Help with PC build for my parents :)

[LyNX31]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
A: Internet browsing, Email, Word processing, Light Multimedia - videos, music, video conferencing. No gaming!

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20%
A: $400 - $500. Also, I live near a Microcenter where CPU's seem generally cheaper.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
A: USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
A: Partial to Intel only cuz last system I built was a core i7 a couple yrs back. Open to AMD if there is good reason behind it =]

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
A: Monitor, (don't need OS either)

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
A: Went over a few threads and Anandtechs holiday pc building guide.. didn't have the time to read through them thoroughly this time around.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
A: Default

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
A: N/A

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
A: ASAP

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
A: Not a problem

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[fffblackmage]

Check the Dell Outlet for a pre-built system. I wouldn't bother with a custom build unless you have a bunch of spare parts already on-hand or something.

 

[BoomerD]

Agreed. For the uses you've described, A basic rig from the Dell Outlet store should do just fine...plus, it comes with a 1 year warranty on all components.

I get "coupon codes" in my email all the time from the Dell Outlet. Usually 15-20% off of desktops. Unfortunately, none that are current at this time.
Go browse around...there are usually some very good deals to be had.

 

[aphelion02]

Mmm, I disagree, for $500 not needing a graphics card you can build a very decent Sandy Bridge rig.

 

[aphelion02]

i5-2400 @ Microcenter for $149.99

Asrock H61M Motherboard

PNY 8GB RAM

Asus HD5450

Samsung Spinpoint F3

Antec Three Hundred

Sony Optiarc DVD Drive

Total: $386.60 + $149.99 -$55MIR = $481.59

Microcenter also has the i5 2500k at $179.99, in the end I decided not to use that integrated graphics because of the 23.97 playback issue. Also went with 8gb of RAM because the mobo only has two slots and lacks upgradability. Plus its $60 for 8gb, quite a good deal.

One advice, I recommend upping your budget by like $40 to get a good case like a Lian Li or a Fractal Design R3; I know thats what my parents would appreciate the most instead of anything inside it.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Thirding Dell Outlet.

Unless you want to throw Linux on it, the cost of OS is gonna hurt with a custom build. (E: I see you said OS didn't matter. Still hard to beat Dell on the low-end.)

You can get an Inspiron 560 with a Pentium dual-core or Inspiron 570 with Athlon II X2 for ~$320. Both processors are faster than what I have in my desktop and I feel no need to upgrade.
(I'd go with the Pentium Dual-core. They look to be around 20% faster than the Athlon II clock for clock)

But if you want... $90 Micro Center bundle with Phenom II X2 560 and Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3 760G. http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...ndlePROMO.html

Then:

So for $300 you have yourself a $320 Dell that you have to assemble yourself and that doesn't come with a legal copy of Windows 7 or warranty.

(fourthing Dell)

 

[Meghan54]

Mmm, I disagree, for $500 not needing a graphics card you can build a very decent Sandy Bridge rig.

i5-2400 @ Microcenter for $149.99

Asrock H61M Motherboard

PNY 8GB RAM

Asus HD5450

Samsung Spinpoint F3

Antec Three Hundred

Sony Optiarc DVD Drive

Total: $386.60 + $149.99 -$55MIR = $481.59

Microcenter also has the i5 2500k at $179.99, in the end I decided not to use that integrated graphics because of the 23.97 playback issue. Also went with 8gb of RAM because the mobo only has two slots and lacks upgradability. Plus its $60 for 8gb, quite a good deal.

One advice, I recommend upping your budget by like $40 to get a good case like a Lian Li or a Fractal Design R3; I know thats what my parents would appreciate the most instead of anything inside it.

That's got to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions for a computer build for a simple internet browsing machine.

There's absolutely no need for a SB machine....did you even read the OP's post? Email, web browsing, streaming video. Heck, even a netbook could handle most of his requirements.....for a desktop, a reasonably fast dual core processor of any vintage from the last couple of years will be more than enough.

Thirding Dell Outlet.

Unless you want to throw Linux on it, the cost of OS is gonna hurt with a custom build. (E: I see you said OS didn't matter. Still hard to beat Dell on the low-end.)

You can get an Inspiron 560 with a Pentium dual-core or Inspiron 570 with Athlon II X2 for ~$320. Both processors are faster than what I have in my desktop and I feel no need to upgrade.
(I'd go with the Pentium Dual-core. They look to be around 20% faster than the Athlon II clock for clock)

But if you want... $90 Micro Center bundle with Phenom II X2 560 and Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2 AM3 760G. http://www.microcenter.com/specials/...ndlePROMO.html

Then:

So for $300 you have yourself a $320 Dell that you have to assemble yourself and that doesn't come with a legal copy of Windows 7 or warranty.

