$400 what would you build

[Murphq]

Here is your chance to be creative?

I am building a system for my sister. She will be doing everything but gaming with it. She will be doing some light graphic editing(like editing photos, nothing big)

So I have $400 to spend.

There are a lot options here. I must keep it under $400.

I need everything but a monitor.

I really can't decide on what motherboard and processor????

 

[Slammy1]

Well, I'd go the AMD route on that budget. Maybe even shoot for some cheapo Dell deal you see posted in the Hot Deals section.

 

[stncttr908]

Soltek SL-75MRN-L (nForce2 w/onboard audio & video) - $96
Athlon 1800+ Retail - $58
Lite-On 52x/32x/52x CDRW - $44
Western Digital 40GB SE HDD - $69
2x Buffalo Tech 256MB PC2700 - $84
Pro Source 522KU-B case w/300w PSU - $25
AOPEN MODEL MS-805B 2.1 SPEAKERS - $20

Total - $416.49 shipped

If you need to cut back a little more, you can go for a CDROM instead of an RW, and get speakers without a sub instead. All of this stuff was found at www.newegg.com so get buying!

Then you could get a Microsoft Internet Keyboard for probably $10 at the local Office Max or somewheres if you look around. Also, I'd invest in a good optical mouse. That stuff will put you a little over $400, but it'd be worth it. All in all, you can't beat this setup for price/performance I think.

 

[Murphq]

I would rather build my own, and I think it would be cheaper.

So what motherboard and which AMD processor.

BTW this computer would not be overclocked.

 

[stncttr908]

I just posted above, an nforce2 board with onboard audio and video, and an Athlon 1800+ retail. With this setup I'd run the CPU at 166mhz and turn down the multiplier. That way it won't be overclocked, but it will operate faster due to increased bandwidth.

 

[Murphq]

That motherboard and CPU combo I think is too much $$.

Also, I don't want onboard video. I would rather put an older vide card in life a geforce 4 MX, since no gaming is going to be done.

 

[MangoTBG]

No need for a video card...and still a solid board. $112
Whichever processor YOU feel she needs. Sub $90
Two, or even one of these $48/$96
$26 PSU shipped $26
Case no power supply $27

Throw in a $50 hdd of you choice (preferabbly a 40gb one), keyboard, mouse, and set of speakers. I'd stick to a 1700+ for $50 and save you some cash. Of course you can get better of these, but it's a start. Goodluck!

 

[stncttr908]

That's what the onboard video is (a GF4MX). It just shares the memory with the system, which is why you'd need 512MB. The onboard audio is good quality. You'd have to spend at least $30 for a Sound Blaster Live! to put in there, with about $50 for a GF4MX card. This way you're getting it all onboard and saving money. Everything can be disabled if you wanted to add a different video card in the future.

 

[stncttr908]

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
Throw in a $50 hdd of you choice (preferabbly a 40gb one), keyboard, mouse, and set of speakers. I'd stick to a 1700+ for $50 and save you some cash. Of course you can get better of these, but it's a start. Goodluck!

That's all well and good, but the retail 1700+ is what he'd need since it comes with an extended warranty and a HSF. That's around $60.

 

[MangoTBG]

Originally posted by: Murphq
That motherboard and CPU combo I think is too much $$.

Also, I don't want onboard video. I would rather put an older vide card in life a geforce 4 MX, since no gaming is going to be done.

Just so you know, the motherboard I suggested has the GF4 MX built in...It's the same difference by buying a non-onboard w/ a GF4 MX AGP or PCI. The mobo still has an AGP slot for further upgrades.


Also. Don't get PC2700 you don't need it. And don't do what that terd up there said. It's your sister's comp. She doesn't NEED more bandwidth. Keep it stock.

 

[stncttr908]

If you're going to bother getting an nforce2 board at all, I'd at least want to see it running at 333mhz dual ddr in sync with the CPU. That isn't overclocking, that's running at stock. No more heat is created. I just don't like to see power wasted I guess.

 

[MangoTBG]

Originally posted by: stncttr908

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
Throw in a $50 hdd of you choice (preferabbly a 40gb one), keyboard, mouse, and set of speakers. I'd stick to a 1700+ for $50 and save you some cash. Of course you can get better of these, but it's a start. Goodluck!

That's all well and good, but the retail 1700+ is what he'd need since it comes with an extended warranty and a HSF. That's around $60.

It was a typo, Mrs. Picky. And wasn't it you that suggested to get PC2700 and up the FSB to 166? GREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT advice for a girl that won't need it.

 

[stncttr908]

What the hell is your problem? I'm trying to help the guy out and all you want to do is hinder me.

Just go with this guy on everything. I guess I'm just a moron.

 

[MangoTBG]

Originally posted by: stncttr908
If you're going to bother getting an nforce2 board at all, I'd at least want to see it running at 333mhz dual ddr in sync with the CPU. That isn't overclocking, that's running at stock. No more heat is created. I just don't like to see power wasted I guess.

