best pc for 400 - 500 bucks

[tkblackbelt]

Hi guys I'm looking for a new pc for 400-500 bucks I already have a moniter so I just need a tower. Im going to be using it for surfing web,watching movies, programming,and light gaming. If you guys could recommend a good pc in that price range I would appreciate it thanks.


also I was look at these here:

http://www.computertrends.com/product-zoom.asp?productId=94592&categoryid=

http://www.computertrends.com/product-zoom.asp?productId=94593&categoryid=

[Dark Aspect]

Hi guys I'm looking for a new pc for 400-500 bucks I already have a moniter so I just need a tower. Im going to be using it for surfing web,watching movies, programming,and light gaming. If you guys could recommend a good pc in that price range I would appreciate it thanks.


also I was look at these here:

http://www.computertrends.com/product-zoom.asp?productId=94592&categoryid=

http://www.computertrends.com/product-zoom.asp?productId=94593&categoryid=

Both of those computers aren't too bad considering the price, but you could probably get a better deal building a PC from parts. In fact, you can get a very nice computer for $500 buying parts off say tigerdirect (http://www.tigerdirect.com/) and/or newegg (http://www.newegg.com/). Building a PC might sound hard if you not use to it but its actually very easy given a little research.

[tkblackbelt]

I actually wanted to build a pc but my mom doesnt want me to and shes paying for half so buildings out.

[MooPi]

Tell your mom that if you assemble the computer you'll be able to purchase a better faster computer than a pre built model.So you could spend 300 and get what would have cost 450 pre-built.

[steveneddy]

Look here (http://www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=27) - I buy lots of PC from system76.

[skorange]

On a related note, the best laptop in this price range has to be the Acer 1410 - ultra portable laptop with dual core cpu. Runs Ubuntu 10.04 out of the box, I love everything about this box.

[lyall]

take a look at 3btech http://3btech.net/

you a custom build one and the shipping is included in the price
you can get it with out am OS

I got two pcs from them and no problems

good luck and have fun learning

[tkblackbelt]

Ok so I have been looking on new egg and heres what im thinking:

memory:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134218

Psu:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182039

Cpu:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103252

Mb:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128424

case:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

Hd:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136358

gpu:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162019

thermal paste:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020&Tpk=thermal%20paste

static wrist strap:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899261001&cm_re=static_wrist_strap-_-99-261-001-_-Product

total comes to: $359.52

Is all this stuff compatible with each other this will be my first pc build.

[Dark Aspect]

Well I am not a hardware expert by any means but I personally find Western Digital to make horrible hard drives in my opinion. Hitachi on the other hand seems to make cheap drives with high capacity - example (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145304&cm_re=hitachi-_-22-145-304-_-Product)

Yes that hardware should work together, the motherboard is DDR2 compatible and you have DDR2 ram. Just make sure that the motherboard matches all of the hardware and your good.

[mamamia88]

yeah i say totally build one. i've never built one myself but have definitely taken my old ones apart and put them back together. looks pretty fool proof to me with everything only fitting in one spot. i priced out one myself that came to just over $400 with a quad core phenom, and 4gb ram. here is the mobo and processor i chose if it helps

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128424&cm_re=am2%2b_motherboard_ddr2-_-13-128-424-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103286&cm_re=phenom_quad-_-19-103-286-_-Product

[tkblackbelt]

Nice that quad core is the same as the 3 core one I was looking at just need to get a heatsink and fan for it

[cascade9]

Better off with an Athlon II X3/X4 or a Phenom II X2/X3/X4 than the older Phenom X3/X4. Just because the older CPU might get more cores, or more Ghz than the newer CPUs (for any given price) doesnt make the older versions better performing.

@ chuckbenger- DONT get a rosewill 600watt power supply. They are pretty awful PSUs..and its more power than you will need anyway.