(fourthing Dell)

And this is the best suggestion......includes Windows, warranty, and most importantly, support for the machine that doesn't require the OP to be on constant standby for software/hardware problems.

OP.....just go to Dell's outlet and buy one. Or head over to Microcenter and buy one of their refurb'd desktop machines, and forget trying to outcheap Dell.....you never will be able to do that.

 

[aphelion02]

That's got to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions for a computer build for a simple internet browsing machine.

There's absolutely no need for a SB machine....did you even read the OP's post? Email, web browsing, streaming video. Heck, even a netbook could handle most of his requirements.....for a desktop, a reasonably fast dual core processor of any vintage from the last couple of years will be more than enough.

Just because the average user doesn't "need" anything more doesn't mean they have to be relegated to using crap. Don't you want your parents to feel their computer is "snappy" in the off chance they are, god forbid, making a home video? Or even yourself when you borrow their computer? A self built rig is more upgradeable, and will last longer just by virtue of having better components to begin with.

 

[mvbighead]

Just because the average user doesn't "need" anything more doesn't mean they have to be relegated to using crap. Don't you want your parents to feel their computer is "snappy" in the off chance they are, god forbid, making a home video? Or even yourself when you borrow their computer? A self built rig is more upgradeable, and will last longer just by virtue of having better components to begin with.

I have to agree with aphelion2 here. If the OP has an OS and a monitor, building a comp for 500 bucks sure beats the cheapo Dells any day in my book.

While SB may be over-suited for their tasks, three years down the road it won't be crap. Also, buying a SB or similar from Dell is in the ball park of 700 plus (http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-8300/pd?oc=dxcwmn1&model_id=xps-8300). So throwing one together one that is self built for about 500 is a good idea, IMO. And the fact that his parents already have the OS seals the deal.

 

[DominionSeraph]

While SB may be over-suited for their tasks, three years down the road it won't be crap.

Exactly what revolution in email do you think is going to occur in the next 3 years that'll require more computing power than a 3GHz Pentium Dual-Core?

My X2 5200+ has been going strong since 2006. It has the horsepower to run 1080p with no GPU offload. I can't see needing an upgrade for the next 5 years. The E5700 is a decent bit faster than my 5200+.
My BiL is still running a Barton 3200+ and even it's overkill for web browsing and email.

A SB quad is retarded. You might as well be suggesting a quad Opteron 6174 server because, hurr, extra cores, amiright?

 

[mvbighead]

Exactly what revolution in email do you think is going to occur in the next 3 years that'll require more computing power than a 3GHz Pentium Dual-Core?

My X2 5200+ has been going strong since 2006. It has the horsepower to run 1080p with no GPU offload. I can't see needing an upgrade for the next 5 years. The E5700 is a decent bit faster than my 5200+.
My BiL is still running a Barton 3200+ and even it's overkill for web browsing and email.

A SB quad is retarded. You might as well be suggesting a quad Opteron 6174 server because, hurr, extra cores, amiright?

What evs, buddy. I work in an office where, at one point, the VP was trying to phase out the 3-4 year life cycles that were in place and just retain older hardware. Low and behold, the corporate office purchased McAfee which completely decimated the older hardware. And my boss basically gave the VP an "I told you so" speech.

Point being, as time goes on, the standards change. 480p content becomes 720p, which then becomes 1080p. 56k becomes 1.5Mbps, which then become 15Mbps, which then becomes 30Mbps. VHS becomes DVD, which then becomes BluRay. And on and on the list goes. With each advancement, more and more horsepower becomes a very useful asset in a computer.

Do they need a quad core? No, probably not. But if they're looking to spend 500, and one can be had for 500... why not?

Your point about an Opteron server is retarded my friend, as we are not talking about the difference of a 500 dollar Sandy Bridge system vs a 1500 server. We're simply debating the difference of a current generation processor for a 100 or so more than an older dual core. And a custom built system vs. the el cheapo Dell.

And, don't get me wrong, I am not saying the Dell is bad. Just that with an OS in hand, and a monitor as well, building your own isn't a bad idea. Heck, I just recently helped my mom buy a Dell because she didn't have an authentic version of windows or a good monitor. Point being, by salvaging what he already has (which is simply software and a monitor), he can invest a little more in quality stuff that will run a little smoother.

