building a computer... for someone else

[wviperw]

A couple weeks ago somebody my age (17) came over to my house. He was amazed at how I built my computer all by myself. Now he wants one.

I don't know if he is completely serious quite yet (he isn't exactly a guy you would REALLY trust) but I am pretty sure he is commited to getting himself a computer. It looks to me as if he wants to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $800. And I am pretty sure he doesn't want to spend much more. He hasn't had a computer in the past so it probably isn't THAT important to get good parts. He just wants it to do regular computer stuff on I guess. (like games, homework, I don't know)

So what do you guys recommend for around 700 or 800 bucks? It needs everything from a mouse to a monitor so don't leave anything out. He says he wants a CD burner so that will add to the cost. Atleast a 17" monitor. Probably win98. Decent video/sound/modem/HD. Generic Ram. Duron oc'ed. Thats what I am thinking.

So give me a list of what YOU think would be good. Is it even possible to get it all for 800? Or should I tell him to go for a system from some B&M shop?

 

[erub]

personally, I wouldn't think it would be worth the headache to build one for him, as he sounds like a friend, and you don't want for him to have to rely on you for tech support. Just make some recommendations, and tell him to go buy one from a local screwdriver shop, or from a big retailer. He's going to need help if he's never owned a computer before.

 

[wviperw]

true, I guess I never thought about the help I will have to give him AFTER I build the computer. I don't really think I want to drive 50 miles to his house to change the background image on the desktop...

But it sounds like he really wants ME to build it for some reason. And I don't mind because it is fun for me and I need the practice.

Any suggestions?

 

[Pederv]

If you're set on building a system for him try going about it this way:
Get a list of what he wants (CD burner, monitor size, etc.).
Break the list into what the system needs to run and what he wants but isn't neccesary.
Then find what people suggest for each component (motherboard, cpu, burner, etc.).
Then shop for prices on each component, I bet if you go with the recomendations you'll come in over $800.
For example, this is a general average price list, some things will cost less, some more:
Case $75
Motherboard $100
CPU $80
Memory $100
Harddrive $100
Floppy drive $20
CDrom $50
Mouse $10
Keyboard $10
Modem $30
Video Card $75
Win98se $90
Monitor 17" $200
So we've already broke $800 and we haven't even gotten to the burner ($200) or the force-feedback steering wheel($100)
You can get a store bought package for less, but it will have a limited upgrade path.
When I build a system for someone the two most important questions you need answered are "What do you want it to do?" and "How much can you spend?" So make sure he's serious before you start building.

 

[natenut]

Having to do chairity tech support sucks. I bult my aunt an amd 350 and i think i charged her about 800 bucks. but this was a while back (spring). Id say just get him a duron 600. Look how it kicks a$$ in the shoot out with the new celery 800! and try to order from sites with cheap shipping, shipping sucks!

 

[BurnItDwn]

Its definatly possible to build a system for around 800 bucks ... but it will not be anything near top of the line ...

Most of the prices i list are aproximate ... and can be found at www.pricewatch.com
hot deals forum
www.compgeeks.com
www.comprenew.com

$30 get the cheapest atx midtower you can find ... probably around 30 bucks

$100 pick a good decent hard drive ... usually around 30 gigs is about 100 bucks if you find a good deal

$60 find 128mb PC133 ram ... can be cas3 ... the cheapest thing that will work in a kt133 environment

$60 to 90 id say a 700 or 750mhz or 800 Duron CPU should get the job done

$100 to 140 Get a KT133 mobo ... Fic AZ11 is far from a great board ... but it can get the job done ... and its under $100 shipped ... Microstar board can be had for under $120 and abit kt7 can be had for around $140 ...

$60 to 180 Vid card Diamond Viper 2 can be had for around $60, GF2 mx for around 100 ... or Gforce Gts for around 180 or so maybe a bit less

$10 to 20 Floppy drive .. get used cheap working floopy

$10 to 50 sound card <FIC AZ11 has that built in> any old 16bit sound card will do ... but maybe sb live value if there funding available

$10 to 20 keyboard ... Get any cheap ps2 keyboard

$20 modem ... Get any cheap 56k modem

$100 to 200 cd burner ... usually you can find a 4x cdr for around 100 bucks every now and again ... and 8x around 150 ... and 12x around 200 ... these estimates are very volitile and definatly not set in stone

$5 to 10 mouse ... Get any old cheap ps2 mouse

$100 to 300 monitor ... Pick up a refurb 17inch ... just make sure you check it to make sure it works right before you buy it if buying at a PC show ... or order from a reputable company or individual. I wouldnt get anything that isnt capable of at least 1280x1024x60 ... otherwise you will regret it


Absolute Lowwest Possible HW cost aprox $665 ... but some of these estimates may be a bit low ....


Its definatly possible to put together something for cheap ... but making it cheap and good ... now that is a challange


depending on how much gaming hes gonna do .. you may wanna go with the Geforce 2 GTS ... and go with pretty much the minium on everything else ... the viper2 card (s3 savage 2000 chipset) is not crap ... but its by no means an awesome card ... pretty much all games are playable at 1024x768x32 or 800x600x32 with it ... but its far from a gf2.

If you go with the Fic board ... i wouldn't overclock it ... but it would shave off the cost of an additional sound card ... and the boards are pretty inexpensive ...

if he really wants to overclock .. then go with the Kt7 ... and a 700 ... almost everyone gets 900+ on em.

 

[kadeeu]

What you want to consider is selling him your system (minus the parts he doesn't need) or parts of your system that you want to replace and use the money to make an even better system for yourself. That's how I've kept upgrading in the past

Heres a start though on a couple of items if you want to get him under the $800.

MB/CPU Athlon 750 $150 plus other deals on the same page
Tiger direct specials

Case - Antec
Onvia special

Good Luck!