# Build me a new computer rig **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365 "2009-05-05T00:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/1 "2009-05-05T00:26:18Z")
Ok my main PC has “died” This morning it powered off and would not turn back on. This afternoon it turned on for a little while but not long enough to boot into Windows. Now I’m booted in and starting a backup. I had this problem previously and replaced the PSU and all was well. I don’t think the PSU is the problem again. Even if the PSU is the problem I think it’s time for a new PC. I use it for gaming (mostly WOW) web surfing, quicken, and letter writing. The HW currently in it is IDE Hard Drive 320GB SATA HDD 500GB IDE CD & DVD Burner Mainboard is a Nforce-3A with Sempron 3100+ CPU and 1.5 GB or DDR400 ram I’m using the onboard sound and ethernet. Video is a Nvidia GeForce 4 ti 4200 AGP I’m open to AMD or Intel would like to spend under 300. Any suggestions ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/2 "2009-05-05T02:05:44Z")
ArsTechnica puts out regular (and excellent) guides for this sort of thing. [Here’s](http://arstechnica.com/hardware/guides/2009/04/ars-technica-system-guide-april-2009-edition.ars) their recommended build for a budget gaming PC. Given the changes in standards, you’ll probably have to replace the CPU, motherboard, memory, and graphics card. Probably also the power supply. Everything else should be just fine. Ars’s suggested components here push your budget by $50ish, but you could also easily get away with a cheaper graphics card if you’re mostly into WoW. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/3 "2009-05-05T02:34:32Z")
You haven’t said what OS you want to run on it, Windows or Linux . I’d possibly recommend a barebones system-check out [tigerdirect.com](http://tigerdirect.com) or egghead for those. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/4 "2009-05-05T02:35:17Z")
Ahh I would be keeping XP on it ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/5 "2009-05-05T05:52:32Z")
If you’re planning on keeping those components between systems (Hard Drive, Optical Drive, Operating System), then $300 is easily reachable. I wouldn’t invest in DDR3 RAM, as the benefits don’t outweigh the cost yet… at least, however, that could’ve changed. Aim for roughly $20/GB RAM. Intel makes stable, high-quality motherboards, but they come at a premium. ASUS makes some good board at a better price. The P5Q is an older board (about a year old) which will work with your needs. Any derivatives thereof also work. Think about a Core2Duo processor, so you can take advantage of running WOW at full speed. I believe the P5Q also has support for a quad core processor, if you’re so inclined in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Iamametalrobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@Iamametalrobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iamametalrobot)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/6 "2009-05-05T09:31:53Z")
Checking at Newegg, you can get a [combo of an Athlon 64 x2 7750 & 2x2GB DDR2 1066 RAM](http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.186160) for $100, [a Radeon 4770](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835) for $100, plus a $10 MIR, and a [Gigabyte 780G motherboard](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379) for $80, plus a $10 MIR. If you need a new power supply, I have been quite happy with my [Cooler Master 460 Watt](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171028) which I have had for a year; it is only $35 plus a $10 MIR. Total for all these parts is $314 before shipping and any mail-in rebates apply; there are $30 worth of MIRs in there. If you wanted to save the cash, the integrated graphics on that motherboard are better than your current video card, so you could drop the Radeon 4770; my girlfriend’s computer has the same 780G graphic chip, and can handle Portal & Left 4 Dead fine, albeit at low detail settings. But having a real graphics card makes things look so much better. If your power supply is pretty good, then you don’t need a new one. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/7 "2009-05-06T00:42:28Z")
> [@Iamametalrobot](#): > > Checking at Newegg, you can get a [combo of an Athlon 64 x2 7750 & 2x2GB DDR2 1066 RAM](http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.186160) for $100, [a Radeon 4770](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835) for $100, plus a $10 MIR, and a [Gigabyte 780G motherboard](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379) for $80, plus a $10 MIR. If you need a new power supply, I have been quite happy with my [Cooler Master 460 Watt](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171028) which I have had for a year; it is only $35 plus a $10 MIR. Total for all these parts is $314 before shipping and any mail-in rebates apply; there are $30 worth of MIRs in there. > > If you wanted to save the cash, the integrated graphics on that motherboard are better than your current video card, so you could drop the Radeon 4770; my girlfriend’s computer has the same 780G graphic chip, and can handle Portal & Left 4 Dead fine, albeit at low detail settings. But having a real graphics card makes things look so much better. If your power supply is pretty good, then you don’t need a new one. I see the board is described as a MicroATX my current board is an ATX so I think there will be a case fit issue ---
**Author:** ![Casserole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Casserole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casserole)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/8 "2009-05-06T03:52:54Z")
Don’t worry, Manny, MicroATX and ATX are the two most prevalent form factors in computer design today. Chances are, your case will have mounting holes drilled for both form factors. ---
**Author:** ![Iamametalrobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@Iamametalrobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iamametalrobot)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/9 "2009-05-06T14:08:03Z")
The MicroATX standard was specifically designed to be compatible with the ATX standard - the mounting points for a MicroATX board are a subset of the ATX ones, and the I/O panel is identical. If you do want a full ATX board, [this Gigabyte 770 chipset board](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376) should do the trick. Note that it doesn’t have the back-up of integrated graphics. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/10 "2009-05-06T14:38:42Z")
Also you may want to download windows 7. It’s a great free operating system (at least until june of next year) that’ll be happy to run on your new rig. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-me-a-new-computer-rig/495365/11 "2009-05-06T23:43:21Z")
Ok so I ordered the parts for the system I went with the board and CPU that Iamametalrobot suggested. I’m holding off a video card until I see how the performance of the onboard video is. If I need a new powersupply I’ll look at the Cooler Master. I will consider Windows 7 RC but not yet With shipping I spent $195.34