Build for my dad

[TheCheeseling]

Hi, my dad always uses a laptop but he wants a cheap desktop to use. he'll be doing basic stuff like web, word, and excel. I don't really want it to exceed $500 but he doesn't want to wait for anything to load.


Core items
Power supply: cheap? ^_^
Case: don't care
Motherboard: don't care, just as long as there is on board video
CPU: Intel preferably but AMD is ok.
Heatsink/fan for the CPU: probelly the stock.
Memory: only 8gb
Primary hard drive: a ssd he can fill stuff up so 200+ would be nice
Primary optical drive: don't care
Video card: on board is good enough
Monitor(s): I got one
Mouse/keyboard: I got that too
Operating System: windows 8, he doesn't like it so i'm going to set a theme for windows 7
Snacks: i like Doritos

Optional stuff
Additional hard drive(s): only if you guys think 200+ is enough
Additional optical drive(s): no
Memory-card reader: no
External hard drive: no
USB flash drive: no
Audio card: no
Video-capture card and/or TV-tuner card: nope
Speakers: maybe
Headphones: no
Printer: no
Scanner: no agian
Graphics tablet: nope
Uninterruptible Power Supply and/or surge supressor: no I got that
Pizza: yep

 

[Sleepingforest]

For something like this, Dell is much easier. Buy a $400-450 Dell from their outlet, and then swap out the HDD for a SSD, and call it a day. It's much easier to get support from an OEM, and your dad won't have to keep calling you if he has problems.

 

[TheCheeseling]

Great Idea, But we also wanted to go through the experience of build our own computer together... know what I mean?

Thanks

 

[Sleepingforest]

Okay, try this. Lots of storage, with an SSD for speed.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Biostar H77MU3 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($43.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($91.32 @ Amazon)
Storage: Toshiba 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $496.25
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-07 10:41 EST-0500)

 

[Torn Mind]

I believe an APU is suitable for your case. We can switch to FM2 if you think it is not enough. But it's not best to overspend on F&F(friends and family).
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-3870K 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI A55M-P33 Micro ATX FM1 Motherboard ($47.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Intel X25-M 160GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($127.28 @ TigerDirect)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Gigabyte GZ-F5HEB ATX Mid Tower Case ($28.12 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Backup Software
Total: $423.35
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-07 10:44 EST-0500)

Do note that the Intel SSD, while reliable, is an older version, so is not as fast as some newer ones. But it has a 30 dollar rebate at TigerDirect that PCpartpicker fails to include in its pricing. The cost will ultimately be about 26 bucks cheaper after shipping.

IF you're a dice roller who doesn't mind the higher risk of RMA/troubleshooting/sudden death and you take the precautions of sysprep+backup, get the OCZ Vertex 3 240 GB SSD at Tigerdirect for 139.99 after rebate and coupons. It's a burner if nothing goes wrong
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...821&CatId=5300

The Samsung 840 might have a shorter lifespan due to its use of TLC memory, but that might not matter.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7td250bw
The Crucial M4 is a mature product who should no longer have any issues it had in the past.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct256m4ssd1

 

[Termie]

Great Idea, But we also wanted to go through the experience of build our own computer together... know what I mean?

Thanks

As long as both you and he understand that you are not necessarily saving any money by doing this, it's a fine idea, particularly because you can outfit it with a fast SSD that will give him the speed he's looking for, and which no $500 Dell can provide.

Processor - Pentium G860 plus 8GB RAM Combo: $109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...=Combo.1201078

Motherboard - AsRock H77M: $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157303

SSD - OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 120GB SSD : $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227714

Hard drive - Western Digital 500GB: $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136769

DVD Drive - Samsung: $16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151256

Case - Antec VSK-3000: $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129186

Power Supply - Corsair 430w: $20AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139026

Windows OS: $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832416550

Total: $475

This is actually a really hot deal - all of these components are absolutely the best deals going. Some may argue the OCZ SSD is of questionable reliability, but I believe all stability issues have been addressed with firmware updates.

 

[Termie]

Guys, you're forgetting Windows, those builds are way over budget.

 

[Torn Mind]

Guys, you're forgetting Windows, those builds are way over budget.

Mine is under budget. The Intel SSD is about 26 dollars cheaper due to a rebate not factored in at the PCpartpicker site. And the shipping is overstated. The econo shipping option is about 3.60.

 

[Termie]

Mine is under budget. The Intel SSD is about 26 dollars cheaper due to a rebate and shipping not factored in at the PCpartpicker site.

That's why I like to hand-pick, not PCpartpick, my product - makes for better wine!

By the way, I don't think a ~$100 Intel G2 160GB is really the way to go. It's significantly slower than modern SSDs, and he'll be putting all his data on the hard drive anyway, so the slightly larger size isn't worth the tradeoff in speed. On the other hand, I might take the Samsung 840 for $91 that SleepingForest found at Amazon over the OCZ Vertex 3 I found at Newegg.

 

[Torn Mind]

That's why I like to hand-pick, not PCpartpick, my product - makes for better wine!

Lol.
It's nice for saving time and getting exposure to products, but sometimes you have to go to the store itself sometimes and browse for the goods. :awe:



If he doesn't mind going 40 dollars over budget and using OCZ, the Vertex 3 I listed should be extremely tempting from a $/GB standpoint.

