Need a Small Cute PC for everyday Computing

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BigfootsMonk

Senior member
May 2, 2005
203
0
0
Hi,

I need help setting up a Small Cute PC for everyday Computing

Budget:

~$300 USD

Purposes:
-email
-internet
-IM
-music
-basically not very spec demanding tasks

These are the parts that I already have and will keep and will use for this new computer:
-HDD
-DVD-RW drive
-memory (Apida 1gb, 1 stick, DDR, PC3200, 184pin)

Basically, I just need:

-motherboard with onboard video and audio
-processor/CPU
-power supply/PSU
-case

So I'm guessing a SFF kit with a CPU would cover all those. I'm thinking of a sempron processor but really don't have a clue to which one to get but I think any one of them would do fine. These are the SFF kits I have been looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101483
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101470

I can really use suggestions on the kit and the CPU



 
C

Crescent13

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2005
4,793
1
0
Originally posted by: bamacre
I would sell the parts you have now to increase your budget, and get a Dell XPS 200. Perfect for what you need.

Pics... (the sff of course)

http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps200_01.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps200_02.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps200_04.jpg

You can find them for a less than $450 fairly well loaded. Read here to see how...
http://www.tfnn.net/forum/index.php?topic=4578.0
Click to expand...


:thumbsup:


BTW, what monitor is that? 1705, 1905, 2001?
 
B

BigfootsMonk

Senior member
May 2, 2005
203
0
0
I would really rather put together a system rather than getting a Dell because they're always preloaded with a bunch of useless softwares and many that I am suspicious of.
 
I

imported_fx

Senior member
Feb 4, 2006
290
0
0
Originally posted by: BigfootsMonk
Hi,

I need help setting up a Small Cute PC for everyday Computing

Budget:

~$300 USD

Purposes:
-email
-internet
-IM
-music
-basically not very spec demanding tasks

These are the parts that I already have and will keep and will use for this new computer:
-HDD
-DVD-RW drive
-memory (Apida 1gb, 1 stick, DDR, PC3200, 184pin)

Basically, I just need:

-motherboard with onboard video and audio
-processor/CPU
-power supply/PSU
-case

So I'm guessing a SFF kit with a CPU would cover all those. I'm thinking of a sempron processor but really don't have a clue to which one to get but I think any one of them would do fine. These are the SFF kits I have been looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101483
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101470

I can really use suggestions on the kit and the CPU
Click to expand...

The second choice is better.. For processor, just get AMD Athlon 64 3000+ for $111
 
A

aniruddha23

Senior member
Feb 22, 2006
459
0
0
Originally posted by: BigfootsMonk
I would really rather put together a system rather than getting a Dell because they're always preloaded with a bunch of useless softwares and many that I am suspicious of.
Click to expand...

I dont think anybody who buys a Dell ever keeps the Original Install. But thats besides the Point

Try this for a deal.

Clickity

C0M9BQK7P8HH0F - additional 5 %

Pentium-4 2.8 GHz, 256MB DDR, 80GB Drive, 48x CDRW/DVD, KB/Mouse 19 inch LCD $409 shipped

You will need to upgrade the RAM and stuff. But u can beat it for the price.
 
A

aniruddha23

Senior member
Feb 22, 2006
459
0
0
btw if teh emphasis is on cute then try this MAC MINI

dunno if boot camp works on these babies but there shouldnt be any reason why not.
 
bamacre

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,029
2
61
Originally posted by: Crescent13
Originally posted by: bamacre
I would sell the parts you have now to increase your budget, and get a Dell XPS 200. Perfect for what you need.

Pics... (the sff of course)

http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps200_01.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps200_02.jpg
http://www.majortoker.com/images/xps200_04.jpg

You can find them for a less than $450 fairly well loaded. Read here to see how...
http://www.tfnn.net/forum/index.php?topic=4578.0
Click to expand...


:thumbsup:


BTW, what monitor is that? 1705, 1905, 2001?
Click to expand...

2001
 
D

Diasper

Senior member
Mar 7, 2005
709
0
0
I'd suggesting building it yourself - you've already got a few of the parts. Costwise, it should compare well with the dell (inc if going dual-core). Otherwise, it'll run cooler and quieter than the dell (prob very important), will use higher quality parts (save PSU depending?) and it'll allow you overclocking should you (later) want to. Finally, if you later wanted to upgrade a few parts you easily could - S939 will go budget core so dual-core later should be easy to pick up if you wanted. Meanwhile, with your 1GB stick you could very easily pick up another GB stick.

Try (using newegg prices):
Aspire QPack or Chenning (sp?)(Chenning is rebranded QPack with diff PSU - meant to be better as the QPack's sucks but QPacks' should be ok for low-power usage). You can get it windowed or not - my personal choice is for all black non-windowed. (~$75)
Jetway A210GDMS PRO (runs cool (ATI chipset), HD sound, SATA2 and decent overclocking for mATX if you wanted (upto 300mhz HTT), also some people have been reporting overclocking onboard to ~600mhz using a Zalman 7000 so she can play games like the sims if she wants) ($80)
Cheapest S939 processor you can get (Venice 3000+ ~$111)

Not bad for a total of $266 not inc shipping.

