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Thread ID: 72369 2006-09-10 10:23:00 best system to build for $1000? bizzack (7739) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
483714 2006-09-10 10:23:00 what would be the best system I could build from scratch for around $1000 at the moment?

I've been out of the computer loop for a few years now, so I'm way behind...

I'm not sure whether to go with AMD or Intel these days.

The system I'd want would be great for gaming (specifically Half-Life 2 and source mods) and also great with computer graphic design programs such as photoshop and illustrator.
bizzack (7739)
483715 2006-09-10 10:37:00 $1000 may not be enough (would be able to run games, but cannot say it would be great for gaming),
unless you buy second hand.
If you only want to play games (giving up photoshop etc) then you can buy game consoles.
developer (4447)
483716 2006-09-10 10:52:00 Do you need a monitor, keyboard and mouse included in that $1000? If you do chances are you'll need to increase your budget. Pete O'Neil (6584)
483717 2006-09-10 11:15:00 sorry, i wasn't meaning to include a monitor, keyboard and mouse.
just mobo, RAM, CPU and vid card i guess
bizzack (7739)
483718 2006-09-10 11:21:00 for instance, a bit more than a year and a half ago I built my pc for just under
$1000, it's an AMD 2600+ 756mb RAM, ATI 9600XT, GA7N400 MOBO, 80gig HD, acer keyboard and Logitech MX500 mouse, + crappy case. No monitor though, but CRT's are cheap 2nd hand or new. It's served me well just getting its way through DOOM 3, Far Cry and HL2. Also did heaps of graphics work on it, photoshop, illustrator and some animation....
I was looking to just upgrade the RAM, but I think it may be time for a complete new system...
bizzack (7739)
483719 2006-09-10 11:28:00 I guess you only need to upgrade your graphic card, and maybe buy a little more RAM as well. In this case $500 should be totally enough. developer (4447)
483720 2006-09-10 11:49:00 Yeah same here with Developer, a new vid card and a bit more ram will do the job for any games these days. A faster CPU really wont give you too much of a difference in performance for HL2 or Far Cry etc. Unless you are wanting to play games that are going to come out in the next for years or months (UT2k7, COD3 , Crysis etc) then yeah...you will want a new system though you may need to stretch that budget >_<. Though for HL2 and current games a new 7800GS vid card will certainly do the job. CCF (6760)
483721 2006-09-10 23:26:00 One main reason I'm considering upgrading also is that I've seen systems similar and much crappier than mine selling for around $600 and sometimes more on trademe. So instead of upgrading, I figured if I could sell my system for around that price and then add on the same amount I would spend on 2 gig of RAM (ie $600) and a vid card I'd have a pretty nice system compared to what I already have now.
So I'm really just wondering what I can do these days with around $1000-$1500
bizzack (7739)
483722 2006-09-10 23:47:00 Well that's the right attitude - factor in what you'll get for your old system.

$1500 should get you something good; you can cut corners by getting a mobo with integrated sound. Just be realistic with your expectations and understand that although you can get a good enough gaming system, it won't be top-end.
Greg (193)
483723 2006-09-10 23:50:00 that's what I'm trying to do, build the best system I can for around $1000-$1500, I know it wont get me top end... I just wanna know what I can get for around that much.. what kind of cpu's i should be looking at etc.. I'm not even sure if I should go with AMD anymore, or if I should take a look at Intel..., and then what kind of mobo to match with the cpu etc...
any advice would be great!
bizzack (7739)
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