatsink upgrades. If you get the cheaper PSU and keep the limit to $800 you should be able to get an 8800GTS 320MB.

 

[SickBeast]

He should be able to get an 8800GTS 320mb with an $800 PC.

 

[nullpointerus]

Depending on how much you have left over for your case, I would recommend the Enermax Chakra and (2) Yate Loon 120mm fans. The perforation means that the case won't hide the noise quite as much, but the case will have plenty of airflow--especially with the included 250mm fan on its side panel.

If you are sensitive to fan noise, watch out for the system board's northbridge fan and the video card's GPU fan. Those little things are usually of very poor quality and are made to spin at extremely high speeds. Zalman makes good, inexpensive cooling for both kinds of parts BTW.

 

[s44]

You don't need DDR2-800 for AMD.

Also, does the OP have a monitor/OS?

 

[Running]

Originally posted by: s44
You don't need DDR2-800 for AMD.

Also, does the OP have a monitor/OS?

its AM2

 

[nitromullet]

Antec Solution SLK3800B Black Case w/ 400W PSU---------------------------------$100.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129163
LG Black DVD burner---------------------------------------------------------------------$31.63
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827136103
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600JS 160GB HD--------------------------------------$58.93
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144415
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Socket AM2--------------------------------------------------$89.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103760
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1024MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800-------------$195.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590
ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra-----------------------------------$99.40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131022
EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB------------------------------------$286.12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130082

TOTAL------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$861.06

All prices Newegg, include shipping, and do not take rebates into account. There is a $20 rebate on the video card and a $40 on the RAM. I think it would be almost impossible to build a $700 rig with an 8800GTS 320MB worthy of the card unless you overclocked the hell out of a cheap cpu.

You could also go with this case instead, which has a higher power (Seasonic OEM supposedly):

Antec NSK6500 with 430W PSU-------------------------------------------------------$117.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129015

...although it blows your $800 budget by almost $20 even after mail in rebates...

Of course, if $700 is your hard limit (it's not quite clear from your subject and first post), then I would suggest an X1950Pro, which would be a much better card than a 7600GT.

SAPPHIRE 100176L Radeon X1950PRO 256MB 256-bit GDDR3--------------------$171.63
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102061
(again, not including $20 rebate)

edit:

...I should also make the qualifier that the build I put together mainly focuses on gaming and your desire for a dual core chip. If you're not a gamer, get a lesser video card and get a faster cpu. If you go with a considerably cheaper video card, then I would also suggest that you go with a Core 2 Duo E4300 and one of the Gigabyte P965 chipset based motherboards, instead of the AMD setup (both use the same RAM).

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz-------------------------------------------$169.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115013
GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard----$111.12
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128017

Regrettably, for $800, I simply can't put together a decent E4300 and 8800GTS rig.

 

[Whipped]

Asus A8N 32-SLI-Deluxe Socket 939 c/ AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ OEM / CPU Fan / ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side / 500 Watt Power Supply-Barebones kit....389.99----------349.99 AR

tigerdirect.com

Western Digital 250GB Internal Hard Drive.....94.99----------59.99 AR

circuitcity.com

SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R 48X CD-ROM IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner -------------29.99 Free ship

newegg.com

G.SKILL Value 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 ------------------64.99

newegg.com

(TWO) Foxconn FV-N76TM2D2 GeForce 7600GT 256MB....114.99 ea ---------79.99x2 AR ----Out of Stock (ETA:03/23/2007)

newegg.com

Total=$664.94 AR