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Super budget build for my mom

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  • cheap
  • Build
  • Systems
  • budget
Last response: in Systems
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July 31, 2014 11:40:46 AM

So I'm looking to build a super cheap rig for my mom. She is using a slow pos from 2004 with windows vista, and even at a $350 budget it will be absolutely blown away. A couple questions for consideration I have are:

1. Is the graphics card necessary? This build will be for general use. She generally surfs the web, views photos and occasionally streams HD video. Is the integrated intel graphics enough? This could save me $50 which would be great and I could throw towards a better cpu or an ssd.

2. Are there any quality mobo's out there for under $30? I have no problem waiting for a deal. I'm hesitant to purchase any component from pcpartpicker that isn't rated at 4 stars or above and the MSI mobo was the cheapest one I could find.

3. I would have to look at how much storage she actually needs, but I am considering scrapping the HDD and going for a 250GB SSD for about $100. Any thoughts? Would this be a speed boost worth the extra $50 since she only needs a general use computer?

4. Lastly, is 8 gigs of ram too much? If so, should I run 2x2gb dual channel or 1x4gb? If not, should I run 2x4gb or 1x8gb?

Thanks everyone. The list is below.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4XJhFT
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/4XJhFT/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($48.38 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($75.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GT 630 2GB Video Card ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $356.30

More about : super budget build mom

July 31, 2014 11:43:19 AM

That computer won't boot up. The motherboard needs a BIOS update to see the CPU. YOu need an h97 motherboard for that build which is unfortunately WAY more expensive.

I would get an i3 4130 and use the same board you have and call it a day.

Ditch the GPU for sure. It is not even better than the integrated GPU on the i3 I recommended.
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July 31, 2014 11:58:51 AM

4 gigs of ram is perfect for this rig and it's intended uses. Perhaps a small SSD for Windows and most programs she uses coupled with the larger storage drive.(my mom would have no idea how to save files to another drive so I went in and changed the targets of "my pictures, my downloads etc" to the storage drive) She definitely might appreciate how everything snaps open with an SSD.
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July 31, 2014 1:13:50 PM

tiny voices said:
That computer won't boot up. The motherboard needs a BIOS update to see the CPU. YOu need an h97 motherboard for that build which is unfortunately WAY more expensive.

I would get an i3 4130 and use the same board you have and call it a day.

Ditch the GPU for sure. It is not even better than the integrated GPU on the i3 I recommended.


How do you figure the mobo will need an update? PCpartpicker didn't flag it as an incompatibility, not doubting you but I would think that would be flagged
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July 31, 2014 2:49:38 PM

Yes it did. It clearly says it needs a BIOS update at the bottom of the screen.

It will not boot. I promise you. You NEED an h97 board.

Also, the whole point of that Pentium is overclocking. You are losing ALOT of performance by not overclocking it.

Just keep the h81 motherboard but change the CPU to an i3 4130 and call it a day. It will be much better for your mom.
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July 31, 2014 5:23:23 PM

tiny voices said:
Yes it did. It clearly says it needs a BIOS update at the bottom of the screen.

It will not boot. I promise you. You NEED an h97 board.

Also, the whole point of that Pentium is overclocking. You are losing ALOT of performance by not overclocking it.

Just keep the h81 motherboard but change the CPU to an i3 4130 and call it a day. It will be much better for your mom.


Ah, I see. Thanks for pointing that out. Could have been a disaster if I had missed it.
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July 31, 2014 5:28:49 PM

I do my best to help people. I wish PCpartpicker would make that issue more obvious.
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July 31, 2014 5:38:04 PM

So, is there really no other option as far as mobo's go? If there is a way to keep the CPU I have chosen with a mobo under $50-60, I would prefer that before spending more on an i3. Like I said this thing is going to be lightning fast relative to what my mom uses now. I would upgrade to an i3 (and better) if this were for myself obviously
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July 31, 2014 5:46:38 PM

The cheapest motherboard that is out of the box compatible is $75.
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