PC for Dad

[SithSolo1]

Well my dad's computer bit the dust for a 2nd time this month and I'm tired of dealing with it so I'm going to build him a new one.

Usage
The computer will be used financial record keeping, email, and internet browsing. The statement "I'M NOT A GAMER." was heard multiple times while I was discussing the build with him. "I just want something fast and stable." was another.

What is needed
He already has a monitor, KB, mouse, speakers, and printer. Just need the main unit.

Budget and Time Frame
Budget is $650 or less. Time frame is yesterday. I will be buying the parts by Sunday so that they will be here by Wednesday.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Case - Fractal Design Core 1000
PSU - Corsair CX430
CPU - Intel i3-2120
Mobo - GA-B75M-D3V
SSD - Samsung 830 128GB
Ram - G.Skill 2x2GB DDR3-1333
DVD - Asus 24x DVD-Burner
OS - Win 7 Pro 64-bit This is the only item on the list he specifically requested.

Any suggestions, critiques, or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lehtv]

Are you sure he needs the Pro version of Windows? The stated uses suggest he'd be just fine with Win 7 Home Premium. Does he understand the difference between the two?

 

[SithSolo1]

He wants to access the software from work at home. The software at work is run on a main server and the date is distributed(correct term?) to the workstations.

The workstation OS requirements are as follows:
Windows XP Professional (SP3)
Windows 7 Professional 32/64
Windows 7 Enterprise 32/64
Windows 7 Ultimate 32/64

The computer I spec'd exceeds all of the hardware requirements.

Also would it be wise to keep the i3 or step down to a G860?

 

[jpeyton]

Here's what I'm thinking:

http://www.staples.com/Gateway-SX286...product_797017

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind.../dp/B002JYU5WI

Total: $365

Verdict: Excellent for "financial record keeping, email, and internet browsing". Actually anything built in the last 5 years can do that.

 

[SithSolo1]

Here's what I'm thinking:

http://www.staples.com/Gateway-SX286...product_797017

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind.../dp/B002JYU5WI

Total: $365

Verdict: Excellent for "financial record keeping, email, and internet browsing". Actually anything built in the last 5 years can do that.

Thanks for finding that but I'd personally rather build the system myself. I'd still want to toss in the SSD so the difference is only $70 after all shipping, tax, and rebates. Less if I drop down from the i3. I think I can live with that.

I'll run it by him though, he's the one that will be using it.

 

[lehtv]

To be honest, if it's a work related PC, I would buy a Dell or HP with 3-year on site NBD service. Just buy the SSD yourself and create an image of the original install and move it to the SSD. That way you don't have to be his tech support either.

 

[piasabird]

Spend some money and time on Virus software and maybe spybot search and destroy. Lots of time it is the User factor that causes problems. Where I work we can sometimes get some free software (almost free) like Microsoft office for like $10.00 for the DVD disk. Might look into that sort of thing.

 

[r3dsh1ft]

Depending on how old your Dad's current pc is, I would consider buying a used computer from ebay. Especially if your Dad is using somethings below a dual core, it will be a significant upgrade by simply spending 100 bucks or less. I got my mom a dual core system with 2 gigs of ram for under 80 bucks. I believe it is a E6300 or similar. However, I would only do that if you know how to find good deals on ebay, have a lot of patience, and know how to fix computers should you receive something not fully functioning. It is a risk and many on here might not agree but a dual core system can handle everything that your dad sounds like he wants to do. For my tower (e5300 6 gigs ram 500gig hd) that i dont use anymore i spent 170 and it came with windows 7+authentication key. It is a bit of a gamble but thats what return policies are for. The rig i use now i spent 400 dollars for when at the same time brand new id have spent 800-900 dollars for...Or paid that much on newegg for something that performed as good.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Depending on how old your Dad's current pc is, I would consider buying a used computer from ebay. Especially if your Dad is using somethings below a dual core, it will be a significant upgrade by simply spending 100 bucks or less. I got my mom a dual core system with 2 gigs of ram for under 80 bucks. I believe it is a E6300 or similar. However, I would only do that if you know how to find good deals on ebay, have a lot of patience, and know how to fix computers should you receive something not fully functioning. It is a risk and many on here might not agree but a dual core system can handle everything that your dad sounds like he wants to do. For my tower (e5300 6 gigs ram 500gig hd) that i dont use anymore i spent 170 and it came with windows 7+authentication key. It is a bit of a gamble but thats what return policies are for. The rig i use now i spent 400 dollars for when at the same time brand new id have spent 800-900 dollars for...Or paid that much on newegg for something that performed as good.

