Build <$1000

L

legato

Weaksauce
Joined
Dec 1, 2003
Messages
82
Hi guys and gals,

My mother-in law had a dell xps with I believe some core2 duo proc with windows vista home premium. The dell would power on, but no display. I hear the fan crank up to full blast and the power button glows the amber color. From the web-based tech support, I gather the mobo is dead.

Questions are answered to the best of my knowledge at this time. Please let me know if there are any items that need clarification and I can try to get that info.

I don't know if the processor or memory is dead, so I'm opting to just start fresh. Only thing I am going to salvage is the hard drive.

Or is there any good ways to determining if the processor and ram are still good?

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Web browsing, word/excel, email, viewing online tv programming/youtube

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$1,000

3) Where do you live?
SanJose

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
CPU/Mobo(i3/i5 vs. core2duo?), RAM (4gb), dvdrw, videocard(gf/ati no preference but budget), would like a small/thin case that can stand vertical or sff might work as well, and ~500W PSU(?)

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Keyboard/Mouse, Monitor, sata hdd (salvaged from a dell xps desktop)

6) Will you be overclocking?
No

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
19" WS

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
June/July (flexible)

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Onboard audio/sound

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Legit Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit


Thanks in advance!
 
1 & 2. For your needs there your budget is way overkill.

4. Small & Thin SFF is easily achieved, but not normally with a 500W PSU.. Thats way overkill for a SFF

8. For a june or july build your asking at-least a month & a half too soon..
 
post two weeks before you are buying and people will help. everything is pure speculation until then. for her needs, any old dual core will do.
 
You could always just drop in a new mobo and call it a day. If core2duo is all she'd need anyway no sense in tossing everything out. ;)

Maybe throw in a faster hard drive or keep the current one for storage and add an ssd for windows/apps.
 
Hit up the Basic Troubleshooting Guide on what to do when the PC does not POST. That mobo may not be dead especially if it's still powering on.

If from the troubleshooting guide you've determined that the mobo is defective and if you want to see if the mobo and RAM still works, just pick up this $40 motherboard:
$40 - BIOSTAR G31D-M7 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Drop it in, test, and you can figure it out from there. Far far far cheaper and faster than spending $1000 on a SFF rig thats overkill for her needs.
 
As an alternative to Danny's Biostar suggestion and since you're in CA, I'd suggest this board instead, from Amazon:
$45 - MSI G31TM-P21 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX

I've used both boards and I like the MSI much better because it has 4x SATA vs 2x in the Biostar.

Fry's actually had this board for basically free with an E3200 Celeron dual core a couple times in the past month or so. The Combo was $45 - $10MIR. If it comes back around again, it'll probably be all open box boards, though. :(

Oh, btw, I'd try a new PSU first, but yah, go through the sticky. ;)
 
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