Suggestions for a simple Internet PC

[walla]

A relative of mine has expressed interest in having me build a computer for her. She's elderly and not what you'd call tech savvy... all she needs is the Internet (via modem), e-mail and word processing. I want to keep the cost down, below anything she'd find at a major computer manufacturer, but certainly not comprimised as far as stability or general quality. I am looking for a good cost-configuration answer here, given the following:

motherboard (preferable cheap with on-board sound and/or graphics)
graphics/sound card if needed.
pref. intel CPU (reasonable for internet, cheap price)
256mb memory (pref cheap sdram as opposed to Rambus if that even still exists )
HD - 10~20 gig is plenty (maybe too much)
a good case (cheap but innocent looking), ps
solid CD-ROM, 3.5"DD

monitor, mouse, keyboard - not needed.

anything i missed - cheap but reliable.

I am under the impression that this can be done for a couple to few hundred dollars. It seems so much simpler to buy on the higher end since there only seems to be a few optimal solutions...but I don't know enough on lower end. Please, if anyone has some suggestions as to components, I'll be grateful.

 

[PCMarine]

You might want to check out the refurbished Dells. It's awefully hard to compete with the OEM's(On the low end systems) as they get their parts for CHEAP. Not to mention, if she needs tech support, she wont be calling you every 15 minutes.

However, I suppose you could piece together a system yourself. Id get an nForce (great integrated lan, audio, video), + Athlon 1600+, cheap DDR, etc.

 

[RockyMaivia]

Like walla said, if you're going for cheap, you may be hard pressed to beat one of the big guys because of their pricing power.

However, I think for just internet, an Athlon would be overkill. You could easily get by on a Duron, even the older ones below 1 Ghz.

 

[RockyMaivia]

I'm sorry, it was PCMarine that responded. doh!

 

[PCMarine]

np

Yea an XP would probably be overkill. The 1.3 ghz Durons are around $30 whereas the XP 1600+ is around $55

 

[HokieESM]

I actually did something like this recently. Here is one idea:

Case: Antec SLK2600AMB (get it at your local CompUSA)
Motherboard: Intel D815EEA2LU (integrated video, LAN, USB, sound) - googlegear $84
Processor: Intel Celeron 1.3A - googlegear $53
HDD: Seagate Barracuda IV - googlegear $85
RAM: 256MB PC133 (look for a good rebate!): $30 googlegear
DVD-ROM: Lite-On 16X: $44 googlegear
misc cables (floppy, IDE), fans: $10 (try SVC)

Total: $306+case

I realize this might can be done cheaper. The hard drive and DVD (swap it for a good old cheap CD-ROM if money is an issue), especially. Possibly a cheaper motherboard (with maybe a SiS chipset). I built one just like this for my sister... she's a noise freak, and I swear that I can't hear the thing run (Tualatins can be made into QUIET systems... and the Seagate helps with this as well).

Keep in mind that you WILL be tech support, whether you like it or not. And Windows doesn't come cheap, if you're buying an operating system!

Best of luck to you

 

[PliotronX]

I went with an AMD config because the K7S5A is a great mobo for this situation

Here's the specs with prices and links mostly to Newegg because it was easiest to find the items and Newegg usually has close to the lowest prices and has impeccable service but you can find every piece for probably less with sites like Pricegrabber and Pricewatch.

• AMD Duron 1.1GHz (OEM) - $34
• ECS K7S5A (Retail) - $57
• Kingston 256Meg PC133 SDRAM - $31
• Western Digital 20GB HDD (OEM) - $66
• Asus 52X CDROM Drive - $30
• Samsung Floppy drive - $9 (they are out of stock often but it is the best floppy in terms of noise level, performance and reliability so I recommend punching the model number into Pricegrabber or Pricewatch to get it, it's worth the effort IMO )
• Taisol heatsink unit w/fan - $15
• Enlight 7101AX Case w/300W PSU - $47

Sub. = $289

This would be a nice base for a bang for the buck, noise, performance, and reliability system. I like the K7S5A board as it uses a SiS chipset which is speedy and more reliable than their VIA counterparts which gave AMD a bad name. This board has integrated video and sound which are far from the best but perfect for this application. Though I do agree with the others that getting a cheap Dell would also be a good idea Good luck in your project.

edited because in the middle of typing I accidentally hit the post button somehow on this dang fangled laptop's touchpad (borrowing my sis' lappy until my replacement mobo gets here).

