What type of computer

[CompKidRRO]

My friend wants me to build a computer for her. Her needs are Juno Email and basic 3D Graphics for her child. She also wants it to be future upgradeable. I was thinking of an Asus A7n266-Vm Motherboard. What do you think? I also need to buy a case, Ram (thinking DDR), a CPU(1GHz mabey). Id like to keep it under 500. ANy ideas on what i should get, I am leaning toward an AMD based computer because they are a little cheaper.

 

[egale]

Anything you will put together for that price and a 1GHz processor is already outdated. Anything you put into it will not go into a future machine and newer components won't fit into it.

For $450 at Dell with free delivery, you can get a P4 2.2 with 256meg, 80gig drive, 17" monitor. The graphics are onboard Intel ( not so great) but for what you are trying to put together, a pretty good deal. This machine is not upgradeable really either but at least it will work for now as long as you are not doing heavy duty gaming.

When it is time to upgrade, it will be easier to start with a new machine.

 

[mechBgon]

For the heck of it, here's a budget rig with some upgradability: link to wishlist at Newegg It includes WinXP Pro, Works Suite 2003 (including full-version Word), 512MB of dual-channel DDR memory, high-performance audio, onboard GF4MX-level video plus an AGP 8X slot, and three free PCI slots. In 3D apps, it will eat Intel Extreme Graphics for lunch and come looking for seconds. 😀

It wouldn't cost a lot more to upgrade that to a 2500+ and switch out the PC2100 for PC2700, and then you'd be one Radeon 9600 Pro away from a HalfLife 2 system, by my reckoning. :evil: If your friend wanted to cut back on the budget a little, two 128MB modules would be enough RAM if you switched down to Win2000 Pro and gave the onboard video only 16MB or 32MB of it, instead of 64MB.

Something to kick around, anyway. 🙂 The A7N266-VM is a reliable little board if you want to go cheaper... I've got a couple dozen at work and they haven't given me much to complain about. On the flip side, if you have her get a Dell, tech support is their headache, not yours, so there's merit in that too. 🙂

 

[CompKidRRO]

Im thinking I would like to build the computer. And all i need is the MB (intigrated sound and vid) CPU RAM and case. Any ideas.

 

[CompKidRRO]

Any help at all?

 

[xSauronx]

mostly newegg stuff...

could get a a7n8 delux for 125, mushkin 3200 512mb ram for 75, 2000+ for 59, some case with 300w psu for 40, hs/f for under 15 shipped (see the GC69 at SVC.com) radeon 9100 128mb for 72, dvd drive for 32, 80gb 7200rpm drive for 75

just under 500, should do it. later on more ram(another 512), a cpu (barton something) and video to upgrade (some radeon 9x00). save 150 or 200 bucks with the a7n266, 256mb ram, no extra video and a 40gb drive. you didnt mention a monitor, kb, mouse, speakers though...figure another ~250 for all that, a floppy and a cdrw instead of a dvd rom.

mechbgon has good suggestions in his link, others can be found. Grisoft AVG has great free antivirus software. and OpenOffice has a fantastic (for a free product) office suite for use.

edit: dont forget an os, xp home (pro is not necessary for a basic home user) is about 100 bucks or so.

linux is free, mandrake is very very functional with good hardware support, has plenty of apps (mail, browsing, word processing etc) and is super easy to install and get running with. may want to burn and let them try out Knoppix to see what they think. some people, even if theyll just do the same basic things, wont be willing to try a different operating system. and, some will to save some cash. i havent had any problems or issues with mandrake myself (though, id use an nvidia card, like the 4200, over an ati card due to better linux driver support)

as mentioned though, with a dell you dont have to be tech support, they get a nice pc, and its cheap, but not terribly upgradeable.