Very, very cheap build as replacement for 10 year old pc....

[Meghan54]

Friend's 70 y.o. mother's old pc died last weekend and I agreed to try to piece something suitable as a replacement. She's very budget constrained (trying to stay under $300)! Uses computer for internet browsing, emails, etc. NOT a gaming machine at all!

What she had.....an old HP with a 1.5GHz P4 cpu, 256MB RAM, 40GB hd......pathetic really in these times.


What I've put together so far......

Intel Celeron E340 (2.6GHz dual core)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116348 ... $40


Asus P5G41T-M motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131616 ... $44


2GB DDR3 RAM (various brands) ... $20
-OR-
4GB DDR3 RAM (various brands) ... $40


500GB SATA hard drive, (various brands like WD Blue, Seagate, etc.) ... $40


Zalman ZM450 power supply (internally, essentially identical build to the Corsair CX430) .... $28
http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=380


DVD+/-RW drive.....LG, Asus, etc. .... $18


Case.....Microcenter Powerspec TX366 ... $20
http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0247229



Total for above w/2GB RAM...... $210 w/4GB RAM..... $230


Can upgrade to a Pentium E5500 2.8GHz cpu for $10....or move to an Athlon II X4 640/Biostar A780L3G cpu/mb combo for $96. But honestly, I'd rather put the $12 difference into moving ot 4GB of memory vs. the faster processor, esp. considering what she's been using for the last decade.

Thoughts?

 

[mnewsham]

Coming from a p4 that would feel buttery smooth.

 

[Texashiker]

AMD Athlon II X2 245 @ 2.9ghz - $59. Your price for the celeron says $40, but I see $50 on newegg.

ASUS M2N68-AM SE2 - $49. You say the Asus P5G41T-M motherboard cost $44, but I see $59 at newegg.

I think you will get better performance with the 245 X2 @ 2.9 ghz, then out of the Celeron E340 @ 2.6GHz.

 

[Meghan54]

Microcenter prices.......Newegg is too high priced as seen by the prices I can buy at (listed) compared to what Newegg wants.....just used Newegg's pages for references.

 

[gorcorps]

What I read:
"Friend's 70 y.o. mother died last weekend and I agreed to try to piece something suitable as a replacement."

I was shocked, yet impressed that you were going to be building a robotic mother for $300.

Anyway... No need to go crazy on anything. I would simply get the cheapest of everything from a reputable brand w/ maybe an okay warranty in a socket that should still be around in 4-5 years in case something breaks. I wouldn't really go the route that Texashiker is saying. Nothing personal, it's just that ANYTHING even relatively modern is going to be a huge boost that there's no reason to pay any extra. What performance boost is a 70 year old going to notice in that processor jump? Price is key here, not performance.

The only jump I'd even consider making is to 4gigs of memory, but keep in mind that you'll need a 64 bit OS to take advantage of it all. Without it the OS will only utilize 2.5-3.5 gigs of it from what I read. Does she really want to learn a new OS? If she's been using XP for that long then it might be different enough to cause issues. It'd also affect your cost. It might not be worth the trouble/cost of switching OS, or if you stick with XP it might not be worth spending on the extra 2gigs if you can't use it.

 

[Meghan54]

Coming from a p4 that would feel buttery smooth.

That's what I'm figuring. Given she's put up with a 1.5GHz P4 with 256MB of memory for these years, damned near anything dual core with 2GB of memory should feel like an i7 920 OC'd to 4GHz to her.

 

[Meghan54]

What I read:
"Friend's 70 y.o. mother died last weekend and I agreed to try to piece something suitable as a replacement."

I was shocked, yet impressed that you were going to be building a robotic mother for $300.

Anyway... No need to go crazy on anything. I would simply get the cheapest of everything from a reputable brand w/ maybe an okay warranty in a socket that should still be around in 4-5 years in case something breaks. I wouldn't really go the route that Texashiker is saying. Nothing personal, it's just that ANYTHING even relatively modern is going to be a huge boost that there's no reason to pay any extra. What performance boost is a 70 year old going to notice in that processor jump? Price is key here, not performance.

The only jump I'd even consider making is to 4gigs of memory, but keep in mind that you'll need a 64 bit OS to take advantage of it all. Without it the OS will only utilize 2.5-3.5 gigs of it from what I read. Does she really want to learn a new OS? If she's been using XP for that long then it might be different enough to cause issues. It'd also affect your cost. It might not be worth the trouble/cost of switching OS, or if you stick with XP it might not be worth spending on the extra 2gigs if you can't use it.

LOL!

Yeah....I'm afraid she's going to be bamboozled by Win 7. Probably have to put XP back on it.....sadly.

 

[Texashiker]

LOL!