[chant] MORE POWER FOR WORD! MORE POWER FOR WORD! MORE POWER FOR WORD! [/chant]






...and IE!

 

[stncttr908]

I don't think your obnoxious attitude is helping this guy.

 

[Murphq]

Ill look further into the board(I did not realize the onbaord was a Gf4mx) but you guys have me confused about the memory, so 333, or 266?

 

[Mail5398]

Operating System?

 

[stncttr908]

If you want to go for the nforce2 board, I'd personally go with 333 (PC2700) but if you want to save even more bucks you can go with an older board such as the Asus Asus A7N266-VM.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=property&DEPA=1

That board has onboard Geforce2 MX, which isn't terribly different from the GF4MX. If it's not being used for games then this will do just fine. Since this board doesn't have Dual Channel DDR, you won't need 2 sticks and you could get 1 stick of 512MB instead which should be cheaper by $8 including shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=20-150-527

Oh and don't worry about the board being a Micro-ATX model. It should fix the case that I posted above just fine.

 

[karmasalad]

Originally posted by: Murphq
Ill look further into the board(I did not realize the onbaord was a Gf4mx) but you guys have me confused about the memory, so 333, or 266?

Generally, you want to run the memory synchronously with the processor. So if you're going with an Athlon XP 1800+ (266 MHz FSB), DDR266 will do you fine. If you were to go with a Barton 2500+, which has a 333 MHz FSB, then you'd want to go with the DDR333.

However, since the price differential is small between them, you might just want to get the DDR333 and run it at DDR266 speeds instead.

 

[karmasalad]

Originally posted by: stncttr908
If you want to go for the nforce2 board, I'd personally go with 333 (PC2700) but if you want to save even more bucks you can go with an older board such as the Asus Asus A7N266-VM.

I think that's a good idea too. I've been looking around trying to price out a new PC for my aunt to use for her home office, and that board is a great candidate.

Here is what I've priced out (all prices from Newegg except where noted):

$82 - Antec SX-635II (Amazon.com)
$58 - Athlon XP 1800+
$70 - Asus A7N266-VM
$45 - 256MB PC2100 (Mushkin.com)
$61 - Seagate 40GB 7200.7
$12 - Samsung floppy
$43 - LiteOn 52x CDRW
Total: $371

You can make it cheaper by getting a cheaper case if you want. That machine will run office tasks and light photo editing without a hitch. Yeah, the technology is a little old, but most average users don't need the megapowerful PCs people are used to configuring here, especially if they're not even going to game on it.

Good luck with whatever you end up buying!

 

[BaboonGuy]

AMD 1700+ $60
Asus A7N266-VM $70 (Onboard GF2)
Corsair Value Select 2x256MB PC2100 $88 (Very likely CL2 capacity)
WD 40G SE $69
FOXCONN BLACK SUPER CASE w/300W PSU $52
Lite On 52x32x52 Black $46
Black Floppy $13
Logitech Black Internet Keyboard $17
Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse Black $24
Creative SBB350 2.1 3-Piece Speakers with Wired remote $31

that should cover just about everything. all those prices are shipped at newegg. total comes to $470, which is 70 over your budget but hey your spending 82 on your KB/Mouse/Speakers/Floppy alone only because I chose some quality components that will match with the black. You'll have a very fast, very cool (with a remote for your speakers) black setup.

 

[Murphq]

^^^^ Looks Good! Thanks!

 

[Murphq]

Would the MicroATX form factor be a problem in fingding a case, or do most ATX cases also have the mounting brackets for micro ATX's.

 

[beatle]

You can mount a MicroATX board in a Full ATX case if you like. The bottom expansion slots in the case just won't be populated. I also vote for the Asus. I've built a system with that board and it's great. Plus. there's another member around these parts that's built several (a baker's dozen perhaps) of them and raves about them and their stability.

 

[BaboonGuy]

Originally posted by: BaboonGuy
AMD 1700+ $60
Asus A7N266-VM $70 (Onboard GF2)
Corsair Value Select 2x256MB PC2100 $88 (Very likely CL2 capacity)
WD 40G SE $69
FOXCONN BLACK SUPER CASE w/300W PSU $52
Lite On 52x32x52 Black $46
Black Floppy $13
Logitech Black Internet Keyboard $17
Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse Black $24
Creative SBB350 2.1 3-Piece Speakers with Wired remote $31

that should cover just about everything. all those prices are shipped at newegg. total comes to $470, which is 70 over your budget but hey your spending 82 on your KB/Mouse/Speakers/Floppy alone only because I chose some quality components that will match with the black. You'll have a very fast, very cool (with a remote for your speakers) black setup.

actually switch to Corsair Value Select 512MB PC2100. 1 Stick instead of 2 since (i think) this board doesn't have dual channel. One stick is easier to overclock (basically CL 2.5 to 2 is all you'd really want to do, which it should be able to do just fine). You'll also save $5.

oh and another way to save $2 is to go with a 1800+ retail chip not the 1700+. for some reason its $2 cheaper for a higher speed.