Need recomendations =)

[sktworkshop06]

ASUS Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA DVD Burner with LightScribe

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

OCZ S.O.E 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

ASUS P5NSLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI Intel Edition ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Pentium D 820 Smithfield 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk

It overshoots the $500 limit by almost a hundred dollars. It is about the same total cost as the list above but it is much, much better. Just decide for yourself. Different people prefer different things. The guys here are great and won't lead you to buy something that you would regret too much. ;) I wouldnt mind having this budget rig here though. It is really nice. I would stick in a Core 2 Duo instead if it were mine. Other than that I think this would be a great computer for ya.

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by sktworkshop06

ASUS Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA DVD Burner with LightScribe

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

OCZ S.O.E 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

ASUS P5NSLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI Intel Edition ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Pentium D 820 Smithfield 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor

Microsoft Windows XP Home Sp2b 1pk

I like your ram choice. But the mobo choice isn't near as good as the DS3 or the S3. The 570 chipset isn't that great and if SLI is needed, I certainly wouldn't put money into a 570 when there's much better 650i chipsets out there.

Also, why go with a 90nm fab CPU when you can get a 65nm CPU for just $3 more?

[sktworkshop06]

ASUS boards are higher quality than Gigabyte normally. There are definitely better boards out there than the DS3 or S3. Also, you are right about the CPU. I would leave the rest the same, though. Abit also makes some decent mobos.

[onebxr]

Check newegg they are having great deals on ddr2 2gb sets of ram right now.
-1
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by sktworkshop06

ASUS boards are higher quality than Gigabyte normally. There are definitely better boards out there than the DS3 or S3. Also, you are right about the CPU. I would leave the rest the same, though. Abit also makes some decent mobos.

not sure where you get your information from but Asus, Gigabyte, Abit and several others are all the same higher quality manufacturers... now the not-so-great ones are like Biostar, PC Chips, ECS (although they are making some quality ones now), Epox, and others.

I can tell you now that this DS3 board mentioned above is a better quality board that my old Asus A7N8X2.0 (even though I do like Asus quite a bit). This Asus had so many memory issues and such that it took me about 3 months to finally get it stable and I never touched it since... this DS3 was assembled, powered and never had to go in and mess with anything that I didn't want to (aside from setting memory divider).

[SlyPenguin0]

oh yeah capper, that list is what made me find you and this forum so i got that in my sights as well

UPDATE: i just found out i have access too:
1) ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256mb for $149.40
2) ATI Radeon X1300 Pro 256mb for $77.40
3) ATI Radeon X1650 512mb for $119.40
4) ATI Radeon X1650XT 256mb for $150.00

also thanks fer the list skt and others, giving me even more ideas. and i like that i started a small debate as well lol

and i don't know exactly what the Penguin Team is for, but GO PENGUINS. love penguins =P

[Dr. V]

hmm

Core 2 Duo is desirable if you can push a bit more cash - even the E4300 (OCs like MAD!)

and the BEST deal in that list is BY FAR the X1950PRO for $149.40!!!

[SlyPenguin0]

yeah C2D is the best way to go, i guess if i waited longer or something i could try and splurge for that

[Capper]

Originally Posted by sktworkshop06

ASUS boards are higher quality than Gigabyte normally. There are definitely better boards out there than the DS3 or S3. Also, you are right about the CPU. I would leave the rest the same, though. Abit also makes some decent mobos.

thats a pretty big generalization.......and one I don't subscribe to.....yes, ASUS does make good quality boards, but as important as brands (to an extent) is chipset, and I'd much rather have a good P965 board than an NVIDIA 570 chipset based board

[Computer-Ed]

Okay there have been a ton of good suggestions here so it is hard to offer any new ones. Grab that 1950pro you listed, the price is amazing.

For the processor I understand the desire to keep the cost down and the PentiumD will do that for you with the right motherbaord you have a huge upgrade path forward. However if you can stretch the budget to a Core2 the benefits would be more than you can imagine.

As for the motherbaord debate over the years I have seen EVERY brand fail. Asus makes an excellent baord but you pay a ton for their name. Gigabyte and MSI tend to make similiar quality baords but at better pricing.

I have personal experience of late with my Gigabyte 965P-DS3 and I can tell you I feel this is the best bang for the buck currently in a Core2 capable board. The newest revision has support for the next generation Intel processors in place already. It can overclock like a madman and with the exception of a BIOS quirk with overclocking I have had ZERO issues.

Final note, on RAM look to get 2 Gig if you can, it will be worth it down the road and do not fear Vista, it is not as bad as many make it out to be. I personally will never go back to XP.