Cheapest Computer

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Frew

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2004
2,550
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Originally posted by: nick1985
Mobo $63


i recommend this mobo for the onboard graphics and LAN. :thumbsup:
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Great! Now what cpu do you think I should throw in there?
 
M

Mik3y

Banned
Mar 2, 2004
7,089
0
0
Originally posted by: LeadFrog
My grandma wants a computer. She will only do email, solitare, and news on the internet. I was thinking somthing with onboard lan, video, sound and basicaly as much as will fit. Processor I am going to say AMD because of price. I want to keep this as cheap as possible. ANY advide will be appreciated.
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do you have a fry's anywhere nearby? they often have killer cpu/motherboard combos for really cheap.
 
F

Frew

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2004
2,550
1
71
Originally posted by: Mik3y
Originally posted by: LeadFrog
My grandma wants a computer. She will only do email, solitare, and news on the internet. I was thinking somthing with onboard lan, video, sound and basicaly as much as will fit. Processor I am going to say AMD because of price. I want to keep this as cheap as possible. ANY advide will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

do you have a fry's anywhere nearby? they often have killer cpu/motherboard combos for really cheap.
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No fry's. Closest we have is a Best Buy across town.
 
I

iwantanewcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2004
5,045
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0
128x2 might be pushing it for windows xp, but the apps won't take much anything more
anybody know if these mobos/cpus support dual channel? cause then it would be worth it to get 2 sticks
 
D

dc5

Senior member
Jul 10, 2004
791
0
0
it says it supports dual channel, but you dont really get that much of an improvement on amd cpus compared to intel.
 
D

dc5

Senior member
Jul 10, 2004
791
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0
Originally posted by: LeadFrog
So if I go only 256 ram do you recommend windows 2000?
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no, go with xp. you'll have longer support. like i said, 256mb is enough for basic computing needs. your grandma probably won't be able to tell the difference if she had 512mb or 256mb.
 
L

LouPoir

Lifer
Mar 17, 2000
11,201
126
106
Originally posted by: LeadFrog
My grandma wants a computer. She will only do email, solitare, and news on the internet. I was thinking somthing with onboard lan, video, sound and basicaly as much as will fit. Processor I am going to say AMD because of price. I want to keep this as cheap as possible. ANY advide will be appreciated.

So far I got this...

AMD XP 2000+
Biostar M7NCG
256mb Corsair Value
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The Biostar is a great value board - Can't beat it for price.

Go with 256 DDR memory and WinXP.

SHould be a decent value system

Buy yourself a used processor here. You can get a 2500/2600 for the price of a nwe 2000XP.

Lou
 
F

Frew

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2004
2,550
1
71
Case, Now. Cheap good case, I perfer with good P/S. No bling, just a good classy, inexpensive case.
 
mechBgon

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
1
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FYI, Win2000 Professional has longer support at Windows Update than WindowsXP Home Edition does, and WinXP Professional is the longest of all (ending Dec 31 2008). I can also vouch for Win2000Pro doing pretty well on 192MB of RAM, so a single 256MB module would be pretty good.

Whatever you do, set up Gramma with a Limited user account so that if she gets bamboozled into trying to install a piece of software that she shouldn't, it will be thwarted. Those advertisements purporting that :QOMGYOURCOMPUTERMIGHTHAVEPR0NONIT!!!1!!1one! or so forth, you know what I mean. I also made a list of other preventive measures here under the Ongoing prevention header halfway down.
 
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dc5

Senior member
Jul 10, 2004
791
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0
you won't have heat issues with the components your building with. the PSU can act as an exhaust fan.
 
F

Frew

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2004
2,550
1
71
aww. Now for the Hard Drive. She probally wont install much, If anything.So should I get a small 7200rpm hard drive. Would it matter if it has only 2mb buffer?
 
F

Frew

Platinum Member
Jul 21, 2004
2,550
1
71
Originally posted by: mechBgon
FYI, Win2000 Professional has longer support at Windows Update than WindowsXP Home Edition does, and WinXP Professional is the longest of all (ending Dec 31 2008). I can also vouch for Win2000Pro doing pretty well on 192MB of RAM, so a single 256MB module would be pretty good.

Whatever you do, set up Gramma with a Limited user account so that if she gets bamboozled into trying to install a piece of software that she shouldn't, it will be thwarted. Those advertisements purporting that :QOMGYOURCOMPUTERMIGHTHAVEPR0NONIT!!!1!!1one! or so forth, you know what I mean. I also made a list of other preventive measures here under the Ongoing prevention header halfway down.
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Windows 2000 is more expensive isn't it?

Yea, I will be sure to inform her on the "evil dooers."
 
D

dc5

Senior member
Jul 10, 2004
791
0
0
western digital 40gb 7200 will be more than enough, 2mb buffer will not matter for your grandma

yes, 2000 pro is more expensive than xp home, however, she won't use any of the features that the pro version of windows have anyway. xp home will suit her needs.
 
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