Yes, that might be a "deal", but the OP's dad seemed like he wanted something reliable for work, and you just can't really guarantee that with a used computer off of ebay, like you could with a self-built rig out of new components, or a store-bought brand-new computer.

That computer linked at Staples sounds like a decent deal to me, I might suggest hopping on that one. Hard to build a decent rig for under $300, including OS.

Edit: On second thought, that's one of those slimline towers that is hardly upgradable. I would probably build new then from components, and make sure that it had front-panel USB3.0, SATA6G, and throw in a decent (m4, 830, etc.) SSD, whatever size you can practically afford, although 120GB and 240GB are on sale every other week it seems.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Mobo - GA-B75M-D3V

Wow, that board has a real parallel port on it. I didn't know that they still included them. Pretty cool.

 

[lakedude]

There is no shame in buying a pre-built. I've got something like 11 desktop systems and 4 are Dells. One is a little flaky but 3/4 have been rock sold for years. The C2D machine runs Folding@Home or BOINC projects 24/7. It works great (super stable even with Vista). Upgraded the PS and video card and turned it onto a semi-custom gamer...The oldest is a p4 with RDRAM that still works fine/like new. Oh, I guess Mom's PS did give up the ghost but other than that they have been pretty darn good machines.

In the lower price ranges it is hard to beat an OEM machine, especially if you are paying retail for a copy of Windows.

Now you do have more control flexibility and OC ability if you build yourself...

 

[Zap]

Case - Fractal Design Core 1000
PSU - Corsair CX430
CPU - Intel i3-2120
Mobo - GA-B75M-D3V
SSD - Samsung 830 128GB
Ram - G.Skill 2x2GB DDR3-1333
DVD - Asus 24x DVD-Burner
OS - Win 7 Pro 64-bit This is the only item on the list he specifically requested.

I would suggest a couple changes.
1) Go mini ITX. Perhaps an Antec ISK 300-65, with an internal "slim" optical drive. Here's my build using the ISK 300-150, which is the same case but with a 150W PSU. Heck, may as well go that route so he doesn't need an external power brick. Yes the case costs more, but it already comes with the PSU (both with 3 year warranty) and will look 100x more elegant.
2) With mini ITX you will need a mini ITX motherboard.
3) May as well go 8GB RAM because it doesn't cost that much, and because with mini ITX there are no more slots for upgrades. Heck, same "problem" with the cheap motherboard you choose.
4) Even if he doesn't "need" it, go with anything specifically requested.Cost difference isn't much anyways.
5) If it makes anyone feel any better, can go with the i3-2125 for HD 3000 graphics. Not that it will matter.

Spend some money and time on Virus software and maybe spybot search and destroy.

How about just use Microsoft Security Essentials? It is free, with lifetime free updates, and is very unobtrusive. The only "complaint" people seem to have is that it is dumbed-down so there are no options to fiddle with, which sounds PERFECT to use for people who don't mess with stuff themselves. Heck, even better than an anti-virus that they have to pay a subscription each year (and inevitably forget, leaving them vulnerable).

 

[bononos]

Wow, that board has a real parallel port on it. I didn't know that they still included them. Pretty cool.

The Gigabyte z68ap-d3 also has a serial and a parallel port. I think people would prefer more usb, esata ports or better quality onboard audio/lan.

 

[bononos]

Well my dad's computer bit the dust for a 2nd time this month and I'm tired of dealing with it so I'm going to build him a new one.

Why did your dad's pc die? Was it a hardware failure or a malware/virus/bloatware issue?

 

[SithSolo1]

Why did your dad's pc die? Was it a hardware failure or a malware/virus/bloatware issue?

First time it bit the dust it was knocked out by a power surge and the main HDD was no longer showing up in the boot manager. I fixed that. This time they shut it down for a thunderstorm and when it came back up it would reboot on the windows load screen, even in safe mode. c000021a error. Its an old e4500 rig with 1GB of ram and we're both tired of dealing with it.


