My Mom wants a computer (...to play farmville)

[rdukeman]

Also for basic things like facebook. In my past experiences it was better to buy a pre-built pc and I will prob go with microcenter since it's within drivable range, but I would still consider going for something online/shipping if it is a good deal.

My price range is 300-500$-ish. I would like to have windows 7 and a decent hd and ram. The video card isn't important since it wouldn't be used for highly graphical games.

 

[CurseTheSky]

A decent pre-built will get you more for the cash due to the cost of Windows 7, etc.

If you really want to build it yourself, aim for a cheap AMD dual core, 785G motherboard, 2GB DDR2 or DDR3 (depending on the board), 500GB HDD, 300-350w PSU from a quality company (like Seasonic or Antec), and a $30 case.

 

[Brainonska511]

If you don't mind getting her a laptop: How about this TimelineX (11.6" arrandale CULV) model from Acer: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-803-_-Product

We got my mom the 14" version using a standard i3 and a Radeon 5650 (switchable to Intel) - overkill for sure for my mom, but it was we bought it from a B&M and had to go with what's in stock. Solid product though; a little too much crap installed at first, but good once you've cleared it out.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Why not a cheap laptop? No cables to mess with and she can fold it up and put it away after the harvest. There seem to be Hot Deals on $300-450 laptops every week, with the $400+ ones being dual-core, 3GB RAM and at least a 250GB HD.

Get an AMD laptop for better graphics, though Farmville and Flash games will be 2D anyway.

 

[jjmIII]

I also suggest a $400 laptop. You just can't go wrong.

 

[Hacp]

Farmville and facebook? May I ask how old your mom is?

 

[rdukeman]

46.

She already has a laptop - a macbook pro. It's only a few years old and it overheats (damn apple, I hate apple).

A desktop is what she wants, we already have a spare monitor, kb, and mouse.

 

[MJinZ]

46.

She already has a laptop - a macbook pro. It's only a few years old and it overheats (damn apple, I hate apple).

A desktop is what she wants, we already have a spare monitor, kb, and mouse.

Get a laptop that doesn't overheat.

Huzzah.

 

[rdukeman]

She wants a desktop. I will give you her number and you can try to convince her to get a laptop. It's best you drink a lot first, or be prepared to after, talking to her!

 

[kalrith]

I think laptops have a higher failure rate than desktops, so it would probably be safer to stick with one of those anyways.

Stolen from slickdeals:

Link

Dell Small Business is offering Dell Vostro 230 Mini Tower + Samsung 2494LW 23.6-inch Black LCD Monitor for $469 and $8 shipping. Thanks maniala
Specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 (2.93GHz) CPU
• 2GB DDR3
• 160GB HD (7200RPM)
• 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive edit
• Samsung 2494LW 23.6-inch LCD Monitor
• Intel GMA X4500
• Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit

Note that you have to add it to your cart before the monitor will show up.

 

[nickbits]

Farmville is very laggy with a slow computer. I think you'll want a 2.4GHz+ dual core at least.

I have an E4300 and it lags.

 

[TheStu]

46.

She already has a laptop - a macbook pro. It's only a few years old and it overheats (damn apple, I hate apple).

A desktop is what she wants, we already have a spare monitor, kb, and mouse.

If she is in OS X and it is overheating, it is almost certainly because of Flash, try upgrading to 10.1 I hear that it works better. Also, install iStatMenus to see if anything is pegging the CPU.

If it is in Windows, are you sure it is overheating? The fan controller doesn't work correctly in Windows, so it generally runs at full tilt 24/7.

 

[rdukeman]

Thanks for the tip on upgrading to flash 10.1. It is running on OS X.

 

[TheStu]

Thanks for the tip on upgrading to flash 10.1. It is running on OS X.

Yea, Flash has always been pretty crummy on OS X, 10.1 does help a little. Also, what browser is she using? Or does she multi-box it like my mom does?

 

[rdukeman]

I believe Safari.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Link to decent Flash in OSX:

http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10.html

 

[novice]

check out Staples for a very good deal on an HP Pavillion with AMD quad core CPU, Windows 7 64 bit OS, 750 gb Hard drive, wireless N on board, even has 4gb DDR3 ram, with 2 empty DIMM slots. All you need to add is a video card, and it should be ready to go.
$415.98 with free shipping/

http://www.staples.com/HP-Pavilion-p...mArea=CIRCULAR

 

[Rifter]

I dont think you people suggesting a laptop have any idea how poorly coded flash/farmville really is.

I just built a new comp for my girlfriends mom who mainly plays facebook/flash games including farmville so I did some research into flash games and man was i surprised. I installed CPU/memory useage logging software on my comp and played flash games like crazy(yay spent 20 hours plus playing crap facebook games, at least i was drinking) to get an idea of there ram and CPU usage so i could properly design a system to run them. Some flash games were hitting over 80%(FIX THIS GOD DAMN FUCKING PERCENT SIGN ALREADY!!!!!!!!) across all cores on my 3.6Ghz Phenom II, so good luck running flash well on a laptop, especially a cheap T series dualcore. Flash has little ram use though but can use every piece of Mhz you cant throw at it.

As for the comp i just built for gf's mom it was $670 Canadian tax and OS included, specs as follows:

Athlon II X4 635
Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H with SATA 3 and USB 3
4 GB DDR3 1333 Corsair
1TB 7200.12 Seagate
Samsung 22X SATA CD/DVD burner
Antec Sonata III w/500w Antec PSU
Windows 7 64bit

 

[paperfist]

Don't get her a laptop, my mom plays the same thing + Facebook and she's killed the battery. Flash sucks the life out of the damn lappy