Building new Computer for Mom

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Corbin

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Messages
509
Hi I'm tired of my mom always whining: my computer is so slow!, why is yours so much faster!, I want this to be faster. So I told her I'd build her one when she gets the money from selling a trailer. This is the build I have come up with. I'd like it to be fast with just browsing the internet and things like that, but at the same time be able to lan with my friends if they come over. The games can be like anything in the orange box and CoD4 but these games are not going to be all high / AA/Af. As you can see from the bottom of the post I'm running an 8600gt right now so I just picked that also for my mom's computer. All I have is a 500w 29amp Psu. Any suggestions on this build or am I forgetting something?

Heres a list of all the parts:

89.99 Rosewill R218-P-BK Black 0.5mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

89.99 GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard

94.99 XFX PVT84JUDD3 GeForce 8600GT XXX 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card

67.99 Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E2160

43.99 A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1A16K

47.99 Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

109.99 Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

26.99 ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

These parts are all from newegg just because I trust them and like to bundle all my parts up. The total is like 511 before the rebate and before shipping. My mom does not want to spend more than 500. She is also on a 17inch CRT. So just give me some advice and tell me if anything is missing.

BTW I've never built a computer before but I've been practicing on my broken one (the one that was surged) and I also read the 5 day steps to building a computer at about.com. So just feel free to look.
 
Im no expert but that sounds perfect for you're mom, and some gaming on the side. Although unless you're overlocking, is the Freezer 7 Pro necessary? Hopefully someone else will chime in.

Im actually building a system with that mobo right now aswell, just with a Q6600, 4GB RAM, and a 8800GT 512.
 
here a few suggestions to get the price down. Also please provide links so we can view your selections easier.

case: RAIDMAX SYMPHONY ATX-308 White SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156084

hd: Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s $47.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075

ram: A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 $43.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

mobo: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

cpu: Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Allendale 2.2GHz LGA 775 65W $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115031

os: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1 32-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116480

video card: MSI NX8600GT Twin Turbo GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 $89.99 - $20 mir
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127306

cd/dvd burner: LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA $25,99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106070

Total: $532.92 - $20 mir + shipping

That e4500 has double the cache compared to the e21xx you picked.
Get the freezer 7 later if you can oc enough on oem fan.
I think you missed a dvd rom in your post no?

GL!
 
L2 Cache size doesnt matter much, so you can stick with the E2160 instead if you'd like to save some cash. Some links regarding the impact of a smaller L2 Cache can be found in the GenHard FAQ sticky.

You could also wait for a good dell deal. This isn't a good dell deal, just a normal one, but they do get better as the weeks go by; but this is just an example:

Dell Vostro 200 mini tower, $400 + tax & shipping
  • Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2160
  • Windows XP Home Edition
  • Dell 20 inch Widescreen E207WFP Analog Flat Panel
  • 1GB DDR2-667 - 2DIMMs (2x512MB)
  • 16X DVD-ROM
  • 250GB SATA HDD
  • Intel GMA 3100 on-board graphics
  • 300W Power Supply
  • PCI-E 16x slot for additional graphics card
  • 4 DIMMs

Add in an 8600GT for $50AR and another 2GB of RAM ($40) for 3GB total...
$80 - eVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB ($30MIR + Free Shipping)
$35 - Super Talent 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 T800UX2GC5 ($6 shipping)

... and she'll not only get a good system, but also a new monitor. ;) The only drawback is no CPU overclocking. :(
 
Well thx for that dell build. I'm going to check that out! I have also never overclocked and really don't want to try it on my mom's new machine! Cool a monitor! I also have a dvd and cd drive for the person who asked that earlier.

BTW where did you find that on the dell website?
 
only potential issue there is that dell's are notorious for being Dell specific which means you may have trouble upgrading later due to proprietary hardware. And that includes overclocking.
 
well a PCIE x16 slot is universal. DDR 2 DIMM slots are universal to.

