Budget PC build

Dude, best advice is read about PCs 1st. It is worth it, recommended sites:
Anandtech.com
This forum and also goto your library and read the last few (let say 6) months of PC format. (I think April had a good spread on prices for a budget PC)

Just remember what works for one person will not work for you. eg I am a gamer and a enthusiast so my recommended parts will suck.

After you have read, decide whether you want to game (than u need R10 000+) or media/work which your 5k will get you.

Next If you are scared to pop open your case and do not know any one who can build the PC for YOU, goto a shop like Incredible-connection. Yes I know people complain about thier prices but remember that what you are paying extra for is the support. Otherwise goto a cheapo store like PC Zone where you can get stuff cheap but if your PC crashes they will only fix it in a month. I do not know abouit online sites/shops but I'm sure some of the other guys can suggest a few.

AMD vs Intel: Go for an AMD CPU and mobo it is cheaper and so are the graphics cards.
N.B. the mobo must support PCI-E NOT AGP. Also you can buy the Graphics card later when you change ur PC into a media PC. Why? that expensive graphics card be half price in 6 months.

One of the cheapest ways to save money: do not buy your software just use opensource.
eg uBuntu instead of windows and Openoffice instead of Office. good site http://www.mirror.ac.za/ this is the link for the SA (local) ftp servers hosted by the universities.

Lastly on branding:
before buying any part make sure you are happy with it. google the name of the part and a keyword suchas "review" or "problem" or "error", and read about it. See what people who bought it thought about it.

Lastly: We all want great PCs that can s**t icecream and fart butterflies but remember your budget. You will always want something better but remember when u on a budget its not about what u want, its what u need.
 
Last edited:
MightyMuffinMan said:
Dude, best advice is read about PCs 1st. It is worth it, recommended sites:
Anandtech.com
This forum and also goto your library and read the last few (let say 6) months of PC format. (I think April had a good spread on prices for a budget PC)

Just remember what works for one person will not work for you. eg I am a gamer and a enthusiast so my recommended parts will suck.

After you have read, decide whether you want to game (than u need R10 000+) or media/work which your 5k will get you.

Next If you are scared to pop open your case and do not know any one who can build the PC for YOU, goto a shop like Incredible-connection. Yes I know people complain about thier prices but remember that what you are paying extra for is the support. Otherwise goto a cheapo store like PC Zone where you can get stuff cheap but if your PC crashes they will only fix it in a month. I do not know abouit online sites/shops but I'm sure some of the other guys can suggest a few.

AMD vs Intel: Go for an AMD CPU and mobo it is cheaper and so are the graphics cards.
N.B. the mobo must support PCI-E NOT AGP. Also you can buy the Graphics card later when you change ur PC into a media PC. Why? that expensive graphics card be half price in 6 months.

One of the cheapest ways to save money: do not buy your software just use opensource.
eg uBuntu instead of windows and Openoffice instead of Office. good site http://www.mirror.ac.za/ this is the link for the SA (local) ftp servers hosted by the universities.

Lastly on branding:
before buying any part make sure you are happy with it. google the name of the part and a keyword suchas "review" or "problem" or "error", and read about it. See what people who bought it thought about it.

Lastly: We all want great PCs that can s**t icecream and fart butterflies but remember your budget. You will always want something better but remember when u on a budget its not about what u want, its what u need.
Click to expand...

MMM, I agree with you almost entirely apart from the Incredible Connection part. They suck period, apart from having a decent special now and then I wouldn't wouldn't let my worst enemy go there.

Find a decent online store with a shop front as well, Buy Computers are probably the best in CT imho. I know the owner and have always received stellar service from them. Alternatively there are a few people on this forum that can supply and support, myself included.
 
For your budget take a serious look at the phenom2 720. It's a high clocked tri core cpu. That extra core comes in handy in more than just a few games these days.

You can get a 790 and 750 mobo from prophecy for R1300.

Prophecy have the 4870 1gig for R2400.

As for power supply get the cooler master 550watt.
 
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