My Dad Is Dumb AND I Need Cheap Computer Parts

[Dedpuhl]

My dad moved away a month ago. I live in Louisiana and he lives in Florida now. The other day, he calls me and says that the computer I built for him is fried. He brought it to some computer place and they said it was the mobo.

So instead of getting this tech place to replace it or do something, he freakin? mails the computer to me. When I pick up the package, I hear a bunch of clanking. I open it and the alpha heatsink popped off the processor. Luckily, I didn?t see any damage.

I haven?t tested the system yet, but I did think of something. His birthday is coming up and I thought I?d do something nice. Instead of sending the crappy computer back to him, I decided that I would build him another computer.

Now, I need this to be as cheap as possible. I blew a lot of my ?extra? money on my last computer and the rest of my cash goes to bills. I want to build something that I have no intention of overclocking and something that can play some games (He plays all the command and conquer games and other games of that type).

++UPDATE++


I ended up just getting a Duron 1.3GHZ RTL and a ECS K7S5A Pro.

It seems to me that this Duron is slower than the Pentium 3 700 machine with most of the same parts.


New system specs:

Proc: Duron 1300
Mobo: ECS K7S5A Pro
RAM: 384 MB Crucial pc133
video: Geforce 2 MX200
HD: 20.5 gb Western Digital 7200 RPM
CD-Rom: Plextor 12/10/32A
El Cheapo case
Onboard LAN/Audio

Wonder if this can handle his CC games...

 

[vi edit]

FS/T forum?

 

[Dedpuhl]

I thought about that, but I'd rather get retail items w/ warranties. Knowing my dad, something is bound to go wrong....

 

[vi edit]

I don't know what kind of budget you have,

But I just bought this system for my parents from dell outlet for $290:

Dell Dimension 2400 w/ P4 2.2gig, 256 RAM, 40 gig HD, 48x CDROM & 24x CDRW, speakers, keyboard, mouse w/ scrolly wheel, XP home & extra software that Dell throws in.

Not a bad little machine.

 

[styrafoam]

If you are going to use the pc133 get a k7s5a-pro from Newegg and whatever processor fits your budget. I know you said you want a warranty, but the refurbs go for $29 if you are daring.

 

[Eli]

Er, you'd be stupid not to get him an nForce2 board. That way you don't have to worry about the addon cards, and you can spend some of the saved money on some new memory.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I don't know what kind of budget you have,

But I just bought this system for my parents from dell outlet for $290:

Dell Dimension 2400 w/ P4 2.2gig, 256 RAM, 40 gig HD, 48x CDROM & 24x CDRW, speakers, keyboard, mouse w/ scrolly wheel, XP home & extra software that Dell throws in.

Not a bad little machine.

next time he can have Dell take care of it.

 

[Goosemaster]

You even could put in a 486 setup in this case and he would still think it's awesome.


{Aluminum}Wavemaster

I say get a nice Shuttle MOBO and at most an 1800XP+

 

[PanzerIV]

I would ditch the PC133 and go with:

1) Newegg - An Asus A7N266-VM AA for $63.99 (32MB integrated GeForce2) and pick up at least a 256MB stick of PC2100
2) A Epox 8RGA (integrated GeForce4) and minimum PC2700 256MB RAM for about $105.00
3) Shuttle MN31N (integrated GeForce4) for $74.99 after mail in rebate on Newegg with min. 256MB RAM again

CPU:

XP 2100 Retail $68.00 Newegg

Case:

Many inexpensive cases to choose from at Newegg

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: PanzerIV
I would ditch the PC133 and go with:

1) Newegg - An Asus A7N266-VM AA for $63.99 (32MB integrated GeForce2) and pick up at least a 256MB stick of PC2100
2) A Epox 8RGA (integrated GeForce4) and minimum PC2700 256MB RAM for about $105.00
3) Shuttle MN31N (integrated GeForce4) for $74.99 after mail in rebate on Newegg with min. 256MB RAM again

CPU:

XP 2100 Retail $68.00 Newegg

Case:

Many inexpensive cases to choose from at Newegg

Agreed.

 

[BigFatCow]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=1176174

id get that, then get him at least 256 of 2100, his video card isnt too bad, and then get a cheap case from a local store so you dont have to pay shipping.

 

[Ornery]

Dimension 2400 2.4GHz 40GB $319

• Last day. Simply select the "No Monitor" configuration to bring the price to $419 - $100 rebate = $319 with free shipping.
  
  • Celeron 2.4GHz, 128MB DDR, 40GB, 48x CDROM, 48x24x48 CDRW, XP Home
    
  • Dell Keyboard/Mouse, Integrated Audio/Video, ADA215 Speakers, 10/100 + 56k

Don't dick around. Just configure this, and have it shipped straight to his house.

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Dimension 2400 2.4GHz 40GB $319

• Last day. Simply select the "No Monitor" configuration to bring the price to $419 - $100 rebate = $319 with free shipping.
  
  • Celeron 2.4GHz, 128MB DDR, 40GB, 48x CDROM, 48x24x48 CDRW, XP Home
    
  • Dell Keyboard/Mouse, Integrated Audio/Video, ADA215 Speakers, 10/100 + 56k

Don't dick around. Just configure this, and have it shipped straight to his house.

thats a good deal, but i would definatly add more ram, that system will run so slow with only 128mb.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Dimension 2400 2.4GHz 40GB $319

• Last day. Simply select the "No Monitor" configuration to bring the price to $419 - $100 rebate = $319 with free shipping.
  
