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One of most common question is now days, Can we have a budget PC which can run Windows Vista and still don’t burn a big hole in the pocket ??

Well Certainly we can…

Before I start, I would need to put some light on the word budget…

How much really should be a budget PC ??

A very subjective question… To some extend more in third world counties, the word budget means low end system, for example one would try to get a PC for USD $ 300 / Rs. 15000/- where as some may prefer a USD $ 800 / Rs. 40000/- as a budget PC… But by the volume of question I get, reflects the normal Budget is around USD $500 / INR Rs. 25000/-…

Second and most important factor which one may need to consider before choosing the products for the PC is,

What is your need for the PC ??

Ask this question to your self many times… As what really would you do, most of the time, with the PC ?? If it is gaming then you may need to concentrate on the graphics part more that other components, where as if its for more entertainment, then its the display which matters the most…

So as you may see the configuration would change depending on the purpose of the PC…

Will it be Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 ??

Once again a very popular question, people are really interested to know the performance difference between Intel Core 2 Duo range and AMD Athlon X2 range… Like so many computer related question this one is also a very subjective… You need to understand the fact, its not the processor alone which makes a good well balanced and performance system… All the other hardware combine to build a good well balanced and performance system…

So in a simple layman’s word, as just based on processor performance, it is Core2 Duo (E4300 / E4400 / E4500 / E6750 / E6550 / E6850) which always out performance any AMD Athlon 64 X2 (X2 4200+ / X2 4400+ / X2 4800+ / X2 5200+ / X2 6000+)… But when you try to build a system using any Intel Core2 range processors, the price shots up really high because of the high value products which needs to accompany the Core2 processors to get the best performance, but when you build a system under a tight budget using AMD, virtually because of the better cost to performance ratio of the other components like better onboard grfx based motherboard and cheap processor price, the AMD based system will out perform the Intel Core2 range

As still as of now with a low budget PC, it is AMD which delivers the best performance, but when you increase your budget, only then it allows you to build a Core 2 range system

Buy products which comes with Windows Vista certification Logo !!

Buy only products which comes with these logo, read more about Windows Vista logo program

Home entertainment but under the budget

Primary concern is a good display with HD support… Next comes a hardware config to drive the larger HD display !!! The config is meant for entertainment and movies how ever it is certainly powerful enough to rip DVDs edit your home movies, run Photoshop / Pinnacle / Adobe Primier or such high end software…. How ever this one is running under Onboard VGA which would mean really low end gaming…

Price are mentioned at INR value of Indian Local market, for non Indian visitors, please click the links beside to visit popular US / European based online stores and their price..

Processor :-

Product Name :- AMD Athlon X2 4200+ / AM2 / 65 nm / 2.2 GHz / 512×2 L2
Product Price :- Rs. 3100/- (INR) / USA / Europe

Motherboard :-

Product :- ASUS M2A-VM -> AM2 / AMD 690G (ATi x1250) / USB 2.0 / DVI (Supporting HD Display) / HD Sound / LAN
Price :- Rs. 3200/- (INR) / USA / Europe

Video Card :-

You would be using the onboard video support of the motherboard which comes with ATi x1250 supporting HD Display…

RAM (Memory) :-

Product :- Kingstone Value RAM 2 GB (1024MB x 2) DDR-II 667 MHz
Price :- Rs. 1700/- (INR) / USA / Europe

Note, its bit tricky, as you may buy a single stick of 2GB or you may buy 2 modules of 1 GB RAM… Your motherboard comes with support for 4 RAM modules and up to 8 GB of RAM… So if you plan to add more RAM later on, then opt for 2 GB single Module, otherways, get 2 mudules of 1 GB each, which would allow you to run under dual channel… Dual Channel configuration would help to boost system performance !!!

Hard Disk Drive :-

Product :- Seagate 160 GB SATA-II 7200.10
Price :- Rs. 1975/- (INR) / USA / Europe

Optical Drive (DVD writer) :-

Product :- DVD RW Lite-on
Price :- Rs. 1300/- (INR) / USA / Europe

Note, opt for IDE interface which may come cheaper than SATA interface !!! Also lightscribe may not be a feature which you would need to have under a budget system !!

