Sub-$200 PC build criticism

[86 5.0L]

Does anybody see anything they would change? suggestions? critics?

 

[Dangman]

Is this only being used for word and web browsing?

 

[86 5.0L]

Is this only being used for word and web browsing?

pretty much, Word, Excel, internet and music player

 

[Dangman]

That entire setup is just bad IMO. Shitty generic PSU, hard drive with piss poor price to performance ratio, and the fact that motherboard will not work with DDR3 RAM at all. That motherboard needs DDR2 RAM.

For this kind of usage scenario, you might be better off just buying a prebuilt PC. It's gonna be better quality than any $200 DIY setup. HIt up Gotapex.com or slickdeals.net for prebuilt desktop deals.

But if you really really want to do a DIY setup, any chance that the budget can be raised by another $100 or so? Also, any particular reason for Directron? Trying to avoid CA, NJ, or TN tax from Newegg or something?

 

[450]

IMO, get a machine for craigslist.

 

[86 5.0L]

That entire setup is just bad IMO. Shitty generic PSU, hard drive with piss poor price to performance ratio, and the fact that motherboard will not work with DDR3 RAM at all. That motherboard needs DDR2 RAM.

For this kind of usage scenario, you might be better off just buying a prebuilt PC. It's gonna be better quality than any $200 DIY setup. HIt up Gotapex.com or slickdeals.net for prebuilt desktop deals.

But if you really really want to do a DIY setup, any chance that the budget can be raised by another $100 or so? Also, any particular reason for Directron? Trying to avoid CA, NJ, or TN tax from Newegg or something?

prebuilts also have shitty generic PSUs, what single platter hard drive is better for the price? and yeah I saw that mobo wont work with the memory I selected, my bad.

also, im not finding much for around $200, yes im trying to avoid tax

IMO, get a machine for craigslist.

no warranty

 

[Ryokurin]

Do you live anywhere near a Microcenter? They are still doing the buy a AMD chip get a board for free deal in their stores. True it will cost $100 instead of $76 but you'll have much better performance.

BTW, I know you said you are trying to avoid tax, but here's a 140 and a Zotac mini itx board combo on newegg for $54.98 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.574661

 

[Dangman]

prebuilts also have shitty generic PSUs, what single platter hard drive is better for the price? and yeah I saw that mobo wont work with the memory I selected, my bad.

Yes some do have shitty PSUs.But the PSUs found in HP and Dell PCs are actually pretty decent. Even the ones with "shitty" PSUs are still better PSUs than the shit one you selected.

This single platter HDD is better for the price:
$46 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

also, im not finding much for around $200, yes im trying to avoid tax

Again, any chance of you being able to up the budget by another $100? I know you want do this for cheap. Totally understand that. But you're at a price point so low that the PC parts you're buying aren't worth the effort, cash savings, or costs at at all. If you had an extra $100 to spare:
$59 - AMD Athlon II X2 250 CPU
$88 - Biostar TA880GB+ AMD 880G mATX Motherboard + Patriot PSD34G1333K 2 x 2GB DDR3 1333 RAM Combo
$46 - Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$18 - Samsung SH-S222L SATA DVD Burner
$45 - Antec Earthwatts Green EA380D 380W PSU
$40 - Cooler Master Elite 341 RC-341C-KKN1-GP mATX Tower Case
---
Total: $296 shipped plus tax

I went with Amazon.com as much as possible to avoid tax. Now you can significantly more CPU power, faster hard drive, better quality motherboard, more RAM, better quality PSU, and better cooling case. All that for only $100 more. At that $300 price point, it's worth building. At that $200 pricepoint, it's not worth it at all. The quality and longevity of that PC is just not there.

Even $50 more would get you better:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883114087
Yes that eMachines is still of better quality than that DIY setup.

 

[PoopsMacClaude]

All that for only $100 more.

