Building a very cheap system for a co-worker

[snik]

A co-worker of mine knows that I'm into bulding pcs so he's asked me into bulding him one. He's pretty much computer illeterate and he first wanted to buy my old ice-age PII 300mhz system. I talked him out of it and suggested that I can build a 'new' pc for him. Now this is going to be a very cheap system.

But I don't want to go lower than the following thresholds for the system:

CPU must be around 700 mhz
Some form of audio
Some form of video

Now this is what I have so far:
- MOBO: 71.99 @ newegg - Asus A7N266-VM AA. This has integrated GeForce video, 5.1 audio and LAN. I think this is a great price for the features.
- CPU: 31.00 @ newegg - AMD DURON 950MHz Socket A
- Crucial 128 mb pc2100 ram 38.69 @ newegg
- 20 gb Maxtor HD 7200 55.00 locally
- Haven't decided on a case yet.

So far this is at $196.68. But I'm sure you guys can help me build something even cheaper . (He has given me a real tight budget to work with)

This pretty much covers the system and has decent audio/video/ram for his standards (which aren't very high).

If you can help me find something even cheaper I'll appreciate it.


EDIT: He asked if it would be possible to build a complete system (minus monitor) for under $200. I haven't replied to him yet, since I wanted to consult with you guys first.

 

[Slogun]

That looks about right and rock bottom without being trashy.

Need to add another $60-$70 at least for case, CD-ROM and floppy.

 

[snik]

Originally posted by: Slogun
That looks about right and rock bottom without being trashy.

Need to add another $60-$70 at least for case, CD-ROM and floppy.

That's right I forgot to mention those two. I'll throw in my old 40x cdrom drive and I have plenty of floppy drives. Now if I can just 'modify' the components so I can fit a case in the $200 budget I'd be set.

 

[VBboy]

Throw in $200 for the continuous tech support that you will have to provide, along with troubleshooting and repairs. The next worst thing is building a PC for your BOSS, who will fire you if the PC sucks or crashes...

I stopped building computers for friends and relatives because it's too much to deal with AFTER the sale.

 

[optimistic]

Here you go:
- MOBO: $62 shipped @ fticomputer - Biostar M7VIG Pro. This has integrated S3 ProSavage 8 Video, C-MediaCMI9739A 6-Channel audio and LAN. And has overclocking features to boot!
- CPU: $51.00 shipped @ newegg - AMD Athlon XP Thoroughbred CPU 1700+/ 1.47GHz -OEM
- HSF: SVC GC68 $10 shipped
- 256 mb pc133 ram $20 from Fry's
- Maxtor 60.0GB 8.9ms 7200RPM ATA/100 2MB $70 from Fry's

This is $213.00 shipped.

Case $42 shipped from newegg.
$46 shipped & above

If you're going with XP as the OS I highly recommend 512MB of Ram. And know that 7200rpm hard drives make a world of difference vs 5400rpm.

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: snik
That's right I forgot to mention those two. I'll throw in my old 40x cdrom drive and I have plenty of floppy drives. Now if I can just 'modify' the components so I can fit a case in the $200 budget I'd be set.

Uh, sell him the PII system if you're 'stuck' at $200.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: optimistic

Originally posted by: snik
That's right I forgot to mention those two. I'll throw in my old 40x cdrom drive and I have plenty of floppy drives. Now if I can just 'modify' the components so I can fit a case in the $200 budget I'd be set.

Uh, sell him the PII system if you're 'stuck' at $200.

I think so as well...a decent setup of which optimistic listed is not very doable for $200 unless you already had that and are upgrading yourself ..or feeling like Santa to the guy

and what VBboy said seems to be the norm unless you get an agreement in writing as to what is what..and 512MB is the sweet for WinXP 128

256MB will let you get by but 512MB and upwards ..as XP will take advantage of it..gl and keep us posted as to what goes

 

[gplracer]

I have built about 10 computers with the ECS K7S5A motherboard with no problems at all. All have worked fine. It comes with built in sound (that can be easily disabled) and a network card. It also will take SDR or DDR memory but not both. The motherboard at Newegg is only $57.

