Critique this sob story build please (simple net machine).

staknhalo

Supreme [H]ardness
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So to try and make a long story short, my dad is getting divorced from his 2nd wife after about 20 years. He's moving into an apartment on the first. He told me that he will be getting a 37" 720p t.v., new comp, etc.. When I told him he could hook his comp up to the t.v. and browse the net sitting on his couch he nearly blew a load in his pants. Well his birthday is on the 12th and i figure I'd save him so dough (lord knows he'll be getting raped with the divorce) and buy/build him a computer. Alright, now for what we all came here for. Just remember this is only a net machine.

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - $22.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151161

IN WIN IW-BT611T.300SL Silver Steel MicroATX Case with 300W Power Supply - $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108060

Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive - $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231

Logitech S-220 2.1 Speakers - $21.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121014

Logitech EX110 Mouse & Keyboard - $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126174

pqi POWER Series 2GB DDR2 800 Memory - $36.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820141300

GIGABYTE GA-73VM-S2 NVIDIA GeForce 7050 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128079

Intel Pentium E2180 Allendale 2.0GHz - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052

Total (with shipping) - $368.06

I have a retail copy of Vista Home Basic x86 I'll be throwing on there for him btw.
Also, I opted no video card because I know he'll get a tv with only vga most likely.

So anything to change, or good to go?

-updated case from vick1000's recommendation
 
Oh, and if the TV has a audio line in for the input you will be using, you could just run a cable to the TV instead of using the PC speakers.
 
Duly noted on the case. As for the speakers, I believe the t.v. hes looking at doesn't have the input for it.
 
maybe consider a bigger HDD, as he may well want to watch movies that he's downloaded, meaning he might want a lot more storage space...
 
You would be better off going AMD.

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H $79.99 + $8.45 shipping (Newegg Link)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Retail + G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (see last combo on page) $96.98

- GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H provides DVI, HDMI, optical SPDIF, 8 channel audio, Firewire, eSata, Gigabit LAN, and an IGP that is several times faster than what's on that GA-73VM-S2. The IGP also provides full acceleration for HD movies.
- X2 4600+ is same speed as E2180. Memory is a bit nicer than the kit you picked.


Total for the above is same as the Intel components you specced, coming in at $182-183 shipped. So you are getting a lot more with AMD at the same price.
 
Just a little update guys.

I was able to cut down cost a lot by using some left over parts I have laying around. The mouse/keyboard combo I linked to, I forgot I have the exact same one sitting in my closet. Also I have a DVD-Rom Drive to throw in (I asked him and he has never burned a CD/DVD in his life and has no intentions/need to). There is also a 250 GB WD SATA drive sitting in my comp that I could part with. I will be holding off on the speakers to see if the TV he is getting has audio in on it as vick1000 suggested. And lastly, a friend was able to acquire me 2x 1GB DDR2 533 sticks at no charge (I didn't ask and don't really want to know :p).

I will be going with the following:

ASUS M2A-VM AM2 AMD 690G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $64.99 (has hdmi/dvi-d)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131172

AMD Athlon 64 LE-1640 2.6GHz AM2 45W Single-Core Processor - $47.99 (Literally, the only multitasking he will be doing is IE and Word. Anything else would be overkill imo. Plus he won't be watching any HD movies on this.)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103239

IN WIN IW-BT611T.300SL Japanese Steel MicroATX Case 300W Power Supply - $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811108060

That puts my total at $186.11 shipped. Not bad imo. Criticisms? Comments?
 
So no HD content whatsoever?

I'd say spend the extra $9 for a fast dual-core CPU:
AMD Athlon64 X2 4600+ CPU - $57

People's PC usage do change over time. So a little extra CPU power may come in handy.
 
Agree with Danny here. $9 to go from single to dual core is a no brainer imo. Also, that mobo you linked (which doesn't have HDMI like you think) is only $12 cheaper than the one I pointed out but you are giving up LOTs of features and abilities in the process. There comes a point when building on the low end that you start sacrificing a whole lot of performance and features just to shave off a few more bucks. So what you get costs less, but it's a much poorer value then something costing just a little bit more. You stepped over that line with the components you selected imho. It might not matter to you, but I'm just saying spending an extra $21 here really goes a long way.
 
Nope no HD whatsoever. And after thinking about it, you're right. I'll bite for the 4600 only because I realized I will be setting some things up to run on an automated schedule (disk defrag, disk cleaner); so the dual core would be handy.

Agree with Danny here. $9 to go from single to dual core is a no brainer imo. Also, that mobo you linked (which doesn't have HDMI like you think) is only $12 cheaper than the one I pointed out but you are giving up LOTs of features and abilities in the process. There comes a point when building on the low end that you start sacrificing a whole lot of performance and features just to shave off a few more bucks. So what you get costs less, but it's a much poorer value then something costing just a little bit more. You stepped over that line with the components you selected imho. It might not matter to you, but I'm just saying spending an extra $21 here really goes a long way.

Oops, I meant HDCP not HDMI. My mistake sorry. But also I understand where you're coming from but the features will go unused. I'm all for getting something if it is gonna be used. But in this case it wont be. He has no need for the 7.1 sound getup on that board and honestly, ASUS isn't at all that shitty of a brand. I dont see what the objection is. Please though tell me you're objections specifically if you can. I would rather be proven wrong by you now than after I buy and build and regret it. Thanks guys :).
 
$21? seriously, thats not even a full tank of gas (for a car). :( Sadly its not even a half a tank of gas. Its literally not worth it for me to spend time trying to convince you to get Toaster's setup instead, lol. :p

Anyhow, the extra $12 isn't for 7.1ch audio (which is actually on BOTH boards, btw)... its for the ability to have the onboard GPU decode any HD video content along with HDMI. He is getting an HDTV with HDMI inputs, right? He does plan on watching HD video, right? He'll be using HDMI, right? If you don't think he'll be watching HD video content, then save the $12 now. If he needs such ability later on, you'll just have to spend another $30 for a videocard... again, if and when he needs it.
 
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