Building my own PC - Parts List please

Hello,

I'm considering building and testing my own computer. I've done some extended research on the concern but never got all the information I needed in terms of what are the best parts to get.
For now, since this is my first custom-built computer, I don't want to make it big or professional or expensive. In other words, I want to make a cheap prototype, or so to say. So I would be very grateful if you people could give me some advice in terms of what are the parts I should get, and how I could install Windows on it.

Thank you.

More info needed.

Post a link to the vendor from which you might buy parts.

Tell us your budget in US dollars or your local currency.

Tell us the primary purpose of this computer.

Do you have any parts you can use already, or will you need EVERYTHING, including mouse, keyboard, monitor, operating system, etc?

You say you want to make a "cheap prototype". If your budget is relatively low and you need EVERYTHING, you will find it very difficult to build a computer for less than you can buy one pre-assembled and ready to go.

I don't need the computer for my personal use. And by cheap I don't mean something that walks with a limp. Again, the whole purpose of me builing a computer is for the experience, and when you start with something, you don't start off big.
Assuming I need everything, including the mouse, the components, screen, all of it. Budgetwise, I'm thinking $400?

Is anyone going to use this PC?

Does it matter if it is horrendously slow?

Does it matter if it works at all?

If it must work, what work will it be expected to do? Start up and no more?


Here's a minimum parts list:

Mouse
Keyboard
Case
Monitor
Operating system
Motherboard
RAM
Hard drive
CPU
DVD drive

For $400, I wouldn't even attempt building it for myself in the USA. I'd buy pre-assembled. The bottom low-end price for those components from halfway reliable sources in the USA would start around 500 if you intend to use Windows. And some of those components would be weak and/or not high quality.

You may have some bargain source for parts, but you don't mention where.

If I just wanted to learn and had only $400, I'd probably buy used and then take the thing apart and put it back together as part of a learning process. You could buy a halfway decent 3 or 4 year old PC for probably 300 or 350 as they depreciate quickly.

If I had only $400 and wanted to actually do something with the computer (rather than just "learn"), I'd either buy used or buy new but pre-assembled.

Thank you for your time!