Recommend a new cheap computer

[wooohooo]

My friend got me starcraft 2 as a present but problem is when I play on my laptop now, it lags really bad as my video card is horrible. I'm looking to spend as LITTLE as possible... like 400 to 500 dollars. I don't intend on playing any hardcore games in the future. Pretty much starcraft. I'm up for either laptop or a desktop, whichever is cheaper.

[Regorium]

Do you have any existing parts to use and any moral issues with hacking Win7?

ie. Case, Hard Drive, CD ROM drive, monitor

If you're building from scratch, then no, $500 is not possible. The cheapest monitor you could possibly get is like $100. Win 7 is another $100. Cheap hard drive is $50. Filling out the rest to run SC2 is just not possible.

A $500 laptop won't work either, and would be a waste of money unless used.

[wooohooo]

I have absolutely nothing but a 23" monitor.

[malcolmk14]

I just built a computer at Memory Express for about $1,200 specifically to play SC2. Of course mine is much more than what I probably needed.

Don't think you can do it for $500.

[wooohooo]

Damn... hmm maybe I'll just stick to NHL 11.

[malcolmk14]

Trust me. It was worth every penny.

[wooohooo]

There's so many more things I would rather spend. I never played the first starcraft so I don't really know what I'm doing.

[Ducay]

I think you can definitely get a decent computer for that much. Take a quick browse at RFD and look at Dell etc.

[QuadCityImages]

When you get down to the $400-500 range, unless you have a case and/or a bunch of PC components already, its cheaper to buy a pre-built computer from Dell or someone. The problem is, I'm not sure that you can get one in that range with an actual video card, rather than "integrated graphics."

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

When you get down to the $400-500 range, unless you have a case and/or a bunch of PC components already, its cheaper to buy a pre-built computer from Dell or someone. The problem is, I'm not sure that you can get one in that range with an actual video card, rather than "integrated graphics."

Yeah, you wouldn't get a decent video card if one at all and an upgrade later may not work either as the power supply might be pretty puny.

He could build a computer for $500 or so using one of the old core 2 dual processors or a cheap AMD.

He could check out shopbot.ca for the best prices on components.

http://www.shopbot.ca/

[Hack&Lube]

I could totally do it for $500 but not brand new. I'd have to look for used parts on kijiji, forums, ebay, etc. I build a computer like this for a friend. He runs SC2 on medium-high settings.

$80 motherboard
$75 8800 GT 512MB
$120 Core2Duo 775 CPU
$90 4GB RAM
$50 400-450W PSU
$55 Case
$30 Miscellaneous Parts
----
$500 totally reasonable

You'd never find something like that in a store though. You'd have to bargain hunt for used parts and get someone to build it for you. No labor or software included.

The other option is to hack a PC graphics card into your laptop but that might be a little advanced for you. :P

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1522180

[wooohooo]

That's the same laptop I have... haha might be worth a try.

[wooohooo]

Okay maybe not same laptop... as my laptop is old and that one uses an i5.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The other option is to hack a PC graphics card into your laptop but that might be a little advanced for you. :P

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1522180

Since he's willing to spend money, a ViDock would be easier to setup

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by boogerz

Since he's willing to spend money, a ViDock would be easier to setup

ViDock 4 Plus - $330 USD shipped
Radeon 5770 - $160
====
$490

Build your own ViDock (basically what that link is)
The PE4H with the EC2C adapter - $100 USD shipped
PSU - $80
Radeon 5770 - $160
====
$340

Oh, I didn't know about the ViDock. Yes, that would be the much more painless solution. Building your own is cheaper as usual of course. There are pros/cons to both though as building your own requires your own outside powersupply and you don't have an enclosure so it's all less portable unless you do a lot more work to build your own enclosure and mod in a server rack size PSU.

[Vulcan]

Here's something mostly from tonights NCIXs sale page.

Hd 500GB WB-$57
http://www8.ncix.com/products/?sku=3...D&promoid=1223

BFG GS-550 PSU- $35
http://www.directcanada.com/products...anufacture=BFG

Kingston Ram 2GB stick- $48
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104019&nm_mc=OTC-PricebatCA&cm_mmc=OTC-PricebatCA-_-Memory+(Desktop+Memory)-_-Kingston+HyperX-_-20104019

Antec 300 case- $55

http://www8.ncix.com/products/?sku=2...c&promoid=1223

Gigabyte HD5770- $150 - $10 rebate
http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/22...GV_R577UD_1GD/

Samsung DVD writer- $19

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...g&promoid=1015

Bundle of AMDPhenomIIx4 processor
and Gigabyte GA-MA785GM MB- $200

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?s...s&promoid=1223

Total of $564 less $10 rebate although I've tried to avoid any rebates.

Here's a site that will sell you a Windows 7 key with a download. I'm not guaranteeing they'll come through but I've used them twice with only once having to put in a complaint to my credit card. He said he was in an accident and wasn't able to get to his office. If you don't want to go the download route and burning a DVD you should be able to borrow a disc somewhere.

Anyways it's about $38 for windows home premium either 32 or 64 bit for a total of $602 + tax and shipping.

http://trustpayjsc.com/products.php?...al-download%29

You could go cheaper with a core 2 but I figure this may last awhile longer. The power supply isn't great but it hasn't had a lot of complaints either. The reason it's cheap is because the companies gone out of business.

[Vulcan]

Any of those parts listed at stores other than NCIX should be price matched at NCIX, so you can do the whole order through them. Memory Express will also price match but they probably won't have all the components. NCIX will also put together the computer and test it for another $50. MemEX should do much the same.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

ViDock 4 Plus - $330 USD shipped
Radeon 5770 - $160
====
$490

Build your own ViDock (basically what that link is)
The PE4H with the EC2C adapter - $100 USD shipped
PSU - $80
Radeon 5770 - $160
====
$340

A Vidock 4 would be $280USD shipped and would work fine. You'll be hardpressed to find a 5600 or 5700 series card consumes more than 150 watts.

I geuss it depends how badly you want to save ~$50. The average computer user wouldn't have the knowledge to easily assemble their own ViDock

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by boogerz

A Vidock 4 would be $280USD shipped and would work fine. You'll be hardpressed to find a 5600 or 5700 series card consumes more than 150 watts.

I geuss it depends how badly you want to save ~$50. The average computer user wouldn't have the knowledge to easily assemble their own ViDock

You're right, and unless you have like an i7 laptop, a 225w videocard will likely be CPU bottlenecked by your laptop anyway.

[Vulcan]

I think video cards go like this. If it doesn't need a PCI-e 6pin connection it gets it's 75 watts or less from the PCI-e slot. One PCI-e 6 pin connection means it requires 75 to 150 watts. Two PCI-e 6 pin connections means it requires 150 - 225 watts. I forget what 8 pin connections are good for.