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JackSpadesSI

Senior member
Jan 13, 2009
636
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My father-in-law (FIL) is looking to buy a new computer to replace his ~6 year old XP machine. That computer is a piece of crap from Best Buy which came preloaded with adware and other assorted junk that slows the system down. When I heard he was going to upgrade I volunteered to build him a computer so he'd be better off.

His needs: internet browsing, MS Office, tax software, etc.
His budget: $500 (but he'd prefer $400)
He already has a monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers.

I was thinking something along the lines of: E5700, GA-G41M-ES2L (integrated graphics), 4GB RAM, 1 TB HDD, 500W PSU, DVD burners (2), and Windows 7 home premium. That meets the budget.

Sadly, Best Buy can do better with an i5 system for the same price. Or, they've got junky computers in the low $300 range. Should I just give up and have him buy from Best Buy?

If not, recommend me the fastest build for the budget. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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boom314

Senior member
Nov 10, 2005
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76
you could save some money by reusing the old disc drives, and possibly the ram. That way you could get a better cpu for the build. His power supply might even be high enough for what this is planned for.

you could also just get a pre built system and just uninstall everything he doesnt need. thats what i do when i get new laptops
 
J

JackSpadesSI

Senior member
Jan 13, 2009
636
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0
I've found that it isn't always possible to uninstall everything that Best Buy adds to a pre-built system. A complete reformat would remove the OS, too - and buying a new copy of that defeats the purpose of saving money with pre-built.
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
Alright, here we are,

CD/DVD

Case

HDD

Motherboard

PSU

RAM

CPU

Windows 7

Total: $402.92

Now with the extra $100 If you want to get a better discreet GPU, or a better motherboard. Just ask here what you want me to put the extra money towards and i can give you a good upgrade. Or you can keep the 100 bucks and just have a $400 build.

Now with that motherboard it has a core unlocker, the AMD phenom II x2 555 is actually an x4 in disguise (it has 4 cores 2 are "locked") If you are lucky you will be able to unlock both of those "extra" cores and have basically a phenom II x4 955 saving yourself about $50 bucks, Now this is not a guarantee but the success rate is fairly high and most every one i have seen has at least unlocked into an AMD Phenom II x3 (tri-core)

If you plan on unlocking your cores then i would recommend this heatsink.

Hope this helps
 
J

JackSpadesSI

Senior member
Jan 13, 2009
636
0
0
To be completely honest, I have a bit of aprehension with AMD CPU's. That's simply because I've never installed one myself, and I'm not knowledgeable about their motherboards.

Could you either: a) recommend me an Intel setup, or b) point me toward some info on AMD builds?

Thanks!
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
JackSpadesSI said:
To be completely honest, I have a bit of aprehension with AMD CPU's. That's simply because I've never installed one myself, and I'm not knowledgeable about their motherboards.

Could you either: a) recommend me an Intel setup, or b) point me toward some info on AMD builds?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Its the same thing as intel just cheaper, and if you are looking for an intel setup then you are almost completely SOL in this price area but i will look what i can piece together for you at that price.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,278
14,698
146
Truthfully...call Dell and buy him a computer from their outlet.

At that price point, it's almost a waste to try to build a decent computer with quality parts. CAN it be done? Sure...as mnewsham has shown...it can, but keep in mind...if you build it...you'll be the tech support person for everything that happens.
Better to hook him up with Dell.
 
J

JackSpadesSI

Senior member
Jan 13, 2009
636
0
0
mnewsham said:
Its the same thing as intel just cheaper, and if you are looking for an intel setup then you are almost completely SOL in this price area but i will look what i can piece together for you at that price.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

One thing I liked about using Intel was that the GA-G41M-ES2L MOBO has integrated graphics which support DirectX 10 (Intel GMA X4500). The graphics on the AMD board you showed only supported DirectX 9.

It's a real shame that Intel boards don't offer integrated graphics with the i# CPU's!
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
JackSpadesSI said:
Thanks!

One thing I liked about using Intel was that the GA-G41M-ES2L MOBO has integrated graphics which support DirectX 10 (Intel GMA X4500). The graphics on the AMD board you showed only supported DirectX 9.

It's a real shame that Intel boards don't offer integrated graphics with the i# CPU's!
Click to expand...

The 1156 i cpu's with an H55 motherboard have integrated graphics not on the motherboard but on the CPU itself.
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
JackSpadesSI said:
How do I do this? Is just anyone allowed to buy directly from them at bulk pricing?!



That's what I'm afraid of happening!
Click to expand...

No just call up the dell outlet (they are refurbished or returned items that are in fully working order at a discounted price) Ask what they have at your price point sometimes they will cut you a deal as they are paid commission.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,278
14,698
146
JackSpadesSI said:
How do I do this? Is just anyone allowed to buy directly from them at bulk pricing?!



That's what I'm afraid of happening!
Click to expand...

Here ya go:
http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/desktops/ct.aspx?refid=desktops&s=dfh&cs=22

From what you've told us about his computing needs, one of the Inspiron models should do just fine.
I bought one last year for my wife. She loves it. Athlon II processor, 8 Gb RAM, large HDD.

As for your question about tie Intel Core processors and video...SOME of the Intel processors have integrated graphics...some doesn't, but you also have to have a motherboard that will take advantage of that.
AFAIK, these are the only Intel processors that currently have integrated graphics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=&srchInDesc=
 
J

JackSpadesSI

Senior member
Jan 13, 2009
636
0
0
BoomerD said:
Here ya go:
As for your question about tie Intel Core processors and video...SOME of the Intel processors have integrated graphics...some doesn't, but you also have to have a motherboard that will take advantage of that.
AFAIK, these are the only Intel processors that currently have integrated graphics:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...e=&srchInDesc=
Click to expand...

Which motherboards are able to take advantage of the integrated graphics of those CPU's?
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,225
126
JackSpadesSI said:
I was thinking something along the lines of: E5700, GA-G41M-ES2L (integrated graphics), 4GB RAM, 1 TB HDD, 500W PSU, DVD burners (2), and Windows 7 home premium. That meets the budget.
Click to expand...

That would actually be a fine solution. Something like that is what I recommend for clients looking for a budget dual-core system.

For not much more, if you have a Microcenter near you, you can get AMD quad-core X4 chips, with a free or nearly free mobo, and then just pick up some cheap DDR3. Then you would have a quad-core. But if you overclocked the Intel dual-core, it would be just as fast.
 
P

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
I have not used an AMD processor for about 5 years, because AMD pocessors just did not last. I dont trust them. Any processor works on day 1 it is day 5,000 that is most important. Cheap often means junk.

This is just my opinion.
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
piasabird said:
I have not used an AMD processor for about 5 years, because AMD pocessors just did not last. I dont trust them. Any processor works on day 1 it is day 5,000 that is most important. Cheap often means junk.

This is just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Your opinion is wrong. AMD CPU and chipsets are just as reliable as Intel. (maybe even more so in light of the Sandy Bridge fiasco).
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
JackSpadesSI said:
I've found that it isn't always possible to uninstall everything that Best Buy adds to a pre-built system. A complete reformat would remove the OS, too - and buying a new copy of that defeats the purpose of saving money with pre-built.
Click to expand...

You realize that the license key that's on the sticker still works if you reinstall a clean version right?
 
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