Review this mid-end computer please

[LeetestUnleet]

Building a computer for a friend, who has yet to give me a budget. She doesn't game, but would like enough computing power to last her a while. She also specified a black color scheme. I hope it's legible, but if it's too messy to read or if there are any clarification issues, LMK and I will edit.

Items listed as follows:
Item type/Description Price
Item Link (all Newegg for easier billing and reliability)
Extra notes


BEGIN LIST
CASE RAIDMAX 10-bay Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "268BP" -RETAIL $42.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-156-103&catalog=7&depa=1
350W PSU and 1 80mm side fan included, chrome front, black exterior

DVD/CD-ROM Lite-On Black 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model XJ-HD166, OEM $30.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-131-603&catalog=55&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1
Needs IDE/audio cable, comes with PowerDVD XP 4.0

CD-RW Lite-On Black 52X32X52 CD-RW Drive, Model LTR-52327S, OEM $34.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-106-197&catalog=5&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1
Needs IDE cable, has audio cable, comes with NERO

FLOPPY SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model MPF920, OEM $13.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-103-116&catalog=13&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1&section=3
Needs FDD cable

HDD Maxtor 40GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model 6E040L0, OEM Drive only $58.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-140-133&catalog=14&depa=1
Needs IDE cable, 1 yr manu. Warranty

MODEM BEST DATA 56K V.92/V.44 PCI Data Fax Modem, Model 56FW-92 - Retail $27.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=25-138-104&catalog=18&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1
Comes with phone cable/Driver CD

VIDEO Albatron nVIDIA GeForce4 MX440-8X Video Card, 64MB DDR(Hynix), 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "MX480E" -RETAIL $47.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-170-042&catalog=48&depa=1
2 Cables, VGA via DVI Adapter, 2 CD, Manual

MOTHERBOARD Shuttle nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "AN35N-Ultra" -RETAIL $61.99 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-150-045&catalog=22&depa=1
Onboard audio/LAN, includes 2x IDE cables/CD

PROCESSOR AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail $81.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-379&catalog=343&depa=1
Includes HS/F

RAM Mushkin 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail $79.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-219&catalog=147&depa=1
Lifetime Warranty

EXTRA CABLING (Audio) AUDIO 24" 4-pin Connector Cable -OEM $5.25
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=12-102-104&DEPA=0

EXTRA CABLING (FDD) 20-Inch Flat 2-Connector Floppy drive Cable -OEM $5.25
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=12-103-103&depa=1

INTERNAL SUBTOTAL $478.24

MONITOR PHILIPS 107B55 17" CRT Monitor - RETAIL $127.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=24-133-128&catalog=19&depa=1
Includes cables/CD

PRINTER/SCANNER Lexmark PrinTrio X1150 Multi-function printer, 14 PPM, 4800 x 1200 DPI, Color/B&W $100.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=28-106-142&catalog=38&depa=1
Printer/Scanner/Copier, comes with cartridges and CD, USB connect

KEYBOARD/MOUSE Logitech BLACK Optical Desktop PS2 104keys -OEM $35.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=23-126-120&catalog=63&depa=1
Keyboard/Mouse combo

EXTERNAL SUBTOTAL $262.00

GRAND TOTAL: $740.24

Notes:
RAM can be decreased to 256MB and save ~$40
Processor can be reduced to 2100+ and save ~$20
Price after reductions: $680.24

Case is black with shiny chrome front
No speakers (yet)
No software included (No OS or Office)
Windows XP Home will be $94 extra
Windows XP Professional will be $139 extra
Office 2003 Standard (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint) will be $135 extra
Above Specs + Office/Windows XP Home: $969.24
Reduced price with Office/Windows XP Home: $909.24

 

[biostud]

Video is Ultra low end, if she doesn't game get a nForce2 with build in graphics

 

[Bonesdad]

Agreed, you could check into Shuttle's MN31N motherboard...build in GeForce MX graphics AND with better on-board sound. However, it will have to share system memory to operate, so be sure to get 2 sticks of 256MB DDR. Onboard graphics work much better with Dual DDR.

