AO Challenge: Build the best computer you can for $400

[rkjunior303]

All -

I'm in need of a new PC. I have been looking for barebones systems and have an idea what I want -- My challenge to you is, build the best PC (minus a HD or CD/DVD) for $400. If you make a system I may purchase, I may give you something. Call it a small prize or thank you.

Requirements.

P4 Duo
1gig Ram
Good video

I haven't had a gaming rig in YEARS and I'm sick of my work laptop.

Let the games BEGIN!

[behemoth]

lazyass.

newegg.com

pricewatch.com

have fun.

[robnix]

lazyass.

newegg.com

pricewatch.com

have fun.
:clap:

[d4m4don3]

lazyass.

newegg.com

pricewatch.com

have fun.

Carefull with newegg, they manhandle the tower cases.

[Skoad]

Duo's start at like $250, so good luck.

[robnix]

Carefull with newegg, they manhandle the tower cases.

It's the shipping company or poor packing by the case manufacturer that does that. I've ordered four or five Antec cases from Newegg without any issues.

[rkjunior303]

Duo's start at like $250, so good luck.

I can get an Intel barebones - case, Intel board, Duo 3.2ghz, 1gb ram, 120gig HD for $349 from Tiger.

[robnix]

I can get an Intel barebones - case, Intel board, Duo 3.2ghz, 1gb ram, 120gig HD for $349 from Tiger.

Tiger is the Devil.

[geekwarrior]

I have some Dell laptop batteries you can have for cheap :D

[personman]

I can get an Intel barebones - case, Intel board, Duo 3.2ghz, 1gb ram, 120gig HD for $349 from Tiger.
So get it? It seems to meet your specs and sounds like a good deal.

[WaffleBaron]

$349 leaves you with $51 assuming the barebones comes with the shipping already included. Regardless, $51 isn't much of a vid card for a gaming rig. If you've got a spare case or can use an old one budget $80 RAM, $125 Vidcard, leaving $195 for CPU, drives, and board. Closest i can see with a dual core setup would be the combo special for $221 at Newegg even though its an AMD 3800+ and not intel (total $426) plus drives, or an Intel D820 Smithfield which is about $116 (not really for gaming) and a $70-80 mobo. Your bottleneck will be video no matter what CPU you run with that budget.

[Pacifist_Farmer]

Call Dell.

[Timmee]

Check out ZipZoomFly.com. Their prices are about the same as NewEgg, but the shipping is cheap in a lot of cases.

[hgp3fat]

Check out ZipZoomFly.com. Their prices are about the same as NewEgg, but the shipping is cheap in a lot of cases.

I built my system with parts from zipzoomfly and newegg, I just got what I wanted from the site that was the cheapest. No problems with the return I had to make to newegg (bad ram).

And my Lian Li case arrived in perfect condition.

Only advice, don't go cheap on the mobo! I always use Asus and never have any problems.

[FooTemps]

are you kidding? 400 for even a media machine is stretching it (granted you want lots of space on it... but having a small hard drive on a media server defeats the purpose of having one)

Okay, for cheap setup.
Pentium D 805 The budget overclocker's dream
OR
AMD A64 x2 3800+ AM2 Dual core + amd = can't really go wrong

Onboard video Jk, that'd be stupid.
7600GS? I don't know... hahaha

OCZ ram They are coming up with ridiculously good stuff IMO

I give up, that's already way over budget

[hgp3fat]

I built a system for a co-worker who had a $600 budget, not including a monitor or windows, which they already had. They got a 1.8ghz AMD 64, Asus board, Geforce 6600GT, 1gig of ram, dvd burner, and a 120gig hard drive. I didn't skimp on the case or power supply either (420w... I think).

All from newegg and under budget... $400 is pushing it for a good system... save more money!

[9868Classic]

My setup currently forsale ($450 + shipping)

<Purchased all on 8-20 thru 8-25 of 05)
ASUS A7V8X-X Socket A (Socket 462) VIA KT400A ATX AMD Motherboard
SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800PRO 128M Radeon 9800PRO 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card
AMD Athlon XP 3200+ Barton 400MHz FSB Socket A Processor Model AXDA3200DKV4E
CORSAIR ValueSelect 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory Model VS512MB400 (Qty: 3)
I/O MAGIC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP
Thermaltake Volcano Series Coolers - Silent Boost CPU Cooler

Upgraded some pieces later

Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX M (Had a POWMAX got tired of the really bright LEDs this one has them, but they don't shoot straight off, only to the side. Plus looks like a mini fridge) Lockable (heavy though)
COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power 713001180 ATX12V 600W (POWMAX Power Supply was on the fritz. Forced Upgrade. Awesome quiet.)
CORSAIR ValueSelect 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 40 (Added to give me 1.5 gig of RAM(included in quanity listed above))
Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JB 250GB 7200 RPM (Upgraded from 80gig HD. I never came close to filling up 80 gigs. Figured I might start downloading music. Never happened. Currently using less than 3% of my HD)

OS
Windows XP