Building a PC and would appreciate any feedback

[raildogg]

Hi guys, I'm looking to build a PC in the not too distant future. I haven't kept up with everything too much but I haven't ignored the latest trends either. I have some previous knowledge so maybe that will come in handy

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

I will list the uses in order of importance:

-Browsing
-Streaming video content
-General office tasks
-Gaming (light)

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Around $600. I would like to stay under this amount if I can.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA.

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
We can't be expected to scour the internet on your behalf, chasing down deals in your specific country... Again, help us, help YOU.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
I want the best value. Don't care for brands too much.

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

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I would not be overclocking, at least for the first couple of years. I figure with the latest processors there would be no need for me to overclock since I'm not really a very demanding user.

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using?
1920x1080 currently.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Note that it is usually not cost or time effective to choose your build more than a month before you actually plan to be using it.

Cannot say the exact time but I can use the term "soon." Probably less than a month.

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

I would need to purchase Windows. I'm thinking of sticking with Windows 7 since I know it. There is nothing in Windows 8 that I really care for (not to say its bad or anything).

For this system, my main goals are to have something fast, efficient and that will last a long time. I try to stick to my computers for at least 4 years. My main uses are browsing, watching movies, office tasks and maybe some gaming. I'm not a big gamer so I will not need a graphics card at this time. I will add one maybe down the road. I would like to play games like Torchlight 2 and some others. Maybe a mid-range graphics card later on.

Here are some of the components I came up with. Please let me know what you think:

Intel Core i5-4460 Haswell 3.2GHz
GIGABYTE GA-H97M-D3H LGA 1150 Intel H97
Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 2.5" 256GB
SilverStone PS08B Black
SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W
LITE-ON DVD Burner
Windows 7

CPU:Intel Core i5-4460 Haswell 3.2GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819117302
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H97M-D3H LGA 1150 Intel H97
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128718
RAM: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820313355
SSD : Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 2.5" 256GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148820
Case: SilverStone PS08B Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163223
PSU: SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151094
DVD burner: LITE-ON DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106393
OS: Windows 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832416806


I am curious about the case since I've never built with a Micro ATX case before. It says on the description that it can accomodate long graphics cards so thats a good thing. I hope its not too cramped. Also, that seems to be a new chipset for the motherboard. Not sure if I should maybe stick with H87 instead. For the motherboard, I would prefer to have 4 RAM slots and at least ALC892 quality audio so I thought the one I picked would be a good choice.

I would appreciate any comments. Thank you.

Update:

I'm actually happy with my laptop so I won't need to get a new PC for a while. I do appreciate everyone's time. Thank you all.

This thread can be locked, please.

 

[Ken g6]

Since you mention gaming, I can't help but think you'd be happier with a graphics card. Unfortunately, this requires cutting money somewhere, probably from the CPU. The funny thing is that everything you mention except the gaming doesn't require a powerful CPU - and old games often don't use many cores. So I got you a Pentium. You can upgrade it later if you want.

You mentioned not overclocking "at least for the first couple of years". If you ever want to overclock, you need an overclocking mobo. So I selected one. With that I decided to pick the soon-to-be-famous overclockable Pentium.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($105.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 260X 1GB Core Edition Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $590.57
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-12 19:02 EDT-0400

 

[raildogg]

The only game I play right now, for the most part, is one from 2001. I just listed gaming there but its actually a very small part of what I want in this PC - at least right now. I felt that putting more focus on the CPU would result in a better computer, especially since I try to keep my computers for a while. I want to get this PC up and going and then maybe afterwards get something like a Radeon 270X or something like that.

Just wondering why you would pick the Fractal 1000 over the SilverStone PS08B. Also, if I'm going to be overclocking, which I won't for a long while, should I get the aftermarket CPU cooler later as well? To be honest, I've never overclocked and did not really want to.

Appreciate the recommendations. I will look at them. Some good cost savings in some of them.

 

[NewYorksFinest]

Since you mention gaming, I can't help but think you'd be happier with a graphics card. Unfortunately, this requires cutting money somewhere, probably from the CPU. The funny thing is that everything you mention except the gaming doesn't require a powerful CPU - and old games often don't use many cores. So I got you a Pentium. You can upgrade it later if you want.

