What to put in Computer for Neighbors

[bbarnes]

My neighbors told me to quote them a price for me to build them a comp. They want each individual component listed with its price.

I don't need anything great, as they are only going to use it to chat (if they get internet) and word processing and the such. Probably a few games also, but they won't know a world of difference if it is the best graphics or not, as long as it works...

So I posted here to get fellow AT member's opinions on what to get.

Most likely I am going to go with a 1 GHz Duron.

What motherboard would be best, and also suggestions on other components are welcome.

 

[CubicZirconia]

I would say that realistically you will have to spend 300-400 dollars.

 

[Imdmn04]

i would say think twice before building computers for others, especially neighbors that doesnt know a thing about computers.
Reasons:
1. they would often give you a call that there is no sound coming out of the speakers, you go there and take a look, the sound is muted.
2. they blame software glitches on your building skills
3. since you are their neighbor, you will be the first person they will call for any kind of computer troubles
4. since they are your neighbors, you cant just say fvck em, after all they are your dear neighbors that you get to see everyday

other than that, i would get them a motherboard with integraded everything to avoid any future troubles, when they want you to upgrade, you just say: you cant, its all integraded onto the motherboard.

and have fun being their tech support for the rest of your life

 

[bbarnes]

Well, the guy next door is a guy that literally knows everything .

1. I am pretty sure they wont ask for upgrades, they don't know they make em.
2. I am already their tech support for their current POS they call a computer.

So which motherboard would you recommend?

 

[fatbaby]

Get a shuttle ak31a or...a k7s5a if you feel like being mr. tech support.

$49 gts-v from newegg

 

[Scootin159]

or get a soyo dragon plus & save on PCI cards (onboard sound & NIC).

 

[HappyPuppy]

If yor neighbor already "knows everything", then let him build his own computer. Point him in the right direction to get him started and then turn him on to www.anandtech.com. That way you won't have to go to his house at 2100 hours to hold his hand.

I've been through all the neighbor people wanting help. My one neighbor now calls me from work to give his company tech support (for free, of course). I don't return his calls.

Bad move, Dude. Don't do it.

 

[Def]

If you're dead set on building a MoBo I'd say

-1Ghz Duron
-MSI nForce MoBo
-256MB DDR RAM
-Seagate Barracuda IV 20GB drive(maybe 40GB, depending on their needs)
-Antec SX630 case
-Thermaltake Volcano 6Cu (NOT the "+" version!!!)

I built this exact setup for a friend a while back. Uses all integrated components and has excellent performance for such a low budget system. Stability with Windows XP Pro has been excellent, not one crash yet.

-Defster

 

[Nocturnal]

Hmm, well I would say go for the ASUS motherboard. The ASUS motherboard is pretty stable. I run it. It's awesome.

1GHZ Duron, 256 Ram, maybe a Maxtor/IBM HDD, Enlight 7237 Case, yup that's about it.

Pretty simple if you ask me.

 

[RanDum72]

My suggestion is get the MSI board based on the N-Force chipset. Built-in sound, video, lan, minimum fuss. A 1ghz Duron will be more than adequate. Or you can go with an older Athlon 1.33ghz-C (the 266mhz FSB should boost things a little bit) and its an additional 20-30bux. Just make sure to buy a pair of memory modules so the double memory bus of the N-force could be used (resulting in a boost for the video card). 2-128mb sticks of DDR (256mb total) should do.

 

[Siddhartha]

I think you should recommend a system that will not dead end them too quickly
Did they give you a price target?
Do they need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, NIC or modem?

AMD Athlon XP1600+ retail $119.00
MSI K7T266 Pro2 (sound card) $97.00
or Soyo Dragon Plus) has sound card and NIC $142.00
256 meg DDR PC2100 $82.00
Maxtor 60 gig HD 7200 rpm: $101.00
Matrox G450 video card $79.00
Newegg.com prices

 

[giocopiano]

I'd say do not build that computer. You might think knowing how to build one makes you look clever, but balance it against
a) building from new parts won't get them a better deal than a prebuilt.
b) they want "each individual component listed with its price". This suggests 1. they don't necessarily trust you and want to check your prices, or 2. they think they know about these components. But if they know so much, why aren't THEY building the computer themselves. Both these possibilities ring alarm bells.
c) people who don't actually know very much about computers are sadly liable come across a configuration/software problem and come to the conclusion that a hardware part is bad or that it's been put together wrong and start hollering you're a crook or something. Do you want that in a guy next door?!

Listen to these guys, it's not worth your while. If you want to seem a guru, advise them on their prebuilt Gateway instead.
That's what I think anyway.

 

[Siddhartha]

I would double check your motives for building a computer for the neighbors. It sounds like it will be more trouble than it is worth.

 

[VTrider]

People are always quick too point out the disadvantages of building a computer for others, for good reason too. Before you do it bbarnes, I'd suggest you really take into account all this feedback concerning it. Personally, I find myself in your situation often and through first hand experiences, I've figured out a system that works for me. Each instance is different, you have to balance the decision on how much of a nice guy/friend you are and risking those tech support calls @ 9:00 at night.

