My I.T. teacher needs some help picking out a barebones kit

[JoeFahey]

After we got all of our work done, he gave us a fun little in class assignment to look for some cheap barebones kits. The computers we use in there for the class are about as slow as it gets. He needs to submit a bunch of prices on different kits he finds online to the board to get it approved. I wanted to see if I could give him something good, but I am gaving trouble finding something for a cheap price that fits his specs. The parameters are:
-under $250
-has to come with atleast 512 MB of RAM
-Dual core CPU
-comes with case and mobo

This is for a barebones kit as I mentioned. The cheaper the better. He is fairly flexible, and is looking for something cheap. Any suggestions?

THANKS!

 

[jpeyton]

If you want the cheapest possible solution:

Pentium D 820 CPU ~$100
LGA 775 mATX Motherboard W/ Built-In Video/Audio/LAN ~$50
2x256MB PC2-3200 ~$30
mATX Case W/ PSU ~$40

A more robust solution would be a Athlon 64 X2 3800+ with a S939 mATX Motherboard, but that would be right around your $250 limit.

Most parts you can get new, but I suggest buying the memory used (eBay), since 256MB DDR2 modules are cheap as dirt on there.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Ha! Ha! good one!

Might be possible with a single core CPU, ain't happening with a dual core

 

[Bobthelost]

What IT student needs a dual core CPU? Your IT teacher needs more than some help picking parts out.

 

[JoeFahey]

well, he said dual core, but he isn't too up to date on his information. So ill probably just have to convince him to settle for a single core.
But any suggestions on a single core then?

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Ha! Ha! good one!

Might be possible with a single core CPU, ain't happening with a dual core

I know it's not possible for everyone, but if you live close to a Fry's Electronics (like I do), you can build a $250 barebones with those specs almost every weekend.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
well, he said dual core, but he isn't too up to date on his information. So ill probably just have to convince him to settle for a single core.
But any suggestions on a single core then?

i would get out of his class....

 

[JoeFahey]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
well, he said dual core, but he isn't too up to date on his information. So ill probably just have to convince him to settle for a single core.
But any suggestions on a single core then?

i would get out of his class....

The part I love about it that he know a ton about the older stuff. He grew up during the evolution of it all, and he has great info to share about legacy parts. He is very knowledgable about computers too. He just isn't completely informed on newer stuff I think. But thats alright, cause I am.

EDIT: Oh, and he is a 6th degree black belt, so you might want to watch out!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Ha! Ha! good one!

Might be possible with a single core CPU, ain't happening with a dual core

I know it's not possible for everyone, but if you live close to a Fry's Electronics (like I do), you can build a $250 barebones with those specs almost every weekend.

I agree Fry's sometimes have great deals on mobo/cpu combo's, but I'll still have to see it to believe it. Show me a Fry's deal including case,ps,mobo,ram & dual core cpu for under $250 including tax.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
EDIT: Oh, and he is a 6th degree black belt, so you might want to watch out!

The days of the ninja ended with the invention of the repeating handgun.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
well, he said dual core, but he isn't too up to date on his information. So ill probably just have to convince him to settle for a single core.
But any suggestions on a single core then?

i would get out of his class....

The part I love about it that he know a ton about the older stuff. He grew up during the evolution of it all, and he has great info to share about legacy parts. He is very knowledgable about computers too. He just isn't completely informed on newer stuff I think. But thats alright, cause I am.

EDIT: Oh, and he is a 6th degree black belt, so you might want to watch out!

the only class i ever had that had an instructor that didn't know much about current machines was the dumb introductor class you need to take - cis105 or something like that. after that all instructors were on top of their game.

i really don't care what degree blackbelt he is - if anything it should give him self control when people call him out with his lack of current knowledge. sure old computing is cool, but pick up a book on the history of computers, don't waste a semester learning about it when now it changes easily every 6mos.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
EDIT: Oh, and he is a 6th degree black belt, so you might want to watch out!

The days of the ninja ended with the invention of the repeating handgun.

QFT

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey

EDIT: Oh, and he is a 6th degree black belt, so you might want to watch out!

Thanks for the tip. I'll steer clear of this thread now.

 

[JackBurton]

An XBox, and not even a XBox 360.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Ha! Ha! good one!

Might be possible with a single core CPU, ain't happening with a dual core

I know it's not possible for everyone, but if you live close to a Fry's Electronics (like I do), you can build a $250 barebones with those specs almost every weekend.

I agree Fry's sometimes have great deals on mobo/cpu combo's, but I'll still have to see it to believe it. Show me a Fry's deal including case,ps,mobo,ram & dual core cpu for under $250 including tax.

Link

That leaves $100 for the Case/PSU and RAM. I regularly get Antec cases with 350W PSUs for $30-$40 at Fry's, and 512MB RAM is $30.