Cheap (and basic) computer for 300-400?

[HellAdmiral]

This is for my father. He wants to keep it around 350 (give or take like 40 either way) dollars. It will only be used for accessing the Internet and word processing.

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVe...ishListNumber=11618587

That is what I've compiled. Any suggestions/corrections =P?

 

[HellAdmiral]

I know there may be pre-builts for a better price, but that doesn't really matter. I want to build this inexpensive one to "prove" that I can build my own (which will be considerably more expensive obviously.)

No monitor, keyboard, or mouse is needed (or speakers).

 

[HellAdmiral]

Also, would there be a problem installing a mATX in a standard ATX case?

 

[Winterpool]

All right, before everyone chimes in telling you to suck it up and buy Dell, I'm willing to accept that part of the purpose of this computer is for you to build it. With that in mind...

Don't buy PC Chips. You'll be sorry. I'm in earnest... please don't buy PC Chips.

I presume you won't overclock, and that you don't need a discrete video card (the 'building' part of adding a video card anyhow is simply sticking it in the PCI-Express slot and possibly plugging in a power connector). In that case, you might seriously consider an AMD 780G chipset. You could get a brand-name (Gigabyte or ASUS) board for less than $100, with excellent integrated graphics (good enough for H.264 HD video). You don't want to skimp too much with the board: everything else has to connect with it in some way. An Athlon X2 sufficient for everyday computing can be purchased for as little as $57, though I'd personally spend a little more for the 2.4 GHz Athlon X2 4600+.

If you do want to go Intel, please consider this Gigabyte 945 GCM board. Normally an ATX case will have the proper screw mounts for a micro-ATX board, but please check the specs to be certain.

If you can wait, try to find an Antec case with included power supply on sale. Sonata and NSK cases generally come with EarthWatts power supplies. It's not uncommon to find a decent Antec case with power supply for < $80, sometimes < $50. The Basiq is okay, but there are often deals on better PSUs for about the same amount, at least after rebate.

I'm not sure about Transcend memory. If you can stomach a rebate, you might want to look up some of the Corsair sales. Or spend $40 to 50 on G.Skill.

The Samsung SH-S203B dvd-writer is very well reviewed. And I personally like Seagate drives for their five-year warranties. You could probably find a 500 GB drive on sale for about $80, though. 500 to 750 GB is the sweet spot these days. If you subscribe to the Newegg newsletter, they sent out a whole slew of hard drive coupons for Memorial Day sales...

I realise you might end up spending about $50 or so more following my suggestions, but it will be worth it, trust me. You do not want to have your father forced to buy a Dell two months after you build this system...

I'll try to give this more thought and figure out how to cut some costs without compromising quality...

 

[Winterpool]

The $90 for Windows XP is really killing your budget. I don't advocate, erm, alternate distribution channels, at least when it comes to the computer's operating system, but you really want to see if there's some way of getting Windows for a little less (perhaps some other member could find a better deal). The price of the OS is one of the best reasons for going Dell when spending at the bottom end of the market...

 

[cparker]

I agree that the amd platform will get you more bang for the buck. I'd get the gigabyte 780g board but I would go for a single core cpu, something like an le-1620 to 1640. It will cost between 45 and 50 dollars shipped. The money you save on the cpu will pay at least in part for the higher price for the motherboard. But that's only part of the story. I would pay the money for the windows os, and definitely get it from a proper channel like Newegg or Amazon, but I wouldn't get XP. I'd get Vista Home Premium, for about the same cost. Why? Well, you do want to wow your Dad with the latest, greatest, and most visually stunning UI, don't you? Well with the amd/780g chipset you will get graphics that fly with vista aero, along with the upgradeability to blu ray, hdmi hdtv, etc. etc. This would require shelling out money for a graphics card with the intel platform. And will the single core cpu handle it? Well, yes. Very well, indeed! I just built one with a single core cpu with Vista HP and it's stunning, fast, and more than anyone except certain game players or video editors would need. And if you can pick up an Antec case with the EA 380 earthwatts power supply included, that's all you would need, and yes, you should be able to mount matx boards in most atx cases, just look at the specs. Total cost should be about 425 or so including vista home premium (100 for oem version), 2 gigs of ram for around 40 or so (you don't need more than 2), around 70 for a case/ps (you could possibly find one for a bit less, say 50), the motherboard/cpu, the seagate 250 hard drive going for 60 today and a 25 dollar dvd burner (get the samsung sata one if it's still on sale at that price with shipping).

 

[Urtho]

Originally posted by: HellAdmiral
Also, would there be a problem installing a mATX in a standard ATX case?

Other than the fact that it looks weird, no there's no problem really. Just an awful lot of open space with one of those small boards in a standard size case.

Regarding the OS pricing issue, are you a student in college or have a brother/sister or a friend with a b/s who is? They can usually get a good deal on academic versions of Microsoft products so investigate that option if the online OS pricing is a problem for you.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: Urtho

Originally posted by: HellAdmiral
Also, would there be a problem installing a mATX in a standard ATX case?

Other than the fact that it looks weird, no there's no problem really. Just an awful lot of open space with one of those small boards in a standard size case.

Regarding the OS pricing issue, are you a student in college or have a brother/sister or a friend with a b/s who is? They can usually get a good deal on academic versions of Microsoft products so investigate that option if the online OS pricing is a problem for you.

I know what you mean. mATX mobo in my 23-bay server case EDIT: pic not 56k friendly. I had to take a pic as it just looked funny. The Thermalright SI-128 mounted there makes it look even funnier.

 

[HellAdmiral]

Yeah unfortunately there's no way I can get a cheaper copy of Windows. However, thanks a ton for all the helpful advice guys. But I'll definitely follow up with getting Vista.