$500 build

J

Jeffman

Gawd
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Messages
917
Hey guys!

I'm looking to do a build for my aunt. I have a pretty good idea what I'm going to do, but am looking for advice on if you would change anything.

1) Web browsing, using Office, playing games (Just things like Bejeweled, not really gaming)
2) $500
3) USA
4) Case (Needs to be SFF), Motherboard, CPU, HDD (Prefer 1TB, maybe 2TB), SSD (128GB is fine), Memory (No more than 4GB), Power supply for SFF case, Monitor (20" LED is fine)
6) No overclocking
7) Need new monitor
8) The next 2-3 weeks.
9) Motherboard features don't really matter. Will need onboard video. Would like USB3 and SATA3, but none are really needed.
10) My aunt insists on reusing her *retail* 32-bit XP home OS, so I guess I'm using that. No more than 4GB of memory.

I was looking at a few things at MicroCenter.
Case - $50 http://www.microcenter.com/product/284178/DM-387_mATX_Slim_Computer_Case
Or this - $50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147098
SSD - $90 http://www.microcenter.com/product/..._State_Drive_(SSD)_with_3-core_MCX_Controller
HDD (2TB) - $100 http://www.microcenter.com/product/...ATA_60Gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_STBD2000101
Monitor (20" LED) - http://www.microcenter.com/product/399320/HX2001Lbmd_20_LED_Monitor

Then it's just 4GB memory, and a mobo/processor bundle. I was looking at one of the AMD processors, since they give you pretty good deals on mobos there if you get the procesor too.

Thoughts? Any changes?

I should mention, I have an optical drive and a memory card reader that I will be using.
 
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Please read and answer question 8 again.
Also, is that copy of XP actually transferable? Is it a OEM or retail key?

With that said, considering the price point and the fact that a new monitor is needed, your aunt might be better off with a prebuilt PC from Dell. The case and PSU you've chosen is pretty crappy due to the shitty PSU and pretty much any Dell will have a significantly better PSU.

If you do insist on a DIY setup, ditch that case and PSU combo and go with one of the following:
Option 1:
$60 - COOLER MASTER Elite 120 mITX Case
$50 - Antec Earthwatts Green EA380D 380W PSU
---
Total: $110 shipped

Option 2:
$55 - Rosewill RS-MI-01 BK mITX Case
$44 - Seasonic SS-350SFE 350W SFX PSU
---
Total: $99 shipped

Option 3:
$55 - IN WIN BP655.200BL mITX Case
$56 - SeaSonic SS-300TFX Bronze 300W TFX PSU
--
Total: $111 shipped
 
Edited info. Thanks for the heads up on #8, read it too quickly.

ITX is out of the question, although it would be an excellent choice. She wants something that we can change out easily later and keep in the same case. I know the stuff I have picked out (Case and PSU) suck, that's what I'm really looking for in more recommendations.

I really wish she'd be okay with a small ATX case, but that isn't going to happen. She currently has something I built into an old HP case, and she wants it to be smaller and thinner than that.

I did add a different case, which might is a better option.
 
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Wow brain fart there. Thought you had a miTX setup. Anyway, if you have to have that specfic style of slim mATX cases, then just get the Rosewill you just linked and add this PSU:
$56 - SeaSonic SS-300TFX Bronze 300W TFX PSU

That Rosewill + the above Seasonic is your best bet if you want something that's actually good and relatively cheap.

As for the CPU and mobo, get the AMD FX-4100 CPU and the Biostar 880G mobo over at Microcenter. It should cost you around $100 total for both items.
 
All done. Got the HDD, and SSD linked, along with an FX6100 and a Gigabyte mobo that had USB 3.0 at MicroCenter. Got the case listed, along with the PSU you listed at NewEgg. Got a different monitor at BBY (HP 20" for $100).

All set. Just need to wait for case and PSU from NewEgg and I can build it. Thanks for the heads up on the PSU. I honestly didn't even know they made higher quality PSU's for those cases.
 
Onboard. I have a 5450 if it's necessary, but she won't need anything mroe than the onboard for what she's doing.
 
What Gigabyte model did you get?
I know it is not a problem as you have a 5450 as backup, but only the AMD chipsets with a G in the name feature onboard graphics.
 
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