Best Barebones setup for under $300 ?!?!?!!? (need for XMAS)

[lowepg]

I know this isnt as fun as the "I have unlimited money, build the dream system", but such is life....

I need to build a system for my kids and I need to do it before XMAS morning!

I have a monitor and an old cdrw drive. I also just bought an Antec SLK-1600 w/300 Watt PS from SVC for 19.99.
So, I need (at least):
CPU and mobo
video, lan and sound
at least 256M MEM
decent HD

I *was* looking at the Asus A7N233 from Newegg (recommended from HotDeals) but they are out of stock!

btw, my kids are 4 and 5 yrs old, so were basically talking about children games, web browsing, music, etc. Nothing too taxing...


Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. This is not a drill! I need to get all this together by the end of next week.

Thanks!!

 

[Wolfsraider]

googlegear has this:

240402
Asus A7N266-VM/AA nForce 220-D Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR M-ATX Motherboard w/Audio, Video, LAN Retail (AMD Assured)
Remove $76.99 $76.99



80155-R
AMD Athlon XP 1700+ 1.47GHz Processor Retail
Remove $64.00 $64.00



80382-1
Samsung IC Chipset 256MB DDR266 PC2100 Memory
Remove $65.00 $65.00


711007
Western Digital Caviar WD200BB 20GB ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
Remove $63.00 $63.00



Subtotal: $268.99

www.googlegear.com

i have order there and they did me right 3x this year

hth

mike

 

[dbwillis]

I 2nd the A7N266-vm board..I just made a system with it and its great

 

[CurtCold]

Originally posted by: dbwillis
I 2nd the A7N266-vm board..I just made a system with it and its great

I'll also second that!(or third)....

Anyhow, I just built a system with 256DDR, 1.2Duron, and it runs great. Best thing is if you want to put a different video card in it, not a problem, cause it has the AGP slot.

Rock stable with XP.

!!!!!WARNING!!!!! if you use 98, your going to have some time setting this board up, as unless they have changed the install, you have to do it all manually, with XP, it's a breeze

 

[BigJ]

Hard Drive: 120gb WD 2mb Drive for 70$ After PM and MIR + 36$ in MSN Rewards Dollars at CircuitCity.com Here
Processor: XP 1700+ Thoroughbred OEM 58$ at Newegg.com (Free Fedex Saver)
Heatsink: GC68 $5 + Shipping at Svcompucylce.com
Memory: Like Wolfie said, the Samsung 256MB DDR266 PC2100 Ram for $65 (Free 2nd Day) at Googlegear.com
Motherboard: Asus A7N266-VM from Newegg.com that you were looking at, should be in stock soon for $68 (Free Fedex Saver)

Only thing with the processor, make sure you the Nforce supports the thoroughbreds. You can find that out at Asus' site.

$266 after MIR, 376$ before MIR. You can always go with a cheaper hard drive.

 

[Syran]

From Mwave:

Q202-13-A02586-TEST ASUS A7N266-VM Motherboard Specs BUNDLE W/ COOLING FAN & (AMD ATHLON XP 1700+; MWAVE 256MB NON-ECC PC2100; ASSEMBLE/TEST BUNDLE) $194.52
A18530 MAXTOR 30.0GB DX6E030L0 EIDE ULTRA-ATA 133 8.5MS 7200RPM 2MB BUFFER (Bare drive) $68.00
Sub Total $262.52

Save $9 by not getting the bundle tested or assembled.
Shipping to me (in GA) is $14.18 Ground, $18.62 3Day, and so forth...

 

[Syran]

If you have a local fry's, you may want to check this deal: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=924097

 

[lowepg]

Originally posted by: Syran
From Mwave:

Q202-13-A02586-TEST ASUS A7N266-VM Motherboard Specs BUNDLE W/ COOLING FAN & (AMD ATHLON XP 1700+; MWAVE 256MB NON-ECC PC2100; ASSEMBLE/TEST BUNDLE) $194.52
A18530 MAXTOR 30.0GB DX6E030L0 EIDE ULTRA-ATA 133 8.5MS 7200RPM 2MB BUFFER (Bare drive) $68.00
Sub Total $262.52

Wow, thats a pretty good deal. I also like being able to get the mobo, cpu and mem from one place- *and* have them test it. That way theres no finger-pointing if something goes wrong.

This looks like the leading contended.... (no local Fry's- I'm in Raleigh, NC).

 

[Syran]

Shipping on mwave is a little heafty, but not too bad, and i've always been happy with their service and everything, probably have around 10-15 orders from them over the last 3 years.

 

[lowepg]

Originally posted by: Syran
Shipping on mwave is a little heafty, but not too bad, and i've always been happy with their service and everything, probably have around 10-15 orders from them over the last 3 years.

Any idea on how long the assemble and test is going to add to the leadtime? I'm inclined to pay them the $10 to do it, so long as it doesnt add a week onto the shipping time.....

 

[cmdrdredd]

well, I ordered a bundle from them before and ordered a case too I got overnight shipping since the shipping was being paid for by my father's company and it actually came overnight. I ordered on a monday, got tracking number tuesday, got the stuff on wed. They even installed the mobo in the case and shipped it as if it were a complete system.

 

[Syran]

I believe, depending on shipping, its 1-3 days.