Can you make a system with $400?

[goofy2000]

Ok, it's all nice to hear bout making the ultimate gaming and overclocking machine with cool components and cooling gears.
But, can we consider the dark side of the computing world just for a sec? There is the rest of the humane race who obviously can't afford to spend $1000 or more just to try out the wonders of the internet.
But, is there a supply market for these guys? Is it possible to make a working system with reasonable performance?
For once, I wish I can build one with just $400, and smile that I've helped another human being to benefit from the modern technology without blowing their wallet...

 

[3615buck]

For that price, you'd better buy a second hand computer.

 

[mjquilly]

(All prices from pricewatch, includes shipping)

Case w/ 250W ps $33
Super7 Mobo w/ Video and sound $55
K62-450 $48
32MB PC100 Ram $23
2.5 GB HDD $48
40X CD-ROM $34
Floppy! $17

Total of $258 shipped.

 

[erub]

get 128 mb of ram..won't cost you over $50.
MSI K7T Pro2A - $120
Duron 800 - $80
Cheap vid. card - $25
Biggest HDD you can get.

$400

Course you'll need a NIC/modem, monitor, keyboard and mouse also.

 

[Tominator]

Case...used...........................$35
BX mb..used...........................$55
Celeron 566@850 w/slotket and gorb....$115
Floppy................................$10
Vodoo3 2000, Oc'd to 163mhz...........$50
Cdrom.................................$25
128mb Pc100...........................$50
Ensoniq Audio PCI....1370 chipset.....$12
Harddrive......4 gigger...............$50
___

Total.................................$402

Need a modem, mouse, keyboard and monitor.

 

[Lord Evermore]

One could easily build a brand new system for under 400 dollars, including a monitor and some form of internet/LAN connectivity, and keyboard, mouse etc...however it would be barely usable even for Web browsing and email.

When you're that concerned about the price, get a Net Appliance type thing. Simple to use, gets you on the web. Won't do word processing and stuff of course, but if you want that, pay for it.

 

[TimeKeeper]

ALL NEW PARTS!

BOOKPC
Intel 810 chip
52X CDROM
10/100 NIC
V90 MODEM
Video
TV-out
Yamaha Sound
Keyboard/mice
speakers........$168

PC133 128MB RAM......$50

Celeron 533 Mhz......$54

Maxtor or WD 7200rpm 30GB HD.....$115


TOTAL...less than $400

BUT....this system is for your old folks or grade school kids only.

 

[Raincity]

You are all forgetting the price of Windows98/ME that will add another 100$ to the final cost of the pc.

Rain

 

[josphstalinator]

software costing money, now thats funny

 

[Valnir]

Not $400 but for that exactly $75 would be a hella better system, hehe.

Duron 650mhz - $46
Fic Az11 - $88
128mb Pc133 Micron - $52
Sound - onboard
Inno3d Geforce2 Mx - $89
Case - $50
Seagate 8gb - $71
Cd-rom - $25
Modem - $25
Floppy, Keyboard, Mouse - $30
Total: $476

But if $400 is what it has to be
Duron 650mhz - $46
PcChips Socket A Kt133 - $74
Sound - onboard
Zeus 128mb Pc100 - $43
Case - $35
Voodoo3 2000 - $64
4gb Quantum HD - $55
Cd-rom - $25
Modem - $25
Mouse, Keyboard, Floppy - $15
Total: $382

With shipping it will probably go over $400, but that depends on how much you can by locally or already have.

 

[chiwawa626]

u can get a NIC and a modem on rebate free from Cyberrebate, as well as keyboard and mice....

 

[chiwawa626]

Duron 650mhz - $46
PcChips Socket A Kt133 - $74
Zeus 128mb Pc100 - $43
Sound - onboard
Inno3d Geforce2 Mx - $89
Case - $35
Seagate 8gb - $71
Cd-rom - $25
Floppy - $13
Modem, Keyboard, Mouse - Free (cyberrebate)

-Total - 396

 

[thorin]

Heh, the answer as you've noticed from the above posts, is:

Yes you can build a system for $400 but you won't be able to use it because you can't afford a Monitor after you've built the system.

