Windows 7: Quad-core barebones PC ... for under $400!

Quad-core barebones PC ... for under $400!

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
May 7, 2010, 10:14am PDT

Wanna put together a barebones PC package featuring a quad-core processor for under $400? Read on!

Note: This is a barebones system, so there’s chassis, OS or peripherals included.

Let’s see what goes into this package:

Processor

We’re working to a tight budget here, so we can’t pick the fastest or the best CPU going (that would set us out $1,000 right from the start) but that doesn’t mean that we can’t get a really good CPU.

For this build I’ve gone for AMD’s Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz part. This is a quad-core part that fits into a Socket AM3 motherboard. It offers plenty of power spread across four cores at a decent price.

Price: $98

Motherboard

We need a cheap and cheerful motherboard for this build. I’ve chosen the Foxconn M61PMP-K AM3 board, not only because it’s cheap, but because I’ve have good success with this board myself.

This motherboard doesn’t offer much in the way of overclocking capability or advanced BIOS features, but for the price it’s a cracking board. It’s a solid, reliable board that it easy to set up and should offer years of reliable service.

Price: $44