computer for my mom

[ShadowBlade]

low budget computer; her primary uses are MS excel, spider solitaire and email, trying to keep it under $300 shipped

cpu: sempron 2600+ skt. A $79

motherboard: ASRock K7S41GX $44.99+2.99

ram: wintec 512MB ddr333 $33.99+3.83

reusing 40GB HD and optical drives

case: Ever Case E4252-91 $33.50+15.99

$213.29 shipped
anyone have any better choices, or cheaper for equal or greater performance

 

[Nick5324]

could always pick up a low end dell, would include an OS which you didn't list.

 

[dguy6789]

Integrated graphics mainboards are the way to go for non gamers on a budget.

 

[NiKeFiDO]

there a PSU in there somewhere?

 

[ValuedCustomer]

Try the classifieds in the Sunday paper. Also, not sure where you're at but in my part of the country we have something called the "Green Sheet" which is a weekly local classified type of thing where people can sell everything from PCs to puppies. -- you could prolly pick up a system for under $200 and that'd likely include the monitor as well.

 

[shud]

Does your mom go to college?

 

[FreshFish]

for cpu why not get a celeron d for $80 and overclock the hell out of it? Of course, this may not work because you need a board capable of overclocking it.

I agree that integrated graphics are the way to go here.

Something like This plus that case you had listed may suit your needs.... in the newegg review of the mobo, a guy got his 2.4 celly d to 3.2, so it may be worth it.

What about an OS or PSU??

 

[airfoil]

Originally posted by: FreshFish
for cpu why not get a celeron d for $80 and overclock the hell out of it? Of course, this may not work because you need a board capable of overclocking it.

Overclock a PC for his mom, for Excel, spider solitaire and email???

 

[FreshFish]

Originally posted by: airfoil

Originally posted by: FreshFish
for cpu why not get a celeron d for $80 and overclock the hell out of it? Of course, this may not work because you need a board capable of overclocking it.

Overclock a PC for his mom, for Excel, spider solitaire and email???

I realize it's silly, but he said he wanted equal performance to the sempron, which the stock celeron would not do. I think the stock celeron would be fine for his mom, though.

 

[KoolDrew]

Epox EP-8HMMI-A - $65
AMD Sempron - ??
512MB PC3200 - $30
In-Win Z720T - $35

That leaves you with $170 to spend on a CPU or something else.

 

[shoRunner]

get a socket 754 sempron.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104224
and a decent mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813152043

and you can use the other stuff you have. that setup can overclock if you want and will beat any celeron similarly price.

 

[Zepper]

Case Athenatech A100SC (silver/charcoal) case w/PSU - $42. (you can get this cheaper than from Newegg if you're willing to wait on ground shipping) Nice looking and compact - can get case in white (A100WW) if that's what she would like.

Sempron 2400 to 2600 + $63. - $74.00

Mobo DFI - KM400-MLV - $45.00
Saves the cost of vid card.

Corsair RAM $42.55 (or you can get decent RAM for less). I suggest two 256MB modules - in case one goes bad she won't be SOL until a new one comes in...

Total $192.75 - $203.75 + sh and/or tax.

I assume you'll be using Ubuntu (I would suggest trying Xandros 3.01 OCE too - very cool and free too) for the OS - cost $0.00....

If she has no personal preference, I suggest a Logitech Marble Mouse (actually a trackball) for $20. And perhaps and A4Tech keyboard.

. You could use a Duron 1800 and have more performance than needed for the tasks mentioned and then some - and cut at least $10 off the total as you will need an HSF for it that will eat up the other $10. Heck, I use a Duron 1600 (not OCd) and that's plenty for what I do. But the semprons are very nice and easily fit your budget.

.bh.

 

[KoolDrew]

Why are you guys bring up overclocking? It is a PC for his mom running Office applications and browsing the web.

 

[KoolDrew]

I assume you'll be using Ubuntu

:thumbsup:

 

[bearxor]

I would vote for picking up a S754-based Sempron, the cheapest one they offer (the 2600+ i believe). This way, you can upgrade her to either a 64-bit Sempron or a Athlon 64 3700+ whenever longhorn drops.

 

[ShadowBlade]

ive got the OS covered
some may consider it illegal, but thats not the issue so im not gonna say anything about it

psu - i was gona use the one w/ the case

someone said something about keyboard and mouse - using old gateway ones

 

[KoolDrew]

some may consider it illegal, but thats not the issue so im not gonna say anything about it

:shocked:

 

[ShadowBlade]

wow, integrated graphics really helped the price...updating OP

 

[KoolDrew]

You could save more money by buying the PQI 512MB stick at newegg for $33

 

[Oyeve]

Monitor???

 

[ShadowBlade]

monitor...also reusing gateway, at least temporarily
ill probly give her my dell e151FP when i get a new one

 

[Zepper]

Got a screw loose there, SB??? You've got a 64-bit mobo for a Sock-A CPU... the DFI I mentioned is the way to go for Sock-A Sempron . Or you could get an SiS based Asrock board for about the same price as the DFI.

.bh.

 

[boomerang]

This case is more expensive. I've built a number of systems with this case in both the beige and black variations. It's also an Athenatech like Zepper recommends.

It's not a flimsy POS like some other very cheap cases can be. The PS has given me no problems.

Just my $.02 for what it's worth.

I second the ASRock board Zepper mentioned. No personal experience with the DFI.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Why are you guys bring up overclocking? It is a PC for his mom running Office applications and browsing the web.

That's how they think. A number of years back they would have been proclaiming that mom needed to order a monster CPU cooler and 5 case fans.

 

[ShadowBlade]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157068
that the motherboard you were talking about, zepper/boomerang?