Help building some cheap computers....

[rcurley55]

Hi there everyone.

Here's my dilemma - a friend and my grandma both need new computers. What they currently own is so old that I wouldn't even consider reusing the parts.

That said, I want to build two rock solid machines that will be used for internet surfing and microsoft word - that it!

So, looks like I need case, board, chip, mem, hard drive. I'd like to go with the most integrated solution for these things, so I was thinking something with integrated video, sound, nic. I have some old sticks of PC133 - if I could re-use those - great, if not, I guess some PC2100 would be enough.

Like I said, all it needs to do is run XP, internet explorer, and ms office.

Suggestions for my uber cheap budget?!?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[kd7fhd]

Dell

cheap and comes with a warranty

 

[rcurley55]

I already recommended this, but I got to go cheaper then the $400 deal they have going now.

Speed is not an issue.

I know frys has a few of the ECS/AMD XP combos going on.

I was thinking of canabalizing my current machine and upgrading.....

What I have now:
AMD XP1800 and ECS board
Dual video cards - GF2 and a 440MX
I have an old 10Gig HDD that is fine for one system.

I could just buy another combo for around 50 bucks that would get me another chip + board - I could give each system 256 MB of ram. Now I just need a second HDD and two cases....

I'd like to do the dell thing, but it just isn't going to happen unless I can't build it....

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

As reliable as my ECS motherboard has been (since some early issues with the BIOS resettingitself), I wouldn't recommend building a system for someone else with one...just WAY too spotty. You probably won't be able to stay much below $400 and not skimp on something and you know that the one thing you skimp on is what's going to cause the problems they have to call you repeatedly over.

Dell. They go for $300 all the time.

 

[kd7fhd]

Too bad they can't handle the price of the Dell. I used to put computers together for family/friends but with the price of computer components being as expensive as they are and the low cost of dell/gateway/e-machine systems, I tell them to go buy a new one.

But, you can try several places on the www for new/oem and used/pulls equipment such as: Surplus Computers or Hi Tech Cafe

Good luck.

 

[zodder]

D-E-L-L

 

[Matthias99]

I (like everyone else) recommend a cheap Dell system, as it will come with tech support for several years.

If you've absolutely gotta do this for the least amount of money possible, the ECS/AXP deal at Fry's is your best bet. The motherboards are crap -- and you asked specifically for 'rock solid', so don't say we didn't warn you -- but they're the cheapest ones available. You can look for a small, cheap used 10-20GB HDD on Ebay or the FS/FT forums here, although again you'll face reliability issues unless you buy a new one with a 3-year warranty (or get a Dell). 256MB of cheap PC2100 RAM is the way to go for memory; you can save money with off-brand chips, but who knows how long they'll last. There are numerous super-cheap PSUs around, but again -- it's a crap shoot as to how long they last.

Basically, you can't do dirt-cheap and guarantee rock-solid at the same time. There's a *reason* those MB/CPU combos only cost $50.

 

[paladiin]

I run Office and surf the net at work on a PII 266Mhz with 256MB of RAM (using it now to write this in fact). *shrug*

Honestly though, they must be upgrading for some reason. What's that reason? Too slow? Software outdated and new software can't run on their system? Those are the exact points to show them, so they realize going with another outdated system will result in the same problem in the not too distant future.

If they still want to go very cheap, I'd recommend getting something that will give them at least some upgrade options down the road. Inexpensive nForce2 motherboards start at under $70 (I found a Biostar M7NCG on pricewatch.com at that price) and would include integrated video (GF4 MX), audio, and network/LAN connection, and would support CPU's as inexpensive as a Duron 1Ghz (under $30) or all the way up to the Barton 3200+ CPU. Again, here you can explain that for $40 ($10 more than the cheapest Duron) they can get a better performing AthlonXP 1700+. Jumps in power from there are only a few dollars a step up ($10 more gets them a 2100+) and so on.

The same goes for memory. They can get inexpensive PC2100 DDR RAM, or spend a little more and get PC3200 RAM which would let them grow in the future (allowing a jump to a 400mhz XP CPU without having to change to DDR400 ram or sacrifice performance by running asyncronously). Newegg sells Corsair 256MB Value memory for about $50 (CAS 2.5). That's a quality part at a good price, and is a good value if you're thinking for the future.

If cost/value is true in the above examples, it's even more so in the world of hard drives. $50 could get you a 20GB hard drive, but with some searching, a 120GB or larger hard drive (which is faster) could be had for only $30-$40 more.

That's the major stuff. You could go cheaper, but in my opinion the large cuts in performance and the lack of planning for the future in doing so is not worth the $50-$100 you would save today.

However, if you really really had to, why not try hitting up Ebay for a used computer? You could probably get something under 1Ghz for about $150-$200.

 

[ponyo]

XP is $100 by itself. That leaves $200 for components. Good luck.

 

[jhu]

if all they're doing is using the internet and some office applications, why not just get an older computer? those things are cheaper than dirt and will do exactly that. if you're lucky you won't even have to pay anything if you're working at a place that's dumping older computer equipment. seriously, everyone wants a new computer but no one can completely justify it based on what they actually use the computer for.

 

[rcurley55]

Thanks for all the comments - they are all very valid.

Basically, I was wanting to see how low I could go and still be reliable.

People metion the ECS combo - mine's been perfect (knocks on wood) since day one. That said, it's the case/hdd that's really killing me - not really the board/chip.

Looks like I'll have to push them into the dell thing - I'm with everyone on the dell situation because, simply put, I don't want them calling me everytime something goes wrong - hell they already do that enough as is.

Thanks everyone....although canabalizing my machine sure would give me a great reason to upgrade

 

[Jojo7]

If you put the computers together yourself, be sure to factor in the cost of the ms office. The price on this software is just outrageous.