How do I build a gaming computer on a budget?

I want to build a computer that can handel 3D games as well as preform my usual every day tasks (word processing, web surfing, etc.). I am looking to spend around $600 or less. Any suggestions on reliable sources for parts? And what exactly am I getting myself into?

How do I build a gaming computer on a budget?
www.newegg.com





I don't think $600 will do it. Might, if you go a bit light on the video card, but then you want gaming. My nVidia 6800 128 bit handles games like Doom III and Prey at 1024x768 on medium settings. And I only have the older Athlon 3000+ cpu.





Don't skimp on the main board, but don't go light on one, either.





Make sure the front side bus on the main board matches the ram ratings. Of course, make sure the cpu slot handles your cpu. You gotta match these three things up well.





You can save money by getting a smaller hard drive than usual, as you don't really need a gazillion gigs of hdd space for a few games and word processing and web surfing and email.
Reply:Hey that sounds like a fun thing to do. Let me tell you what I did. I got an awesome gaming computer and I kid you not I got it new for under $400.





I had an emachine and this is not a good computer to get as a gaming machine.....or so...I thought :-)





Emachines are cheap but the problem is all the ones I found ran pci slots which means you could only put in a pci card and you couldn't play battlefield 2 or Fear but only ugly wimply looking games.








So I started to think like you are and I went to compusa and I couldn't believe my eyes! There was a new 3.20 ghz computer for $295.00!! But heres the surprise part. It was an emachine but now Emachines have pci express slots!





So you can put an awesome card in that sucker and so here is what I did.





I went on ebay and got an nvidia 512mb gforce card that flys.


Then I maxed out the memory on the system at 2 gigs.





I have 0 lag and can play FEAR Battlefield 2 and even the new bf2142 without lag.





My scores when I am online gaming are always in the top 10 out of 64 players and sometimes I'm the #1 player so I know the machine rocks.





For the money you can't beat it and it even came loaded with windows xp.





I couldn't build one for that price lol. Now it didn't come with a monitor but just a keyboard and the computer but I already had a monitor.





Most guys would say don't get an emachine and there was a time when I was one of those guys but emachines is all new now.





Check one out at


http://www.e4me.com/products/products.ht...
Reply:It's hard to find parts that cost less than $600. Usually, building a computer will only cost less when replacing high end PCs. Low ends will acually cost less when you buy them. Try dell.com, but remember: $600 will not get you very far.