You mentioned not overclocking "at least for the first couple of years". If you ever want to overclock, you need an overclocking mobo. So I selected one. With that I decided to pick the soon-to-be-famous overclockable Pentium.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($105.66 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 260X 1GB Core Edition Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $590.57
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-12 19:02 EDT-0400

I hate that "PcPartPicker Website..."

OP, I will go searching on Newegg for products...BRB. Also, do you need a keyboard?

 

[Charlie98]

The only game I play right now, for the most part, is one from 2001. I just listed gaming there but its actually a very small part of what I want in this PC - at least right now. I felt that putting more focus on the CPU would result in a better computer, especially since I try to keep my computers for a while. I want to get this PC up and going and then maybe afterwards get something like a Radeon 270X or something like that.

Also, if I'm going to be overclocking, which I won't for a long while, should I get the aftermarket CPU cooler later as well? To be honest, I've never overclocked and did not really want to.

That's not a bad strategy... you would have a decent CPU for now and you can always add a GPU later if you found the need. Don't poo-poo the Pentium chip... I'm running Modern Warfare 1 & 2 and BF3 with mine (and a GTX560Ti 448) and it seems to do well, I've no doubt the Pentium K-chip would be a pretty solid budget CPU... as long as you don't expect it to run BF4 on ultra. In general computing (your #'s 1, 2, 3) the Pentium is more than adequate, your #4 really depends on the games you would be playing and how you expect them to perform (understanding as well that gaming is at the bottom of the list... it is a requirement you listed.

As far as OC'ing... if you are going to OC the chip you are installing now, yes, get an aftermarket CPU cooler. If you plan to change chips later... just wait until you drop in the new chip.

Actually, Ken's build is pretty solid all the way... it gives you everything you wanted at your budget, and has enough GPU horsepower to game, and allows you to OC when you get around to it.... and, understand, you don't have to try to get a 50% OC... a nice, mild OC gives you added performance that is there for the cost of an aftermarket CPU cooler. :biggrin:

 

[raildogg]

I hate that "PcPartPicker Website..."

OP, I will go searching on Newegg for products...BRB. Also, do you need a keyboard?

Actually, I may. I'm not sure about those mechanical keyboards though. They seem to clackety. I do want something with raised keys though but without too much noise.

I really appreciate it.

 

[Ken g6]

Just wondering why you would pick the Fractal 1000 over the SilverStone PS08B.

I can't help but think you'd be happier with a graphics card. Unfortunately, this requires cutting money somewhere

Basically, I was scrambling to cut costs. That case looks nice, but costs somewhat more, especially with shipping.

Edit: Also, I'll mention that the main drawback of the Fractal 1000 is a lack of drive bays, and your build has a notable lack of drives that require drive bays. () (SSDs technically can go just about anywhere.)

 

[NewYorksFinest]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2381565

Look there also.

 

[raildogg]

That's not a bad strategy... you would have a decent CPU for now and you can always add a GPU later if you found the need. Don't poo-poo the Pentium chip... I'm running Modern Warfare 1 & 2 and BF3 with mine (and a GTX560Ti 448) and it seems to do well, I've no doubt the Pentium K-chip would be a pretty solid budget CPU... as long as you don't expect it to run BF4 on ultra. In general computing (your #'s 1, 2, 3) the Pentium is more than adequate, your #4 really depends on the games you would be playing and how you expect them to perform (understanding as well that gaming is at the bottom of the list... it is a requirement you listed.

As far as OC'ing... if you are going to OC the chip you are installing now, yes, get an aftermarket CPU cooler. If you plan to change chips later... just wait until you drop in the new chip.

Actually, Ken's build is pretty solid all the way... it gives you everything you wanted at your budget, and has enough GPU horsepower to game, and allows you to OC when you get around to it.... and, understand, you don't have to try to get a 50% OC... a nice, mild OC gives you added performance that is there for the cost of an aftermarket CPU cooler. :biggrin:

I'm sure the Pentium is enough a lot of my tasks. I just think the i5 CPUs are a better purchase - maybe not in terms of pure dollar cost right now, but maybe 2 or 3 years down the road. Especially for gaming. I believe I'm giving up graphics performance right now for CPU performance. But later when I want to game, a GPU can be added.

