I'm no expert on building computers so I need some guidance. I'm looking for a decent desktop setup to do some gaming. It doesn't need to be top of the line, but it has to be able to play most games.

The only way I'm considering taking this up as a project is if the price is right. I already have a newer laptop but it can't handle a lot of games. I want a desktop that I can continue to customize and work with.


I already have an old monitor, case, keyboard, mouse, speakers and that sort of stuff.

So I guess what I want to know is:

1. What are some estimates I should expect to pay for a respectable setup? I know this depends on hardware, but tell me what you know.

2. Where is a good place to buy parts?

3. What are some good links to guides regarding this sort of stuff.

good places: newegg.com and tigerdirect.com

generally newegg has the better deal on parts and tiger has the better deal on periphernalia

if you're not getting new monitors/keyboards/stuff and not paying for an OS then your looking at around 500 for a mid high end setup

there are a number of barebone kits too if you're just gonna build a tower but thats less customization

http://roast.phpnet.us/zc.html

here's the rubric i made for a computer i built
bare in mind it was about 2 years ago

i built it in specific to handle oblivion and then some, and i also payed for a monitor and windows xp pro retail (which are byfar the most expensive components), and managed to keep it under 1k

now alot of those link to deactivated items, and all those prices have changed (computer industry moves fast) but they're a good idea of what to look for, i respect each of those brands

also im pretty sure you can get a better geforce for the money, i rebuilt this setup for a friend a bit later and i managed to get him a 7800gt for the same price, and im sure processor more capable processors are cheaper these days.

corpus just post how much you can comfortably spend and i'll link you to some shit

This, gimme a budget and a time frame and I can help ya out. If you want to check deals everyday to get the best price like I did and you should, dealspl.us and slickdeals.net and zipzoomfly.com are great for that.

I spent 900 dollars without a monitor/OS (picked a 22" widescreen up later for 280). Full system, 4gb Ram, Sapphire Radeon HD 10225L gfx card, 500gb hdd, generic DVD-RW, and a Raidmax case with included power supply, and a mobo i forget which it is and an AMD dual core of some kind (all of the printoffs for it are at home, and i'm at work).

It was essentially built based on a buying guide from SharkyExtreme.com, that assembles different tiers of rigs based on prices.

http://www.sharkeyextreme.com/guides/index.php
Check on the left for their guides, mine was based on the value gaming system (with some changes/upgrades).

Also, I bought all of my parts newegg.com - where you can occasionally find really nice combo deals.

wat

also 900 for that is not so good actually withouth knowing specific details at least

and those guides are all several months behind :(

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814102719
^- That.

Not denying they aren't several months behind. Like I said, I BASED my build off of it - but included upgrades in certain aspects (processor and the graphics card, for starters). If he's looking to build a decent rig that's cheap, a guide such as that with it being a couple months behind may be just what he's looking for.

An HD3870 is what you have man, lol

anyway the guides were okay, but i wouldn't recommend a lot of the shit on there.

I didn't remember what it was actually called nub >.> This was a couple months ago.
I just remembered the first bits (which i said before).

well i don't see how you remember 0290393 and not hd3870 lol >_>

I always used 100225L to look up the card when I was ordering it.
It stuck in my head.

Check out Arstechnica's system building guide:
http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/guide-200803.ars

and the green one:
http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/guide-200802-green.ars

this nigga aint even payin attention to his topic >:(

No joke! Bitches.

It looks like most stuff is out of my price range. Things are more expensive than I thought.


I was only looking to put something together for like 400 bucks. I wasn't trying to build a serious gaming machine. I hardly play that much. I just wanted to get some kind of desktop setup so I could add new parts as I need them. I figured I might be able to scrape together some used stuff and make something that works.

yeah 400 wont really get you shit.

You can get a bitchin processor now. Intel just cut their quad-core series by %50. Of course, if you're only looking to pay $400, you best look elsewhere. A new mobo,processor,videocard,ram,ect. is going to cost you about $1000 for a pretty darn good PC. I haven't updated my computer in forever (i still have a 6800GT), but I'm looking to update soon. I'm expecting to pay around that much. As long as I can play most games on medium settings without much lag, I'm fine.

I never said I was looking for all new parts.

I think you guys keep overlooking the fact that I'm just trying to put together an ordinary desktop computer. I must have misled you when I said "gaming." I already have a newer laptop I use, it just is limited on ram and I can't change the videocard. I just wanted to see if I could scrape together stuff for a desktop since they are easier to update.

I'm not looking to build something overly nice and up-to-date. Just whatever I can get together on a tight budget.


So I don't see why I should need to spend $1000 bucks if they sell desktops for less than $600.

not a single desktop that sells for 600 or 700 will have a decent videocard or power supply, that's why.

and yeah you obviously mislead us when you said gaming lol

but when it comes to such a low budget, it makes more sense to just buy a cheap prebuilt and buy a new psu and vidcard later when you get a chance.

and why would you not want new parts? if you buy old shit it's not going to be any cheaper, and that will cut off any potential upgrades.

if he's trying to get more with his money i say get a barebone kit from tigerdirect or new egg, especially if he doesnt need monitor and shits

good deals on em too for what they got

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...u=P450-9102%20N

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...ku=I69-2148%20B

then just stick in a good vidcard and hdd, already comes with a 500w psu which i think should suffice

lots of the barebones come with less or more components included like this one has all the gays: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...9&CatId=333


blah blah good price: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...5&CatId=333

there are more faggy cheaper ones too

oh and if you want u can just look at the parts they offer and take it apart if you're price range is lesser and since you already have a case

but then, im no expert i just buy what money can get me