Budget System for aunt

D

danbanger

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
Messages
468
Hello I haven't really been following AMD's / Intels but my aunt has asked me about what she should get for her new system.

She generally only uses her computer for regular computer task and mainly media burning (dvd's etc). Since she is only using it for those purposes, I don't think she needs a powerful videocard at all..just one that is stable/dependable. This computer will NOT be overclocked. Another thing she has asked is that she currently has a lot of programs on her computer that she wants to save, if a operating system is installed on another HD, will those programs still work on her old drive that will now be set as a slave?

My thoughts on the system so far:

CPU: AMD s939 3200+ (She wanted to get Pentium)
Mobo: Not really sure as long as it is solid/stable & PCI-E etc
PSU: Antec/Enermax thats around 450W
HD: Will be using current drives
CD/DVD Drives: Some Nec or Pioneer optical drives
HSF: Retail HSF
Memory: She was insisting on 2gb but I don't see why she needs more than 1gb. I will show her both and she can still decide if she wants 2 or 1gb based on the prices

ROUGH Price estimates:
CPU: $170
MOBO: $100
PSU: $80
Optical Drives: $85
Memory: $100-150
Videocard: $50 (was thinking of just giving her my x700pro since I will upgrade soon)
Oh and she'll probably need a new case too.
 
The 3200 is an extremely nice chip but I know alot of people view Intel as the better "rock stable" one.
 
danbanger said:
CPU: AMD s939 3200+ (She wanted to get Pentium)
Click to expand...

Why not get her a Pentium if she wanted one then? You can get an Intel Pentium 4 630 which would be about equivalent to the 3200+ for $172.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116198

And then you can pair it up with a cheaper but nice Asus mobo like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131576

BTW, what would be easiest for your Aunt I think would be to simply get a new HDD and copy over all the old contents onto a new one rather than set the old one as slave. You can download the demo for Acronis True Image which does that.
 
Definitely, thanks for the suggestion, I was just saying that was what I had in mind. I will show her that cpu/mobo combination.
 
When it comes to building a "cheap" computer, there really isn't money to be saved by doing it yourself (unless your using parts you've got lying around). You may want to look at getting her a Dell or something. For around the same price that you've quoted for parts, you could probably get a whole system, with OS, and a monitor.

I know it's not as much fun as building a rig, but it might be the easier/cheaper route.
 
seniorpaul said:
When it comes to building a "cheap" computer, there really isn't money to be saved by doing it yourself (unless your using parts you've got lying around). You may want to look at getting her a Dell or something. For around the same price that you've quoted for parts, you could probably get a whole system, with OS, and a monitor.

I know it's not as much fun as building a rig, but it might be the easier/cheaper route.
Click to expand...
I agree with seniorpaul. Get a Dell or eMachines and remove the bloatware that is on it (or do a clean xp install). The integrated graphics that it would come with will be just fine for your aunt's purposes. Also, 1gb of ram is plenty for her.
 
She generally only uses her computer for regular computer task and mainly media burning (dvd's etc). Since she is only using it for those purposes, I don't think she needs a powerful videocard at all..just one that is stable/dependable. This computer will NOT be overclocked. Another thing she has asked is that she currently has a lot of programs on her computer that she wants to save, if a operating system is installed on another HD, will those programs still work on her old drive that will now be set as a slave?
Click to expand...

Get her an Intel 945G chipset motherboard and a Celeron D. Geniune Intels are the stablest period and I don't see Auntie overclocking (although that would be freakin awesome). Celerons are nowhere near as bad as they used to be. Pretty much all they lack over a Pentium is cache (and a bit of FSB) and that difference will only be seen in games. Go with this board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121293

Onboard video will be fine, no sense in spending money on an X700 when it will be a strictly 2D workstation.

EDIT: I'm feeling generous, so I'll spec something up:

Intel 945G board ^^
2.66GHz Celeron D
1GB DDR2-533 (DDR2 is dirt cheap, you can get 1GB for $60)
Onboard video, sound, LAN
DVD Burner
A floppy drive with built in card readers (Mitsumi makes them)
Antec Sonata II (quiet case, comes with an excellent PSU)

I bet you could do this in under $750..
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...hListNumber=1948289&WishListTitle=Auntie's+PC
 
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