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New computer for parents

F

FearlessUser

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Joined
Apr 14, 2005
Messages
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My parents anniversary (#31) is coming up at the end of the month, and I'm going to build them a new system, with monetary help from the siblings. They will use it for internet, bookkeeping programs for my dad's business, and the ocassional game. Not even Half-Life 1level games, just games like Beetle Bomp (Google it). Nothing has been purchased yet. Right now, I have it set up with an AMD64 3200+, and MSI mobo (K8NGM2-L) with nVidia's 6100 integrated video and the nForce 4 chipset. Memory is obviosly DDR 400, so I picked the Corsair Value Select 2x512 (94% of the reviews for that stuff on Newegg are Good or Excellent - wow). HD, PSU, case, and optical drives are unimportant for my question.

For myself, I have a 3700+ AMD64, and I love it. I was thinking dual-core for my parents, since they always have a ton of crap running on their computer. 74 processes I saw once, and that's with 512MB ram on an Athlon XP 2000+. Old people. Anyway, I was thinking of going with a 3800+ X2, but that's a tad pricey. I saw the Pentium D 805 at Newegg for $124, $6 cheaper than the 3200+. I'd need DDR2 memory instead, so I saw the same Value Select 2x512 in the DDR2 667 flavor for $5 more than the DDR 400 version, so that's basically a wash there. The part I have a question about is this: I'm very AMD-centric, although Conroe might change that. I know Intel's mobo's have integrated video, but I don't know what a good or even decent one is. Is there one comparable to the 6100 on the nVidia mobo's? Knowing that they won't play anything graphics-intensive, what would you suggest? I'd like to keep the price of the board as close to the $60 that the MSI one is, maybe $10-$20 more at the most. Suggestions? Should I stay the way I have it set up, or is it worth it to go the Intel dual-core route?

Thanks.

EDIT: Stupid me, this probably should go in the mobo section. Can it be moved, please?
 
Definitely go with dual core or at least hyperthreading. It does make a noticeable difference when multitasking. The 805 is a beastly overclocker and you can easily get it to the 3.6ish range without breaking a sweat or increasing the voltage.
 
These people are in their early 50's, though, so everything will stay at stock speeds.

Any suggestions for a good Intel board with integrated video?
 
Why not just upgrade what they have to an X2 if you think dual core will really help, which it really wont all that much. Integrated video is usually pretty lackluster, it's made to be cheap, not good.
 
tdg said:
Why not just upgrade what they have to an X2 if you think dual core will really help, which it really wont all that much. Integrated video is usually pretty lackluster, it's made to be cheap, not good.
Click to expand...

For old-ass games though, it's more than enough.

This is a good board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121294R

945 chipset, 950 graphics, Intel branded so stable as anything, and cheap.
 
PD 805
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116001 -$123

Abit AW8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127213 - $80

I GB (2 x 512 mb) A-data Vistesta DDR2 667
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211012 - $78

Sapphire X1800XT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102007 - $239

Hipro 500W PSU ( 40amp total 12V )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817174023 - $36.50

Any case, any hard drive. you've got yourself a pretty cheap computer but kick ass performance =) and continue to last for a bit longer. Maybe up off that motherboard either when conroe comes out or wait to purchase it, but whenever. the parts already there (the RAM, power supply, graphic card, hard drive, case) will all be compatible.
 
tdg said:
Why not just upgrade what they have to an X2 if you think dual core will really help, which it really wont all that much. Integrated video is usually pretty lackluster, it's made to be cheap, not good.
Click to expand...

Right now, they have a Socket A board with the Athlon XP. And NulloModo is right, integrated video is more than enough for what they need.

Like I said, I'm AMD-centric, so hopefully this isn't too dumb of a question. I looked at the ABIT and Intel boards you guys posted links for, and the FSB for both of them is 1066/800, while the 805 chip is only 533. Dos that matter? Also, the ABIT one doesn't have integrated video.

I'll look again tonight with the 945 chipset and 950 graphics. I just want a few to pick from and check out reviews before I buy. It's what I do. Thanks for the help.
 
Fearless, you're pretty much gonna have to pick between either improved integrated graphics or improved system performance. In general, Intel procs run a little nicer with Intel based boards although the integrated graphics on those boards are usually terrible.