Also, I'm not sure about overclocking. I think the likelihood of that happening is low. I'm not really a demanding user who cares about benchmarks or framerates. As long as things run smoothly, that's fine with me.

 

[Charlie98]

Actually, I may. I'm not sure about those mechanical keyboards though. They seem to clackety. I do want something with raised keys though but without too much noise.

I really appreciate it.

This sounds dumb... but if you can go somewhere and 'test drive' a keyboard first, that's worth the trouble. I typed on an IBM mechanical buckling spring KB for years, ignorantly thinking all KBs were like that (right?) Well, I go out to find a new KB and realized how wrong I was. Tall keys, short keys, mushy, stiff, klacky, silent, wide, skinny... it's all out there. Typing on a keyboard that doesn't suit you is pure Hell... D:

 

[Charlie98]

I'm sure the Pentium is enough a lot of my tasks. I just think the i5 CPUs are a better purchase - maybe not in terms of pure dollar cost right now, but maybe 2 or 3 years down the road. Especially for gaming.

Just understand that the 1150 socket CPU and mobo you have today will probably be 'obsolete' in 2-3 years, requiring not only a new chip, but mobo as well, unless you buy used.

i5's are good chips... I've been pounding on mine for over 2.5yrs, it just costs more... and if you want to OC, you have to pony up for a K-chip... roughly $180-200. Your budget can't support that unless you dump the GPU. In your defense, if you intend to play modern games (in my mind, anything released in 2014 going forward) you should get an i5, or some sort of quad core.

I like the Core1000 case, I made a budget build in one in December, it is bigger than the PS08, however. The Fractal build quality is there, too... not to say Silverstone doesn't build good cases.

 

[raildogg]

This sounds dumb... but if you can go somewhere and 'test drive' a keyboard first, that's worth the trouble. I typed on an IBM mechanical buckling spring KB for years, ignorantly thinking all KBs were like that (right?) Well, I go out to find a new KB and realized how wrong I was. Tall keys, short keys, mushy, stiff, klacky, silent, wide, skinny... it's all out there. Typing on a keyboard that doesn't suit you is pure Hell... D:

That's actually great advice. I did go today to a couple of stores and tried some mechanical keyboards - one was the Razer and the other a Corsair. The keys were too noisy and clackety. Maybe a bit less noise would make them OK. I've read that the Brown cherry keyboards tend not to be as noisy but they are still noisier than I would want. Plus, I'm not a hardcore gamer. The Razer had all sorts of extra buttons on the sides that I would not want. Some of the other mechanical keyboards are much simpler though.

So basically, I would like a keyboard that's reasonably quiet but great for typing - crisp, fast, tactile and somewhat like a mechanical keyboard but without all the racket and under $50 . The Logitech K120 I recently bought is decent too but when I tried to play a very old FPS game, it doesn't have the same feel as my old PS/2 Dell keyboard from 2003.

Thank you.

 

[raildogg]

Just understand that the 1150 socket CPU and mobo you have today will probably be 'obsolete' in 2-3 years, requiring not only a new chip, but mobo as well, unless you buy used.

i5's are good chips... I've been pounding on mine for over 2.5yrs, it just costs more... and if you want to OC, you have to pony up for a K-chip... roughly $180-200. Your budget can't support that unless you dump the GPU. In your defense, if you intend to play modern games (in my mind, anything released in 2014 going forward) you should get an i5, or some sort of quad core.

I like the Core1000 case, I made a budget build in one in December, it is bigger than the PS08, however. The Fractal build quality is there, too... not to say Silverstone doesn't build good cases.

With what I do, I believe the i5 should still be good in 3 or more years. Gaming isn't a big deal right now because I'm not really interested in most of the modern games. I'm definitely getting a Quad core even if I have to give up the graphics card for a while. Though to be honest, I really don't need a graphics card soon since I don't game modern or very intensive games. Good to know you liked the Fractal Core1000. I might consider it. Appreciate it.

