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Challenge: Cheap build. Custom, or go Dell/HP?

S

semisonic9

Member
Ok, so I just moved into a 5/3 and, while discussing my major and upcoming build I discovered that 2 of them don't even own computers!

Now, I may very well recommend that one of them buy a used laptop off Notebookforums.com or Craiglist. She's a college student and could use the mobility.

For the other, I'm looking at what the best option for him might be. I've got an old CRT monitor around here, and an old Dell P4 build I could probably harvest the case from if push came to shove.

I started to put together a build myself, but then I figured some of you might have an eye on this type of thing already.

Assuming he wants something that can run Vista and will remain usefull for the next few years for basic internet/officework stuff and the occasional porn downloads, I figure he wants:

Dual core
PCI Express
Minimal/no discrete graphics
DVD player/burner


My problem is that I keep constantly over-shooting what he realistically needs. What are your thoughts?

~S
 
Get a Dell.

He'll be better of with a new system and one that comes with a decent LCD screen. Not to mention the case from your old P4 would need allot of moding to get a regular ATX motherboard into it and it may not acomidate a regular ATX PSU. Dell used all of propriatarty things back in the P4 days. So the case would be worthless for a new build. In the end the Dell will be a cheaper option. Not to mention the warenty and tech support that comes with it. If your not going with a gaming system or other specialty system then its best to stick with an OEM.
 
definately go with the Dell Vostro 200.
My brother just got one...



He ordered monday morning. It was due to ship the 24th. It arrived at his house on the 23!!

He ordered an analog monitor.. but the monitor has DVI and it came with a DVI cable.

He upgraded to a ATI HD3650, and can play Crysis at medium settings.

The only things he needed were headphones (which he had) and an optical mouse (which he also had) because the dell mouse had a trackball.


I CHALLENGE ANYONE to build a better PC for less than $600.

 
Dell Vostro 200 Mini Tower:

  • $499

Dell Vostro 200 u-ATX Mini Tower

Intel® Core?2 Duo Proc E7200 (2.53GHZ, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic, Service Pack 1
1 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 1 Year NBD On-Site Service
Free upgrade from 19inch E198WFP TO 22inch E228WFP Wide Flat Panel Monitor.
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz - 2DIMMs
Free Upgrade! From DVD to DVD+RW
250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache?
Dell Energy Smart Enabled
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
 
Prebuilt, Dell or Sunday paper ads.

One of the office supply stores had a $260 A64 X2 desktop in the Sunday paper, and they all had $400-600 laptops.
 
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