Looking to build a desktop tower for around $500

[swbill]

The title more or less says it all. A tower with some extra growing room, a dvd drive, and a decent motherboard, cpu, ram, and a cooling fan. Thanks for any thoughs. Bill

[zburns]

It is better that you figure it out more or less on your own, at least get a starting point, and then ask for help. Anyhow, Ricky Tick has some updated builds but not for $500 for a complete package.

Take a look at this url and the builds listed in it: http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?1642-Recommendations-Budget-Build

It is entitled 'Wise Monkey ..." and shows a date of 2008, but Ricky Tick has updated all three budget builds; you can tell by the Z77 (or H77) chipset in the motherboards. Z77 is the current latest Intel chipset.

Do you have a current and usable 'monitor', keyboard and mouse ? In addition to the case and the components to go into the case, monitor, keyboard and mouse will likely cost, at least, in the $ 200 range total -- plus or minus a few $.

Do you want just a basic computer with the lowest cost possible with no consideration for gaming? I also suggest you read thru all of Rob's online articles for 'My Super PC' build. He provides complete component lists as well as step by step instructions of 'the order of the build process'.

Hope the above is somewhat helpful!! Again, on the url posted above, ignore the reference to a 2008 date. Get back to us with any questions on the builds.

[RickyTick]

For a current $500 build, here's what I'd suggest.
Case $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL010113&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL010113-_-EMC-010113-Index-_-ComputerCases-_-11129066-L0A
CPU $120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL010113&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL010113-_-EMC-010113-Index-_-ProcessorsDesktops-_-19116775-L06C
Motherboard $100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131826
Ram 8gb for $40 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147096
Optical $16 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007589%2050001336&IsNodeId=1&name=Lite-On
GPU $115 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102993
HDD $85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
PSU $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

Total $576
Is this in your ballpark?

[swbill]

Thanks for your 2 cents! Bill