Building a Desktop [UPDATED OP]

[Skig]

If you're just doing basic office applications and stuff along with lower end gaming, I dont suggest more than an i3 since the GPU will be doing most of the work (for gaming anyway).

In your <$150 case, I'd still recommend an i3, which the i3-4330 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EUUN76U/?tag=pcpapi-20 is about $140 on Amazon.

The i5 however is a better rounded CPU for gaming since it has four cores as opposed to two, but unfortunately the lowest i5 available is about $180. If you can find the money to get this one (the cheapest i5 available on amazon) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CO8T9VC/?tag=pcpapi-20 I'd really really recommend it. i5s have 4 cores as opposed to the i3's two, and they're really power efficient and cool.

You can always upgrade it later anyway.

Ok, I'll probably go with an Intel i5 if there is room in my budget

Do basic processors work with almost all motherboards? I looked around in the old Acer and I can't find a brand name or anything on the motherboard. Maybe it's on the other side of it and I won't know until I take the computer apart. I have some parts picked out but now I have to go through the pain of matching up sockets and connectors and whatnot

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[Georges]

No. There very specific CPU sockets, and of those CPU sockets, there are a decent number of them.

[Skig]

No. There very specific CPU sockets, and of those CPU sockets, there are a decent number of them.

Yeah ok this is what I expected. Here's what I'm thinking for a parts list assuming everything goes together fine.

Definitely getting this case I found it marked down and on rebate
A starter Processor
Memory if needed
Maybe this for graphics card
Hard drive

[Bisjac]

i would at least use an 1150 cpu+mobo. much easier to upgrade later if you ever needed.
dual core is so very outdated

[Skig]

i would at least use an 1150 cpu+mobo. much easier to upgrade later if you ever needed.
dual core is so very outdated

Yeah, it's also $115 on Amazon and I'll check some other sites too

I know this is really cheap for a good processor but does anyone know how this would do? I'm not even considering this yet but if it is decent enough, I could go with it. The hard drive is going to eat up a lot of my spending money

Edit: How much space on my hard drive do you guys reckon I need?

[Skig]

So far I'm at least $210.62 for the stuff I know I'm getting. I still need to pick out a hard drive and a probably a CPU
Edit: I just turned on the Compaq



Here are the goodies inside if anyone cares: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00009542&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en

[Skig]

Sorry for the triple post but the thread is dying. Tonight I'll order the case and the few things I'm 100% sure I'm getting for my PC. This will put up to $99 after rebates and stuff. So I have plenty of room for a graphics card and a processor. I may end up getting a new motherboard because only ATXs and micro ATXs work in the case I'm getting. The old motherboard is about $20-$30 on eBay used and I don't want a cheap dusty one messing up my gaming

[KoopaScooper]

dat Windows 2000

[Skig]

dat Windows 2000

ikr. I think I was 2 when that came out
Can computers that old use a usb wireless network adapter?

[KoopaScooper]

I think Windows 2000 may not have Wireless Zero configuration like XP does, but you'll probably find a utility with the driver for it anyways, so yes.

[Skig]

I think Windows 2000 may not have Wireless Zero configuration like XP does, but you'll probably find a utility with the driver for it anyways, so yes.

K, I was curious because I have a usb wireless adapter but I haven't used it in a long time. I plugged it into the port but nothing happens. I tried looking up solutions but haven't found any. I need a new one for the computer I'm going to build anyway, so I could see if it works in the Compaq

[Randomness]

Yeah ok this is what I expected. Here's what I'm thinking for a parts list assuming everything goes together fine.

Definitely getting this case I found it marked down and on rebate
A starter Processor
Memory if needed
Maybe this for graphics card
Hard drive

A GT640? You srs dude? Please stop picking stuffty parts. For $80, thats a terrible choice for price for performance. The worst, seriously. An R7 240 is almost better.

If you just want those types of components, Here's some better stuff from PC Part Picker, using the same RAM amount of course, and still under $500 and have room for a case. http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3KBxG

And here is a completed build (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3KBFD), minus the OS since you probably have a key that you can use on your current OS so you can download a factory ISO (THIS IS NOT PIRACY since its the product key that Microsoft wants) for your respective version and just use your current key again (make sure you get a clean image from a reputable source such as microsoft.com, such as here http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/where-can-i-download-windows-7-iso-i-have-a/7d964b05-2be9-4800-bc7f-3ca30356fc3d, scroll down for Home Premium and MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LEGITIMATE PRODUCT KEY, OTHERWISE IT IS PIRACY!), but if you still want a physical copy of Windows (and/or dont have Windows 7), Windows 7 Home Premium is about $80. You could cut down on the CPU as part of this build to acquire one, and you'd be golden. All of the above parts are from Amazon listings. Also, you need to watch for tax and shipping, that would easily bump up the price to $650.

[Skig]

I like the storage and motherboard you found and sure I could switch video cards. It was recommended on another site so I temporarily stuck in the OP to see if anyone had other opinions. I have never had any experience with is type of stuff so I'm basically trusting you guys with my money. I just want a card that can say, run Blockland on nice shaders without freezing and acting weird, and maybe do shooter games on nice graphics. My family has Windows 7 so I guess I could start with it and upgrade to Windows 8.1 when I have more money.

[Bisjac]

thats pretty cheap for an ssd lol

[Skig]

thats pretty cheap for an ssd lol

Yeah, it has twice the space of the Kingston I found for $15 more. I hope its speedy...