How can i build a good affordable computer?
444660
Start by figuring out your estimated budget, then make a COMPLETE list of all the parts you need.  Then shop around.  Ordering online is affordable.  For example, let's say my budget is $5,000.00.\n\nI would write a list of all the parts I need.\nCase (form factor I will decide later)\nCooling (type will decide later)\nPSU (wattage to be determined)\nMotherboard (to be determined)\nProcessor (depends on motherboard)\nheatshink (later)\nRAM (type)\nHDDs (size and speed tbd)\noptical drives (tbd)\nsound card (if not integrated tbd)\nvideo (if not integrated tbd)\netc etc, you get the idea.  I know i left out some things.  \n\nAnyway, then I would prioritize this list into what is most important based on my needs.  I would say the motherboard is top priority since almost everything gets built around it.  Therefore, I would find what I want and subtract the price of it from my average budget.  Then keep moving down the list until I run out of money.  If my budget depletes before I've finished, then I would have to make some sacrifices on earlier choices and go with something cheaper.  However, more affordable does not always mean less performance.  Usually - but not always.\n\nAnyway, sorry for the long-windedness of the answer, but this is how I do it when I order - just thought it might help give you an idea.
862574
Holidays and back to school.  Dude just build one yourself.  When you buy a computer from some hack company you mostly just pay for the name.  Look on the web, its pretty easy to do it yourself, better components for half the cost.
416891
Get the top of the line motherboard\nGet the fastest cpu\nThe fastest memory\nThe best video card\nThe best sound card\netc. etc
1067593
Well, the $1500 limit sets you up a bit, but you can still get a good pc.\n\n1) Processor-  Definitely AMD for gaming, you get a definite advantage. Dual Core is also worthwhile. Pretty much any X2, even the cheapest, should serve you well.\n\n2) Hard Drive- Whatever capacity floats your boat and at least 7200rpms.\n\n3) RAM- Minimum of 1gb, 2gb if you want to be a bit more future proofed.\n\n4) Video Card- 6600, 6800, 6700 or 6800, whichever you can afford. Don't go cheaper than these and get one with no less than 128mb, preferably 256mb.\n\nOther than that, have fun! Dell has an XPS line of computers intended for gaming and Alienware has some nice gaming computers too.
23366
If you're looking for an inexpensive gaming computer, here are some things to consider (assuming you're not looking to overclock):\n\nGet an AMD CPU\n------------------\nGo with an AMD chip as they are usually more favored in gaming benchmarks.  AMD CPUs tend to be cheaper than Intel CPUs as well.\n\nDon't go with a dual-core CPU\n-----------------------------\nSome benchmarks have shown that dual-core CPUs don't perform that well in games compared to single-core CPUs.  That will probably change as more games come out that are aware of dual-core CPUs but that won't happen for years.  So stick with single-cores for now.  Besides, dual-cores tend to be more expensive.\n\nDon't go with RAID 0\n--------------------------\nRAID 0 is where you pair up two hard drives and data is read/written across both for faster hard drive times.  Hard drive times are not a factor in games as levels or maps are read from the hard drive and stored in RAM.  Loading a level two seconds faster than the other person won't give you good frame rates and what not.\n\nLoad up on RAM\n------------------\nFollowing the last recommendation, load up on RAM to have adequate space.  This means you won't have to hit the hard drive for data access because you didn't have enough RAM.\n\nGet the best videocard\n---------------------------\nAn obvious recommendation.  Get the best you can afford at the moment.  Right now, price for price, the Nvidia 6xxx series is better than ATI's X-series (X300, X600, X700, X800).  Same goes for Nvidia's 7xxx series versus ATI's X1-series (X1800), although the race is closer and can flip-flop depending on the game played.  \n\nMotherboard decisions\n--------------------------\nIf possible, go with a motherboard with a PCI-Express x16 slot.  If you can afford it get one with two PCI-E x16 slots (called SLI) as this opens more upgrade options down the road.  Otherwise, an AGP motherboard will do but can limit you in video card choices.  The best videocards are now made in PCI-Express forms.\n\nAlso, there are socket 754 and socket 939 AMD motherboards.  Main difference is that socket 754 AMD CPUs don't support dual-channel memory which can help a little with game performance.\n\nDual-channel is like RAID 0,  you get two of the same RAM and it enables fast read/writes.  Benchmarks have shown small increases in frame rate with dual-channel enabled.  Since it doesn't cost that much more for dual-channel (one 1GB versus two 512MB sticks) any help with frame rates is a good thing.\n\n****Here's some specs that I recommend****\n\n///Really inexpensive\nAthlon64 2800+ CPU (cheapest A64 available)\n1GB RAM (non dual-channel)\nNvidia 6600GT or 6800 video card\nSocket 754, AGP motherboard\nAny 7200 rpm hard drive\n\n///Still inexpensive\nAthlon64 3700+ or 4000+\n1-2GB dual-channel RAM\nNvidia 6800GS or 6800GT video card\nSocket 939, PCI-E motherboard\nAny 7200 rpm hard drive
148955
Hi erik\nI tried this feat about a year ago and so far it has turned out spactaculer. Except for the fact that I bought a cheap motherboard and have to buy a new one.\n\nThe way I started was by downloading and printing out one of the booklets online.\n\nLet me just look for one now...\n\nhttp://www.tomshardware.com/2002/09/04/building_your_own_pc/\n\nthis site looks detailed and plenty of pictures, pictures are the key\n\nIt took nearly 3 months for me to complete it\nand installed the box last (cause the box I had was not the right shape) for about a month I was running with the power box outside the main box which was tricky. \n\nWhen it is complete though it is one of the most satisfying things and you learn so much. Just a side note you must know how to format and must have practise. You probably know that though.\n\nBiulding my computer is one of my best accomplishments and earned me a place to skip 3 grades to computer technology 12\n\nas for no lag you will need a faster internet connection which you have to pay quite a bit for\n\nAs for the cheapest setup\n\nI went pretty cheap first which I later found was a mistake. Pay cheap but get the custimizable motherboard. Dont make the mistake I did and get the one where they will stop making proccessors for in 2 months time. Also I found that I ripped out all the ram from my other computers and loaded this one with it providing me with 1.5 gigs of ram and 3 extra big hard drives. So interchangabilty is key. I got the case and videocard over christmas but I know they were fairly cheap and the video card (Geforce 5500) has allowed me to play tons of games.
129628
You'll need a computer case, motherboard, cpu, cpu fan, cd/dvd drive, hard drive, memory, video card, keyboard, mouse, monitor and operating system software.  Below are links with instruction and places to purchase all of these components. It can take about 4 hours from start to finish.\n\nAsus motherboards are very good\nAMD Athlon 64 processor\n256mb PCI-xe videocard\n1gb memory\nDVD&#92;CD burner\nWindows XP
1000165
For your needs look for loadsa memory and lots of hard drives.\nLook at the DELL website, I dont use a dell, I dont work for dell I only suggest them because some of their machines are cheap and would do what you want.\nAs much RAM as you can afford.\nAs much Hard drive space as you can afford.\nIf you think about it, machines 5 years ago did what you want to do so the latest CPU is not that important.
1043322
stuff you'll need\n\nmotherboard\ncpu\ngraphics card\nram\nhard drive\ndvd rom drive\npower supply\ncomputer case\nmonitor\nkeyboard\nmouse\nspeakers\n\nhttp://newegg.com is the most popular store among people who build computers.  they are inexpensive and get your order processed quickly.