Thorin

 

[smp]

yeah but you can get a crappy 15" monitor for like twenty bucks from a garage sale.. my buddy got one from an old lady and used it for a whole year before getting his trinitron..

 

[Rellik]

This is an interesting subject. I do realize the painful feeling of those that are forced to go the cheap way with their pc´s due to poor
financial resources. It all depends what your definition of a system
is: For me, it is a PC system that is complete without the need for add-ons, since this would be an UPGRADE.

So in short, NO WAY. At least not a practical and up-to-date system.

But there are other possibilities. First of, use your friends/connections wisely. Some pieces of the puzzle can be aquired
very chaep or for free. The software argument is not valid if one has the ability to go to a friend and download linux and then burn it to cd. Saved 100Bucks! I don´t want to go on, but here is my definition
of a system:

CASE
MOBO
CPU
RAM
Floppy
floppycable(comes with mobo)
HD
HDcable(should also come with mobo)
Soundcard
CD/DVD-ROM
CD/DVD-cable
CD-cable for DAE if device doesn´t support PCI DAE(like the DMX Xfire)
Videocard
Keyboard
Mouse
Monitor
Speakers
OS
Software
Fans+screws+tools if not available

So. If one can assemble that for 400 bucks please....
Oh, and not everyone has access to lowest webprices and instant rebates. Prices in stores can be significantly higher then found on the web. For comparision: Micron 128 MB Cas 2: web: 52$ Mail.order in my city: 135$

 

[Rigoletto]

Oh come on fellas... if you made someone a $400 system you'd be crazy. If someone is so hard up, they should instead point their noses in the direction of small ads and take a friend who knows about computers.
Even in a computer shop I've seen a P75 32Mb 1GbHD with LAN base unit for £75.

 

[vi edit]

You don't need a 500+ MHz CPU, 128 megs of RAM, a 10+ gig HD, and a 16meg video card to browse the internet at 56k or to type your emails.

A Celery 366 w/ 64 megs of RAM, int video and sound, and a 4 gig HD would be more that sufficient to meet that task. One could easily pick that up for ~$275-$350 in the FS/T forums. I have also seen Win95 cd's and licenses being sold there for ~$15. If one wanted to browse the 'net, win95 would be sufficient as well.

 

[chiwawa626]

go to frys, and buy a comp with the 400 MSN rebate, u can get a p3 with that money

 

[err]

Ok , let me try this

MSI K7T-PRO - $110
Duron 600 Mhz - $50
Micron 128MB - $52
sound (onboard) - free
video - Tnt2 Vanta 8MB AGP $30
compgeek case + floppy - $19
20GB HD 7200 rpm - $100
CDrom - $35
Ms natural keyboard - $17.25
MS intellimouse - $11.50
Generic speaker - $7

TOTAL - $431.75 + shipping

I would cut on the motherboard if you'd like it to be cheaper. You can cut on the hard drive as well. This is a really nice setup for entry level computer. you can do 950Mhz no problem.

Yes, I am like you. I helped make many people smile with cheap system. They don't only smile, they laugh continously for a week

eRr

 

[DDad]

Actually err, I wouldn't cut the HD- IMO the prices on 20 gigs is in the "sweet spot"
You can cut on the Keyboard, Mouse and MB, IMO

 

[DDad]

BTW: Just for fun I played with the figures from one of my suppliers (not the cheapest BTW) for a $400 machine
PC Chips 599 LMR -75
Case with 250W PS-35
AMD K6-3+ 450 -48 (reasonable good chance it'll do 600- believe it or not!)
CD -35-40
20 gig WD (5400) -110
128 mb PC100 -55
Floppy -12
Basic KB & Mouse -10

Total was $380