Planning a computer upgrade

dosbox

I am planning to do a computer upgrade with a budget of $200 or less. All I really need change is the MB, CPU (and cooler), RAM, and Graphics card. Here are the parts I have chosen

Motherboard

CPU

CPU Cooling

RAM

Graphics Card

i am wondering if i could do better with parts of the same or lower price. I already have gone a bit too higher than my budget. Since these pages for these parts have other sellers listed for lower prices, I might actually be within budget. (I am seriously too poor for higher priced parts)

PS: My 450W (or 480W?) PSU and my 500GB SATAIII hdd should be fine for now.

calvinb

my advice: pcpartpciker.com checks prices and compatibility for you

wingzeroismine

Your CPU should come with a heatsink, and being a dual core I wouldn't imagine it'll need such an extreme fan.

Your memory seems excessive, you could buy simpler sticks with better timings (CL9 is more common than the CL10 those kingstons are) for less.

I'm not sure if I can remotely recommend such an ancient graphics card when you can get a brand new GT 630 2GB or even GT 730 2GB card for basically the same price.

stitch

What *is* your budget?

The vast majority of these parts are used and centuries old in technology time. You are seriously far better off saving up that extra $200 and getting something modern.

calvinb

and if you desperately need modern, old ThinkPads are solid machines and you can get them cheap. not flimsy, very reliable, easy to service. typing on an x201 right now.

dosbox

i don't think buying a laptop is much of an option, but i did take a look at pcpartpicker.com and found an even better selection for about $250. I do need to buy one part at a time.

(I am bad with money and that will be a big problem when I graduate from high school)

wingzeroismine

dosbox wrote:

(I am bad with money and that will be a big problem when I graduate from high school)

If you are going on to a college of some sort you can likely find plenty of opportunities for a work study of some sort.

calvinb

if you go to uni or whatever, a laptop is probably a VERY good idea