This would get you medium settings and you would have to build it CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ NCIX US) Motherboard: MSI 880G-E45 ATX AM3 Motherboard ($75.49 @ Compuvest) Memory: Mushkin Silverline 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($17.98 @ Outlet PC) Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.99 @ NCIX US) Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($109.99 @ Newegg) Case: Raidmax Reiter ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg) Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($35.99 @ Newegg) Optical Drive: Lite-On IHAS324-98 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg) Total: $432.41.
This is a bit more than 400. It's a budget gaming machine but would get you by for what you want to do. As for the free OS, you can use Ubuntu Linux for a free os until you can afford to purchase windows.
Motherboard 48 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as... Processor 100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as... Memory 41 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as... Power 50 supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182044 Video card 145 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130838 Computer case 28 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233117 Hard drive 55 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148765.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.