I take that back yours with a built in geforce might be better

 

[Jhhnn]

Everybody knows how to go overbudget, it's easy. Try this-

Search pricewatch for msi6389- under $40, shipped
128megs cl2 pc133
1200 Duron
Inwin v523 case w/300w psu- or similar fongkai, enlight
20gig HDD
inexpensive KB, mouse and speakers combo
winmodem
your cdrom and floppy

And the software?- I'm sure you can work something out....

I built a few variants of these early last year- no problems, everybody was and still is happy. These also have some upgradeability, with available agp, pci and memory slots..It's really easy to overbuild for many users.

Or check the hot deals forum- Dell is practically giving away low end machines, if your friend could go to $400 or so...

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: gplracer
I have built about 10 computers with the ECS K7S5A motherboard with no problems at all. All have worked fine. It comes with built in sound (that can be easily disabled) and a network card. It also will take SDR or DDR memory but not both. The motherboard at Newegg is only $57.

I take that back yours with a built in geforce might be better

I would choose the ECS for upgradeability. The budget is simply to restrictive. He may not want to upgrade right now... but In my experience he will in about 6 mo.

 

[BentValve]

I have a friend that keeps going to Goodwill and buying used 100mhz computers on their last leg then he brings them over to me and asks me to get them working. Umm this is a grown 50yo man with a decent job I am talking about here, and he want this garbage fixed.

Last time he came over I told him that I did not want to work on his computers anymore , we went to a local parts house and we priced out something for about $200 but this included a refurbished drive and an ECS motherboard that I would not use myself and we were cutting
corners that I would not cut.
He said it sounded good but then the next moring he shows up at my house with "Loook what I found!!" He brings in a $10 Goodwill computer.

To make a long story short I decided I would not even consider building him something unless I can choose the parts and he has to spend at least $350-$400.

MOBO: 71.99 @ newegg - Asus A7N266-VM AA.
>>>>>>>>>
Good choice

- CPU: 31.00 @ newegg - AMD DURON 950MHz Socket A
>>>>>>>>>>>.
not a good idea when an Athlon Xp can be had for $20 more.

- Crucial 128 mb pc2100 ram 38.69 @ newegg
>>>>>>>>>>>
Not enough ram, 256mb is the min. I would even consider.


- 20 gb Maxtor HD 7200 55.00 locally
>>>>>>>>>>>
That is ok as long as it is brand new not a refurb like my cheapskate friend wanted, the Hard drive can make or break a system.


- Haven't decided on a case yet.
>>>>>>>>..

A crappy case and PS could ruin this system.


Forget about building a computer for $200.....add about $150 to the budget and you can have a very nice computer.

 

[snik]

Thank you for all the replies, help is always appreciated. I will talk to him on Monday and see if he wants to up the budget a bit. $200 is just cutting it TOO close. Although Jhhnn posted a great suggestion, thank you.

The co-worker actually worked out something with an IT guy at work about an OS. So whatever they decide on I will install.

Tomorrow I will talk to him more and find out if he's willing to increase the budget and will post here.

Again, thank you for the help.

 

[snik]

This is also a good idea. I will discuss this one with him as well. He will use this for mild gaming-- how good is the integrated video on this mobo? Will it play at lower resolutions (800x600)? Most likely older games and not new?

Originally posted by: optimistic
Here you go:
- MOBO: $62 shipped @ fticomputer - Biostar M7VIG Pro. This has integrated S3 ProSavage 8 Video, C-MediaCMI9739A 6-Channel audio and LAN. And has overclocking features to boot!
- CPU: $51.00 shipped @ newegg - AMD Athlon XP Thoroughbred CPU 1700+/ 1.47GHz -OEM
- HSF: SVC GC68 $10 shipped
- 256 mb pc133 ram $20 from Fry's
- Maxtor 60.0GB 8.9ms 7200RPM ATA/100 2MB $70 from Fry's

This is $213.00 shipped.

Case $42 shipped from newegg.
$46 shipped & above

If you're going with XP as the OS I highly recommend 512MB of Ram. And know that 7200rpm hard drives make a world of difference vs 5400rpm.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Make him get a Lindows PC from Walmart and have the IT guy install the pirate OS not you -- saves you time and you can send him to Walmart and his IT buddy when he needs support. Price is around $200 pre-built with a warranty.

