UberN00B

Allright guys, completely RE-Vamping this post i made more than a year ago.

Low on Cash? Need a quick Upgrade? Well, this is where you need to be. Here, i can show you what $200 Can really do for you.

*Note* This guide is assuming that you have all the basic perihapsals (sp?) such as a moniter, RAM, Hd, Mouse, ECT. I will not go into SLi motherboard because if you have enough to SLi two cards, you shouldnt be reading this faq. I will not include Power Supplies or Cases in this guide because Cases are to your decision on what you like, and Power Supplies are.. Power Supplies. </3

Budget Fact 1: You should NEVER skimp on a Power Supply, Hard Drive, Motherboard, or memory. These are KEY components in a build. in this case, "You get for what you pay for." So dont go buying $10 Ram or Power Supply, unless you want your entire computer in flames. (literally.)

Budget Fact 2: Used products are your friends. If you can grab a Opteron 146 for $50 bucks on Ebay or on the fourms, thats great, it beats the fact in getting it retail for an extra $40.

Budget Fact 3: Sell what youve got! If youve got a P4 for example at 2.4ghz, SELL IT! Sell your motherboard too! Hell, why not sell your old AGP card as well! It gives you more spending money for your upgrade. More money to work with is better. =)

Allright, so lets get to it!!

$200 < Youve got less than 200 with everything you sold? You dont have very much to work with, but hell, you can still build a great rig. As i had said earlier, snatch something thats been used on ebay or on the forums.

Easily, a 3200+ Venice has been seen around for less than $40 used. A Decent motherboard like a DFI Ultra-D, SLI-DR, And many others can be bought easily for anywhere from 50 - 70 on ebay/forums. Only comes to a total of $110 for a pretty great deal. But wait, PCI-e? You could grab an Ati X1300 or X1600 for less than 50, Easy! There, you have a nice build.

If a stock heatsink is not provided, a big typhoon would be great. =)

If getting products off ebay or the forums is a problem for you, It isnt 'impossible' to build a nice rig, but a rig that has a nice upgradability in the future. If getting it off ebay is a problem, newegg can save you here.

Venice 939 3200+ : $53 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103567

1gb (2x512) Value G.Skill Ram $75 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231079

Foxxcon w/ 6150 Nvidia Onboard $73- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186086

Sure, it isnt the best motherboard in the world, but whatever gets you up and running!

Total- $201 (Screw it, i went over by a dollar..)

Moving On!

$300> : Alittle more to work with this time, going to abandon the Idea of gettin it 'used'.

Opteron 144 $70 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103600
Great overclocker, usually clocks up to 2.7Ghz +

DFI SLI-DR 137 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813136157


Evga 7600GT- 99 after MIR- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130073


400< - Even more money to work with, Very Nice! lol =) Id say everything in the sub 300, but get a new power supply or memory. Assuming you need memory, sell whatever you have right now (also assuming you make 50 bucks off it) and get these.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148009

Whoooooo crucial ram. Good stuff for a budget rig, DDR500 leaves you with plenty of headroom to overclock.

500< New build! Off the operton, lets get some C2D!!

C2D e4300 $169: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115013

Gigabyte GS3 $129: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128012

G.Skill 2x512 DDR2 800 Ram - $95: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145566

Evga 7600GT- 99 after MIR- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130073

Tell me that isnt a SICK rig for under 500 dollars. You can Overclock the hell out of it, there is a TON of headroom.

600< Id have to say the same build as the >500, but...

Get a Big Typhoon..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106061

And make any upgrades such as a power supply.

<700
C2D e4300 $169: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115013

Gigabyte GS3 $129: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128012

Big Typhoon http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106061

2GB G.Skill DDR2 800 ($170) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
ATI Sapphire Radeon X1950Pro (Comes with Rainbow Six Vegas [dated on 3/5/07] => http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102061

Wow this is a SICK rig. Overclocking is a must!

I will be updating this FAQ every month or so to keep it updated, technology advances very quickly, and its difficult to stay on top of it, so a month sounds reasonable. Please PM me if you have any questions, or any changes i need to make. I wont go any further because if i do, it wont be considered a 'budget rig'.

-UberN00b

TrAncE XD

Great Faq...

blob

Cool

Mr.N00bLaR

What about those rich *ast***s that have 2000k? lol
Wheres the FX and X2? hehe

J3r3my

How could you leave out the FX series?

tweako_420

the title doesnt make sense at all..
1# some parts are purley opinion on what is best
2# this doesnt even show what a better amd system can look like

Jori

Yeah.. Threads like these need constant updating. When I see BEST system I want to see like.. FX-57 and 7800GTX.. lol

Chopes

Where is the fx-57 like I have..... *looks around*

Johnny Quest

For super-duper cheapie cheap, there is no way to beat getting the video card on-board.

drummer4lifex

This FAQ needs to be updated