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~$200 Web browser?

DreadBelch

DreadBelch

Member
edit: Excluded video card and case

Hello, I need some help picking out parts for my parents' new computer. All they need to upgrade is the tower (PSU, CPU, GPU, Mobo, Memory, Case). They're keeping their optical drives, monitor and other peripherals. I'll be ordering the parts online and assembling it for them. I doubt they'll need more than a 512 MB video card. Thanks for any help, guys.



1. Used for: Web browsing mostly (including YouTubing at 720p), light gaming (Solitaire & old mystery games)

2. Budget: ~$200. Maybe as high as $250.

3. Country: USA

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US: None

5. Brand preference: None

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. Monitor, speakers, optical drives, keyboard, mouse

7. Overclocking? None

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using? 1680x1050 or so

9. WHEN do you plan to build it? Within two weeks
 
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Yeah you'll have trouble getting just the motherboard and cpu for that price.

You could try a raspberry Pi but not sure what it's performance is for web browsing.
 
DreadBelch said:
This is what I was able to throw together. I found an old 256mb 8600gts card lying around, and I think I'll just use the same case to save them money. I'll edit the original post.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/GLDjBm
Click to expand...

Congratulations, you managed to spend double the cost of the refurb C2D system I posted and you don't even get a copy of Windows.

If you're going to spend that much, go Dell Outlet.
 
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DominionSeraph said:
Congratulations, you managed to spend double the cost of the refurb C2D system I posted and you don't even get a copy of Windows.

If you're going to spend that much, go Dell Outlet.
Click to expand...

To be fair, your refurb system had only 2GB / 80GB, and his system has a new motherboard, new HDD, and is 4GB / 500GB. Granted, his doesn't have an OS, and if he wants Windows that's another $100 or so.

For that money, if you need an OS, a VivoPC 1007U-based PC is only $250 at Newegg, complete with 4GB / 500GB, and AC wifi, and Windows 8.1.

Edit: Although, his CPU + cooler + mobo comes to $105. For $90, you can get an AMD AM1 Athlon 5350 quad-core 2.05Ghz, and a motherboard, and the CPU comes with a cooler, for $90 or less at Newegg, FS.
 
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Thanks for the replies.

They won't need a new OS. Sorry for the confusion.

I'll look into that Athlon setup, Larry. Thanks.
 
Honestly, that is not a very realistic budget. If you need windows, building it yourself is totally out of the question, since the OS will take up half the budget. The two machines linked by esquared might do the job, but they are the new "celeron" processors which are in fact atom, not core. They will definitely be underpowered, but might be sufficient. When they get older and loaded up with crapware, I have a lot of reservations.

If you could up the budget to 300 dollars or so, I would recommend looking for a good sale price on a pentium or i3 15.6 inch laptop. It would give them some portability and they could also hook it up to an external monitor. I know budgets are limited, but it is not also a bad situation to try to save too much and then be stuck with something they are not happy with.
 
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Sorry, didn't see that you don't need windows. That deal linked by penguin looks really good. For their uses, I don't think you would need a video card. For a desktop, I would definitely go for that over a kabini or atom system.
 
Do them a favor and convince them that a laptop is better than a desktop. Then buy them a Chromebook. Sell monitor and other bulky junk.
 
M0RPH said:
Do them a favor and convince them that a laptop is better than a desktop. Then buy them a Chromebook. Sell monitor and other bulky junk.
Click to expand...

chromebook=low resolution and probably not very durable (i bet the power supply would die within a year if used daily like a desktop)
 
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