 

[BentValve]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Make him get a Lindows PC from Walmart and have the IT guy install the pirate OS not you -- saves you time and you can send him to Walmart and his IT buddy when he needs support. Price is around $200 pre-built with a warranty.

I wouldn't even do that much. I would tell him that he can get a nice pocket calulator , a half dozen notebooks and a pack of Bic pens for under $20 and give the other $180 to charity.

 

[dpopiz]

1. I don't think you should take chances with that nforce1 board
2. for the love of God, spend a little and get a faster cpu: xp1700+ t-bred B at newegg for $52...you could even oc it to 2200+ or so if you're into that.
3. don't even think about running winxp with 128mb

 

[Macro2]

I've learned not to deal with cheap people. They will drive you nuts. You try to do them a favor and if something happens it's your fault.

 

[rommelrommel]

I've learned not to deal with cheap people. They will drive you nuts. You try to do them a favor and if something happens it's your fault.

Word to that, although most of my experiences are with installing car audio, they see my car that has about 10K worth of gear and my labour in it at retail and they want to have that for 500 bucks

I'd loan him the PII for a paycheck or two so he can buy something a bit better in a month. When you consider what you could get for 400-500 it seems silly to spend 200. Also, what's this guy doing for a monitor? Please don't tell me he has some old 14" POS from a 486...

 

[McCarthy]

The motherboard seems perfect. I happened to look at it and a couple reviews the other night, it's pretty sweet. Not an overclocker board, but I wouldn't build a computer illiterate person an overclocked system to start with. Especially with newegg showing a refurb of it for $49 currently...hmm....might be time to upgrade my spare computer I'm not using just to have something to play with

Duron 950 seems fine to me. If he wants to do mild gaming then more than that with integrated GF2 is nonsense. Even if he falls in love with a game or two and upgrades the video in the future a 950 will push most value/midline cards to near their potential nicely as seen in Anand's cpu scaling tests, one example here. Yeah, with faster cards faster CPUs make more of them, but folks we're talking a guy who wants a whole computer for $200, he's not likely to go out and spend $300 for a video card. By the time GF4's and Radeon 95/9700's are in his price range a low end XP will be just as relatively slow as that Duron.

Hard to scrape a lot of cost off this one though, you started out too realisticly.

 

[dpopiz]

JUST SAY NO to duron950! believe me!! get the xp1700+ B at least

I'd loan him the PII for a paycheck or two so he can buy something a bit better in a month. When you consider what you could get for 400-500 it seems silly to spend 200.

DEFINITELY

 

[dpopiz]

EDIT: He asked if it would be possible to build a complete system (minus monitor) for under $200. I haven't replied to him yet, since I wanted to consult with you guys first.

the answer is no.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Why don't you change the title of this thread to:

Building a system for a very cheap co-worker.

Truth in advertising, you know.

Look in the NewEgg REFURBS, and take your chances.
Theres an ABIT KX7-333 for $40 Free Freight, and that's a great board, especially for that price!
Throw an XP1700+ T'Bred in it for $51, and you're got the core to an exceptional system. $91 so far.
You get what you pay for - but there are some bargins.

 

[human2k]

one word: emachine

 

[dpopiz]

yeah emachine's probably a good idea

 

[Bonesdad]

I second (or third??) the ECS K7S5A...I too am building a PC for a friend, our budget is better ($500), but I wanted to put more into a good PSU and video card. I got the ECS K7S5A with 256MD PC133 and a Duron 1.3 for $150! Throw in a cheapish case for $39, round it out with an Antec TruePower 330W ($45 shipped from TechDepot - coupon).

I really like the K7S5A for its upgradeability...start her with a Duron, in a few months she will be in an Athlon XP 2000+ for around $50. Start with PC133 RAM, in a while after RAM prices come down again, plop in some PC2700 DDR (the K7S5A has SDRAM and DDRRAM slots). Also the onboard sound, tho not great will get her by until more $ can be found...

Nice system