Yeah....I'm afraid she's going to be bamboozled by Win 7. Probably have to put XP back on it.....sadly.

With a low end system, xp will probably be better then windows 7 anyway.

XP has a lot less overhead then 7, so your going to get better performance with xp with low end parts.

 

[JackMDS]

If configured correctly Win 7 is actually more hospitable than XP.

New staff that comes does not care much about XP, thus sooner or later something will not fit and you will have to upgrade anyway.

For mature people change is harder than new ( This is Not just saying, I actually was involved in research concerning this issue).

I.e., Starting with Win 7 it will less traumatic tha switching after a while from XP to Win 7.

 

[Texashiker]

If configured correctly Win 7 is actually more hospitable than XP.

I doubt it - lets see windows 7 boot on 10 year old systems, like what xp was originally released on.

As for building a system for an older person, I would go back with what their used to.

 

[gorcorps]

If configured correctly Win 7 is actually more hospitable than XP.

New staff that comes does not care much about XP, thus sooner or later something will not fit and you will have to upgrade anyway.

For mature people change is harder than new ( This is Not just saying, I actually was involved in research concerning this issue).

I.e., Starting with Win 7 it will less traumatic tha switching after a while from XP to Win 7.

It's true that win 7 has pretty awesome plug and play built in driver support. With XP you more often than not need the disc, or need to download drivers online just to get some things working at all. At least in 7 almost everything will work on a basic level, and then you can install the latest drivers if you wanted to.

However, and this is a pretty terrible/grim way of looking at things, based on the computer she had before it's possible that this computer will outlast her... or at least her ability/desire to continue using a computer. It may be worth the struggles of initial setup with XP just to keep things easy for her and not force her to use a new OS when the computer wouldn't see that many years of use anyway.

 

[pukemon]

Hey to the OP: just a warning on that PowerSpec TX366 case which in itself isn't bad for $20, but the front panel connector is a single 2x5 10-pin block that's keyed to work with certain MSI motherboards that Microcenter uses in their PowerSpec branded boxes. In other words, it doesn't have individual header cables for power on / power led / hd led / reset, etc.

Luckily for me, the mobo I chucked in there was an MSI board so everything worked.

 

[Meghan54]

Hey to the OP: just a warning on that PowerSpec TX366 case which in itself isn't bad for $20, but the front panel connector is a single 2x5 10-pin block that's keyed to work with certain MSI motherboards that Microcenter uses in their PowerSpec branded boxes. In other words, it doesn't have individual header cables for power on / power led / hd led / reset, etc.

Luckily for me, the mobo I chucked in there was an MSI board so everything worked.

I've used that case in more than a few builds and have never had a problem getting the front header connectors to attach to any motherboard, Gigabyte, MSI, Asus included. They've been individual connectors in every one I've bought.

 

[Meghan54]

It's true that win 7 has pretty awesome plug and play built in driver support. With XP you more often than not need the disc, or need to download drivers online just to get some things working at all. At least in 7 almost everything will work on a basic level, and then you can install the latest drivers if you wanted to.

However, and this is a pretty terrible/grim way of looking at things, based on the computer she had before it's possible that this computer will outlast her... or at least her ability/desire to continue using a computer. It may be worth the struggles of initial setup with XP just to keep things easy for her and not force her to use a new OS when the computer wouldn't see that many years of use anyway.

And, honestly, this is really the only big concern I've got. She's not the youngest person around and is pretty locked into XP. I'm almost afraid that trying to move her to Win 7 will be repeated call after call about how do you do this or that....

 

[lsv]

Why not something like this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-006-_-Product

I assume she's just using it for browsing the web and watching youtube videos. I got my mom a Zotac mini pc which she uses on her TV and she loves it.

 

[Meghan54]

Why not something like this?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-006-_-Product

I assume she's just using it for browsing the web and watching youtube videos. I got my mom a Zotac mini pc which she uses on her TV and she loves it.

I did look at those....but after adding memory, hard drive, I'm up to if not beyond what the pieced together system will cost. I've got a reseller's account at MicroCenter so no sales tax there.....the customer pays it for the completed unit.

Just prefer to use as much standard parts as possible so it's easily taken anywhere and fixed...if it ever has to be.


And just as an FYI for everyone....I perused Dell's outlet and their cheapest computers are $270 and up....and still not as powerful as the POS I'm looking at building.

 

[Zap]

What she had.....an old HP with a 1.5GHz P4 cpu

That would make it a Willamette core with 256k cache. A single core Atom would be faster. Newegg lists a number of nettop dual core Atom (some even with ION/ION2) that comes with 2GB RAM and a HDD, ranging in price from $250-310. That would be very sufficient.

