Spend Down timeFollow

I've been waiting for some of the retirement accounts my father had to be devided amoneg me and my siblings, knowing that when I get my share, it will effect my SSI. I was good and reported the amount already to Soc. Sec. though I yet to get to the bank and deposit the money.

So until I get my checking account back down to below $2k I won't being getting anything from the goverment.

Now most of the 27k I got will go for paying bills and medicine, but this is a good time for Jonwin and I to look into upgrading computers. His is slow as molasses and my just barely has enough memory to run Civ5.

Low end we are thinking of just maxing his computer which only can handle 4gb (2 2gb DDR2 PC 2-5300) and upgrading my computer to 8gb which is half of what it can take, but going all the way to 16gb is still bit overboard for my use.

Then there is enough money that I could just give Jonwin my computer and either build myself a new one or buy either a new desktop or laptop that will play the games I love with a good graphic card.

I haven't had a computer that I didn't either build myself or have someone else build for me, since 1986, so I'm hesitant to get something I may not be able to upgrade easily.

So folks, any suggestions or ideas on a computer that will handle the games I currently play (LOTR:O, and Civ5) and plus still be able to handle the next must have games. I'm looking at spending under $700 total if anything and if I can will also be getting some art supplies that I been wanting for sometime.

Of course I have been using Newegg for parts for years.

My two machines are an ASUS CG5290 Desktop and an ASUS GH73 Laptop. They rock. Far and away the best computers I've ever owned (both go for well over $700 though).

Edited, Feb 10th 2011 11:21pm by Deathwysh

Asumming case required, but no OS required in costs:

Motherboard:
Asus Socket 1156 P7P55LX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131604
$119

CPU:
Intel 2.8 Ghz Socket 1156 Dual core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116283
$99
(i'd significantly upgrade this if you had additional funds to throw at it, but for now keeping it where it is.

Ram:
Corsair DDR3 8GB (2x 4gb - get another one of these someday to go to 16GB if you want)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145315
$69 (after $20 rebate)

Power Supply
650 watt PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012
$119

That particular ram and PSU combination are on sale in a combo deal for $148 after rebate. Not factoring the combo into my pricing because it is a limited time one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.592765

Case:
Cooler Master cm690 II Advance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216
$89 (basic version can be found for $69. But this case will last you for quite some time. )

HDD:
160 GB Western Digital Sata
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136525
$59 (Larger drives are available for not too much more if you need the space)

Optical:
24x DVD Burner (Asus)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
$18

Video card:
Geforce 460 GTX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130591
$149

So thats $721, assuming no reusable parts from the old one, and no operating system purchase required. I'm not really happy with that CPU choice to be honest, I'd prefer to go with something with a little more horsepower since that will be your weak point in that system. Could cut back on the motherboard features a little, but not enough to really get you into a decent machine. Ram is all about the same price point there unless you start going with 1GB sticks for DDR3 at the moment. Video card, a 460 gtx should be fine. The 560 GTX is looking at about $250 so its out of the budget. If you need windows 7 OS, it runs about $149 for home premium OEM if I remember right.

Alright, Looks like Home premium OEM is actually $99 for 64 bit now. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754 Ultimate is 139. you only need ultimate if you want the media features or the tablet features. So if you drop the hard drive and optical drive that still keeps you at roughly $700. I'd reccommend getting the optical drive anyways because the new ones are SATA, so eliminating the IDE channel and cables entirely would make for an easier and cleaner build slightly. If you can get away with keeping the existing power supply too, I'd drop the new one and get this CPU instead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115067
$209, still a 2.8 Ghz, but its a quad core. Next step up after that would be the $289 2.93 Ghz Quad core with Hyperthreading (so basically an octo core). The speed boost on the octo core one would also be worth it, but its not in the budget unless you go closer to $800.

If you are going monitor shopping later, I reccommend this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001463

I have one attached to my secondary computer right now.

The case listed there is worth it, if for no other reason than a 2002 era case most likely has noisy 80mm fans. The new one should theoretically be alot quieter with larger 120MM and 160mm fans. That particular case also comes standard with pretty nice ball bearing low noise fans. Not sure if that is a concern. If you wait a while on the case they tend to go on sale in 3 month cycles. Finding one for $50 isn't out of the question.