cheap Dollar Desktop

[zaneyard]

My brother wants to build a computer
his budget is 250. he wants it to run TF2
is this possible
someone wanna build a wish list for me on newegg.
love you long time

[Wedge]

Can you find any starting pieces?  Specifically a case would be nice, I know places where you can get a basic one for $10, but dunno if you have anything like that.  If you have any existing hard drives that helps too.  TBH if you can get $300 it's a lot easier to manage.  You can't really do a lot less than around $50 each for the PSU, CPU, GPU, RAM, and mobo, though some can be gotten at great deals occasionally (especially with a PSU).

[Blues]

1) He needs to be prepared to buy this almost immediately after someone puts a list together, otherwise putting it together is mostly pointless because the deals used to do so will be invalid within about a week.

2) Does he have MORE than 250 that he can put into rebates, and wait for the money to come back?

3) What parts does he have that can be carried over? (Hard drive, power source, RAM, etc.)

4) Is he sure that an upgrade to the current system wouldn't be more cost effective?

5) Can he overclock/is he willing to learn overclocking? You're more than likely not going to get a valid gaming computer for 250 with everything if you can't overclock.

6) ?????

7) PROFIT!!

[zaneyard]

he has more money, just was establishing a 'cheap' baseline. hes got like 3600 saved up. he just doesnt really wanna spend money for a i7 system
he has no computer, shares my dell currently
as far as case goes it can be a cheap shitter if needed, thats what my dell is.

this was more of a 'is this plausible' kind of thing

also, just talking about the box here, monitor and other stuff doesnt matter.

im gonna wait for my next newegg e-blast sale to come to put together a list.


put together a system for about 400, ill talk to him tomorrow about what his top line is. i need to lay down what the total package is gonna cost for him before he commits to anything

[Blues]

he has more money, just was establishing a 'cheap' baseline. hes got like 3600 saved up. he just doesnt really wanna spend money for a i7 system
he has no computer, shares my dell currently
as far as case goes it can be a cheap shitter if needed, thats what my dell is.

this was more of a 'is this plausible' kind of thing

also, just talking about the box here, monitor and other stuff doesnt matter.

im gonna wait for my next newegg e-blast sale to come to put together a list.


put together a system for about 400, ill talk to him tomorrow about what his top line is. i need to lay down what the total package is gonna cost for him before he commits to anything

i7 is a bullshit buy right now anyways.

A case is more important than it might come off as being, cooling/airflow is pretty important to the system.

As to the e-blasts, don't bother, there's rarely anything decent on sale and the markoffs are usually just rebates anyways.

I've found that the "optimum" computer is about $500. This is something that is the bottom dollar you can get and still have quality parts and expect a few years of keeping up with games to at least a medium settings level. $300 is rough, but doable, and $400 is definitely doable, but requires a few corners to be cut on parts that you might otherwise just want to spend the extra few bucks on now than end up replacing with a whole new part in half the time it would have been if you had upped in the first place.

[zaneyard]

thanks blues, ill forward that when i talk to him tomorrow. i have to see what he is really willing to spend.

[zaneyard]

just ordered the parts
its a good thing he has cash saved up, cause my credit card is almost maxed now lol
if i could post a link of the invoice i would. but idk how to do that with newegg

[Wedge]

just ordered the parts
its a good thing he has cash saved up, cause my credit card is almost maxed now lol
if i could post a link of the invoice i would. but idk how to do that with newegg

Printscreen.

[zaneyard]

also, have 55 bucks coming back in MIR

[Versus]

nd

[zaneyard]

nou

[zaneyard]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealD...20x130.jpg
lol

[Blues]

Already gave my thoughts on that build, as to the combo:


Ew. =\

[zaneyard]

i guess, but it would be my luck to build and order a system, then newegg would do it for me.

[Blues]

i guess, but it would be my luck to build and order a system, then newegg would do it for me.

Except that second one has a questionable mobo, a nongaming graphics card, and a cheapo case that would probably vibrate a hole through your floor.

[zaneyard]

parts are here
waiting for case, monitor, keyboard for tomorrow


anyone know where i can find a DVI cable for cheap? the monitor is not supposed to come with one but it supports it.

[HeK]

Get someone in an business IT department to swipe one for you.
I have about two dozen in my desk at work, and I only deal with servers.

[zaneyard]

Get someone in an business IT department to swipe one for you.
I have about two dozen in my desk at work, and I only deal with servers.

i dont know people
its for my bros computer, im just trying to find him a good deal.

[Blues]

Find a comp shop near you and pick one up, they tend to be cheap at those places.

[zaneyard]

so it all worked
except the monitor died a bit
the left half is darker then the right half
so im sending that back tomorrow
i tried my monitor and it looks fine on the box in addition to swapping out cables
def the display