 

[Bloodstein]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
Agreed, you could check into Shuttle's MN31N motherboard...build in GeForce MX graphics AND with better on-board sound. However, it will have to share system memory to operate, so be sure to get 2 sticks of 256MB DDR. Onboard graphics work much better with Dual DDR.

512 wouldn't hurt!

 

[0roo0roo]

go for low noise, girl that doens't game... only low noise is tolerable. as for case, she's better off with something like a sonata or another of those antec/chieftec things, low rpm fans. that raidmax will look sillly once an optical drive is installed.

 

[txxxx]

You may want to consider a small form factor Dell if gaming isnt in the picture. Quiet and small...

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
go for low noise, girl that doens't game... only low noise is tolerable. as for case, she's better off with something like a sonata or another of those antec/chieftec things, low rpm fans. that raidmax will look sillly once an optical drive is installed.

I'm not too attached to the case. I just picked it because it was cheap and had a PSU included. I'll look at those brands.

 

[JonnyStarks]

How important is it that the printer be black? I've never been a big fan of lexmarks... cartridges are pretty pricey. Maybe the HP 1350 or the Canon MP 370?
They'd be cheaper to run and still fit the dark colour scheme.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Changes
MOTHERBOARD Shuttle nForce2 IGP Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "MN31N" -RETAIL $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-150-041&depa=0
Onboard audio/LAN/video (gf4mx), includes 2x IDE cables/CD

VIDEO Onboard GF4MX

RAM x2 Crucial 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-2700 4T - OEM $80.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-497&catalog=147&depa=1
Lifetime warranty
***********

Price adjustment: $23 less, without changing the case yet

However, now I need to find a black case that'll fit a microATX board. Question: If a case supports standard ATX, will it support microATX also? I don't know cases too well, nor do I know budget mobos obviously I usually think about the good stuff!

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Originally posted by: JonnyStarks
How important is it that the printer be black? I've never been a big fan of lexmarks... cartridges are pretty pricey. Maybe the HP 1350 or the Canon MP 370?
They'd be cheaper to run and still fit the dark colour scheme.

Heh, I hadn't even considered the color of the printer, that was total coincidence. Everything else will be black (including the mouse/keyboard), so a bright printer would look rather ridiculous - I'm getting the idea that she's more into aesthetics than performance
The printer would be mainly for printing out homework, anyhow, probably not very many large documents. The two printers you suggested are running about $40 more on Newegg. Honestly, though, as far as the printer is concerned, I'll probably have better luck picking one up at WalMart or a similar store. This is just a price quote at the moment, I'll be presenting it to her on Monday, and I'll compare in-store prices vs. Newegg prices on most of the external components after I get a general price budget.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: LeetestUnleet
Changes
MOTHERBOARD Shuttle nForce2 IGP Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "MN31N" -RETAIL $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-150-041&depa=0
Onboard audio/LAN/video (gf4mx), includes 2x IDE cables/CD

VIDEO Onboard GF4MX

RAM x2 Crucial 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-2700 4T - OEM $80.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-497&catalog=147&depa=1
Lifetime warranty
***********

Price adjustment: $23 less, without changing the case yet

However, now I need to find a black case that'll fit a microATX board. Question: If a case supports standard ATX, will it support microATX also? I don't know cases too well, nor do I know budget mobos obviously I usually think about the good stuff!

Yes...an ATX case will fit a mATX board, no prob. In fact I recommend, as you won't have to get a new case if you upgrade to an ATX board later. That is, if size is not an issue.

I know it will cost more, but consider this case. It's a nice case and pretty quiet and nice looking.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

CASE CHANGE

CODEGEN Black Mid-Tower Case With 350W P4 Ready Power Supply, Model "6066L-CA" -RETAIL $48.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-182-507&catalog=7&depa=1
350W PSU and 1 80mm fan included, black

$6 more, bringing the savings from original quote to a whopping $17

Will consider the Antec case Bonesdad suggested after I talk to her on Monday.

Any other suggestions on hardware improvements anywhere else, though?