For a bit more oomph, can do an AMD Zacate ITX setup. Boards with CPU start at $110, add $20-40 for a bunch of desktop RAM, $80 for an Antec ISK chassis/PSU and you might even be able to squeak in a small SSD for close to $300 total.

And, honestly, this is really the only big concern I've got. She's not the youngest person around and is pretty locked into XP. I'm almost afraid that trying to move her to Win 7 will be repeated call after call about how do you do this or that....

My mom is near 70 and the only calls I've gotten after I switched her from XP to 7 was for stuff like when Java or Adobe Reader wants to update and Windows 7 UAC wants permission. If I disabled that, I wouldn't even get any computer related calls from her. I also put a small SSD in her system, which is one of the reasons I get fewer calls. She used to occasionally open up too many instances of whatever she was trying to do because it wasn't opening right away. For instance, she clicks on her email client and she doesn't see it open, so she clicks on it again, and again. Then I'd get a phone call. I also made her system a SFF and she loves how it just sits out of the way behind her LCD monitor, instead of taking up desk space.

The other thing is that you can make Windows 7 look like XP (classic view) so no learning curve required.

 

[lxskllr]

There's also the "cuteness" factor with a nettop. They're a neat looking computer. Not the most powerful things in the world, but they have a stellar form factor. It might be a good idea talking to granny, and see what she wants.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think a nettop would be a pretty good option here. If you can swing the Zacate system, so much the better.

 

[Meghan54]

Well, just as a follow up to all of the excellent suggestions and comments given here....and many thanks for all the input!.....

I did broach the subject of the nettop but she wanted to put the new computer back into the exact same spot the old one came out of......inside a computer desk door thingy. It's hidden so size was almost irrelevant to her and the taller mATX case meant the optical drive was almost at hand height when she was sitting.


Ended up with the Celeron E3400 cpu, 2GB Samsung DDR3 memory (single strip) that was on closeout at that MC for $17, the aforementioned Asus motherboard (chose that one for a few reasons, one of which was it had a built-in parallel port---important to her so she'd be able to reuse an older but working HP all-in-one scanner/printer), an LG 22X DVD drive, and a Samsung Spinpoint 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive.

The power supply also changed a little.....became a BFG GS450. Not exactly the top-of-the-line unit by anyone's imagination, true, but it was marked down to $22.91, then orange stickered and that MC had all orange stickered closeout/returned stuff 50% off....made that ps under $12. BTW...it was brand new and still shrink wrapped.

Walked out of MC after paying $191.24. Not too shabby for a complete computer, sans OS.

Put it together and it's damned quick....for what it is, anyway. Did install Win 7 Home Premium and it works very well in this configuration of parts.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Get her a cheap Dell.

 

[BoomerD]

For this purpose, try the Dell Outlet Store.

Buy a low-end Inspiron refurb.

You should be able to find a decent one for about $350.

 

[Zap]

BFG GS450... under $12

Not bad for something without warranty. FYI you paid less than half of what these things cost to BFG. Also FYI it is rated at 350W continuous (450W is peak at 25°C), and isn't that terrible of a 350W PSU. Outside of Antec, it should be better than any PSU bundled with a cheap case - sometimes a LOT better.

Walked out of MC after paying $191.24. Not too shabby for a complete computer, sans OS.

Put it together and it's damned quick....for what it is, anyway.

That's the important thing, that it does the job. :thumbsup:

Get her a cheap Dell.

For this purpose, try the Dell Outlet Store.

Read much? OP already did the build.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Ended up with the Celeron E3400 cpu, 2GB Samsung DDR3 memory (single strip) that was on closeout at that MC for $17, the aforementioned Asus motherboard (chose that one for a few reasons, one of which was it had a built-in parallel port---important to her so she'd be able to reuse an older but working HP all-in-one scanner/printer), an LG 22X DVD drive, and a Samsung Spinpoint 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive.

The power supply also changed a little.....became a BFG GS450. Not exactly the top-of-the-line unit by anyone's imagination, true, but it was marked down to $22.91, then orange stickered and that MC had all orange stickered closeout/returned stuff 50% off....made that ps under $12. BTW...it was brand new and still shrink wrapped.

Walked out of MC after paying $191.24. Not too shabby for a complete computer, sans OS.

Put it together and it's damned quick....for what it is, anyway. Did install Win 7 Home Premium and it works very well in this configuration of parts.

I think that you did fine. The only other thing that I might have done, would be to put together an AMD Athlon II X4 640 rig instead. With the free mobo deal, that wouldn't have cost much more.

Oh, nevermind, you made the right choice. I forgot about needing a parallel port. That certainly complicates things. There are very few (practically none) mobos with parallel ports that aren't S775 G31/G41 mobos. In fact, I specced out a similar build for a client, who has a parallel-port vinyl cutter. Very limited options in that case.