 

[Charlie98]

The Logitech K120 I recently bought is decent too but when I tried to play a very old FPS game, it doesn't have the same feel as my old PS/2 Dell keyboard from 2003.

Thank you.

Yaa... I'm actually typing on an old Emachine PS/2 KB that is actually a very good board. I'm an... uh... an assertive typer, and it feels pretty good (not as good as my IBM) and takes the punishment... and it was free.

With what I do, I believe the i5 should still be good in 3 or more years. Gaming isn't a big deal right now because I'm not really interested in most of the modern games. I'm definitely getting a Quad core even if I have to give up the graphics card for a while. Though to be honest, I really don't need a graphics card soon since I don't game modern or very intensive games.

Fair enough! :biggrin: TBH, I used the iGPU on my i5 for 3 months to play MW1/2 until I had enough money to get the GTX... it was playable, if not spectacularly so. Adding a GPU is an easy fix...

Good luck! Let us know what you wind up getting and how the build goes.

 

[raildogg]

Yaa... I'm actually typing on an old Emachine PS/2 KB that is actually a very good board. I'm an... uh... an assertive typer, and it feels pretty good (not as good as my IBM) and takes the punishment... and it was free.



Fair enough! :biggrin: TBH, I used the iGPU on my i5 for 3 months to play MW1/2 until I had enough money to get the GTX... it was playable, if not spectacularly so. Adding a GPU is an easy fix...

Good luck! Let us know what you wind up getting and how the build goes.

That keyboard must get a good workout The only reason why I'm not using my Dell k/b is because my current computer doesn't have an PS/2 port and I don't want to get an adapter right now.

Thanks.

 

[Ken g6]

Well, if you insist on an i5, and don't plan to upgrade it, might as well get a good one, with an OK motherboard:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($196.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B85M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $586.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-12 20:30 EDT-0400

That B85 has your 4 RAM slots and your Realtek ALC892. What it may not have is a BIOS capable of handling the Haswell refresh chips. (It shouldn't matter, but I haven't seen any proof yet that it doesn't matter.)

 

[raildogg]

Well, if you insist on an i5, and don't plan to upgrade it, might as well get a good one, with an OK motherboard:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($196.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B85M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Team Vulcan 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $586.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-12 20:30 EDT-0400

That B85 has your 4 RAM slots and your Realtek ALC892. What it may not have is a BIOS capable of handling the Haswell refresh chips. (It shouldn't matter, but I haven't seen any proof yet that it doesn't matter.)

Seems nice. My budget can go higher a bit so I would rather get a Haswell based motherboard and CPU. The Corsair CX430 should be OK for a Radeon 7850 type GPU? I would probably not go higher than a medium GPU. The Fractal seems to be a bit more versatile than the case I chose. Thanks!

 

[Charlie98]

Seems nice. My budget can go higher a bit so I would rather get a Haswell based motherboard and CPU. The Corsair CX430 should be OK for a Radeon 7850 type GPU? I would probably not go higher than a medium GPU. The Fractal seems to be a bit more versatile than the case I chose. Thanks!

B85/i5 4570 is Haswell... the 9-series boards are the Haswell refresh.

My CX430M is running my GTX560Ti with a Molex adapter for the 2nd 6-pin plug. No problems so far...

The only wonky things with the Core1K case is the buttons/USB ports are on the side of the case... if you use the front USB a lot, and the case will be in a cabinet, it may present a little bit of an obstacle. The other odd thing is the HDD mount... it only holds 2 mounted sideways. In the build I had, I mounted the storage HDD on the sideways plate, and the SSD in the lower OD space.

 

[mfenn]

I've read that the Brown cherry keyboards tend not to be as noisy but they are still noisier than I would want.

I have a Das Keyboard Pro Silent, which has Cherry MX Browns. They keyswitches themselves are silent. The only noise comes from me bottoming out the keycaps on the frame, which would happen on any board if you are a heavy typist.

