Inexpensive rig for Newbie sister

[Yerdy]

This will be my sister's first computer and I am gonna build it for her for christmas. I built myself an Athlon/Abit KA7 several months ago but don't want to spend that much and my sister doesn't need to overclock. Should I go with a Duron? If so, what's a very stable board for that chip? She will use the computer for e-mail web-surfing, and her kids will be doing some gaming. Celeron suggestions are welcome but will not be counted in the final vote

 

[jfall]

CPU: Duron 700
Motherboard: MSI K7V Pro
Ram: 65/128 pc133
Soundcard: Sb Live Value
Video Card: ATI Rage

etc.. you can get a lot of good parts at great prices these days, the duron/msi combo would definitally be the way to go for a value system!

 

[Dark4ng3l]

a few corections
CPU: Duron 700
Motherboard: MSI k7t Pro
Ram: 64/128 pc133
Soundcard: Sb Live Value
Video Card: ATI Rage


As for the video card I would buy a cheap voodoo 3 2k(if she's interested in doing some ocasional gaming) or a g450(for the 2d quality).

 

[Howard]

We need to know your price range...

A Duron 600 will be plenty fast for all types of desktop use and 3D performance (excepting hardcore gamers).

If you're not going to overclock, get the MSI K7T Pro now, or the MSI K7T Pro2 a few weeks later.

128MB RAM should be fine, but buy fast, because prices are going up again.

Any cheapo sound card will do, as you didn't indicate that your sister liked music. If so, get a Live! Value.

Her kids will probably be happy with FPS above 30... Get a TNT2 32MB/GF2 MX/Radeon 32MB SDR. All three of those would serve well.

20GB of storage should be plenty, and I don't think a case needs any special consideration, for somebody like her.

 

[mindiris]

I'd like to modify the suggestion a bit:

128MB of ram. Period. Skimp on the Duron CPU if necessary to offset costs. I assume she doesn't need blazing game performance for her kids, so 128MB will almost always help overall system performance, especially if the HD is not probably not going to be anything high end like a 7200RPM 4MB cache monster.

If gaming is going to be a more than small thing and the budget can be raised a bit, the GF2 MX is my current pick. If I remember right, the cheapest ones go for around $100. Otherwise, the ATI/V3 2K suggestion is fine.

Yerdy, a better answer can be made if you can specify what needs to be purchased, and what is your budget.


CPU: Duron 700
Motherboard: MSI k7t Pro
Ram: 64/128 pc133
Soundcard: Sb Live Value
Video Card: ATI Rage

 

[LXi]

Whats the budget? I agree with many of the proposals here, a Duron and an MSI board.

 

[Ulysses]

Have you checked AnandTech's latest Value Systems recommendations?

 

[Yerdy]

Thanks for the help! I want to keep it as close to $500 as possible without monitor.

 

[LXi]

Duron 600 $46
MSI K7T Pro $98
Kingmax PC150 128MB $90
Maxtor DiamondMax 40 15GB $100
GeForce2 MX $90
SB Live! value $50
Case $50
Keyboard, Mouse, Floppy $50

~$574, thats a bit over your budget.

 

[Howard]

Duron 600 - $60
MSI K7T Pro2 - $130
128M PC100 SDRAM - $70
SoundBlaster Live! Value - $60
TNT2 32MB - $80
NIC/Winmodem - $30
Case and PS - $30
15GB 5400RPM HD - $100

 

[BlueAngel]

Why do you two have different prices for the parts? duron, ram, and motherboard, where do you guys base your prices on? or was htis off your head

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

EP-8KTA+ ($110) onboard sound(great board using one now)
duron 600 ($60)
fan ($20)
128mb pc133 ram ($65)generic
pick up a small case with at least 230W from Comp or Fryes ($50)
floppy ($10)
cd-rom find one on sale in local store ($25-$50 after rebates)
maxtor 13.6gb HDD ($93)
voodoo 3 3000 ($70)
Keyboard and mouse from local store ($20)
modem ($15)


This is for every part that U need. unlike the others this includes cd-rom, floppy,modem, keyboard and mouse.
Let you sis buy speakers
total of $543.
prices include shipping

 

[LXi]

BlueAngel:

Hits off my head? My prices are all from pricewatch.