Hi all

My younger brother's machine just died. I attempted several reimaging options, and nothing worked. Tried two optical drives, three different CDs, and 3 hard drives. Every single time, Windows XP installer gives the error that it cannot copy a file correctly. It seems unlikely to be the install disc. Machine boots up and recognizes the HDs that I add, but just won't install.

I've managed to scrounge $700CAD, and want to build something this weekend. I can salvage teh case and PSU, keyboard, mouse, speakers, the usual crap. Basically, I need a mobo, cpu, HD, video and a decent audio card would be a plus. He's not a hard-core gamer, just needs something stable and reliable. I'd appreciate advice on what would be decent to put together.

Where are you located?

Toronto, Canada.
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If you were in the US, I would have recommended newegg.com

I have plenty of places to buy, and prices are fairly comparable. 700cad is around 630 or so USD.

I'm looking more for what type of mobo, cpu, etc to buy. I don't mind piecing it together myself. In fact I'd prefer to, since I'd probably manage to get better components.

Guess I should try a techie forum...

i think you can get an operton or an x2 REALLY cheap now. In USD, I think a 3800 or 4400 with a DFI Lan party MOBO should be under $200USD. Thats a dual core processor which should handle a bunch of the load. Might want to give him atleast a gig of ram so maybe for under $500USD you can find him something worthy of playing some of today's games but not at max resolution and spec.

I'd go with a

AMD 3800 or 4400 X2
DFI Lan Party MOBO
1GB Ram
Audigy sound card
and a ATI X800 or a Geforece 6800

that's fit in your budget i believe

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Thanks for the suggestions. Did a bit of reading, and I think you recomended something that will fit right in with what I have in mind. How to go price hunting. Thx

I don't know how it is in Canada, but in Australia for $700, considering you don't need the screen, mouse, keyboard etc, you could get a pretty good system. Computers are rather cheap these days. Just make sure you look around heaps and don't be afraid to haggle or get free stuff thrown in. You can always get a free RAM upgrade from most places.