Need *cheap* computer help

[Bryanhoop]

I'm trying to build a strictly jukebox PC... The problem I have now is that I'm on a laptop and I have two external enclosures for my DVD-RW and my 300gb IDE drive. I'm running out of room on my 300 GB drive so I just bought a 400 GB Sata drive that is sitting on my desk without an enclosure. I'd really like to consolidate it all into one machine so I don't have so many external components laying around, because with all the enclosures I have right now I'm $120 in the hole that could have been spent towards a PC. I need everything beside the HD's, including a tower that has 4+ 3.5" drive slots (Future RAID?). Right not I'm going to use my TV as the display until I get more cash for a nice LCD, so I'll need an S-video out on the card. Also, I need Sata support too and a PCI/USB wireless card/stick. I have a budget of $200 to work with and would like to go non-OEM since finding HD trays and what not for those cases is so damn hard. Could you help me find the right components for this PC? I need RAM, Case, PSU, fans, MB, CPU, SATA card, Wireless card to sum it all up. I can use onboard audio right now...a nice sound card will come next month.

Thanks.

 

[eggrolls]

$200 isn't a lot to work with. Try picking up the cheapest cpu/mobo combo at Fry's. (Just a day or two ago they had 2800+ sempron with some junky ECS motherboard for $60.) Pick up 512MB memory ($50), a low end video card with S-video out (something like a evga 6200 - $40), and the rest on a case, PSU, and a wireless card. Not sure what to recommend for those because you really don't have enough money left to get anything decent.

 

[Seekermeister]

The problem with cheap help, is that sometimes you get what you paid for.

Have you considered buying a barebones system? Some of them aren't too expensive, but I don't know if they would fit your needs.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Biostar TForce 6100 socket 754 motherboard has optical/coax digital out (plus analog), onboard video, and both IDE and SATA ports.

With this and a socket 754 Sempron you don't need an audio, video, or SATA card they're all onboard.

The Antec NSK4400 is a solid cool and quiet case & PSU to pair with it, but probably a little out of your price range since you also need 512 MB RAM stick.

 

[pkrush]

I wouldn't advise using TV-out for the display, it's pretty much unreadable. Check the hot deals forum, outpost.com has a special $80 15" widescreen LCD for today only.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Yikes, $200? It's possible, but you won't like it...

Get an LCT case/PSU combo from supergooddeal for $29. I know that sounds dangerous, but I've bought two LCT cases myself and both have served me very well. I would however recommend upgrading your PSU when you get a chance. There's an Ultra 500W for $40 shipped - $40 MIR at Frys.

The following comes to $173 at Newegg:
Duron 1.6 + cooler combo
Recertified PC Chips motherboard
AGP video w/s-video
open box Samsung 18x DVD burner
Airnet USB wireless adapter
Apacer 512MB PC3200

All told that puts you $2 overbudget. If you don't mind going up to $212, you can ditch the recertified board and Duron combo and get an Athlon XP 2200+ & motherboard combo instead. You even get a $10 rebate later on, so in the long run it's slightly less than the Duron.

 

[piasabird]

You might find a used computer for around $100.00. You would be surprised how long some gear keeps running. I am using a Tulatin Core PIII Celeron at home. It just keeps running. I have burned up 2 AthlonXP Processors but the Intel keeps running.