Need Advice on a New Build (~$300) for My Parents

[Arsynic]

I'm replacing an old PC that I built for my parents back in 2004. It was a P4 2.8 GHz ATi Radeon 9600 with 1 GB of memory. It's basically dead (I think the PSU), but even before that it was slow. I think it's time to build them a new one. Here are the details:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. Internet, e-mail and school work.

2. What YOUR budget is. $300 for them. I'm willing to throw in an SSD for free.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. The USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc. The original build was an Intel system, but I tend to build AMD-based systems for myself. But I'm generally agnostic if I see a good deal.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. I have a 40 GB SSD that I can use for a boot drive. But we'll need to buy a larger platter drive for the Apps and files.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads. Yes. I just need to know what's new out there since I don't browse the boards as much as I used to. What's new? What's a good deal these days?

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. No o/c.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with. N/A

9. WHEN do you plan to build it? Soonish.

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

 

[jpeyton]

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=14756494

$263.94 after rebates, plus tax/shipping

Search FS/FT for a $40 2.5" or 3.5" hard drive, as current prices on new hard drives suck.

The XFX PSU is made by Seasonic, so it will be a quiet/reliable unit.

And a small bonus: all the components are black (case, mobo, RAM, PSU, optical drive).

Down the road, if you want to do some light gaming, throw in an inexpensive GPU (like a Radeon 6770).

 

[Arsynic]

Damn!!! I didn't even know some of that stuff existed. Thanks. I configured a Llano-based system and came in over $300.

 

[lehtv]

Would be cheaper to build around microATX or ATX than mini-ITX. And you don't want 1.65V memory, 1.5V is standard DDR3 and sandy bridge is meant to use 1.5V memory.

Celeron G530 $53
Asrock H61M/U3S3 $70
CM Elite 430 ATX $35 AR or Fractal Design Core 1000 microATX $40
XFX 450W $34 AR or Antec Neo Eco 400C $40
8GB G.Skill Value $37
Samsung DVD $20

= $249 AR ($260 with the Core 1000 and 400C)

This is equal to jpeyton's mini-ITX rig but costs less and the motherboard has better connectivity, and the RAM is 1.5V.

With i3-2100 from ncix.us, you'd land at $320

 

[mindless1]

P4 2.8GHz should not have been slow for internet, email and schoolwork. SSD you already have plus more memory should suffice, and clean OS install.

Granted, if PSU is suspected dead you might buy a new PSU and if it turns out it wasn't PSU but was motherboard, you would've wanted to replace CPU and memory then anyway so... back to whole new build.

 

[General Kenobi]

Just going to point out that Antec Neo Eco 400C doesn't come with a power cord, so add one to the shopping list in case you want that unit.

 

[mfenn]

Another option if you don't want to bother with putting a machine together is a Dell or HP desktop like this $340 machine.

 

[bendixG15]

big spender ... $300 ... wow

 

[frozentundra123456]

Another option if you don't want to bother with putting a machine together is a Dell or HP desktop like this $340 machine.

Not bad, but personally I would prefer something faster than that E450 in there. I think you could watch Best Buy for sales and get an athlon x2 or dual core SB pentium for not much more money.

And for the build it yourself system, none of the builds listed include the OS. Maybe I missed it,do you have a copy of windows you can use?

 

[mindless1]

edit: $300 will get something reasonable as an OEM refurb

check one of the various online Hot Deals sites (including at Anandtech), especially those that categorize type of product so you don't have to wade though as many deal listings.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

but a prebuilt
or refurb

 

[mfenn]

Not bad, but personally I would prefer something faster than that E450 in there. I think you could watch Best Buy for sales and get an athlon x2 or dual core SB pentium for not much more money.

Very true! I didn't see any good sales going on when I picked out that machine, but that is the nature of things.