Casing or Cabinet and PSU for your System :-

Product :- Any Local Cabinet with Default 450 Watts
Price :- Rs. 1200/- Incl the PSU (SMPS)

This is some thing is hard to suggest as looks may or rather will play a big issue here, but do consider few factors before buying a cabinet, like for example, its a value system so try to buy a cabinet, which is cheap, like around USD 20 to $ 25, usually Cabinet do come with default PSU which are not so good for power hungry processors or products, but in this case, any 450 watts would do…

Display Unit (Monitor / TFT) :-

Product :- 19″ TFT Dell SE198WFP / View Sonic vx1945wm
Price :- @ Rs. 10500/- (INR) / USA / Europe

Both of this 2 TFT is good enough to play HD 1080p with ease !!! Personally tested both, will review them shortly !!

Input Device :-

There are tons of fancy product is out there, Wireless / comfort and all short of goodies but as we have a budget to consider so we are in need to purchase only a product which is necessary for us….

Product :- Microsoft Keyboard Mouse Desktop 500 Combo
Price :- Rs. 700/- (INR) USA / Europe

UPS :-

Product :- Any 500 VA or more Local / Cheap Branded UPS
Price :- Rs. 1400/- (INR) / USA / Europe

The budget is USD 40 or under !!! Main purpose under this budget range of UPS is just to get enough power back up to Hibernate your PC when power goes off and to save from power surge.. Any low cost UPS will do the job for you..

Sound System :-

Product :- 2.1 Creative Speaker System
Price :- Rs. 1000/- (INR) USA / Europe

So it stacks up as,

AMD X2 4200+ @ Rs. 3100 /- + TAX
ASUS M2A-VM @ Rs. 3200 /- + TAX
2 GB DDR-II 667 MHz @ Rs. 1700 /- + TAX
160 GB SATA-II 7200.10 @ Rs. 1975 /- + TAX
DVD RW Lite-on IDE @ Rs. 1300/- + TAX
Cabinet with default 450 watts PSU @ Rs. 1200/- + TAX
19″ TFT Dell / View Sonic @ Rs. 10500/- + TAX
Local Keyboard Mouse @ Rs. 500/- + TAX
UPS Local Brand @ Rs. 1400/- + TAX
Creative 2.1 @ Rs. 1000/- + TAX

TAX @ 4% VAT Rs. 1035 /-
Total Rs. 26910/- INR — More or less 500 to 550 USD

Though the budget is Rs. 25,000/- (USD 500) but this present config is Rs. 2000/- or rather USD 50 extra, but still that extra amount is worth to spend….

This one gives you a good platform in which you may add up hardware later on as you may need them, like when you feel its time for some gaming, you may opt for a Mid range Grfx card such as XFX 8600 GT 256 MB which is Rs. 5500/- + TAX (USD 130)….

Gaming under Budget Rs. 25000/- or USD 500

The above configuration is a platform which will stay the same but in contrast with the previous entertainment configuration, here you just need to concentrate more on VGA department now rather a better display….

So take out the 19″ TFT and add a 17″ CRT like LG 700E

Those who are in US / Europe may find 15″ TFT is much more cheaper than 17″ CRT, so US / UK buyers should cosider opting for 15″ TFT !!!

Next in line is a mid range grfx card

XFX 8600 GT which is Rs. 5500/- + TAX (USA / Europe)

So the revised configuration for a Budget gaming PC would be like,

AMD X2 4200+ @ Rs. 3100 /- + TAX
ASUS M2A-VM @ Rs. 3200 /- + TAX
XFX 8600 GT GDDR3 @ Rs. 5500 /- + TAX
2 GB DDR-II 667 MHz @ Rs. 1700 /- + TAX
160 GB SATA-II 7200.10 @ Rs. 1975 /- + TAX
DVD RW Lite-on IDE @ Rs. 1300 /- + TAX
Cabinet with default 450 watts PSU @ Rs. 1200 /- + TAX
17″ CRT LG 700E @ Rs. 4150 /- + TAX (US / Europe people should go for a 15″ TFT)
Local Keyboard Mouse @ Rs. 500 /- + TAX
UPS Local Brand @ Rs. 1400 /- + TAX
Creative 2.1 @ Rs. 1000 /- + TAX

TAX @ 4% VAT Rs. 1001 /-

Total Rs. 26026 /- (INR) which makes once again a price of USD 500 to 550 !!

So as you may see its just few component of the platform is changing to modify the PC for the specific need… As your self, what is my need ?? and then based upon the answer, built a system for your self…

If you need any help, just drop a comment, I would try to help you out with your confusion, if any !!!

Update :- May 2008

PC Buying guide for June 2008