+1 I got a ECS Sempron Mobo, AMD 64bit 3100+, 512Mb ram, case w/ powersupply, CPU fans x2 (one for me and wife) for right at $500 from Fry's...but you have to be fast on those deals (I did have to go back and get some SATA drives because the IDE controller acted flakey)seamusTX wrote:When my old computer died last year I went to Fry's and bought the cheapest motherboard they had, a CPU, memory, and a housing that it would fit in. I spent less than $300. I used the graphics card and drives from the old PC. Everything else is on the motherboard these days.
It worked fine. I don't think the fact that I'm an electical engineer had anything to do with it.
- Jim
If you want something that won't drag from the getgo look into a dual core machine now..my little brother got him a MEGA pympin machine for right at $600, I figure a "decent" dual core machine will run you about $400
Right here at microcenter
MOBO <--$99 (built in graphics (w/ expandable PCI-X video)
PROCESSOR <-$99
1G RAM <-$49.99
CPU FAN <-$49.99
Thats the biggest components, then you get , if you want you can get a case w/ powersupply for about $100 more and there ya have it
Decent pympin system that is still heavily upgradeable but not bottom of the barrel either