Buy or DIY for sis-in-law?

[thestrangebrew1]

Been out of the loop building PCs for the last 2 years and don't know what's good for a budget pc to do basic computing tasks (surf, email, light productivity ie word processing etc) for my sis-in-law. Her fiance is going through vocational school and her does some online classes via some program that for some reason doesn't work on ubuntu that I installed on an old laptop. Therefore, they're in the hunt for a new desktop. Here's the info:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. Basic computing, email, surfing, storage for music & pics. No gaming except maybe FB games etc.

2. What YOUR budget is. Sub $500 if possible.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. US

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US N/A

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. Not my PC so I'm not partial to any brand.

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. N/A

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. Def. Not

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using? She doesn't have a monitor yet

9. WHEN do you plan to build it? Within a week if I go the DIY route. She'll need an OS which might throw a wrench in the overall budget if I go the DIY route.

I've been doing some preliminary research and for her needs, it almost looks like I could go to BB and just get an HP for around the same price as a DIY. If this is the overall consensus, which manufacturer do you guys recommend? She'll need a monitor & M&KB but those are easy to get and doesn't necessarily have to be included, but if they are and under budget that'd be best. Links to some deals would be appreciative as well. Thanks!

EDIT: I'd get parts from the Egg or Amazon. Closest microcenter and/or Fry's are about 1.5-2 hrs from here but could be worth the drive if there's a great deal.

 

[Burpo]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-Idea...1276727202?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item35d92acba2\

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Inspir...1620876836?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item3a95c5e224

 

[Blain]

Refurb Lenovo or Dell

 

[monkeydelmagico]

pre-built is probably the way to go. Keeps you from being the tech support guy forever too.

A new dell inspiron with an i3 is around $400.-. The G3240 pentium version is even cheaper at $330.- and would still probably get the job done. Combine one of those with a 23' monitor like this AOC for $130.- and you have a nice setup for the budget.

 

[Burpo]

Basic small Quad Core for basic tasks..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-Intel-...1573862300?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item3f3b10479c

 

[Lyfer]

I'm surprised this has not been asked.


Picts of the sister?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I'm surprised this has not been asked.


Picts of the sister?

lol no pics sorry. I don't usually carry around pics of my sis-in-law. Thanks for the help though guys. Looks like I won't be DIY'ing and go the pre-fabbed route.

 

[C2bcool]

I built a budget i3 box a few months back. It cost me ~$550 without the monitor. I did use some decent parts (Samsung 840, Corsair 200r Case and Corsair PSU), but got windows 8.1 from work for only $14 so that helped.

If your stuck at $500 go prefab. If you can push the budget a little you can build a much better one (with way better parts), but it will cost you ~$100-$200 more.

 

[PliotronX]

The problem with building anymore is they come to you for support. Hardware could be perfect but if they cant figure out how Metro works or download a virus the minute they open IE (I have a had a few people literally do that), theyre coming to you. How valueable is your time?

 

[Joeydubbs]

Agree with the general consensus, for a non-gaming machine that doesn't call for much horsepower, prebuilt makes sense. Not sure if you are a member but costco sometimes has decent deals and they add a 2 yr warranty to all pcs...

 

[Charlie98]

I built a budget build for my inlaws last Christmas (knowing full well I would be on the hook for support and maintenance... a big deal because I'm in TX and they are in NV) with a budget of $400. In the end it worked out pretty good but I cherry-picked the sales over a 3-month period; I could have just as easily gone down to MicroCenter and gotten a Pentium or i3 Dell for $400~ or shopped Dell Outlet and gotten the same.

As far as maintenance, I use the free version of TeamViewer to check into the computer now and then to make sure there aren't any obvious problems and to spruce things up a bit... although I wouldn't mind making the trip to Nevada.

Following the success of that build, I built a budget PC for me (DESK3 in sig below) using a few leftover parts I had, and buying the CPU/mobo and case in the FS/FT thread to save a little money... but the basic build still wound up over $400.

 

[mfenn]

The problem with building anymore is they come to you for support. Hardware could be perfect but if they cant figure out how Metro works or download a virus the minute they open IE (I have a had a few people literally do that), theyre coming to you. How valueable is your time?

Exactly. You also don't want to be on the hook for doing RMAs for them either.

 

[yvesj]

i do build all my computer. i buy all my parts from newegg.ca .for a really good computer the parts will cost you about 700.00 and more .
i have a few that restart in 19 secs .
this shutting down and back to desktop .
very fast .
after about 30 build you get to know all the parts that go togeter .
and you have to do a lot of reading i mean a lot of it right now a running 3 of them .
am 70 and it is a good pass time at my age .

 

[VirtualLarry]

www.staples.com, click on "Deals", click on "Coupons".

$100 off clearance PCs or Tablets.

Could find something cheap at you local B&M. I picked up a SB i3 Lenovo for cheap that way, and an E1-2500 AIO with a 19.5" screen.

Downside is, both have Win8.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Agree with the general consensus, for a non-gaming machine that doesn't call for much horsepower, prebuilt makes sense. Not sure if you are a member but costco sometimes has decent deals and they add a 2 yr warranty to all pcs...

Costco in my area at least has a very poor in store selection of desktops (did not see any at all last time I was in the store). They used to have some really nice Dells, and the extra year of warranty was a bonus, but now I definitely would shop elsewhere for a computer. Even their laptops are a rather poor selection and quite expensive. Seems like they are more interested in selling smartphones and data plans.

 

[frozentundra123456]

What about a laptop? I got my wife a 15 inch HP laptop with an i3 standard voltage mobile cpu for 360.00. Would not need a keyboard or monitor. It is 768p of course, so if you wanted a bigger monitor you could use it dual screen with an external monitor. Nothing fancy, but more than fast enough for the uses you listed and runs really cool for a laptop.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Sorry forgot about this thread. My mother in law ordered an HP from BB for her. If I remember right it was a tower + monitor, i3, 1tb, 16gb RAM (i think) and 19" monitor for around $529. My wife and mother in law went to pick it up today (she got an email confirmation) and they spent the whole lunch hour waiting for someone to tell them their system was down and that they couldn't release any of the online ordered products w/o the system. An hour. After 3 people helped them. Left empty-handed. So glad I was not part of that ordeal.

 

[Chipfiref]

i do build all my computer. i buy all my parts from newegg.ca .for a really good computer the parts will cost you about 700.00 and more .
i have a few that restart in 19 secs .
this shutting down and back to desktop .
very fast .
after about 30 build you get to know all the parts that go togeter .
and you have to do a lot of reading i mean a lot of it right now a running 3 of them .
am 70 and it is a good pass time at my age .

Yes and theraputic also to build them for us younger stressed out guys