Building sister budget system

[mikeyrocks23]

Haven't been keeping up with computer hardware since my last build which was about 2 years ago so I'm still doing some research to get the most performance out of the dollar.

I'm building a computer for my sister, all she'll be using it for is school work, e-mail, music. The basic stuff, her kids play games but usually just online flash and java games so no need for a video card. Her budget is 500-600$. Not worried about overclocking potential. Any way here's what i threw together so far. Any input is appreciated!

Processor: Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz $124.99

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-P55-UD3L $99.99

RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 2x1GB DDR3 1066 $56.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134492

PSU: COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460W $34.99

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM $54.99

Case: Rosewill FB-02 Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $24.99

DVD Drives x2: LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 $47.98 ($23.99 each)


Other
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Mouse & Keyboard: Microsoft QQA-00001S Black USB Digital Media Keyboard 3000 and Mouse Kit - OEM $26.99

Extra SATA Cable: 7.50$



Sub Total = 480$
Grand Total = 540$

Any ideas/suggestions? I was looking for a smaller hdd for her because she'll never fill up 500GB. But the smaller hard drives weren't much cheaper. I was also thinking of just getting 1 dvd drive and she can get a second one later if she wants because I don't think she'll do much disc to disc copying and that's about 25$ off the total.

I could go with an older processor but she gave me her budget and I was trying to maximize what I could get out of it.

EDIT: OH and as far as a monitor she has an old CRT that she can use for now..she's planning on getting an LCD monitor a little later on down the line

 

[somethingsketchy]

For the basic tasks that you have listed, this is pretty much a very good build for someone like her. Sure you could probably throw a cheaper Core i3 processor (can't think of one off of the top of my head), but it's probably small potatoes.

Looks pretty good over all

 

[somethingsketchy]

For the basic tasks that you have listed, this is pretty much a very good build for someone like her. Sure you could probably throw a cheaper Core i3 processor (can't think of one off of the top of my head), but it's probably small potatoes.

Looks pretty good over all

 

[Zap]

Decent looking list.

For such a basic build, you should also consider buying a pre-built system. You can likely get a Dell/HP/eMachines/whatever basic system for around that price with Windows 7. Sure, it won't be "exactly like how I'd build one for myself" but your sister and her kids won't know the difference, and they'd have someone to bug/blame if things go wrong.

 

[M0RPH]

This killls your build AND comes with Windows 7:
Dell Inspiron 580 Intel Core i3-530 Dual-Core Desktop Computer
Intel Core i3-530 Dual-Core @ 2.93GHz; 4GB RAM; 1TB HDD; DVD burner; gigabit; Windows 7 Home Premium; CPU-based graphics; card reader; 1yr warranty
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...&acd=10550055-227502-B12A0A0AC17A01198757A0A1
$549.00. $12.95 Shipping

Another one that kills your build:
Asus Essentio CM5570-AP006 Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2.33GHz; 6GB RAM; 750GB HDD; DVD burner;Gigabit + 802.11n; Vista Home Premium; NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS 512MB; 90-day warranty http://www.jr.com/asus/pe/ASU_CM5570...H3QgH**scVZUAQ
$399.00 Free Shipping

Here's one with Windows 7 AND an LCD monitor:
Dell Vostro 220 Slim Tower Dell E1910H 19" LCD; Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 @ 2.93GHz; 2GB RAM; 320GB HDD; DVD-ROM; gigabit ethernet; Windows 7 Home Premium; 1yr warranty http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...&acd=10549103-227502-B12A0A0AC63A01198747A0A1
$429.00. $35.00 Shipping

Getting the message yet that it's a bad idea to build for your sister?
Got those from techbargains btw.

 

[Bonesdad]

I dunno, if I had a lil sister, I'd want to build one for her....looks like a good list.

