Low Budget PC(First Time)

[Mistergreen83]

Don't be to upset, I'm looking to build a low budget computer to run wow and thats it. I already have one great computer to do all my photo editing and things that are everyday stuff. I am just looking for a computer that runs and has a good video card/memory.

I've put together a few builds with some guidance from friends and other guides online but I would love some more advice. I know i could make something much better but for now my budget isn't high enough for that kind of stuff.

Ok I've been looking around hardcore and picked out 3 systems I'm thinking about putting together. Id love to have someone look at it, tell me if everything is compatible and will be a good system when together.

Computer One

I'll start with a Quad Core System with a Decent Video Card.
This whole system is 425 with shipping and sounds pretty good. I found out however WoW doesn't even support Quad Core yet and Dual core would be more than enough to run wow wicked awesome. In my next build i lowered the processor and bumped up the video card.

Hard Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148528

Video Card(prob need a better one)- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150353

CD Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106275

Memory- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141366

Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16811121037

Power Supply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16817339009

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394

Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706


Computer 2
This build is 407 with shipping and has a better video card, but a dual processor instead of a quad. Not to many other differences.

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380

Case and Powersupply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147117

Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133311

Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

Memory- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161172

Hard Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148516

CD Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Computer 3

Last build is another quad core build, even i can't remember what is different about it but something must be. So this setup has a little bigger video card, and a quad core cpu and is 466 with shipping.

Case and Power Supply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147117

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128342

Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102864

Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706

Memory- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161172

Hard Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148528

CD Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031



All of these don't have Operating systems and if anyone knows a cheap way to get Windows XP or 7 id be up for it, i don't want vista for sure, id really perfer xp but i can't find it anywhere.

Phew long message, id prefer the second build since its the cheapest but i probably should upgrade the video card no matter what. So what should i pick, i'll start ordering soon and should have it built in a few weeks.

[The Wise Monkey]

The third build is a lot better than the other two, but like you said, it is a lot more expensive. Then again, the quad-core CPU and the 5770 will be able to play things like Crysis as well, if you decide to play other games on it apart from WoW.

If it is going to be exclusively for WoW, then I say go with the second build, but the third build will give you a much better all-round PC that can play more modern games as well.

[Mistergreen83]

Yeah I was thinking that a quad would def give me more options, but being a cheap poor college student who just wants to play wow sometimes I may go with option 2.

Since wow only takes advantage of dual core processors and has no plays to bring quads into the picture anytime soon I might just go and save the money for a dual. Then in a year when I finish college and hopefully find a job out there I'll build a sick ass pc with 16 core processors or whatever.

Would all the components of build number 2 work together all compatible and stuff? And is the video card good enough for high frame rates on at least medium settings on wow?

This is my first time building a computer I'm just following some basic guidelines but wanna make sure once i buy all the stuff theres no issues on compatibility and I'm not missing anything big.

Do you think i would need another cooling system or is what comes with items already good enough?

[The Wise Monkey]

If you want a slightly better CPU, try using this one (it is excellent for gaming):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103724

Or you could use this video card in the third build with the above CPU to get the best price/performance:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150369

So with the CPU and video card here in the third build, that comes to about 420 (I think), and will play WoW on max with no problems. :)

Oh, and this memory is the same price as the one you chose but with better performance: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030

[Mistergreen83]

So your saying change the memory out for the one you posted, take the video card from the third computer build, and put in the cpu you posted to add performance without crazy price.

[The Wise Monkey]

Pretty much. You could use the video card I suggested instead of the one from the third build, as the one you originally chose is quite expensive. Your call though - they are both excellent cards.

In summary, here is the build I suggest for you:

Case and Power Supply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147117

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128342

Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150369

Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103724

Memory- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030

Hard Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148528

CD Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031


This comes to $402. The three-core CPU offers an excellent balance between general purpose and gaming, plus is very easy to overclock if you decide to take that route. If you have a bit of cash to spare, I would consider upgrading the motherboard, but it isn't really necessary.

As a "poor cheap college student", if you have a valid .edu email address, you should qualify for the Windows 7 Student discounts. It used to be for $30, but you can get it for $65 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-us/default.aspx

[Mistergreen83]

Great, I was wondering if they had windows for cheaper cause i'm a student.
I was also looking last night and saw this combo of video card and processor and it looked pretty damn good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315566

[The Wise Monkey]

That is a good deal. The 4770 I mentioned is probably the better card performance wise, but getting a better CPU might make up for it.

It's up to you really. I prefer ATI cards, so I would go for the 4770, but the 9800GT is definitely a good card.

[Mistergreen83]

Building a computer is hard, but I think even the 400 dollar computer I'm looking at building would be way more than 400 if i went to like Dell.com or something. I like the idea of being able to do something myself. I've done like memory and videocard upgrades before but this will be a first.

Thanks for all the help the first computer i put together has changed so much overnight and I think I'm done and ready to start to order. I might still go back and forth for a while on video card vs dual or quad core. Better video card Dual Core or little bit lower video card and Quad core. Its quite a balance lol.

[The Wise Monkey]

But that's part of the fun! :D

Just FYI, the CPU I suggested is actually three cores. Well, it is actually a quad core CPU that has just had one of the cores disabled. Several people on Newegg have actually managed to unlock this fourth core. I wouldn't recommend this unless you are well aware that it could brick your CPU, which is less than ideal.

Anyhow, good luck - we are here to help if you have any questions.

[The Wise Monkey]

Hot news for you - AMD have just released their newest and fastest dual core CPU for about $99 - the Phenom II X2 555 BE, to give it its full name. It might be worth holding back for a few days, as this would be perfect for WoW.

[Mistergreen83]

Hmm how long till it is buyable? I can't seem to find it for sale anywhere lol.

[Mistergreen83]

Should I be getting windows 7, or can I get XP if I find it cheap?
Not sure if some of these components won't work with XP anymore.

[The Wise Monkey]

Everything will work with XP, but I would advise against buying a copy. It is a very old OS now, and Windows 7 is much more secure, as well as looking a lot nicer.

It's strange - the CPU seems to be available over here in the UK, but I can't find it anywhere in the US. Might be released next week for you guys, but I'm not sure.

To be honest, you could go for the Phenom II X2 550 BE, which is $91 and only 100Mhz slower in terms of clock speed. Probably not worth paying an extra $8 for a tiny performance increase.

[Mistergreen83]

I've settled on everything else but still up in the air on a video card.

I found a few that look good, and i'm trying to stay close to 100 dollars, but it's a little hard to decide one over the other. Here is three I'm seriously considering right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125271

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150322

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150369

I'm not married to any of these cards, but would like to stay around 100 dollars. The 3rd card looks like it may be the best for the money, curious to hear ideas.

[Mistergreen83]

Wooo I'm all done finding my computer parts!
Found a little extra money and upgraded a few things!

Case- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062

HDD- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113

MoBo- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128395

Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

CD Drive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106276

Memory(I'll get more soon)- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030

Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

Grand total- 516 dollars including shipping. My friend gave me their old 19" flat screen lcd HD monitor. I found someone to put windows 7 on it for free until tax return comes then I'll buy it from school.

If everything works out and no problems with the build it should play wow very well. Only thing I'm worried about is the memory, 2g is how much my old xp box had. Not sure how much of a memory hog windows 7 is. If its like vista i'm in trouble lol.

So if anyone sees compatibility issues or just bad choices let me know. I'm super stoked i wanna use the bill me later option at newegg, but i'll prob get denied anyway lol.

Any input is greatly appreciated!