Advice/suggestions on this Grandma PC build

bradenthefirst · Nov 29, 2013

Building a PC for Grandma. She really only uses Email/Facebook, not really any photos and no video. She is complaining that her 10-year old e-Machine is too slow, thus the new PC. I was thinking a 120GB SSD for speed, and her limited storage needs. Really only needs OS and small utilities. Maybe Open Office or similar.

I like Intel and have built with i3 / i7 CPUs before and like them, but open to suggestions.

Thanks!

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($123.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $476.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-29 13:52 EST-0500)

vmem · Nov 29, 2013

any possibility that we can just get her an ipad or a windows tablet with keyboard (like a Dell venue series or surface 2?). honestly I think thsoe are better for just email and FB

smorizio · Nov 29, 2013

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2biof
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2biof/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2biof/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($64.49 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Encore ENEWI-2XN42 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($14.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $284.45
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-29 14:01 EST-0500)

smorizio · Nov 29, 2013

the newer i3 has a more powerfull built in video then the older i3. also the 1150 mb will let you in a few years drop in a newer cpu. the r200 is more plan jane case that does not look like a gaming case. if you can get your family to help look at the bitfenx itx cases it look to her as a apple pc.
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2biNY
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2biNY/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2biNY/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($114.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus H81I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.00 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus USB-N13 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter ($3.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $381.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-11-29 14:09 EST-0500)

smorizio · Nov 29, 2013

ssd may give here faster boot speed but there not made year for high writes. see better off using an older hard drive.

bradenthefirst · Nov 29, 2013

Smorizio, thanks for the advice. I will look into the i3-4330. I like the 200R case, i have one in a i7-3770 build; but in this build a smaller desktop-size case is preferable.

smorizio · Nov 29, 2013

if your looking for small small look at itx cases.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119293

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Advice/suggestions on this Grandma PC build

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