 

[jobz]

If this is your 1st build, watch this video first:

http://youtu.be/pKnbazLsM7g

 

[Insert_Nickname]

SSD - OCZ Vertex 3 Max IOPS 120GB SSD : $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227714

On the other hand, I might take the Samsung 840 for $91 that SleepingForest found at Amazon over the OCZ Vertex 3 I found at Newegg.

he doesn't mind going 40 dollars over budget and using OCZ, the Vertex 3 I listed should be extremely tempting from a $/GB standpoint.

Doesn't the Vertex 3's have pretty high failure rates?. That's the impression I've got from around the net. If so I'd be a little hesitant to use it in a machine for my parents. Especially if you (like me) is on the hook for service and support...

 

[Termie]

Doesn't the Vertex 3's have pretty high failure rates?. That's the impression I've got from around the net. If so I'd be a little hesitant to use it in a machine for my parents. Especially if you (like me) is on the hook for service and support...

Yup, he should go Samsung.

 

[piasabird]

Add $99 for an operating system.

This is what makes a $500 computer hard to do.

I bet the OEM like Dell does not pay $100 for his OS??

At work this morning I had 100+ updates to do on Win 7???

 

[piasabird]

I have been seeing some Cases at places like www.directron.com that are Mini-ITX for $49 that come with a 250 watt power supply. What do you think about that?

I know the Mini-ITX motherboards are expensive so it may just eat up your money that way.

Example: http://www.directron.com/mi100bk.html

That Antec is pretty nice for a barbones type case but it is $29.00 when I look at it.

I still would prefer an i-3

It is so hard to get parts under $500 that are better than Dell. Maybe look for some combo's.

 

[Termie]

That Antec is pretty nice for a barbones type case but it is $29.00 when I look at it.

I still would prefer an i-3

It is so hard to get parts under $500 that are better than Dell. Maybe look for some combo's.

+ $10 off w/ promo code AFNJ0205, ends 2/8

A $500 Dell does not include an SSD. Not even remotely the same experience as the systems that I and Torn Mind have put together.

 

[Torn Mind]

Add $99 for an operating system.

This is what makes a $500 computer hard to do.

I bet the OEM like Dell does not pay $100 for his OS??

At work this morning I had 100+ updates to do on Win 7???

I have been seeing some Cases at places like www.directron.com that are Mini-ITX for $49 that come with a 250 watt power supply. What do you think about that?

I know the Mini-ITX motherboards are expensive so it may just eat up your money that way.

Example: http://www.directron.com/mi100bk.html

That Antec is pretty nice for a barbones type case but it is $29.00 when I look at it.

I still would prefer an i-3

It is so hard to get parts under $500 that are better than Dell. Maybe look for some combo's.

Well, the included PSUs in cases are not always of good quality. HEC and Apex are companies I would not trust very much about their low end parts. Silverstone, sure, but not these guys.

To get an SSD with a Dell, he'd have to buy a 300-400 dollar one, like this. The $500 Inspiron 660 does ship with an i3, but no SSD. The $350 ships with a Pentium G2020, 4 GB RAM, and a 500 GB hard disk. Factor in tax--I will use 5% as an approximation--,and a $20 RAM upgrade, and he might have about 112 left over for a SSD. The 350 does have some perks; it includes a WLAN card(WLAN is not WiFi), keyboard, and mouse, and some software.

 

[mfenn]

By the way, I don't think a ~$100 Intel G2 160GB is really the way to go. It's significantly slower than modern SSDs, and he'll be putting all his data on the hard drive anyway, so the slightly larger size isn't worth the tradeoff in speed. On the other hand, I might take the Samsung 840 for $91 that SleepingForest found at Amazon over the OCZ Vertex 3 I found at Newegg.

I'd go the opposite way. While a completely new Vertex 3 is certainly quite a lot faster than an X-25M G2, I don't think you'll really be able to tell a "seat of the pants" difference between the two.

What you will be able to notice is that the Vertex 3 starts slowing down and stuttering when it gets close to full. In fact, Sandforce can back itself into a completely unrecoverable (except by secure erasing) performance state when you fill it with incompressible data. Not too hard to do when you are talking about a 90 GB drive. A couple of misplaced movies will screw you. The X-25M G2 gives you more breathing room.

 

[Torn Mind]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-3870K 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI A75A-G35 ATX FM1 Motherboard ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($93.99 @ Adorama)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 Full (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Antec VSK-3000 ($20.00)
Total: $473.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-07 22:02 EST-0500)

The mobo is different now. The price includes a $20 rebate.
Also, I included Termie's case suggestion into the Llano build.

By the way, I don't think a ~$100 Intel G2 160GB is really the way to go. It's significantly slower than modern SSDs, and he'll be putting all his data on the hard drive anyway, so the slightly larger size isn't worth the tradeoff in speed. On the other hand, I might take the Samsung 840 for $91 that SleepingForest found at Amazon over the OCZ Vertex 3 I found at Newegg.

Yeah, the Intel would be half as fast if we look at maxmium read/write specs. But it is the least likely to give you bad results thanks to Intel's supposed reliablity and 3 year warranty. But I did say that the 840's use of TLC memory might not matter. With light usage, it might still last a good 5-8 years.

The Intel comes out to $93.60ish after rebate provided that you choose the cheapest shipping option, which is in the same ballpark as the 840 and Vertex 3. I'd go with the 840 myself if speed is more of a concern.

I have the Intel SSD, and I actually only have 149 GB usable storage, just as an fyi to those who didn't know.