 

[mikeyrocks23]

This killls your build AND comes with Windows 7:
Dell Inspiron 580 Intel Core i3-530 Dual-Core Desktop Computer
Intel Core i3-530 Dual-Core @ 2.93GHz; 4GB RAM; 1TB HDD; DVD burner; gigabit; Windows 7 Home Premium; CPU-based graphics; card reader; 1yr warranty
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...&acd=10550055-227502-B12A0A0AC17A01198757A0A1
$549.00. $12.95 Shipping

Another one that kills your build:
Asus Essentio CM5570-AP006 Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2.33GHz; 6GB RAM; 750GB HDD; DVD burner;Gigabit + 802.11n; Vista Home Premium; NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS 512MB; 90-day warranty http://www.jr.com/asus/pe/ASU_CM5570...H3QgH**scVZUAQ
$399.00 Free Shipping

Here's one with Windows 7 AND an LCD monitor:
Dell Vostro 220 Slim Tower Dell E1910H 19" LCD; Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 @ 2.93GHz; 2GB RAM; 320GB HDD; DVD-ROM; gigabit ethernet; Windows 7 Home Premium; 1yr warranty http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...&acd=10549103-227502-B12A0A0AC63A01198747A0A1
$429.00. $35.00 Shipping

Getting the message yet that it's a bad idea to build for your sister?
Got those from techbargains btw.

hmm i never looked into prebuilt because i've always built my own computers...thanks for pointing those out though i could use my student discount on the dell website too

 

[M0RPH]

I dunno, if I had a lil sister, I'd want to build one for her....looks like a good list.

So you'd want her to get less for her money? So you can get your kicks out of building the computer and feel more useful because you're the nerdy brother who can assemble computers?

 

[mikeyrocks23]

So you'd want her to get less for her money? So you can get your kicks out of building the computer and feel more useful because you're the nerdy brother who can assemble computers?

.....yeah cause im a nerdy brother who gets kicks out of building computers ..wtf get outa here with that...right on for the prebuilt computer suggestions but these little disses are childish..i never looked into a prebuilt computer because i've always built my own and have managed to get more out of building my own compared to buying a prebuilt..on no so i figured i could save her some money by building her a computer..who could ever think such a thing?

but no im a nerdy little brother who wants his sister to get less for more just so i can spend 40 minutes putting a computer together

 

[mikeyrocks23]

Decent looking list.

For such a basic build, you should also consider buying a pre-built system. You can likely get a Dell/HP/eMachines/whatever basic system for around that price with Windows 7. Sure, it won't be "exactly like how I'd build one for myself" but your sister and her kids won't know the difference, and they'd have someone to bug/blame if things go wrong.

yeah thanks, after looking at some of the dells m0rph suggested i think i'm gona have her just get something prebuilt..i didn't realize that when it comes to budget systems i guess there isn't a huge margin of price to performance compared to higher end builds

 

[VirtualLarry]

Your original build contains a serious flaw that no-one seems to have caught. You have a Core i5 dual-core with onboard video, but the motherboard that you chose is a P55, not an H55, which means that it doesn't have onboard video to support the GPU on the CPU. So you would need an additional video card, or you would need to switch to an H55 motherboard.

 

[VirtualLarry]

So you'd want her to get less for her money? So you can get your kicks out of building the computer and feel more useful because you're the nerdy brother who can assemble computers?

Personally, I trust pre-builts about as much as I can throw them. Which, given my computer-nerd arms, isn't far. You get a better warranty (well, longer) if you build, although you have to diagnose and RMA yourself. I've seen plenty of pre-built systems that cut corners with problems down the line, but all of the rigs that I've built myself, out of quality components, seem to keep on ticking.

Plus, of course, there's overclocking. Which isn't possible with pre-builts. Who can say no to free performance? Once you take overclocking into account, I find that the price/performance ratio tilts in favor of building, rather than buying, even at the low-end. (Can build an overclocked E5200 system running at 3.6, for a lot less than it would cost to buy a pre-built, non-overclocked, 3.6 system. Actually, you cannot even buy a 3.6 stock processor as far as I know, so it's a slam-dunk to build.)

If absolute price, rather than performance, price/performance, or reliability is the main goal, then all means, buy a pre-built, probably refurb. But that's not my style.