Help with New Micro-ATX Build for Email, Photos, Internet

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misfit14

misfit14

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Feb 11, 2009
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Hi All. I am looking to build my 68 year old mother a new PC for home use. Her 7 year old Dell is outdated and slow. I want to get her something that boots up quickly and can handle basic tasks such as email, Internet and photo management. Thoughts on cutting perhaps $100 from this total? Perhaps a different chipset?

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: This Week (10/14/14)
Budget Range: $600 after shipping
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Email, Internet, Photos
Are you buying a monitor: Yes (Asus 24" 1920x1080)
Parts to Upgrade: All New parts
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, B&H, NCIX
Location: NYC Area
Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, Samsung SSD, WD HDD
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: Must last at least 5+ years minimally.
And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Current Dell machine is old, slow and outdated.

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hNVf23) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/hNVf23/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646g3258) | $69.99 @ Amazon
**Motherboard** | [Asus H97M-PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-h97mplus) | $104.99 @ Amazon
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-memory-cml8gx3m2a1600c9b) | $87.99 @ Newegg
**Storage** | [Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz7te120bw) | $79.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd10ezex) | $54.99 @ Amazon
**Case** | [Corsair 350D MicroATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-case-cc9011028ww) | $99.99 @ Amazon
**Power Supply** | [Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx430m) | $44.99 @ Newegg
**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas) | $19.99 @ B&H
**Operating System** | [Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700615) | $99.99 @ Newegg
| | **Total**
| Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $662.91
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-13 20:44 EDT-0400 |
 
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turkey3_scratch

turkey3_scratch

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Jul 15, 2014
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4330 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($135.95 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Rosewill REDBONE U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.94 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($19.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: Asus PCE-N10 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($12.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $590.77
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-13 21:02 EDT-0400

I got a cheaper case (yours was over expensive), a better brand PSU for cheaper price, a better processor with about a 2X better integrated graphics card than the Pentium, and cheaper RAM that is basically the same specs. I also chose Windows 7 for simplicity and as far as I know, people over the age of 50 cannot stand Windows 8 and Microsoft is moving more back to 7-style with Windows 10 anyways. Oh, and a cheaper motherboard and also a PCIe wireless adapter.

All around, not sacrificing anything with the cheaper parts, and the money saved went to a better processor, all for $80 less than the build you posted!
 
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smorizio

smorizio

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Jan 22, 2010
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if your close to a micro center they have the g3258 and msi mb as 99.00 combo this month. also the 600b is a better buy. if you want to add a video card latter you wont have to replace that low wattage power supply. also the r300 case is less money and still a good case. also on parts picker the gskill 1600 cl9 aires ram is 72.00 after rebate from newegg.
 
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turkey3_scratch

turkey3_scratch

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Jul 15, 2014
22,630
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For her needs a discrete video card is not needed. One thing the I3 has better than the Pentium is Intel HD 4400 rather than Intel HD.
 
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