 

[dbcooper1]

The majority of machines like this get replaced for reasons that have nothing to do with hardware- they get malware, bloatware, etc. downloaded and degrade over time to the point they just want to start over with a new system. I've seen them last long enough that it's just not worth the money to repair if they do have a problem. Just get the Dell of the day and move on.

 

[Meghan54]

Just because the average user doesn't "need" anything more doesn't mean they have to be relegated to using crap. Don't you want your parents to feel their computer is "snappy" in the off chance they are, god forbid, making a home video? Or even yourself when you borrow their computer? A self built rig is more upgradeable, and will last longer just by virtue of having better components to begin with.

Bullshit. Pure and utter crap.

The brand has nothing to do with the system feeling "snappy."

And a current dual core Pentium build, without bloatware, crapware, is quite "snappy" and works on home videos very well (he takes many, many at dog shows and edits them quite easily on this machine with no complaints). This is a system my father-in-law has......Pentium dual core, 2GB memory, smallish hard drive.....all Dell, all working very well for the last year.

Bought it off Dell outlet. Had a PCI-e slot that was filled with a low-mid range video card. Other than that, it has an Intel motherboard, standard power supply, standard 7200 rpm hard drive, etc., etc.

But the only thing most "enthusiasts" say when asked about Dell is "It's junk", which is funny because the vast majority of those same "enthusiasts" have never owned one, just parroting what they've heard.

Not a big fan of Dell's laptops, but their desktops, while bog standard and not exciting, are dependable and solidly built and are perfect for the OP's target audience.

I just wish people would quit judging everyone else's needs by their own personal needs and wants. Not everyone will every need a SB cpu nor 16GB of RAM nor a 1TB hard drive. In fact, the vast majority of users will be well served with a "slow" dual core processor for the next decade, software excepted. How else do you explain the sudden and rapid increase in popularity of tablets? Those certainly don't have much horsepower in the cpu nor gpu areas, yet millions are sold and the majority of users seem quite happy with them.....to the point the tablets are starting to seriously displace other computing forms.

Desktops are a dying breed, laptops are the next form factor to shrink......as tablets get more powerful, the typical consumer will gravitate towards them in increasing numbers, to the point that desktops become an afterthought or for geeks only. Laptops will take longer to die off in popularity, but they, too, will suffer the same fate as tablets get more sophisticated and powerful.....and better with their ergonomics.

 

[Slugbait]

i5-2400 @ Microcenter for $149.99

Asrock H61M Motherboard

PNY 8GB RAM

Asus HD5450

Samsung Spinpoint F3

Antec Three Hundred

Sony Optiarc DVD Drive

Total: $386.60 + $149.99 -$55MIR = $481.59

Microcenter also has the i5 2500k at $179.99, in the end I decided not to use that integrated graphics because of the 23.97 playback issue. Also went with 8gb of RAM because the mobo only has two slots and lacks upgradability. Plus its $60 for 8gb, quite a good deal.

One advice, I recommend upping your budget by like $40 to get a good case like a Lian Li or a Fractal Design R3; I know thats what my parents would appreciate the most instead of anything inside it.

So...other than a Linux distro, where are you going to find an OS for less than $19 after s/h and tax?

KISS, parents always get a Dell. Pay attention to TechBargains, they shill Dell deals all the time.

 

[LyNX31]

thanks for the options and discussions guys! i appreciate all the input. Looks like the dell outlet option is tough to beat.. currently looking at the Inspiron 580 for $460 (will be bonus if i'm able to knock off more with a federal discount).

Inspiron 580

Processor: Intel Core i3 550 (3.2GHz, 4M Cache, 2C/4T)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
Inspiron Desktop 580 MiniTower
750 GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM)
6 GB DDR3 ECC SDRAM 1333MHz (3 DIMMs)
16X DVD +/- RW Optical Drive

 

[aphelion02]

So...other than a Linux distro, where are you going to find an OS for less than $19 after s/h and tax?

KISS, parents always get a Dell. Pay attention to TechBargains, they shill Dell deals all the time.

Learn to read, OP already has monitor+OS.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

$500 budget max with the monitor and OS already on hand? Damn, drop $250-300 on a dirt cheap budget build and spend the remaining $250-200 taking them on a weekend road trip. They'll appreciate that a helluva lot more than a Sandy Bridge quad given what they use their computer for.

