Help building a PC on a budget

• JustNoOne wrote on 2011-08-12 06:24
  I want to build a PC for under $400 because I'm on a budget but i have two problems.
  
  This is my first time so i don't know how to assemble a pc. second, i don't know what parts to search for so i don't know if i'm getting the bang for my buck.
  
  so can you guys help? o.o
• Shirayuki wrote on 2011-08-12 06:26
  [Image: http://puu.sh/4g8I]

  
  
  save $100, build this, will last your for a couple of years if all you do is gaming and not hardcore multitasking.
  
  from tomshardware.com
  
  could even downgrade the graphics and get some $100 card, but the card listed should run anything on a small-medium monitor in pretty high settings.
• JustNoOne wrote on 2011-08-12 07:11
  ohh snap, but how would you assemble it? If I were to buy the parts, would it be possible to assemble it like lego blocks? if it isn't, I kinda need a guide and I don't know what to do than >.<
  
  and I guess it would be best to say what I'm going to do with this PC, this pc is a mainly going to be for work and watching videos, so i just need a pc that can do these things.
• Shirayuki wrote on 2011-08-12 07:12
  youtube search it something, it isn't too difficult if you're careful and take your time
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-12 07:24
  That guide doesn't include $100 for a copy of Windows, lol. :( I'm pretty sure he'd have to go for a cheaper video card on that budget, like the Radeon HD 5670 or 6670 instead. Also, the AMD Phenom II triple-core is considered to be a respectable CPU in low-budget builds.
• JustNoOne wrote on 2011-08-12 07:36
  Wait, if i change the cpu, won't i have to change the mother board as well? o.o
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-12 07:40
  You will have to indeed. AMD boards are generally cheaper, too.
  
  btw.. I'm assuming you already have a monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.. cause fitting those into the tiny budget will be pretty hard.
• JustNoOne wrote on 2011-08-12 07:43
  yes i do ^^
  
  so i searched for a motherboard and a cpu to replace the ones given in the guide and i found this:
  
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7225660&CatId=4431
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5019773&CatId=13
  
  does it look like these will do? o.o
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-12 07:50
  To be honest, I don't know much about AMD CPUs. >.< Hopefully someone else can advise on that, or I'll try to look up some info, hm...
• Random wrote on 2011-08-12 08:13

  Quote from JustNoOne;549376:

  yes i do ^^
  
  so i searched for a motherboard and a cpu to replace the ones given in the guide and i found this:
  
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7225660&CatId=4431
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5019773&CatId=13
  
  does it look like these will do? o.o

  
  
  They'll work together but I still suggest getting a different motherboard. What guide are you using?
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-12 08:18
  According to this guide, you may want to go with an Phenom II X3 445, $75 on Newegg.
  
  As for the board, I'm not really sure. @_@ Basically any board that supports a Phenom II would work, which are typically the AM3 boards since that CPU is based on the AM3 socket. Maybe this? Seems popular on Newegg. :|
• JustNoOne wrote on 2011-08-12 20:00
  So I did my research and I found some parts to replace the parts given in the guide given by Panda and I think I did a good job of finding parts that are good for my wallet and are able to be built into a respectable pc, your thoughts?
  
  CPU: AMD HDX840WFGMBOX Phenom II X4 840 Processor - Quad Core, 2MB L2 Cache, 3.2GHz, Socket AM3, Fan, Retail $99.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7225660&CatId=4431
  
  Motherboard: MSI 785GTM-E45 Motherboard - Micro ATX, AMD 785G Chipset, Socket AM2+, 1066MHz DDR2, SATA 3.0 Gb/s, RAID, 8-Channel Audio, Gigabit LAN $44.97
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5019773&CatId=13
  
  RAM: Crucial 2GB PC10600 DDR3 1333MHz Desktop Memory Upgrade - 2x1024MB $29.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4779397&CatId=3433
  
  Video card: PowerColor AX5670 1GBK3-H Radeon HD 5670 Video Card - 1GB, DDR3, PCI-Express 2.1 (x16), DVI, HDMI, VGA, DirectX 11, Single-Slot $49.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4779397&CatId=3433
  
  Hard drive: Seagate ST3500413AS Barracuda Hard Drive - 500GB, SATA 6Gbps, 7200 RPM, 16MB $39.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7332879&CatId=2459
  
  Case: Apex PC-389 ATX Black Mid Tower Case $29.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4580415&CatId=1509
  
  Power supply: Thermaltake PurePower 430-Watt Power Supply - ATX, Dual 80mm Fan, 20/24-Pin, SATA Ready, PCI-E Ready $27.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1389575&CatId=1078
  
  Optical drive: Asus DRW-24B3ST/BLK/G/AS Internal 24x CD/DVD Drive - DVD±R 24x, DVD+RW 8x, DVD-RW 6x, DVD±R DL 12x, DVD-RAM 12x, CD-R 48x, CD-RW 24x, SATA, 1.5MB, Black $24.99
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7188842&CatId=1624
  
  Total cost: $399.00
  
  So your thoughts guys? o.o
  
  Also I'm buying from Tiger Direct because it's like 3 blocks from my house so i can go there anytime ^^
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-08-13 02:01
  wait
  you have DDR3 RAM, they're not compatible with a DDR2 board.
  and 840 needs a motherboard around $90ish like a MSI 870A
  
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=165286&CatId=5538
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-13 02:07
  The motherboard uses the outdated AM2+ socket. While the Phenom II (AM3) CPU will work with it, the board only supports older DDR2 RAM. You need to pick an AM3 board. Or use DDR2 RAM instead, which is usually more expensive. 2GB of RAM is also kinda tight.. but I guess it's okay if your board has 4 slots, so you can upgrade to 4GB total later. I'd personally prefer 2GBx2 as a minimum, however.
  
  That case is terrible! D: The exhaust fan grille is thick and horrible. And it doesn't come with any fans. Pick something else, yo! Like this one: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6447916&CatId=1509 Costs $5 more though. xd
  
  Some AMD boards include integrated graphics, which you could use as a temporary solution until you can save money for a graphics card. Remember that a copy of Windows 7 costs $100 on top of you build, so you can't really fit into that $400 budget without downgrading the components even more.
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-08-13 02:18
  the power supply isn't 80 plus efficiency :X
  the cat recommends this one
  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422169&CatId=5430
  
  fits your power needs and is good brand and 80 plus