Building a Cheap Computer

[drndrw]

Hey guys. Since I am running Ubuntu currently on a very old machine, I think it might be time for an upgrade. But rather than buying something already made, I think it would be cheaper and a little more exciting to build my own system. I am currently on a pretty tight budget, maybe $100- 250. And I'm not looking to build anything amazing, maybe just something basic. So could someone recommend what parts to buy? I don't really have any preferences for anything, so whatever you say I will look at and see if it fits my needs. Thanks :)!

[K.Mandla]

My favorite machine, for a long time, was an old Dell GX150 with a 1Ghz Pentium III and a 64Mb Geforce4 440 low-profile card in it. It cost about $35 to max out the memory and hard drive, ran Beryl and NWN at 1280x1024 on an LCD monitor, had a cordless keyboard and optical mouse, and I spray-painted it chili pepper red with black accents.

You can get GX260s, etc., on ebay for less than $200 usually, and they're faster and more upgradeable. Anyway, if I had your $100, that's what I'd spend it on. ;)

[creedog]

for what you are looking to spend I would suggest a used system that you and upgrade the video card and memory. Cheap motherboards are nothing but trouble, and so are cheap power supplies. Hell, I challenge you to build a system for that much, piece one together online and see what you ring up to.

You can probably get a standard P4 for pretty cheap.

[Iceni]

I agree with the creedog.

But! I think you can get upgrade your computer for around $200. I don't know what computer you have now, but you'll need 4 new components for entry-level upgrade:

1. Motherboard
2. Cpu
3. Memory
4. Psu

Now the general rule of thumb is to not skimp on neither psu nor motherboard. I didnt mention video card because you should buy a motherboard with an onboard card for your price range. Intel has their own onboard video chip and Nvidia supply some motherboards with the geforce 6100. Both these works well with linux. The ATI counterpart not so well. I belive an Athlon cpu can be in your price range. Maybe even an x2 if you look around you might be able to get a 939 socket system for pretty cheap. You'll have to read up a bit on budget motherboards yourself. Also it would be a good idea to look around at cheaper psus, because a bad one can be a nightmare.

You should consider a SATA disk, perhaps save up to get one because it will help in a new system.

[Gremlinzzz]

checkout sites like tiger direct and newegg
http://www.tigerdirect.com/

http://www.newegg.com/
build your own or buy refurbished like this emachine
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3302628&Sku=E400-T3604%20KIT

[drndrw]

Ah okay. Thank you :)! So I can get video cards built into a mother board? And maybe $200 is a more reasonable price? Thanks.

[Iceni]

I looked a bit around on those websites - and found what seems like a geat deal for $200:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3281495&CatId=332

This is a very nice system for an incredibly low price. Be warned, the psu is probably a bit noisy, but it will run the system well enough.

[~LoKe]

Dell outlet. You can get a cheap AMD X2 with 1GB of ram/250GB hard drive for ~$229-$249 if you look hard enough.

[nonewmsgs]

i have a thread somewhere about my mobo that was eating power supples. ii put in an expensive one having leanred my lesson. he was spot on with the don't skimp on mobos or power supples.

[SpiritIsReality]

howdy
as well as the great advice from this forum site, check this out
http://arstechnica.com/guides.ars
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=byopc&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebuilt_computer

trails

[Warren Watts]

MadTux sells ultra cheap systems as well, starting as low as US$139

The $139 Machine includes:

* VIA C7 1.5GHz processor
* 512MB DDR2 RAM included
* 13.5GB Hard Disk
* 100Mbps fast-ethernet port
* 128-bit 3D/2D Graphics engine
* Full-featured AGP v2.0 compliant 4x transfer mode AGP controller
* UltraDMA EIDE controller
* Memory expandable to 2GB
* Two 32-bit PCI slots
* Two IDE connectors onboard
* VIA VT1612A 6-channel audio codec, Intel AC'97 compliant
* Two PS/2 ports for mouse and connector, one serial, one parallel ports, one VGP port, one LAN port, four USB 2.0 ports and audio jacks


MadTux Linux Computers (http://store.madtux.org/index.php?cPath=57&page=1&sort=3a)

I don't personally have any experience buying from them however, so I can't make any statements about the quality of their hardware, etc...

[mips]

I would not buy VIA C7 based desktop, to slow.

You can also get refurbished computers from the likes of Dell, HP, IBM etc.

[drndrw]

I see. But 13.5 harddrive? Is it SCSI? And I am looking to build a comnputer, so would those maybe be specs to look at?

[SpiritIsReality]

howdy
the deals that are mentioned are reasonable enough, you could
pull them all apart and put them together again. make sure they're
unplugged first of course. and an anti-static strap wouldn't hurt.
until you can build the one you want, buy or build the one you can,
or wait. . . . . . ./

trails

[SpiritIsReality]

have you tried finding a place like this near you
http://freegeekvancouver.org/en/computer_recycling_centre

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=non-profit+computers+vancouver&btnG=Search&meta=
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=%22%28old+%7C+donated%29+computers%22+&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryCA

or thrift stores with old rigs?

happy trails pard

[southernman]

I just bought this Foxcon (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186115) motherboard combined with a x2 3800 oem cpu from newegg for a whopping $108.

The manual (which you have to download from the OEMs site) for the mobo suggest using a 24 pin power supply connector if you want to use a highend pci express graphics card. They do say that a 20 pin connector will work... in my case it's working fine.

Board has both vga and dvi onboard graphics and the board is also a mini atx so it will work in most any case.

You'll have to buy some ram, a stock heatsink/fan and hdd if your current drive is subpar in your opinion.

You could do this for $200 total if you dig up some good deals... Under 200 if you snag some nice rebates.

I lucked out on the combo I just bought from newegg, with a $20 rebate from foxconn for the mobo... got in at the last minute! So if I DO get the $20 back, I am in for 88 bucks!

Some people were giving negative reviews of the board, but the chance that it was stupid human error is pretty high. I unpacked the board and cpu, swapped them out and fired her up... not a minutes trouble.

Newegg MAY be a little higher on some things at first glance, but their shipping and service full well make up for any of that... For instance, I ordered on the 19th, arrived on the 20th! That's PDQ in anyones book!!! :)

[SpiritIsReality]

howdy

southernman ...wow, thanks
I'm up for that

trails

[Compucore]

Sometimes you can get a good price at a reccling centers for computers. THe last time I went to one they were selling pentium IV but they were in both Canadian and in american pricese. Here is one that does sell to the use and in Canada. http://www.123compute.com Brand name. But heck on a tight budget or take components that you needd and build/update your current system.

Compucore

[samb0057]

If you can spend around $250-300, check out dell outlet (www.delloutlet.com). they have some very good deals.

[regomodo]

WOW! Do newegg deliver to the UK? You cannot get anything like those barebone PCs over here.

Novatech.com are the cheapest i can find but they start at ~£120 ($250). $75! I hate the UK

[edit] wait i'm sure someone posted a load of links to cheap barebone pcs at newegg. Can't see them now

found them http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&SubCategory=446&N=2000200446

[SpiritIsReality]

howdy

global community shopping...I like it

trails