Okay, back to our question though. I also would recommend an integrated solution if not for saving $$, then for less of compatibility/configuration/driver problems = less tech support down the road (hopefully). You have many choices here and it all comes down to money and/or performance, what do 'they' want, how much do 'they' want to spend. I've built about 1/2 dozen basic boxes around the ECS K7SEM + Duron 1.0Ghz with much success. The lastest build however is having issues with the Duron (think it's just a BIOS update though). Although, I personally have had success with ECS integrated mainboards, you are still taking a chance building with ECS. In conclusion, dont' skimp out on things like power supply, try to go name brand and keep it simple. Look into a nice Matrox video card if you end up needing an external video.

Good luck, -VTrider

 

[AU Tiger]

In addition to giving a list of parts and prices for building it yourself, I would configure one of those $500-$600 systems at Dell and print out the specifications list with the prices just so that they can make an educated decision between having you build it and having Dell build it. Two things they can get from Dell cheaper than you can provide legitimately is a WinXP license and an MS Office license. Plus you can refer them to Dell if anything goes wrong during the support period.

If anything breaks with the computer you build, who pays to fix it?

 

[PlatinumGold]

Yo dr. smooth.

do you really think that a 1 ghz processor will dead end this type of user anytime in the near future.

these are people who are probably still reasonably happy w/ the Pentium 133 they bought 4 years ago.

AT people have a wacked perception on what is acceptable performance.

if all these people are gonna do is basic word processing, apps, internet (on a dialup) etc, there is no reason to get them anything beyond a Celeron / Duron 700 in my opinion.

w/ that get them 256 MB of ram, and decent hd. they will be plenty happy and will even be able to do basic video editing and graphics.

one thing to consider is that small aluminum barebones kit from Newegg.com.

 

[Jen]

i would even consider just buying a used system through the forums.........definitly would keep the cost down and the trouble of putting one together for them



Jen

 

[bbarnes]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

RanDum72, which model MSI board are you talking about?

They already show up knocking on my door at 11:00 at night for various reasons, so I don't really see any difference if I do have to give them tech support, and as I said before, I already am their tech support for the comp they have now.

 

[Dunbar]

I think every computer person has done this and later quit. When you build it you truly are tech support instead of just doing them a favor. Believe me, they will come straight to you with problems they create. My excuse would be you don't do pirated software so Dell would be their best bet. Skip the crappy monitor Dell sells and buy a decent one, for what they do it' s more than adequate.

 

[The Dancing Peacock]

you know what I say to anyone who is not best friend/immediate family and wants a computer? Dude, you're getting a Dell.

Be careful, especially because they want everything itemized by price. They're going to nickle and dime you, trying to find a better deal and see if they can get it cheaper elsewhere. Beware, I say.

If you do go through with it. The N force with an XP sounds like a good solution.

Prepare for calls about Non-system disk error at 10 p.m, to son/grandson/neice/newphew sent or downloaded some virus, come look at it. And when they call, they want you to drop everything and go look at it, because they are that important

 

[Siddhartha]

"Yo dr. smooth.

do you really think that a 1 ghz processor will dead end this type of user anytime in the near future.

these are people who are probably still reasonably happy w/ the Pentium 133 they bought 4 years ago.

AT people have a wacked perception on what is acceptable performance.

if all these people are gonna do is basic word processing, apps, internet (on a dialup) etc, there is no reason to get them anything beyond a Celeron / Duron 700 in my opinion.

w/ that get them 256 MB of ram, and decent hd. they will be plenty happy and will even be able to do basic video editing and graphics.

one thing to consider is that small aluminum barebones kit from Newegg.com"

The retail Athlon XP1600+ costs $50 to $70 more than a Duron 1 gHz plus heatsink\fan but the performance difference is significant This is a bargain upgrade.

My stepmother is happy with her 40 mHz\386 running Windows 3.11. She uses it to play solitare and run MS Office applications.

 

[RanDum72]

The best way to go about it is to fool-proof it as much as possible. N-Force based mobos are stable as hell. Drivers for video,sound, mobo are standardized Nvidia. Get a decent PSU. Put WinXP on it (minimum crashes, if at all), put Norton Systemworks on it (for virus protection, etc...). And set CONSERVATIVE settings in the BIOS for memory and chipset settings so it doesn't mess up. Memory should be a good brand such as Micron(Crucial), Mushkin, corsair, viking etc. Also get a UPS with AVR ( power surges, blackouts can wipe out the drive). Get at least a 40gig drive (speed doesn't really matter).

If they want an itemized statement, just put the items on the shopping cart on sellers' websites (such as Newegg) and just print. Also stress that it is better to get all items from one source in order to save shipping. On top of the total for the components, just add your fee (for assembly, installing software, etc...)

 

[Dunbar]

That foolproofs it from the hardware end but 95% of tech support is software related and/or user ignorance. At least with Dell or someone they have to wait on hold to get pretty worthless tech support. Being a neighbor they're much more likely to call you at all hours if you made a profit. I still think you should tell them you don't pirate software and so it wouldn't be cost effective to build it for them.

 

[Siddhartha]

Duron 950MHz Boxed CPU w/ECS Motherboard for $99 at Outpost.com