Building a System for a friend.

[ati]

My friend asked me to build him a computer for under 300$. Add or take 20 bucks for shipping and other things.The computer should be able to play CS,CS:S (even on low gfx),fast enough to multi-task with out freezing around like his comcrap does. Here is what i came up with.

Celeron D 2.4ghz $72.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819112190
I heard these things can oc good. How far should this one go?

Asus P4S800 $53.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131462
This board good?

pQI POWER SERIES 512mb PC 3200 $34.50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141164
I know not even close to "our" ram. If I used our ram it would cost almost the whole system.

SAPPHIRE Radeon 9600 Pro $83.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102410
This should be able to handle CS:S on low settings right? And is it flashable to anything like an XT?

Rosewill TU-153 Black Steel with 400watt PSU $36.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147011
I think its a pretty nice case for the price.

I was just planning on mocing his optical and hard drives from his old computer.



So what do you think?

 

[BrutalDrew]

Go with a s754 Sempron system.

 

[ckj]

I'd get a name-brand psu, like a 350w fortron/sparkle would be adequate for that system.

 

[nealric]

outpost.com sells an athlon64 2800+ with a mobo for $130.

I bought that combo for my parents computer, and it oced to 2.4 ghz or 3800+ speeds. Its an ecs mobo, but its not actually bad at all.
That would be way more powerful than a celeron D, plus you get 64 bit.

I second that fortron. A 300w fortron will be WAY more powerful than a 400w no-name most of the time.

EDIT: I cant find the combo on their website, but I know they have it at their retail stores (frys). You might be able to call it in.

 

[sdwood]

You should try to convence your friend to add anouther $50 and get a 64 bit system.
In a couple of years your friend is going to come to you and ask for help installing Win64, and your going to have to explain to him that the computer you built can't handle it.

 

[ati]

outpost.com sells an athlon64 2800+ with a mobo for $130.

I bought that combo for my parents computer, and it oced to 2.4 ghz or 3800+ speeds. Its an ecs mobo, but its not actually bad at all.
That would be way more powerful than a celeron D, plus you get 64 bit.

I second that fortron. A 300w fortron will be WAY more powerful than a 400w no-name most of the time.

EDIT: I cant find the combo on their website, but I know they have it at their retail stores (frys). You might be able to call it in.

OK we will go to fry's But lets say it isnt there what would be the best alternate combo? XP or Sempron? and i don tknow what board im not an AMD guy.

EDIT:
Hows this?
Sempron 2400+ $.63.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104210

ABIT KV7 Socket A $54.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127162

 

[nealric]

No, dont get an athlon xp, you want an athlon64 (socket 754)

The combo is an ecs something or other with a sis chipset- its actually quite stable and has basic overclocking features.

 

[frenzy20]

I was thinking something like a s754 sempron with the chaintech vnf3 250(i've heard good things).
Processor: 2600+ sempron
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104226
Mobo: Chaintech vnf3-250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813152043

You might even be able to get a 9800pro for <$100 if you find the right deal.
Get a good powersupply like a fortron or sparkle. SVC has refurb sparkles for really cheap.

 

[Xris]

Prepare to be someone's tech support b****. That's probably for a different thread though.