$300 Dependable XP Workstation

Y

YellowSnow

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
463
Looking for a nice dependable build, please. This is for a work environment so this computer will never see a video game or be overclocked.
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
MS Office 2007 (including Outlook) and some other (more lightweight) apps. No gaming.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$300. Yes.
3) Where do you live?
Reno, NV
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
I'd like to build (or buy without OS) a very reliable dual core PC to run Windows XP Pro. I'm limited to a 32bit OS so nothing over 4GB of RAM. 3GB would be better if possible. We could go as low as 2GB as long as I can always upgrade to more later, when/if we upgrade the OS.
Let's do one DVD ROM/CD Burner or similar. A memory card reader would be cool too. Gigabit NIC would be a plus too.
So here’s a list:
Case? (see number 5)
PSU
Mobo
RAM
CPU
HDD
Card Reader
DVD ROM/CD Burner or similar
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Monitor (VGA only), Keyboard, and Mouse. I have many "older" cases. They're mostly 5 to 10 years old. Can I reuse the case easily? If not, let's include a new one in the build, please.
6) Will you be overclocking? No
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have? 17” LCD
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Soon, no big rush.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Gigabit NIC
Sound (basic 3.5mm analog)
VGA video out
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Yes. Windows XP Pro 32

I won't send in any mail in rebates, but I love Bing Cashback.
 
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Dell has machines around $300. $100-120 more will get you a machine with an LCD monitor and Windows 7.
 
I'm just going to tell you straight up that $300 is not going to cut it.
$60 cpu, $80 mobo, $50 ram, $90 case w/ psu, $50 hdd, $20 dvdrw, $15 card reader.
Just not going to happen with $300. I would suggest you look for a dell outlet machine or something used on craigslist or something
 
Dell outlet has some Dell Vostro's for $330-ish + shipping and maybe tax.
 
I'm sure I'll find a deal for a built system with no OS for under $300 eventually. But I'm certainly willing and able to assemble a build if anyone can offer one.
 
I would love to get a second opinion on this build that was recommended on another forum, please:

Easy enough build since the person before asked for the same budget but needed more parts. I tired to select some reliable parts but there is wiggle room so feel free to look at others you might like.

Case: Reuse - $0
PSU: Antec Basiq BP430 430W - See Price Below
CPU: Athlon II X2 240 2.8Ghz - See Price Below
Combo - $81.94 - $15 MIR = $66.94​
MB: ASUS M4A785-M - $77.55
RAM: Mushkin 2x1GB DDR2 800 - $49.99 - $15 MIR = $34.99
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 250 GB - $38.00
Optic: Samsung TS-H663B - $19.99 - $2.40 BCB = $17.59
Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-IC001 - $14.99

Total: ~$259.44
Includes Bing Cash back of $2.40
Click to expand...

Any consideration regarding reusing a 7 year old case? Will all of the activity lights, PC speakers, and USB/sound ports on the front of the case work? I don't know if they're USB1 or 2.
 
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For a work computer, I'd rather get a prebuilt. Less hassles.

Get something other than the Basiq PSU.
 
450 said:
For a work computer, I'd rather get a prebuilt. Less hassles.

Get something other than the Basiq PSU.
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What's wrong with that PSU? Not dependable?

I'd love a prebuilt with no OS. Possible?
 
YellowSnow said:
What's wrong with that PSU? Not dependable?
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It's just that that particular Basiq PSU is made by FSP, which used to be okay but has not kept up with the times in terms of the quality of their PSUs. In addition, that PSU is not worth the hassle of a mail-in rebate: Often, the rebate request (if the rebate is in the form of a check) gets declined by the rebate company and thus you might never get your rebate at all. Plus, the Basiq is much less efficient than most other PSUs with APFC; in fact, the Basiqs even with APFC are only 70 percent efficient (compared to the 80-Plus certification on the PSUs we have been recommending); this means that if it can even deliver the full 430W, it would have drawn more power from the wall outlet than a good 500W to 550W PSU at full output. Worse, at $46 shipped it is a piss-poor buy for that price when much better PSUs from Corsair and Antec cost just a little more money.
 
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Okay, thanks for that insight. Bummer because the reviews on Newegg are great and that combo with the CPU is screamin, even without the MIR that I'd never send in.
 
YellowSnow said:
Okay, thanks for that insight. Bummer because the reviews on Newegg are great and that combo with the CPU is screamin, even without the MIR that I'd never send in.
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Actually, it is not as "screamin'" of a deal as it seems since the combo price represents only a $15 discount from the current street prices of each part individually. And shipping charges still apply: That $82 ($81.94) deal actually costs $89 ($88.92) shipped (yes, shipping charges for the individual pieces still apply to combo deals).
 
