Socket 754 or 939 for Parents Budget System?

[RobDMB]

I'm building my parents a computer and they want me to stay around $400. I'm looking for advice as to whether I should get a socket 939 processor or a 754? Thanks, Rob

 

[Triggerhappy007]

Get the 939 opteron 144 with an Epox 9pna ultra mobo and an X300SE from Circuit City pricematched to CompUSA for free after rebate.

 

[Zap]

RobDMB, does that price need to include a monitor? Operating system? Keyboard/mouse/speakers/surge strip/mousepad? Shipping and/or tax?

What will that system be used for?

If I were building my parents a $400 computer (assuming just the box priced before shipping, etc.) I'd start with all the parts and leave the mobo/CPU choice to last, depending on how much budget is left.

Case $40
PSU $40
1GB RAM $75
HDD $60
DVDRW $40
... $255 running total, giving me $145 left for mobo/CPU, meaning it'll have to be socket 754 Sempron with Geforce6100 motherboard.
motherboard $60
CPU $85 - Sempron 2800+ or 3000+, whatever for that price

YMMV, there are many ways to configure a system and valid arguments in favor of each. Some configurations may be better than others depending on what the computer will be used for.

 

[Concillian]

I'd say whatever is cheapest.

If your parents are anything like mine, their computeing doesn't exactly stress their CPU. They also upgrade on a ~3-5 year cycle, which is more than enough to not worry at all about the upgradability of S939 vs. S754.

 

[RobDMB]

No they will just use the monitor from their old system so that isn't in the price. I have about $400 to spend on hardware alone.

 

[otogrim]

I say thats more than enough to meet their needs if they're anything like my parents

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: RobDMB
Parents Budget System

754.

Here's a better idea - get them the cheapest Dell, that way you don't have to do the support.

- M4H

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Triggerhappy007
Get the 939 opteron 144 with an Epox 9pna ultra mobo and an X300SE from Circuit City pricematched to CompUSA for free after rebate.

That's one of the LAST things he should be doing. It's hard enough to find that chip as it is, and even harder for a good price. All his parents need is a cheap s754 board, like the Chaintech VNF3-250, and a Sempron 2800+. Throw in 512MB of value RAM, a decent sub $50 graphics card, and a not so pricey Antec case that includes a 300-350w PSU. $40 HDD, $30 optical drive, and you're done. Should be ~$400.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Here's a better idea - get them the cheapest Dell, that way you don't have to do the support.

Doesn't work. Tried that with my mom. She still calls me first. I'm sure other people have had the same experience. Well, support was one of two reasons I got the Dell for her. Second was the deal, about $350 out the door about 2 years ago for a P4 2.53 (immediately replaced by a Celeron 2.4GHz, P4 went in my gaming rig and is still happy at 3.33GHz) with 128MB RAM, 40GB HDD, Windows, Word, Dell all-in-one printer (Ebay'd for $35), 17" CRT (sold locally for $80), Kodak 2MP digital camera (I still use to this day).

Edited to fix problem with missing end tag for bolding.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: RobDMB
Parents Budget System

754.

Here's a better idea - get them the cheapest Dell, that way you don't have to do the support.

- M4H

bingo

 

[Shenkoa]

Socket 754 is the best price/performance ratio out there.

 

[kyparrish]

socket 754 w/ 2800+ a64 or sempron is a no-brainer in my book for a parent's system

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

$65 Biostar GeForce 6100-M7
$65 Sempron 64 2600+ retail
$55 Western Digital 80GB SATA
$38 512MB DDR SDRAM (generic)
$42 NEC ND-3550A
$30 generic case/PSU combo
$10 floppy drive
$10 modem
$90 Windows XP Home
Total: $405

If you don't need Windows, try this....
$65 Biostar GeForce 6100-M7
$75 Sempron 64 2800+ retail
$55 Western Digital 80GB SATA
$90 generic 1GB DDR SDRAM (single DIMM)
$42 NEC ND-3550A
$20 generic case
$38 Fortron Source PSU
$10 floppy drive
$10 modem
Total: $405

 

[mindwreck]

I would say s754 and a sempron is more than enough for a basic internet/work machine.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Shenkoa
Socket 754 is the best price/performance ratio out there.

Except for Triggerhappy007, we have a consensus. Opteron 144 indeed... price just jumped to almost $200 at Monarch for just the CPU. NOT the best way to kick off a $400 computer.

 

[bjc112]

FX-60
2.6ghz
2x1MB L2..

Anything less and you aren't a good son..

 

[xfile]

YGPM

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: bjc112
FX-60
2.6ghz
2x1MB L2..

Anything less and you aren't a good son..

:thumbsup::laugh:

 

[Relion]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
$65 Biostar GeForce 6100-M7
$65 Sempron 64 2600+ retail
$55 Western Digital 80GB SATA
$38 512MB DDR SDRAM (generic)
$42 NEC ND-3550A
$30 generic case/PSU combo
$10 floppy drive
$10 modem
$90 Windows XP Home
Total: $405

If you don't need Windows, try this....
$65 Biostar GeForce 6100-M7
$75 Sempron 64 2800+ retail
$55 Western Digital 80GB SATA
$90 generic 1GB DDR SDRAM (single DIMM)
$42 NEC ND-3550A
$20 generic case
$38 Fortron Source PSU
$10 floppy drive
$10 modem
Total: $405

What about a mix?

$65 Biostar GeForce 6100-M7
$65 Sempron 64 2600+ retail
$55 Western Digital 80GB SATA
$38 512MB DDR SDRAM (generic)
$42 NEC ND-3550A
$30 generic case/PSU combo
$10 floppy drive

--------

$305

Tadaaaaaaaaa....you have $100 to go out with ur chick (excluded the modem)

 

[GuitarDaddy]

754 with onboard graphics! all the way


but wait! they really need

2 x opteron 280 dual cores on a Tyan's best dual socket board, 16gb ECC ram , SLI'd 7800gtx 512mb's, about five SCSII hard drives in raid5, a couple of PC P&C 600w power supplies in a Lian Li case.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: RobDMB
Parents Budget System

754.

Here's a better idea - get them the cheapest Dell, that way you don't have to do the support.

- M4H

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Dell is too overpriced, especially if they already have a copy of Windows XP. A PC that costs $300 to build (no OS) would cost $500 to get from Dell--and even then you'd probably have to go with something refurbished. The cheapest Dell desktop with a 1-year warranty costs $345 (or $367 if you live in a state that's taxed). For a second year of support, it's $50 more. But then we're talking about a Celeron D 2.53 GHz with 256MB RAM, and no floppy or DVD drive. For $400, you can build an overclocked Sempron system (equivalent to an Athlon 64 3300+) with 1GB RAM and a DVD burner.

 

[Zap]

Why pay for an OS? Moving a beginner to Linux.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Zap
Why pay for an OS? Moving a beginner to Linux.

:thumbsup:

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: RobDMB
I'm building my parents a computer and they want me to stay around $400. I'm looking for advice as to whether I should get a socket 939 processor or a 754? Thanks, Rob

i saw this at Wal-Mart for a little less, $389 i think?

http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=eMachines_T3302

seems within price range, and would save a lot of hassle of DITY