  • Celeron 2.4GHz, 128MB DDR, 40GB, 48x CDROM, 48x24x48 CDRW, XP Home
    
  • Dell Keyboard/Mouse, Integrated Audio/Video, ADA215 Speakers, 10/100 + 56k

Don't dick around. Just configure this, and have it shipped straight to his house.

That's cheap!!!

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: BigFatCow

Originally posted by: Ornery
Dimension 2400 2.4GHz 40GB $319

• Last day. Simply select the "No Monitor" configuration to bring the price to $419 - $100 rebate = $319 with free shipping.
  
  • Celeron 2.4GHz, 128MB DDR, 40GB, 48x CDROM, 48x24x48 CDRW, XP Home
    
  • Dell Keyboard/Mouse, Integrated Audio/Video, ADA215 Speakers, 10/100 + 56k

Don't dick around. Just configure this, and have it shipped straight to his house.

thats a good deal, but i would definatly add more ram, that system will run so slow with only 128mb.

It's not a damn "h@rdc0r3 L33tx0r gaming machine" - it's for his dad.

Dude, get him a Dell.

- M4H

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: BigFatCow

Originally posted by: Ornery
Dimension 2400 2.4GHz 40GB $319

• Last day. Simply select the "No Monitor" configuration to bring the price to $419 - $100 rebate = $319 with free shipping.
  
  • Celeron 2.4GHz, 128MB DDR, 40GB, 48x CDROM, 48x24x48 CDRW, XP Home
    
  • Dell Keyboard/Mouse, Integrated Audio/Video, ADA215 Speakers, 10/100 + 56k

Don't dick around. Just configure this, and have it shipped straight to his house.

thats a good deal, but i would definatly add more ram, that system will run so slow with only 128mb.

It's not a damn "h@rdc0r3 L33tx0r gaming machine" - it's for his dad.

That Dell's not a bad idea for a non-gaming dad, but it still should have 256 MB, or better yet, 512 MB. A few Explorer windows, a Weatherbug , and a little multi-tasking action in Office XP/2003 will choke up 128 MB in a hurry.

 

[Ornery]

Only four and one half hours left to order the damn thing...

 

[Dedpuhl]

I just walked in the door. I'm going to look at the Dell and see what's up. Thanks for all the info.

 

[Dedpuhl]

You think that machine will play C&C Generals ok?

 

[Ornery]

Min System Requirements:

• -Win98/WinME/Win2000/Windows XP
  -(WinNT/Win95 not supported)
  -800 MHz PentiumIII or AMD Athlon processor
  -128 MB RAM
  -8x CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive
  -1.8 GB free hard disk space
  -32 MB video card using the Nvidia GeForce2, ATI Radeon 7500 AGP video card, with DirectX 8.1 compatible driver
  -DirectX 8.1 compatible 16-bit sound card
  -Keyboard
  -Mouse

I'd have to say no.

 

[Dedpuhl]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Min System Requirements:

• -Win98/WinME/Win2000/Windows XP
  -(WinNT/Win95 not supported)
  -800 MHz PentiumIII or AMD Athlon processor
  -128 MB RAM
  -8x CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive
  -1.8 GB free hard disk space
  -32 MB video card using the Nvidia GeForce2, ATI Radeon 7500 AGP video card, with DirectX 8.1 compatible driver
  -DirectX 8.1 compatible 16-bit sound card
  -Keyboard
  -Mouse

I'd have to say no.

oops. Damnit. Why do I have to have the senior citizen dad that plays video games!!

 

[Ornery]

• PNY Verto GeForce2 MX400-PCI Graphics card $55.00
  
  JATON Nvidia Geforce2 MX400 - PCI 32MB $38.00
  
  GeForce2 MX400 PCI 64MB SDR nVidia GeForce2 $60.00

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: BigFatCow

Originally posted by: Ornery
Dimension 2400 2.4GHz 40GB $319

• Last day. Simply select the "No Monitor" configuration to bring the price to $419 - $100 rebate = $319 with free shipping.
  
  • Celeron 2.4GHz, 128MB DDR, 40GB, 48x CDROM, 48x24x48 CDRW, XP Home
    
  • Dell Keyboard/Mouse, Integrated Audio/Video, ADA215 Speakers, 10/100 + 56k

Don't dick around. Just configure this, and have it shipped straight to his house.

thats a good deal, but i would definatly add more ram, that system will run so slow with only 128mb.

It's not a damn "h@rdc0r3 L33tx0r gaming machine" - it's for his dad.

Dude, get him a Dell.

- M4H

thats true, but windows xp will suck up ram so fast that i would highly recommend at least 256mb.

 

[Dedpuhl]

++UPDATE++


I ended up just getting a Duron 1.3GHZ RTL and a ECS K7S5A Pro.

It seems to me that this Duron is slower than the Pentium 3 700 machine with most of the same parts.


New system specs:

Proc: Duron 1300
Mobo: ECS K7S5A Pro
RAM: 384 MB Crucial pc133
video: Geforce 2 MX200
HD: 20.5 gb Western Digital 7200 RPM
CD-Rom: Plextor 12/10/32A
El Cheapo case
Onboard LAN/Audio

Wonder if this can handle his CC games...

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: Ornery

• PNY Verto GeForce2 MX400-PCI Graphics card $55.00
  
  JATON Nvidia Geforce2 MX400 - PCI 32MB $38.00
  
  GeForce2 MX400 PCI 64MB SDR nVidia GeForce2 $60.00

Not even worth the cost. Pick up a Geforce3 for $50, or pick up a Geforce4Ti4200 for $75 or something. Easily found in the FS/T forum. I bought my GF3 Ti200 for $64 shipped, 18 months ago! (Killer Deal at the time).