EDIT: the Xpress200 should be better than the Intel integrated btw, stick with the non-SB450 southbridge for the ATI if you like your USB 2.0.

The 'Egg offers the following:

ATI Xpress 200 based (mostly microATX)
ASUS P5RD1-VM - uses DDR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131565
Intel BOXD101GGCL - uses DDR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121308
ASUS P5RD2-VM -- uses DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131590
ECS PA1 MVP (2.0) - nothing says "I love you" than CrossFire
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135218

Intel 945G based graphics
check through a few of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...1714448+1070509908&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...1719197+1070509908&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010200280+1071716798&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=280
 
FearlessUser said:
Right now, they have a Socket A board with the Athlon XP. And NulloModo is right, integrated video is more than enough for what they need.

Like I said, I'm AMD-centric, so hopefully this isn't too dumb of a question. I looked at the ABIT and Intel boards you guys posted links for, and the FSB for both of them is 1066/800, while the 805 chip is only 533. Dos that matter? Also, the ABIT one doesn't have integrated video.

I'll look again tonight with the 945 chipset and 950 graphics. I just want a few to pick from and check out reviews before I buy. It's what I do. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Hmm, that is a good question. I didn't look at that, I didn't realize they had made P4s with the 533fsb since the socket 478 chips. I'd assume it would work, as I can't imagine why a mobo wouldn't be able to run a slower FSB than its maximum, but if someone who knows more about it wants to chime in, I'd be interested in finding out too.
 
get the 805 and overclock it to around 3.6. almost all 805 cna be oc to that level without having to increase the stock volt or change the heatsink.
its basically value for money.
go 805
p5ln2( cheap but goo ocer)
 
fan_83 said:
get the 805 and overclock it to around 3.6. almost all 805 cna be oc to that level without having to increase the stock volt or change the heatsink.
its basically value for money.
go 805
p5ln2( cheap but goo ocer)
Click to expand...

But anytime you OC you bring in potential difficulties down the road. Plus, for 50 y/o parents, 2.8 Ghz dual core is more than enough.

My parents are around the same age and they were using a Pentium II 300 Mhz box up until the hard drive died.
 
Thanks for the help, guys. I forgot that ATI has a chipset with integrated video, too. Here's what I'm doing, just got over here from purchasing everything at the 'Egg:

Thermaltake Matrix VX VD3000BWA http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811133008
ASUS P5RD2-VM http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131590
Thermaltake TR2 W0070 430W Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817153023
Intel Pentium D 805 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819116001
CORSAIR VALUE SELECT 1GB DDR2 667 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145568
Western Digital Caviar RE 160GB http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136009
ASUS CD Burner Beige E-IDE/ATAPI Model CRW-5232A4 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827135089

I know that there are probably better PSU's and hard drives, but what I'm getting is more than enough for their use and should give the system a bit of longevity for them. Not too bad for $543 shipped, and with 2 $30 MIR's to boot, bringing it down to $513. The case brought it up a bit, but it's the one they wanted. I'll let you know how it turned out after I put it together. Thanks again.

Curses!!! I just saw this drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701 that would end up being $5 cheaper and with an extra 90GB space. How easy is it to swap that out with Newegg? Anyone do that before?
 
sounds like there browsing the internet and playing like very very low end games, in that case any p4 or amd will do fine....
 
It really depends on how good your parents are at computers. If they have reasonable computing skills, you can will save money building one for them. (reasonable as in know how to diagnose and solve coming problems like, "Why can't my computer connect to the internet?, know how to install software. etc .etc.

If they don't know how to solve those problems, then, dude, get a dell for them.
Dell provides a full range of services to cover they hardware and software from onsite H/W service to telephone technical support(very important).
 
evilmedic said:
It really depends on how good your parents are at computers. If they have reasonable computing skills, you can will save money building one for them. (reasonable as in know how to diagnose and solve coming problems like, "Why can't my computer connect to the internet?, know how to install software. etc .etc.

If they don't know how to solve those problems, then, dude, get a dell for them.
Dell provides a full range of services to cover they hardware and software from onsite H/W service to telephone technical support(very important).
Click to expand...

dell tech support? ahahhahahhaa... looks like its time to call india
 
See if you can't do a cheap Core Duo desktop system...your parents will appreciate the <100W power draw.
 
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