 

[raildogg]

I have a Das Keyboard Pro Silent, which has Cherry MX Browns. They keyswitches themselves are silent. The only noise comes from me bottoming out the keycaps on the frame, which would happen on any board if you are a heavy typist.

I could not find that on Amazon but I did come across this:

http://www.amazon.com/Das-Keyboard-P...s=das+keyboard

It appears to be the quietest keyboard in the Das Keyboard lineup. It's actually pretty good according to some of the videos I've watched. Maybe it won't have the same "crispness" as the other noisier ones but I don't want all that noise and clack. Is this keyboard similar to yours except this one has Cherry MX Reds?

There is also a Rosewill mechanical keyboard with Brown switches. It is also quite a bit cheaper than the Das keyboard. I might consider this. Not sure how much louder this is compared to the Das Quiet keyboard I linked above.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-042-_-Product

Thanks.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Logitech makes a mechanical KB with the browns, and includes o-rings pre-installed to dampen the bottoming out noise.

I have a test swatch of mechanical switches, and I can confirm what mfenn said about the brown. The switch itself is basically silent, but bottoming out can be quite audible depending on the heaviness with which you hit it.

 

[raildogg]

Logitech makes a mechanical KB with the browns, and includes o-rings pre-installed to dampen the bottoming out noise.

I have a test swatch of mechanical switches, and I can confirm what mfenn said about the brown. The switch itself is basically silent, but bottoming out can be quite audible depending on the heaviness with which you hit it.

That is a nice keyboard - seems a bit quieter but with good feel. I just don't like the extra buttons on the far left of the keyboard.

I like the Das keyboards but the price and the glossy finish is keeping me away for now. I'm kind of leaning towards the Rosewill keyboards - probably the brown because its in the middle of the red and the blue (I think). Not too much feedback and noise but some. If it was quieter then that'll be even better but you can't have everything.

Thank you.

 

[mfenn]

I could not find that on Amazon but I did come across this:

http://www.amazon.com/Das-Keyboard-P...s=das+keyboard

It appears to be the quietest keyboard in the Das Keyboard lineup. It's actually pretty good according to some of the videos I've watched. Maybe it won't have the same "crispness" as the other noisier ones but I don't want all that noise and clack. Is this keyboard similar to yours except this one has Cherry MX Reds?

Yeah, that's basically the newer version of what I have. It has Cherry MX red and a slightly different layout (IBM M2 layout + a function key vs. original IBM M layout). Personally I cannot stand the M2 layout, so I have a collection of original Das Keyboard Pro Silent's but that's personal preference.

There is also a Rosewill mechanical keyboard with Brown switches. It is also quite a bit cheaper than the Das keyboard. I might consider this. Not sure how much louder this is compared to the Das Quiet keyboard I linked above.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-042-_-Product

Thanks.

That's probably a better buy than the Das on price alone. It also has the layout I prefer. If I didn't have my keyboards now, I'd what I'd get.

 

[Cerb]

Actually, I may. I'm not sure about those mechanical keyboards though. They seem to clackety. I do want something with raised keys though but without too much noise.

They are clackety! That's the point. Even MX Reds with o-rings (which is what I use at work) are clackety, just a lot less so, on par with stiff dome KBs of the past (quiet until you hit the bottom). But, my collection of keyboards and caps is worth much more than your prospective new computer, so I'm a little on the biased (or is i crazy?) side (P.S. I just added it up, and yes, crazy is the word)...

IMO, you should check your thrift stores. I often find good Gateway and Dell keyboards, that were clearly tossed because they were PS/2, not because they were worn out. Find some that don't need too much TLC, and go to town. The old Gateway KBs with the rounded off-color plastic above the F-keys are very easy to disassemble, clean, and re-assemble. I doubt you'll find something around $50 that will be suitable, except something used that needs some fixing. Lenovo domes with full-height keys are also good, but I've yet tot ake one apart, so I don't know how that part of the endeavor would go.

 

[raildogg]

Update:

I'm actually happy with my laptop so I won't need to get a new PC for a while. I do appreciate everyone's time. Thank you all.

This thread can be locked, please.