The included PSU is crap so it won't be "dependable" for long. I've never seen a Systemax with a PSU good enough even for an office type PC. You're better off searching through Dell Outlet.
 
We've run a few of them for many years without issue, here, but point taken. I always keep spare PSU's on the shelf for emergencies.

If that PSU were to fail, what are the chances it would take out other components with it?
 
Personally I'd cancel your order I'd search for a Dell Outlet deal.
 
450 said:
Personally I'd cancel your order I'd search for a Dell Outlet deal.
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My issue with that course of action is the amount of time it takes and the low level of detail that Dell gives regarding those refurbished machines. It's great for people who enjoy that sort of thing, but I'm getting paid by the hour here and my workload is far from light.
 
YellowSnow said:
My issue with that course of action is the amount of time it takes and the low level of detail that Dell gives regarding those refurbished machines. It's great for people who enjoy that sort of thing, but I'm getting paid by the hour here and my workload is far from light.
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If it takes so much time, then you'll never get a working system at all.

What's more, that Systemax is very outdated to begin with, with a PSU that can barely power what already comes in that system without any additional components (in fact, that PSU can burn out even when you add a card reader to that PC especially since the included PSU might realistically be only a 140W unit labeled as "250W"), and a motherboard that cannot be upgraded to a better CPU than a Phenom II X4 later on. And it has only a 10/100 NIC - way outdated in this day and age of Gigabit NICs being standard on new motherboards. Plus, the nForce chipset on that mobo has a lot of issues. The end result is a system that cannot handle even very light use.
 
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E4g1e said:
If it takes so much time, then you'll never get a working system at all.
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What?
E4g1e said:
What's more, that Systemax is very outdated to begin with, with a PSU that can barely power what already comes in that system without any additional components (in fact, that PSU can burn out even when you add a card reader to that PC), and a motherboard that cannot be upgraded to a better CPU than a Phenom II X4 later on. And it has only a 10/100 NIC - way outdated in this day and age of Gigabit NICs being standard on new motherboards. Plus, the nForce chipset on that mobo has a lot of issues. The end result is a system that cannot handle even very light use.
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Oh really? The only issue that you listed that concerns me is the chipset issue on the mobo and assertion that it won't handle light use. Please explain.
 
YellowSnow said:
What?


Oh really? The only issue that you listed that concerns me is the chipset issue on the mobo and assertion that it won't handle light use. Please explain.
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The problem is not the chipset per se, but it's the drivers that are required to use the chipset to anywhere near its capabilities. Without the drivers, the nForce chipset ends up being crippled. Unfortunately, NVIDIA has never written decent drivers for their motherboard core logic chipsets - and every time they fix one major issue, they end up creating a new (and sometimes more serious) issue.

My assertion that it won't handle light use is based on the included PSU and a too-slow NIC. A Gigabit NIC is required for a networked office PC.
 
Like I said earlier in this thread, I have an old gigabit NIC that I can throw in it. Not that I agree with the blanket statement that a gigabit NIC is required for a networked office PC...

With regard to the PSU, you are making it sound like it will somehow cripple the performance of the PC. Please explain. I have never heard of a PSU affecting performance. Do you know what PSU this machine is coming with? I didn't see it on the product page.

With regard to the chipset issue, if I install the latest drivers for XP from Nvidia.com, what are the issues you think I'll see? What drivers do you suggest I use?
 
YellowSnow said:
My issue with that course of action is the amount of time it takes and the low level of detail that Dell gives regarding those refurbished machines. It's great for people who enjoy that sort of thing, but I'm getting paid by the hour here and my workload is far from light.
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It took me 5 minutes to find a machine around $350. Just sort by price.
 
450 said:
It took me 5 minutes to find a machine around $350. Just sort by price.
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Specs? It's overbudget, but if it meets all of my criteria, sounds good. What's the deal with Dell outlet. They never include inferior hardware? If so, this is news to me.
 
YellowSnow said:
With regard to the PSU, you are making it sound like it will somehow cripple the performance of the PC. Please explain. I have never heard of a PSU affecting performance. Do you know what PSU this machine is coming with? I didn't see it on the product page.
Click to expand...

It comes with a 250W PSU of an unspecified make (I looked down the list of specifications for that system) - in other words, likely a generic "250W"-labeled unit which (for all practical purposes) cannot handle more than about 70 to 100W at realistic PSU internal temperatures of between 40° and 50° C (104° to 122° F) before blowing up.
 
The HP Direct Store currently has Bing at 25%
Home depot has 10% right now I noticed too.
 
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