 

[Superman9534]

im with PliotronX, K7S5A system with 256 PC133 RAM, AMD Duron for about 30 bucks, a 40X CD-ROM, 20GB 5400RPM HD, Radeon 7000 or somthin cheap. Im about to build my grandma a system like this, except with an Athlon 1700 because i want to use it. And you can get Winidows XP Home OEM at newegg for $90 (pretty good deal on the full instlal).

 

[everman]

You can do this for very very cheap. The only thing is the monitor as you probably want at least a 17" for someone who may not have perfect vision and all that.

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: PliotronX
I went with an AMD config because the K7S5A is a great mobo for this situation

Here's the specs with prices and links mostly to Newegg because it was easiest to find the items and Newegg usually has close to the lowest prices and has impeccable service but you can find every piece for probably less with sites like Pricegrabber and Pricewatch.

• AMD Duron 1.1GHz (OEM) - $34
• ECS K7S5A (Retail) - $57
• Kingston 256Meg PC133 SDRAM - $31
• Western Digital 20GB HDD (OEM) - $66
• Asus 52X CDROM Drive - $30
• Samsung Floppy drive - $9 (they are out of stock often but it is the best floppy in terms of noise level, performance and reliability so I recommend punching the model number into Pricegrabber or Pricewatch to get it, it's worth the effort IMO )
• Taisol heatsink unit w/fan - $15
• Enlight 7101AX Case w/300W PSU - $47

Sub. = $289

This would be a nice base for a bang for the buck, noise, performance, and reliability system. I like the K7S5A board as it uses a SiS chipset which is speedy and more reliable than their VIA counterparts which gave AMD a bad name. This board has integrated video and sound which are far from the best but perfect for this application. Though I do agree with the others that getting a cheap Dell would also be a good idea Good luck in your project.

edited because in the middle of typing I accidentally hit the post button somehow on this dang fangled laptop's touchpad (borrowing my sis' lappy until my replacement mobo gets here).

I dont see a video card or a modem in there,he needs them.

 

[ericboo]

Get a ECS K7SEM and no need for a graphics card. Can save money that way too.

 

[nortexoid]

i have an asus a7n266-vm nforce mobo w/ integrated 5.1 audio, LAN, and GF2 MX graphics. running 256mb pc2100 and a duron 1.1ghz. all i use this thing is for internet really. it's great. now, however, u can get an XP 1600-1700+ for dirt cheap too (though it dissipates more heat and uses more power, but if u want the extra power...)

i stuffed it into a book mATX case w/ front audio and usb ports - the board has headers for it. works great, looks good, and is compact. dirt cheap too.

 

[Jhhnn]

I've become partial to the msi ms-6340 boards with ~950mhz durons for this kind of box. Very inexpensive, ~$70 for the combo on pricewatch. I avoid pcchips or ecs or shuttle boards like the plague, but ymmv.

256megs crucial cl2 pc133- $31- cheap memory sux
Brand name 250 or 300w micro box- INwin, Enlight, FongKai offer these w/ standard ps2 formfactor psu's. ~$70, delivered.
Choice of cdrom/floppy
20-40gig hdd, ~$60 on a good day
WindowsXP OEM- ~$90. Xp has its own drivers for the Via chipsets, no 4in1's required. super easy installation.... Well worth the $$ on a new box.....
Lucent Winmodem ~$15

It's almost impossible to get under $400 actual cost for anything decent, you'll be there with this combo.

See if you can hook her up with an ISP that does anti-virus email filtering- Mine does, for $1/month, great idea, cuts way down on processing overhead, and it's always up to date.... A/V software is an incredible PITA.

Hold off til after the holidays- might be able to buy a Dell for the same money, and prices on everything will be lower, anyway.

Edit- get a gc68 hsf from svcompucycle if the furnished unit is too noisy.... Add $10.

 

[Shalmanese]

An imac?