Low cost system used as "scanner controller"

[x509]

I'm about to start scanning thousands (and thousands ...) of 35 mm slides. With the batch loader, I can do 50 slides at a time. Each slide scan will take several minutes and I will do each scan batch overnight, so transaction speed is not really an issue.

I want to use a dedicated system as the "controller" for scanning, because there is simply no room in my regular work area for the scanner, the boxes of slides to be scanned, and the space needed for cleaning slides before scanning them.

System requirements for the scanning software are pretty minimal.

• Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8
• 2 GHz Processor or faster (Multi-core recommended)
• 2 GB RAM main memory (4 GB RAM recommended)

Can anyone recommend a low-cost motherboard, CPU for this system? My preference is for an ASUS motherboard, but I'm open to other brands. I would also want at least 2 SATA ports, 2 USB ports, and Ethernet.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dangman]

Can anyone recommend a low-cost motherboard, CPU for this system? .

What about the rest of the parts?

 

[x509]

What about the rest of the parts?

Pretty vanilla stuff. A DVD drive, probably 8 GB of RAM, Win 7, USB mouse and keyboard, power supply with sufficient power. Low cost CPU cooler. Built-in graphics OK. Display, I'll get something used off Craigslist.

All this system has to do is issue commands to the scanner, and store the scanned images. In other words, the kind of system you might build for your mother who just wants to to email and surf the web. Kind of the opposite from a gaming rig.

 

[Dangman]

Why not just get a cheap Dell then?

Oh and is size a concern at all? In other words, do you want to pay extra for a mITX/mATX setup?

 

[x509]

Why not just get a cheap Dell then?

I guess I could, but I have built all my own desktops for almost 25 years now.

Oh and is size a concern at all? In other words, do you want to pay extra for a mITX/mATX setup?

Case size? Not an issue. I will put this system onto a separate work area, a table that holds the system, the scanner, plus all the stuff for cleaning slides, etc.

 

[Dangman]

Well I recommend the following:
$70 - Intel Pentium G3220 CPU
$88 - MSI B85-G41 PC Mate Intel B85 ATX Motherboard
$60 - Crucial CT102464BA1339 8GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$60 - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$18 - Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD Burner
$43 - Corsair 430CX V2 430W PSU
$50 - NZXT Source 220 Black ATX Case
$89 - Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit OEM
---
Total: $478 shipped

 

[x509]

Well I recommend the following:
$70 - Intel Pentium G3220 CPU
$88 - MSI B85-G41 PC Mate Intel B85 ATX Motherboard
$60 - Crucial CT102464BA1339 8GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$60 - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$18 - Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD Burner
$43 - Corsair 430CX V2 430W PSU
$50 - NZXT Source 220 Black ATX Case
$89 - Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit OEM
---
Total: $478 shipped

Thanks!