 

[Slugbait]

Learn to read, OP already has monitor+OS.

Thanks for the correction...but I simply missed it, you could have pointed it out without the first three words.

But I digress...doesn't matter. Parents get a Dell. Nobody on this board has ever screwed themselves over when following that advice.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Point being, as time goes on, the standards change. 480p content becomes 720p, which then becomes 1080p. 56k becomes 1.5Mbps, which then become 15Mbps, which then becomes 30Mbps. VHS becomes DVD, which then becomes BluRay. And on and on the list goes. With each advancement, more and more horsepower becomes a very useful asset in a computer.

Sure, standards change, but that does not mean that needs and usage change to match. My parents are not even interested in 480p. Who cares if their system can't handle 1080p? Hell they run a 28" native 1920x1200 monitor at 1280x800 because they're nearsighted. Sure, they benefited from moving from dial up to DSL, but how long have ethernet jacks been integrated into the absolute least expensive motherboards? 8 years? 10 years? Blu-ray is the same. My parents don't use their computer as an HTPC. When pops wants to watch Resident Evil 8 in a few years, he'll go downstairs and watch it on his home theater that has a Blu-ray player hooked up to it.

I've been arguing this point on the forums and in my guides - build to needs, not to budgets. Many people, like a poster in this thread, have such skewed ideas about what hardware is necessary to perform what tasks, it's simply mind-boggling. PC hardware improves so much faster than software and most users' needs that for most people, it makes far more economic and performance sense to buy a $400 computer every two or three (or more) years than it does to buy a $800 computer every four to six years, if you are willing to spend the time it takes to do your research and build the systems.

 

[Zap]

LyNX31, is the OS you already have Windows 7?

Here's my 2¢...

Is a Sandy Bridge rig "too much computer" for just a web browsing media consuming machine? Well, it depends. There is overkill, and there is OVERKILL.

Example of OVERKILL

Uh, yeah, the guy's stepmom wanted to do Netflix, web browsing, word processing. The guy ended up with a $1650 computer. He edited out what he was getting, but it basically was an AMD hex core with a gaming graphics card in a big tower case. Now THAT is OVERKILL.

A $500 Sandy Bridge setup? IMO that is barely enough to qualify for overkill status. Sure, it is overkill, but how much cheaper can you make a system? $300 is near the minimum for something that isn't crappy. Also, just because someone's needs aren't very stringent doesn't mean it isn't nice to have something "better."

The other thing is you can't underestimate that "snappy" feeling especially for non-techies. My standard example (which is a completely true story) is that my mom used to call me up because her computer would be non-responsive. Turns out when something didn't happen right away she would click on it again, and again, and again. Of course a forced reboot always fixed the problem, but the true solution was upgrading her to a Pentium G 9650 (socket 1156 basically a lower end Core i3) with a 40GB SSD. It was reasonably inexpensive to build but it was really snappy and made a world of difference to her user experience.

Here's my try at suggesting a $500 build that doesn't need OS/monitor. This is counting currently available deals and rebates, and not counting shipping or tax.

Core i3 2100 $100+tax @Micro Center

G.Skill 4GB dual channel kit $40 @Newegg

MSI H67 chipset motherboard $80 after rebate + tax @Micro Center

cheap DVD writer $20

cheap 60-64GB SSD $100 (Micro Center has Adata or house brand at those prices, Newegg is out of stock but had Crucial C300 for that price after coupon)