If you want to add some better quality parts:
PSU: Enermax Liberty series - great PSU and modular (~$79 for 400W) - but really it's overkill for what you need IMO - I'd only recommend it if overclocking & you have a decently powerful GPU.
DVDRW - You already have one but if you were looking now I'd recommend the BenQ series (great quality) if go aftermarket PSU as they're a bit shorter. If you want to use a full size DVDRW & a full size PSU you'll need to get some right angle molex connectors (cheap).
CPU Heatsink: Zalman 7000. Possibly a good investment as they're cheap and will help keep all your other components (NB heatsink, RAM etc) even cooler.
Chaintech 7.1 soundcard - cheap and great analogue sound (better than creative some say) although it doesn't have a DSP; but that shouldn't be an issue unless you're gaming and using surround sound effects.

I'd suggesting heading over to hardforum SFF section as they've got alot of knowledgeable people there on these topics.

For those tasks I'd recommend not overclocking, having Cool and Quiet enabled and the rear 120mm fan switched to 5V. That will make for a very quiet setup - I'm sure your hardrive will be the noisest component. Still, if you're concerned with cooling/noise you can always use the Zalman 7000 heatsink.

I hope that helps.

edited a few times.
 
D

Diasper

Senior member
Mar 7, 2005
709
0
0
I think if the focus is on anything other than being cute as a top priority a setup like I've suggested is alot better.
- Cheaper
- Faster (the most criminal being the slow (small) hardrive and only 512MB of RAM)
- Upgradeable if you want (2GB RAM, video card, better audio card, dual-core later etc) if her interests or demands suddenly changed (got into photography, sound recording, gaming or even types of programming - god forbid!)

What's audio on the Mini like?


NB add stickers + drawings/etchings + fluffy things + anything to personalise the QPack (use imagination) and you should be able to make it pretty cute... (Of course this depends on who this is for!)
 
D

Diasper

Senior member
Mar 7, 2005
709
0
0
Originally posted by: JSFLY
Here you go:

Shuttle $179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101483

AMD Sempron 3100+ 1600MHz HT Socket 754 Processor - Retail $84
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104220

Nvidia MX4000 $24
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121183
Click to expand...


What I might question about that is its audio quality - it's using S754 and so the poor AC97 codec. While you could upgrade this you'll be using your last and only PCI slot - also if you did so you'd need to check size compatability with the shuttle.

Otherwise the Shuttle is:
- Slower CPU (and not overclockable or upgradeable - no dual-core)
- Slower GPU (and not overclockable or upgradeable - no PCI-E)
- No DVI out (but adding in a GPU can address this)
- Not as expandable (Number of slots & shuttle size compatability issues)
- Not include SATA2 - also how is USB speed?

Those differences may perhaps be of neglible concern depending.

In all, the Shuttle is still smaller and therefore it might be counted as cuter and therefore better. *shrug*

Really, it all depends what your priorities are.
 
P

pkme2

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2005
3,896
0
0
Too bad you're not down the street. I just sold a P3 with Linux Ubuntu on it for $100 (Computer only) with everything set to go. All set for cable, Open Office and the like. An excellent unit for surfing the net, emailing and letter writing.

Took a E-machine and loaded free Ubuntu with included software (Just like Windows, but free) No antivirus or spyware removal needed.

It's another alternative to Windows. Just putting in my 2 cents.
 
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BigfootsMonk

Senior member
May 2, 2005
203
0
0
I really like your setup Diasper

The Q Pack is great. But on newegg, there are a lot of them and I wonder if they're all the same thing. For convience the links are below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144111
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144112
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144161
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144113
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144162
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144160

Can you tell me if these are all teh same?
 
D

Diasper

Senior member
Mar 7, 2005
709
0
0
Originally posted by: BigfootsMonk
I really like your setup Diasper

The Q Pack is great. But on newegg, there are a lot of them and I wonder if they're all the same thing. For convience the links are below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144111
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144112
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144161
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144113
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144162
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144160

Can you tell me if these are all teh same?
Click to expand...


Yeah they're all the same QPack - the only difference is what colour it is and whether it has a window. You can see what they are in the photos.

There's also the Chenming mATX-118 (and variants) which is exactly the same but perhaps with better PSU (talking primarily rail stability here not how much load it can manage)
 
Z

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
The QPacks are all the same except for number of windows and color.

Diasper,
. The Chenming is the OEM of the Aspire X-QPack, not the other way around. For a while the XQP could only be gotten with 3 windows while the Chenming 118 had either one window or none.

This case: AOpen 420 OR
This case: Enermax Venus also in blk
This mobo: Asrock Sock-A
This CPU: Duron 1800 .
This HSF: Thermal Integration V77L

Probably faster than what I'm running now. $199. to $209. max (could get lower prices shopping around) depending on case chosen. May want to try to find an Asrock or other microATX with the VIA KM400 and 8237 south if you plan to run Linux or such on it for better video compat (who knows, SiS may be OK for Linux now). If running Win, then no problem. Deceptively quick.

.bh.
 
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BigfootsMonk

Senior member
May 2, 2005
203
0
0
I got all the stuff and put the computer together. But for some reason I'm having really weird problems with the computer. First when I put in the XP CD and it goes through all those messages at the bottom and then finally going to the message where it says "Starting Windows" (before the format part), it gives me a BSOD. This didn't happen after I put the memory from slot one into slot two. Could this be the motherboard or memory? To be honest I have never tried Jetway or heard of it. I chose it because of your suggestions. I didn't have any spare memory to test it but maybe tomorrow I will. Also, in Windows setup later on, it says that Windows could not copy several files from the CD and asks to retry. Is this a problem of the CD? Never had this message before. I wiped the CD clean and will try again tomorrow. Hopefully its just dust.

If it turns out to be the motherboard being faulty, should I return it and get this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131570
 
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