The motherboard will have dell bios flashed to it limiting any OC tweak in bios but thats really it. swap out the motherbaord for another or flash the board bios to its commercial counterpart and your good to go.
 
hossdaddy said:
only potential issue there is that dell's are notorious for being Dell specific which means you may have trouble upgrading later due to proprietary hardware.
Click to expand...

Vostro systems are standard ATX, last I checked -- which was actually not too long ago. So, as far as upgrade ability goes, you're fine.
 
Universal? atx? srry I'm kinda a newb... or a total newb.

edit: someone tell me what these mean?
 
Corbin said:
Universal? atx? srry I'm kinda a newb... or a total newb.

edit: someone tell me what these mean?
Click to expand...

I updated my post above. It basically negates the comment about dell using proprietary hardware, since the Vostro systems are standard ATX.
 
so how far will I be able to upgrade? can i get up to dual core 2 for intel and a like 9600gt later? Or is there anyway to look at the mobo specs?
 
Corbin said:
so how far will I be able to upgrade? can i get up to dual core 2 for intel and a like 9600gt later? Or is there anyway to look at the mobo specs?
Click to expand...

At the very least the video card. However, the PSU is what worries me. IIRC, many Dell PCs, nowadays anyway, don't come with a 6 Pin PCI-E power connector. Which leads to my theory that the Dell PSU can't handle a major graphics card upgrade.

At the very most, you can upgrade to the 8600GT or any video card that does NOT require a separate PCI-E power connector.

CPU wise, dunno. Highly doubt you'll need to upgrade the CPU though.
 
Corbin said:
so how far will I be able to upgrade? can i get up to dual core 2 for intel and a like 9600gt later? Or is there anyway to look at the mobo specs?
Click to expand...

Yes, you would be able to do those upgrades. Just google for Dell Vostro 200 mini tower and the specs should come up.
 
Well as I stated earlier I have a 500w 29amp PSU that I just bought for the old rig listed below. So that has a 6-pin connector so I think that would work.

edit: I checked the mobo and the CPU socket supports core duo and quads so I'll be fine for future upgrade (1-3 years).
 
Are you crazy. I'm not paying 150$ for a 8600gt or 50 extra bucks for another 1 gb of ram. I getting the 1 gb and the starter graphics and buying the 2 gb dual channel and the 8600gt from newegg. The one you recommended actually. :)
 
yes thats the one that you posted! I know thx for the help everyone! LoL
 
What's the full configuration for the Vostro 200 you're planning on buying? (The link you've provided took me to the configuration/order page.)

And Danny...

Danny Bui said:
It does but why would your mom need an 8600GT?
Click to expand...

Corbin said:
I'd like it to be fast with just browsing the internet and things like that, but at the same time be able to lan with my friends if they come over. The games can be like anything in the orange box and CoD4 but these games are not going to be all high / AA/Af. As you can see from the bottom of the post I'm running an 8600gt right now so I just picked that also for my mom's computer.
Click to expand...
 
Well everything is as is on the configuration except I'm getting the vista home premium instead of xp. Unless anyone says why I shouldn't
 
it only says vista on it and I can't choose which one I want. I do want 64 bit though
 
I believe that Dell offers only 32-bit Vista for Home/Home Office customers (though I could be wrong...).
 
I'd go with the dell. I skimmed through those posts, but didn't like what I saw. I'll explain more when I have time.
 
I saw those lists, and long story short, they all have some sort of flaw that (IMO) don't justify their prices.

- Rig #1 has a relatively weak gaming card in the X1950XT and a 17" monitor.
- Rig #2 is simply an HP computer with an HD3870 and the WinTV capture card added on, but no monitor.
- Rig #3 makes no mention of which processor it has. Outside of the monitor and motherboard, there aren't many specifics available (like, which brand PSU is it?).

Plus, this rig is going to be for your mom... why not spend the money to get an entirely new setup with an included one year warranty in case something goes wrong?
 
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