Need Some Advice on Budget System

[JMoore]

I am building my sister a computer for her birthday, and the main question I have is whether I should go w/ a Celeron D or a lot nicer AMD socket 939 w/ a 2000mhz bus? I don't have to buy a monitor or speakers so all I need is the computer itself. I would like to spend less than $500, but cheaper is always better. I'd rather not give her a system that is complete crap, but I heard the Celeron D's were amazing overclockers and a lot nicer than the regular celeys. Plus all she mainly does is websurf/Email so I don't think she needs anything to fancy. My main concern is that I'd like to get onboard video and the only MB that has it for the socket 939 is the MSI RS480M2-IL and I am not sure if it supports a 2000mhz bus so the processor wouldn't reach it's full potential. I'd appreciate any advice from absolutely anyone.

Edit: Anyone know a good Celeron D mobo?

 

[HomicidalSloth]

For just websurfing/email, I wouldn't waste an AMD 64 on her. My advice is to go with a Celeron (or Athlon XP) with onboard video and sound. I'd spend the rest on giving her a good bit of RAM and hard drive space. Just my two cents

 

[Zepper]

Yup, socket A would be great with a Sempron 24 or 2600+ and a mobo like the DFI based on the KM400 chipset or the similar unit from MSI or the Abit VA-20 and 512MB of decent RAM. Put it in the blue/silver Enermax Venus or the Chenming 118 cube case (which you will be able to afford with some of the CPU/mobo savings) and she will be VERY happy. FYI, short chassis optical drives work best in cases like that, but full length will fit if necessary.

.bh.

 

[fatty4ksu]

Celeron D's blow semps outta the h2o.

Get a dell outlet sys.

 

[KoolDrew]

Epox EP-8HMMI-A
AMD Sempron 2600+
512MB PC3200
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB
Lite-ON SOHC-5235K DVD-ROM/CD-RW
In-Win Z720T