Im on a 500$ budget...

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

MotherBoard: Please recommend one, that's compatible with the rest and good for gaming at a decent price

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131378

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178333

no tower because i heard you dont need one, i might use the one i already have which is from 2005.

erm, there are alternatives to a tower, but you generally won't save money going with one, or more than make up for it in time spent on setup. Using your current case is fine and dandy IF it is big enough for your planned motherboard and GPU to fit in it, otherwise you will need to buy a new one. You can get some nice ones for under $80 so it isn't an expensive part.

You also need an HDD, a DVD drive (you can probably recycle your current one), and an OS (if wanting Windows, this'll add to the cost significantly)

The CPU you selected is out of stock. Are you planning on getting it elsewhere or waiting for it to come back in stock?

oh lol just realized that, i have a 160gb 7200RPM hard drive and a dvd drive and an os

and what about this CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103995

What do you mean you "have" an OS? If you are referring to your currently installed OS, if it is Windows and a prebuilt PC, it won't do you any good in a new PC. prebuilt OEM copies of Windows are tied to the BIOS of that PC and cannot be transferred to a new PC.

Ah, did know that, does the os come in a cd? if so i think i might have the cd?
and is this a better cpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103894

It doesn't matter if you have the CD or not unless you went to a store and bought the copy of windows. If it is a copy that came with a Dell/HP/Acer/Sony/etc PC then it can't be used on a new rig.

Anyway, two cheap, decent quality mobos:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131651

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131646

Note that if you have a IDE (PATA) drive instead of a SATA drive, the first motherboard does not have an IDE connector. Of course if you have an IDE HDD, you should probably replace it anyway.

To use either of these motherboards and your planned GPU with your current case, your current case needs to support ATX and have a bare minimum of 10.5 inches of space between the back panel and any obtrusions for bays in the front.

so if i choose the first one :: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131651
everything will be compatible and how do i tell which drive i have ide or sata?

The parts you listed should be, but I cannot guarantee your case will be big enough for an ATX board and/or your (quite large) GPU.

IDE hdds connect with a ribbon cable: http://gopaultech.com/files/2009/03/ide-ribbon-cable.jpg

SATA HDDS connect with a slim SATA cable: http://pc-level.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/sata-cable.jpg

Don't take lightly on the negative reviews for that card. Spend a bit more and get one from sapphire:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948

Motherboard alternative and presuming a IDE slot not needed:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

If you need a hard drive, that will certainly eat into budget these days considering the inflated prices on them due to the Thailand floods. Here's one of the more cheaper ones:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145299

ah man, mines a ide, so i gotta get a new one, can you recommended one

and what does tower do, whats it purpose, can i just have some parts sticking out of the tower just in case they don't fit and still work?

Tig recommended one. Given how bad the HDD market is right now, probably the fairest price you'll find, unfortunately.


It encloses everything, helps keep dust out, and helps direct air flow (a case can actually improve cooling). If the motherboard doesn't fit then you'd need to make a custom motherboard mount and have an open air mounting rack, which'll take time and you'll have to be careful, so I definitely don't recommend it, especially if you have small children running about or pets. Same with the GPU, if it doesn't fit, you'd have to take a saw to your case.

You may be better off waiting, honestly. You're budget is tight to begin with (only $500) and you apparently need a copy of Windows ($100 right there) and a hard drive (which as mentioned are very expensive right now due to a shortage).

i cant replace my hard drive, takes a toll on my budget, can you guys find one with a ide slot

The second one I linked to has an IDE connector, but IDE is slow and will hurt gaming performance. Also if it's IDE, it's also an older drive and probably doesn't have much life left before kicking the bucket anyway.

As I mentioned in my edit, you are probably better off waiting until your budget is better at this point, as you are in need of a full upgrade (OS included) and your budget is very tight.

I need it now, though
so here the build

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

MotherBoard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131646

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103894


GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131378 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102948 ... whats so bad about powercolor? or just get the 6850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178333

use the tower i have now, and get an os, which in total will be about 550$-600$ Good or no?

$598 after rebates and a copy of http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Your current case I can pretty much guarantee will not work with the GPU or probably even the motherboard. most OEM PCs are mini towers, which are too small for those parts. Just saying. That's another $50 or so right there. Don't get me wrong, not a bad build, but your HDD probably only has a little bit of life left in it and performance will definitely take a hit because of it being IDE.

this is my current computer http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00387087&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=471644&lang=en

and could i just use ubuntu for now, until i save up some money to buy windows..

Yup, that's a mini tower, you won't be able to fit your stuff in there.

Getting rid of Windows for a linux distro will save you money for now, so you can put it towards a case instead (get one for $50-$60). Your HDD is still a major sore spot, though.

but do i reallllly need a tower , no kids or animals go through here , could i just go for a better hdd?

Are you capable of making your own open-air computer mount out of some PVC or something? Can you get that PVC for free or for a very low cost? Do you have the free time to do it properly? Are you willing to take those risks with the parts that you spent all your money on?

If you answered yes to all those questions, then you don't need a case. Otherwise you need a case.

You've spent all this money on your parts and then risking to blow it all by damaging them by not getting a case. It doesn't make sense to me

ah man, ill get back to you tomorrow gotta go to sleep.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119227

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102908

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178333

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103894

MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131651

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145299

DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Going to use ubuntu for now, is this a good build?

Not bad...Not bad at all. The memory you're looking at isn't on sale anymore and PNY isn't exactly making raves with memory. Try G Skill:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428