You need to think relative when criticizing builds like this. That "just $100 more" is a 50% increase on his initial budget. That's not OK.

Those cheapo PSUs will also generally do OK if the system they are powering is something low end like the one the OP has posted. Also it's important to realize a sub $200 dollar system is pretty much disposable and upgrade potential is a non-factor. Only supporting DDR2 ram, especially given the prices, is just fine.

It's possible to get cheaper stuff through Slickdeals, especially hard drives, etc. All said and done you may be able to save $20-$30 if you waited around for deals and really scrounged. Not really worth it, IMO. What you have there is fine.

 

[86 5.0L]

Yes some do have shitty PSUs.But the PSUs found in HP and Dell PCs are actually pretty decent. Even the ones with "shitty" PSUs are still better PSUs than the shit one you selected.

The quality and longevity of that PC is just not there.

I have 2 HPs and a Dell sitting here with blown PSUs, one of those HP(Lite-On PSU) took out 2 mobos and 2 CPUs before I realized the PSU was bad.

of the dozens of DIY PCs with rosewill or okia PSUs I have built none have returned with defunct PSUs. Yeah I know, im probably the exception not the rule.

the only thing of questionable quality in my posted build list is the Pixxio PSU, everything else is 'name brand'(Crucial, Western Digital, Samsung) stuff with a more reputable past.

EDIT: The budget is not my choice, a customer asked me to build him a PC as cheap as possible with new parts, he is a low-income earner and has a family, I told him I would give him an extended 2 year warranty free of charge to give him ease of mind for going so cheap. I am sticking my neck out but this is what I tried to replicate as close as possible

http://www.walmart.com/ip/eMachines-EL1352G-01w/15062989

You need to think relative when criticizing builds like this. That "just $100 more" is a 50% increase on his initial budget. That's not OK.

Those cheapo PSUs will also generally do OK if the system they are powering is something low end like the one the OP has posted. Also it's important to realize a sub $200 dollar system is pretty much disposable and upgrade potential is a non-factor. Only supporting DDR2 ram, especially given the prices, is just fine.

It's possible to get cheaper stuff through Slickdeals, especially hard drives, etc. All said and done you may be able to save $20-$30 if you waited around for deals and really scrounged. Not really worth it, IMO. What you have there is fine.

hard drives seem to have gone up or stayed constant, im kicking myself for not ordering more of those Seagate 1TB drives for $45

 

[Dangman]

I have 2 HPs and a Dell sitting here with blown PSUs, one of those HP(Lite-On PSU) took out 2 mobos and 2 CPUs before I realized the PSU was bad.

of the dozens of DIY PCs with rosewill or okia PSUs I have built none have returned with defunct PSUs. Yeah I know, im probably the exception not the rule.

Yes, definitely the exception, not the rule. However in my own experience, the included PSUs with those newer Dells are still better than some of the generic crap out there.

the only thing of questionable quality in my posted build list is the Pixxio PSU, everything else is 'name brand'(Crucial, Western Digital, Samsung) stuff with a more reputable past.

I was referring to the case, PSU, and the motherboard itself. The motherboard due to the fact that it is using a low-end Nvidia chipset.

EDIT: The budget is not my choice, a customer asked me to build him a PC as cheap as possible with new parts, he is a low-income earner and has a family, I told him I would give him an extended 2 year warranty free of charge to give him ease of mind for going so cheap. I am sticking my neck out but this is what I tried to replicate as close as possible

http://www.walmart.com/ip/eMachines-EL1352G-01w/15062989

Ok then. That explains a lot.

Also it's important to realize a sub $200 dollar system is pretty much disposable and upgrade potential is a non-factor.

If the customer is a low-income earner, I don't think $200 is exactly disposable. Sometimes paying the extra cash will yield significantly better advantages and therefore really make the purchase worthwhile. Yes it's more money but it won't be so disposable so quick.

Anyway, good luck with the build. You have my concerns and thoughts.