I had it loaded with MSE, AdBlock on FF and Chrome, and defrag once a month. I already do all the home and work tech support for him so "being tech support" is a non-issue. I even have to run over there and transfer photos from his camera to the computer because neither of my parents know how to do it.

I had thought about MiniITX but figured it would be a good bit more expensive. Looks like it would only be about $60 more with the ISK.

 

[Cerb]

The Gigabyte z68ap-d3 also has a serial and a parallel port. I think people would prefer more usb, esata ports or better quality onboard audio/lan.

Believe it or not, there are people that still use serial and parallel ports, and they've mostly left out to dry by the big OEMs. Gigabyte knows most people buying the board won't use them; but there will be people buying those boards specifically because of those ports being right there on the back. It's one more way to make their product different in a potentially useful way...and it's not like they don't also sell boards full of USBs and such, instead.

I like Zap's idea, myself, if the OP is against prebuilts. Not too cheap, but not expensive, and the result should be quite nice.

 

[mfenn]

To be honest, if it's a work related PC, I would buy a Dell or HP with 3-year on site NBD service. Just buy the SSD yourself and create an image of the original install and move it to the SSD. That way you don't have to be his tech support either.

Agree wholeheartedly. Even if you're still gonna be the first person he calls, you will be able to arrange to get next day parts without having to make an emergency purchase. Reliability is as much or more about having a plan for when failures occur as it is about trying to prevent them in the first place.

 

[SithSolo1]

Agree wholeheartedly. Even if you're still gonna be the first person he calls, you will be able to arrange to get next day parts without having to make an emergency purchase. Reliability is as much or more about having a plan for when failures occur as it is about trying to prevent them in the first place.

I really respect your opinions on the tech support issue but in our specific case I can get parts same day. We're less than 20mins from Tiger Direct(store + south east distribution center) and an hour from Frys and Microcenter. The people at Tiger Direct have told us they can pull online items from the warehouse and have it in the store if we call ahead. Sure, if the whole system blows up it may sting the wallet a little but otherwise replacement cost should be negligible.

 

[daveybrat]

I like all of the parts you picked for his system with the only exception being the ram. I'd rather go with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820104231

For about $16 more go with the 8GB kit as his motherboard only has 2 slots for ram.

Love that Fractal case too.

 

[SithSolo1]

I like all of the parts you picked for his system with the only exception being the ram. I'd rather go with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820104231

For about $16 more go with the 8GB kit as his motherboard only has 2 slots for ram.

Love that Fractal case too.

Alas Fractal didn't pass mom's approval so we're looking at the SilverStone Temjin TJ08B-E instead. Also switched the mobo to an Asrock H77 and the PSU to a modular. I don't think they'll ever use anywhere close to 4GBs but for less than double the cost might as well get the 8GB.

 

[lehtv]

Might I suggest a Lian Li aluminium mid tower on sale for $60 just today? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112099. If microATX is a must, that Silverstone is very nice, free shipping from Amazon
http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16811112099&user=u00000687

 

[mfenn]

Might I suggest a Lian Li aluminium mid tower on sale for $60 just today? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112099. If microATX is a must, that Silverstone is very nice, free shipping from Amazon

Nice find. The TJ08 is very nice, but it's also a royal pain in the ass to work in. Unless small size is a requirement, I'd rather have the Lian-Li.

 

[SithSolo1]

That Lian Li looks great but they did ask to have something smaller than their current tower if possible. I've been given a few more days to search around and see what I can find but thank you all for you input and recommendations.

 

[Zap]

That Lian Li looks great but they did ask to have something smaller than their current tower if possible.

Like I said... :whiste:

I would suggest a couple changes.
1) Go mini ITX. Perhaps an Antec ISK 300-65, with an internal "slim" optical drive. Here's my build using the ISK 300-150, which is the same case but with a 150W PSU. Heck, may as well go that route so he doesn't need an external power brick. Yes the case costs more, but it already comes with the PSU (both with 3 year warranty) and will look 100x more elegant.

 

[SithSolo1]

Like I said... :whiste:

I still haven't ruled out mini-ITX but I'd like to give them something larger than the Antec ISK line.