Help me build cheap web and school pc

[bargainbtch]

Hi, hoping I can get some feedback and advice from you guys. Here's some background - It's been 9 years since I build my first and only pc but I have done several upgrades in various machines. Right now I have three great laptops and a P.O.S. desktop purchased for $299 three years ago on black friday. It does the job but its slow and crashes time to time. I also have to use external hd for everything since it only has a 30G build in and I don't want to bother upgrading it.

I've decided to build a simple, stable, yet fast computer for web surfing, school (college online classes and MS office programs) and simple things like selling on ebay. I will also use this to centrally store some music and media so a big HD is nice. I want to keep as low as under $500 as possible. I am able to get software from school discounted (XP or Vista and Office suite) so I am not including those in the price. I won't be doing any gaming or anything graphic intense.

Below is some of what I have but I am not sure if that HD is comp with the board.

• Shuttle SN68SG2 Socket AM2 Barebone Computer ($99 a/r @ Frys)

• OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory ($19.49 a/r @ Newegg)

• Western Digital 400GB SATA Internal Hard Drive ($45 a/c @ Staples)

I am thinking of one of the 65 watt AMD Athlon 64 X2. (Not OEM because I want the heatsink to come with) but need suggestions. Since this is not a super machine should I just get a 2.5Ghz or jump to the 2.9Ghz. Will it be that noticeable?

I am going to throw in an inexpensive DVD-R drive when and memory card reader when I can catch them on sale.

I will be using onboard graphics, existing monitor, keyboard, mouse. Am I missing anything vital?

Thanks for your help. Remember, this is not anything exciting, just stable and smooth online and for papers, etc. and I have no deadline on when I need this built by.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: bargainbtch
I've decided to build a simple, stable, yet fast computer for web surfing, school (college online classes and MS office programs) and simple things like selling on ebay. I will also use this to centrally store some music and media so a big HD is nice. I want to keep as low as under $500 as possible. I am able to get software from school discounted (XP or Vista and Office suite) so I am not including those in the price. I won't be doing any gaming or anything graphic intense.

Buy a Dell Vostro 200...
Bump it up to an E7200, 2GB DDR2 and the 500GB HD.
All for under $460! :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[bargainbtch]

Don't want to get into details but I won't ever buy a dell again, I want something stable. If it screws up I want to be liable and not deal with Dell...ever again!

 

[DSF]

Considering your meager system requirements, I would strongly consider something like a sharply discounted Dell or something from Dell Outlet. It's going to be tough to beat their value, especially when their PCs often come with a pretty good display.

 

[bargainbtch]

buying it new takes the fun out of it.

 

[Blain]

Do you want "fun" or a cheap & stable system?

Don't like Dell... Buy an HP Pavilion a6510t...
Upgrade the CPU to an E2200, memory at 2GB and the 500GB HD option.
All for $499! :laugh:

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Add this CPU to your above items and you're good to go.

Also, does that Barebones MB have a DVI port? You might want to pick up a cheap Video card with a DVI port. Thiswould suffice, and free up any RAM the integrated graphics would use.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: DSF
Considering your meager system requirements, I would strongly consider something like a sharply discounted Dell or something from Dell Outlet. It's going to be tough to beat their value, especially when their PCs often come with a pretty good display.

I was typing this before you had responded, for what it's worth.