*Ultimate* budget builder challenge!

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Neptune3000

Senior member
Sep 15, 2004
278
0
0
Greetings all. My aunt is interested in "learning the computer" and would like one. She asked em to look around for a *decent* yet cost effecient system for her. However, She has not much to spend. She has about 300-350 to spend and I was wondering if anyone could reccomend a good system.

There are some reqquirements.

-I would like a good amount of ram that way she does'nt have to deal with too much slowdowns and can multi-task

-I will need a case, ram, hd, cpu, mobo , psu, intergrated video card would be best..right? etc. I was thinking about just getting somethign like this http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=56-107-009&depa=0

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=56-110-027&depa=0

then adding RAM, HD,.


PS, if you're selling something that woudl fit, PM me.


***EDIT compiled this:
http://secure.newegg.com/app/W...are&WishID=1180479
 
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Tostada

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,789
0
0
Those two bare-bone systems aren't a bad deal, but you're not really saving any money with them.

Apparently you're just talking about the box, right? No monitor/speakers/keyboard/mouse?

The cheapest thing I would ever put together is:

AMD Sempron 2400+ Thorton Retail $64.00
ASRock SiS741 IGP motherboard w/ modem $44.99
Samsung 40GB SpinPoint SP0411N, 2MB 3yr $51.69
512MB Rosewill DDR333 (PC2700) CL 2.5 $69.00
Lite-On 52X CDRW $24.00
Apex black micro-ATX case 250W $53.49

Entry Office system $307.71

Seriously, if she's not going to be playing games, that system would be fine. I really like the Biostar board, so that would definitely be a suggested $22 upgrade, but nForce 2 boards get flaky sometimes if you use the integraded graphics without running dual-channel, so you'd also have to spend another $10 - $15 to get a pair of 256MB DIMMs instead of a single 512MB one.

For a cheap system, I really don't usually recommend anything below a nForce 2 IGP board, and an 80GB hard drive is only $10 more, and a combo DVD-ROM is only another $10-$15 more. Those things do add up, though, and it's hard to build a quality system for much under $400.

I wouldn't go making something with 256MB, or a low-end non-upgradable integrated bare-bone system, because then your whole system becomes disposable, and at that point you'd really be better off getting something off eBay.

ASRock boards are far above any of the dirt-cheap boards you'll find in that price range (after all, they're an ASUS sister company). That's also a case I've used many times and had good luck with. Getting a cheap power supply isn't a very smart way to save money, but people grossly overestimate the power requirements of the average system with a single hard drive and no high-end video card. I've never had that 250W PSU go bad (I've had a few of them running solid for 2 years, actually), and if I did I wouldn't be too broken up about paying $30 for a decent 300W Sparkle/Fortron to replace it (but if I did have one go bad, I would stop recommending that case).

When you're talking about a system for someone who's not going to do much of anything but write email and tool around the net, it's always a close judgement call between building something and just getting the cheapest Dell deal of the week (like others have mentioned). I mean, what are your plans for the keyboard/mouse/monitor/speakers? Can you beat the $399 Dell that comes with a 17" CRT?

http://www1.us.dell.com/conten...=19&l=en&s=dhs

Not that it's a very good system ... 256MB memory, horrible Intel graphics, no burner, only a 90-day warranty...
 
D

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
Originally posted by: Tostada
Apparently you're just talking about the box, right? No monitor/speakers/keyboard/mouse?

The cheapest thing I would ever put together is:

AMD Sempron 2400+ Thorton Retail $64.00
ASRock SiS741 IGP motherboard w/ modem $44.99
Samsung 40GB SpinPoint SP0411N, 2MB 3yr $51.69
512MB Rosewill DDR333 (PC2700) CL 2.5 $69.00
Lite-On 52X CDRW $24.00
Apex black micro-ATX case 250W $53.49

Entry Office system $307.71

...
Click to expand...
Add $90 for a legal copy of Windows XP, since grandmas usually don't approve of stealing. Like you say, hard to beat Dell.

 
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Tostada

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,789
0
0
Originally posted by: DaveSimmonsAdd $90 for a legal copy of Windows XP, since grandmas usually don't approve of stealing. Like you say, hard to beat Dell.
Click to expand...

He said aunt. My aunt loves piracy! Music, games, DVDs, software -- she can't get enough! I tried to stop her one time. I said, "Come on now auntie, you know Billie G. and the RIAA execs gotta feed their kids," but she doesn't care! She's gotta feed the monkey!
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Send your aunt to Dell (and THEIR tech support), unless YOU want to be her tech support for the life of her PC. :laugh:
RUN from building a PC for her, no matter how bad you want to get in on some "build" action!
 
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Cawchy87

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2004
5,104
2
81
Would you really send a family member to Dell tech support? Geez, you must really not like her.
 
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Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Originally posted by: Cawchy87
Would you really send a family member to Dell tech support? Geez, you must really not like her.
Click to expand...
I WOULD send them... in a heartbeat! :laugh:
I've played the tech support game with members of my family! Family is much worse about inquiries than even AT members are!