slim case $50 after rebate @Newegg with free shipping

$45 PSU to replace failure in the case

Nexus 80mm fan $10 if stock case fan too noisy

~~~ $445 after rebates, plus couple bucks shipping and tax

This setup will be small and quiet (especially with Nexus exhaust fan, FSP PSU and CPU fan regulated by BIOS). It will also be smoking fast for the described tasks. Added bonus is that it will likely draw in the 30W range during use.

Alternately, how about this $400 Dell (maybe lower at Outlet).
Dell Inspiron Zino HD $399.99
Athlon II x2 CPU
4GB RAM
1TB 7200RPM HDD
integrated Radeon 4250
optical drive, WiFi, etc.

 

[mvbighead]

Sure, standards change, but that does not mean that needs and usage change to match. My parents are not even interested in 480p. Who cares if their system can't handle 1080p? Hell they run a 28" native 1920x1200 monitor at 1280x800 because they're nearsighted. Sure, they benefited from moving from dial up to DSL, but how long have ethernet jacks been integrated into the absolute least expensive motherboards? 8 years? 10 years? Blu-ray is the same. My parents don't use their computer as an HTPC. When pops wants to watch Resident Evil 8 in a few years, he'll go downstairs and watch it on his home theater that has a Blu-ray player hooked up to it.

I've been arguing this point on the forums and in my guides - build to needs, not to budgets. Many people, like a poster in this thread, have such skewed ideas about what hardware is necessary to perform what tasks, it's simply mind-boggling. PC hardware improves so much faster than software and most users' needs that for most people, it makes far more economic and performance sense to buy a $400 computer every two or three (or more) years than it does to buy a $800 computer every four to six years, if you are willing to spend the time it takes to do your research and build the systems.

The point is, in all facets, technology changes. In the computer arena, things progress. As such, standards for applications increase. So when mom and dad want to start editing photos with Photo Shop, or whatever they stumble upon that they want to do... a better set of hardware will do the job quicker, leaving them time to do other things.

I'd say Zap did a pretty good job of spelling that one out. It might be overkill, but a difference of a few bucks is worth bickering over? Really?

And while a Dell would certainly suffice, the point is that with OS in hand already, you can most likely set something up that will be completely clean and ready to roll, with better hardware (i5 vs i3, etc). No trial Antivirus crap to remove, no trial office software. Further, by building it by hand, 3-4 years down the road when the board or PSU pops, you can hit up ebay or Newegg or whatever and buy a standard part to replace it with. If your Dell board dies, you better hope they've been stockpiled somewhere for you to buy at a reasonable 100 bucks for a base model board that might actually be worth $50, as usually the cases have a custom pin out for the power/reset switches, and they often have a non standard board layout so using a standard micro atx board isn't an option.

 

[aphelion02]

^^This is exactly what I mean. I especially like the inclusion of an SSD; I considered it but didn't want to sacrifice a lot of storage.

People are acting like I'm some sort of jaded idiot because I was able to squeeze in a good system for very little money. I didn't put together a $1000 system. The $480 system is barely more expensive than a cheapo Dell, it just happens to have much better components. Believe it or not, even non-techies notice the speed in general usage.

There is a difference between running tasks with the bare minimum hardware and running on a good computer. Why do you think people rave so much about the iphone and ipad? Its because its smooth, and generally feels fast and not laggy. This user experience is important for anyone, not just hardware enthusiasts.

@Slugbait: I'm sorry for being rude, I was feeling a little defensive and interpreted your post the wrong way.

Edit: As for the argument that 'parents' don't need 480p....wow. I can't believe the level of elitism in that post. You think people don't appreciate watching movies at 1080p just because they are not tech geeks? They have eyes too, you know.

 

[LyNX31]

hey zap, yes the OS is windows 7. thanks for doing the research and offering those alternatives. price def sounds reasonable.

 

[aphelion02]

If you swap the HDD out for a cheap SSD in my original build, its about the same price too. And there you get a quad-core and 8gb ram.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Lo and behold, the corporate office purchased McAfee which completely decimated the older hardware.

The horribleness of McAfee is no argument that everyone needs a 980X.

You want bad? Try Neverwinter Nights 2 v1.0. I would bet that that on max settings would be unplayable on a dual W5680 with tri-GTX 580's. That doesn't mean that if OP's criteria was, "Playing older games (2006-)" that I'd be inclined to spec him such a system.

Point being, as time goes on, the standards change. 480p content becomes 720p, which then becomes 1080p.

Which just brought movies up to the resolutions that computers have been at for 15 years.
You're on crack if you think we're going to 4000+p anytime soon. There's a thing called "sufficiency." It tends to slow progress down.

The P4 has had ridiculous legs for a reason, and it's not because it's a particularly good processor. We simply hit a plateau where that level of processing was good enough. And it's stayed largely good enough because programmers are still programming with that huge market in mind.
A P4/1GB in the Sandy Bridge/4GB days is not like a 386/1MB in the PII/128MB days. And a 3GHz Pentium Dual-Core/4GB rig will put them WELL above the P4 level.

Do they need a quad core? No, probably not. But if they're looking to spend 500, and one can be had for 500... why not?

Because the money would be better put towards the upgrade that they'll need 10 years from now for SATA 1000Gb/s to run the 30th generation SSD's and USB 9.0 to run their peripherals rather than buying into a more expensive dead socket now just to purchase processing power they'll never use.

They output to a monitor... you gonna spec them a GTX 590 for that?

All they need is a Dell. Spending 50% more for a gaming processor is an unneeded expense.