Budget PC for my non-gaming fiancee

[Onus]

I want to build a PC for my fiancee that will be a leap up from the laptop she uses now, at minimal cost. She is not a gamer (beyond things like Bejeweled and Big Kahuna Reef), but she will probably do some limited photo editing, simple design, and common stuff like email, wp, and web browsing. Maybe I'll get her to try Diablo II.
I have a keyboard, monitor, optical rodent, speakers, etc.
I have come up with this list:

Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply - Retail
Model #: SONATA II
Item #: N82E16811129155
$109.99 -$10.00 Instant $99.99
(could easily lose $30+ here, but might get poop at that price)

ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8N-E
Item #: N82E16813131530
$85.99 $85.99

POWERCOLOR X800GTO256MBDDR3 Radeon X800GTO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: X800GTO256MBDDR3
Item #: N82E16814131007
$89.99 $89.99
(a visiting niece could still play Guild Wars on it)

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 2.0GHz Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BPBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3200BPBOX
Item #: N82E16819103535
$74.99 $74.99

G.SKILL 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory Model F1-3200PHU1-1GBNS - Retail
Model #: F1-3200PHU1-1GBNS
Item #: N82E16820231046
$106.99 $106.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1200JS 120GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD1200JS
Item #: N82E16822144414
$55.99 $55.99

NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM
Model #: ND-3550A BK OEM
Item #: N82E16827152058
$29.99 $29.99

Subtotal: $543.93
==================
I know I can go a little cheaper on some things, but I'm not sure that quality/reliability won't suffer.
Upgradability is a non-issue, but stability is (hence the 939 instead of AM2 or C2D).
Any suggestions that might produce something reliable for $50-$150 less?

 

[jamesgoddard]

I think the AMD AM2 systems are stable now - and even if you say upgrades are not an issue now they may be one day...

Other than that have you considered a mobo with a geforce 6150 on, save the cash, the 6150 will do everything required outside high end games...

 

[jamesgoddard]

Oh yes - the 6150 also has high def in the form of pure video - so outside games could even be considered better

 

[Mondoman]

...
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply - Retail
Model #: SONATA II
Item #: N82E16811129155
$109.99 -$10.00 Instant $99.99
(could easily lose $30+ here, but might get poop at that price)

Get this Antec case/PS instead for $58 AR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129012

...
G.SKILL 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory Model F1-3200PHU1-1GBNS - Retail
Model #: F1-3200PHU1-1GBNS
Item #: N82E16820231046
$106.99 $106.99

Get 2x of these CL2(!) 512MB DIMMs instead, and get a nice dual-channel mode boost. You still have the other 2 slots to expand up to WinXP's max of 3GB by adding 2x1GB. $57 each: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220018

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1200JS 120GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD1200JS
Item #: N82E16822144414
$55.99 $55.99

Get at least a 300GB drive for $70-80. Digital photos take up lots of space.

 

[joefriday]

If you don't mind OEM, you could opt for a Dell AMD system, and then add your PCIe card if you wan't more power than the 6150LE IGP. That would probably be the most economical route, and you get an Operating System.

 

[Onus]

Thanks for the suggestions. Her laptop only has 30GB now, so 120 is a big boost, plus she has access to my LAN for even more storage; but adding a really big drive if needed remains an option.

I've already got a [legal] O/S for her, from a PC I gutted some time ago.

Dropping back and punting to a pre-built crossed my mind, but she has some interest in how a PC is put together so I thought building one might be a fun project.

Any thoughts on the ASRock mobos? Going AM2 on one of those, if reliable, might also work.

 

[joefriday]

I haven't had any problems with my Intel Asrock board. Asrock is usually a pretty stable board maker, they're just notorious for no vcore adjustment (at least on the Intel side of things, don't know about Asrock's AMD line).

 

[INeedCache]

For what you plan on having this machine do, I really don't see any problem with going socket 754 and saving even more, especially if you're not worried about upgrading. I doubt for what she'll do with this machine that the absence of dual channel memory will make any discernible difference. My two cents.

 

[rwpritchett]

For what you plan on having this machine do, I really don't see any problem with going socket 754 and saving even more, especially if you're not worried about upgrading. I doubt for what she'll do with this machine that the absence of dual channel memory will make any discernible difference. My two cents.

INeedCache has a good point, especially when newegg is giving away free motherboards with the Socket 754 Athlon 3400+, if your aim is minimal cost that is. The s939 idea is very good as well.