 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Just box pfft... that's Easy for ~$200

POWMAX 0808 Beige ATX Mid tower Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "CP808PL-1" -
$22.50

Samsung Beige 52X CD-ROM, Model SH-152AEBUW, OEM
$14.99

SAMSUNG 40GB 7200RPM Light and Slim IDE Hard Drive, Model SP0411N, OEM Drive only
$47.00

Logitech Deluxe Desktop Bundle (Deluxe Keyboard & S69 Mouse) PS/2 104keys -OEM
$11.00

Rosewill 184-Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200, Model RW400/256 - Retail
$31.77

BIOSTAR KM266 Pro Chipset Motherboard With AMD Sempron 2200+ CPU kit, Model "M7VIG400-COMBO" -
$89.00


Product total: $216.26

I can even throw in a 17" flat screen monitor for $107 making a complete system and still be under what she wants...

Come back with something challenging nextime.

Oh and tostata I expect better from you:p
 
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Neptune3000

Senior member
Sep 15, 2004
278
0
0
Thanks for all of the help guys. Those are some really nice budget system suggestions; challeng met!:D. My aunt is reallying going to appreciate this. I'll consult with her and see which deal she prefers. The dell has a couple good points namely: TECH SUPPORT (so i wont have to run over there all the time, but I probably will have to anyways.) My main concern is not to get her COMPLETE crap because I know how fustrating it is to have a crappy computer which i why i opted for the 512mb ram. So it's definately a close call with the suggested systems and the dell deal. However, I'll explain them to her and see which she prefers(17inch monitor w00t).



I neglected keyboard, mouse, OS, speakers, because I have some extra keyboards, mouse, speakers, and already bought XP home w/ that typical "windows for dummies" addon. cant beat a sale! But thanks for being so concerned, I'd hate to make a thief out of my aunt!:eek:



thanks guys!! You're the bestS!!
 
P

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Dell had a special a while back for a Celeron system for $399 that came with a monitor. It was their bottom of the line model but it was pretty good considering they included the monitor.
 
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digit

Member
Dec 6, 2004
45
0
0
I can teach her how to "learn the computer", its alot like the robot only less movement and more beatbox.
 
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Tostada

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,789
0
0
Originally posted by: Zebo
Just box pfft... that's Easy for ~$200

POWMAX 0808 Beige ATX Mid tower Case with 350W Power Supply, Model "CP808PL-1" -
$22.50

Samsung Beige 52X CD-ROM, Model SH-152AEBUW, OEM
$14.99

SAMSUNG 40GB 7200RPM Light and Slim IDE Hard Drive, Model SP0411N, OEM Drive only
$47.00

Logitech Deluxe Desktop Bundle (Deluxe Keyboard & S69 Mouse) PS/2 104keys -OEM
$11.00

Rosewill 184-Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200, Model RW400/256 - Retail
$31.77

BIOSTAR KM266 Pro Chipset Motherboard With AMD Sempron 2200+ CPU kit, Model "M7VIG400-COMBO" -
$89.00


Product total: $216.26

I can even throw in a 17" flat screen monitor for $107 making a complete system and still be under what she wants...

Come back with something challenging nextime.

Oh and tostata I expect better from you:p
Click to expand...

I'd be very impressed if you had some links where you could get that setup without paying at LEAST another $50 in shipping and/or tax. If not, that's just silly to not be showing the shipping on the case and monitor.
 
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Duvie

Elite Member
Feb 5, 2001
16,215
0
71
Originally posted by: Neptune3000
Thanks for all of the help guys. Those are some really nice budget system suggestions; challeng met!:D. My aunt is reallying going to appreciate this. I'll consult with her and see which deal she prefers. The dell has a couple good points namely: TECH SUPPORT (so i wont have to run over there all the time, but I probably will have to anyways.) My main concern is not to get her COMPLETE crap because I know how fustrating it is to have a crappy computer which i why i opted for the 512mb ram. So it's definately a close call with the suggested systems and the dell deal. However, I'll explain them to her and see which she prefers(17inch monitor w00t).



I neglected keyboard, mouse, OS, speakers, because I have some extra keyboards, mouse, speakers, and already bought XP home w/ that typical "windows for dummies" addon. cant beat a sale! But thanks for being so concerned, I'd hate to make a thief out of my aunt!:eek:



thanks guys!! You're the bestS!!
Click to expand...


disable most of that dell bloatware or you are just stealing that ram and system resources....

I think any other then dell systems should have an integrated NF2 mobo with Lan, GF4mx style speed ( and I can attest that 5200 Rosewill is no better), and 5.1 sound.....Thi scan be had for very cheap....Handles most components in 1 shot...
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
tostata it was $32 shipping without monitor and $38 with all from newegg.com YMMV no tax if you live outside CA:)
 
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Tostada

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,789
0
0
I personally would no longer build even a low-end system with 256MB, but I can understand people who get by with 256MB. Still, I really have to question how useful a system with 128MB and/or no burner is. You're essentially building a "new" machine that is already grossly outdated. Trash case? Old-school chipset? Meager amount of memory? No method of backup? I would much sooner recommend buying something used off ebay if you need something in the sub-$300 range. It's just not practical building a machine that bad.

This isn't directed totally at Zebo, just a general observation about people who seem to be espousing the impractical. It's cute if you're just trying to meet the "budget challenge" with the nastiest pile of parts you can, but not too practical.

eBay has plenty worth looking at under $300:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5150430687&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5149078014&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5148528184&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5149594892&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5150049234&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5149135132&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5150494693&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5149176147&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=5148339770&rd=1

It goes on and on ... If you look, you should be able to find a Dell with 512MB and a warranty for about $200-250 delivered.
 
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