418777
The age doesn't matter, it's the planned usage you will want to know.  What do they plan to use the computer for?  Web surfing, music, word processing, etc does not require a powerful system.  Gaming, digital imaging, conquering the world - these are what require power machines.  \n\nI would get them a decent, but budget, prebuilt system.  Preferrably an HP, Compaq, or EMachine (all HP basically since Compaq builds Emachines and HP owns Compaq).  They will come with a recovery partition that will reset the computer to the "out-of-box" setting should anything go wrong.  Some even allow you to keep software and personal files.  Much easier than reformatting, and quicker.\n\nGateway's are crap.  They gave me faulty RAM modules, then when I asked about the type (since it wasn't included in the documentation) they said I HAD to buy it from them to insure compatibility and it would be $184 for a 128MB stick.  I said I have something you can 'stick' somewhere.  Anyway, I went to Circuit City and got some RAM that works fine.  Turns out it was 128MB 100/66MHz RAM in their system.  Not sure about the other specifics.\n\nThat is my parents' computer BTW...they are mid-40s.  They need a new one, too - so while you're at it if you could pick up a decent Celeron-based PC or something for them. - j/k.
1164768
Sweetheart, you can buy a great computer for that at TigerDirect.\nThere good ones are assembled by SysteMax (don't get the E-machines...lots of problems) and you can have them customized with more memory or a dual screen graphics card if you want. \nHere is a (long) list of Systemax computers for sale at TigerDirect...\nhttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?cat=6&keywords=systemax&noredirect=1
379698
I am a self taugh computer guru. When I made the choice to build my computer I turned to the internet. If you actually take the time to search around, there are some great resources. Of course there is a lot of garbage out there too, but you should be able to filter those out. My advice to you... is to search forums, reviews, and sites that sell the computer parts you are looking for. From the case to the processor - everything you want to know about anything related to computers could be found on the web. Time and patience and you'll get it.
409725
get a dell. cheap and reliable
737884
I don't have a lot of time here, but why not get a brand new motherboard?  That's the heart of the computer, don't cheap out there.  Get a state-of-the-art motherboard and build an awesome computer.  Buy all the memory the MB will take.  Power supply, DVD burners, CD burners, expansion slots, a tower casing, 19" flat screen monitor, and so on.\n\nIf you are trying to build a cheap system, why not just buy one for even cheaper and save all that work?
23884
1. Ram, which I don't think it's easy to do for less than the cost of a computer with a better amount.\n\n2. Spyware: Check your computer, install updates, check again, remove, or go to nortons for help as well.
23675
" What is the best brand for computers? HP? VAIO? ALIENWARE? DELL? "\n\nThe Best you can get is an Alienware PC. They are the most powerfull (4 GB RAM, Duel Core Prossesors, Duel 7800 GTX Videocards, Terrabyte Storage), and most reliable, but they are also the most expensive (5,000)\n\nIf You are on a budget Then I reccomend an eMachines.\nThey are really cheap but they are well build and have good hardware. Same with Gateway, you can buy a really nice gateway Pentium D, 300GB, 2GB DDR2 RAM, all that for around 800-900 Dollars.\n\nIf you want something that is really reliable and well known with the best free technical support you could go with  HP. The HP website offers free technical support where you can actually chat with a real technichian, most website offer self help. HP has very good computer at the average price range.\n\nVAIO computers are good, but expensive (VAIO = SONY)\nYou are basicly paying for the name just like Alienware. They have really strong PC's, if you want a  really strong PC, then  this would be Right Next to Alienware.\n\nMe, I Custom Build my PC's. You can get the parts cheap from eBay, or NewEgg. You have control of what your PC will be like. For this you buy a case, a motherboard, RAM, harddrive, CD ROM, and more additional stuff, This will cost you much less than buying a new computer. You can can custom build a computer with the same exact things as what you could find in an alienware for alot cheaper.\n\nHope you found this helpfull
1025280
With as cheap as components are, it's easier just to build a new machine.  If you are not sure how, there are many articles on the internet and it is quite easy for anyone.  It would probably be a cheaper to build a new machine to your own specs then to upgrade out of date components.  Typically the performance upgrade you would get would not be worth the money spent.  Check out www.newegg.com for components.  I build high end gaming and server platforms form medium sized enterprises and have used newegg on many occasions.