Another Budget Build -- Suggested changes to my March Build?

[mcaren]

Back in March '06 I built a budget PC for my kids based on your input. Haven't had a problem yet and it does exactly what I wanted it to do. Was a definite improvement over our old Dell...

Now I'd like to build a similar PC for my mom. She will use it for surfing/email/word processing. I've got an old CRT monitor and keyboard/mouse. Would my March build still be my best bet, or has technology/price changed enough to warrant something different? Here's the old build:

Antec Solution SLK1650B Black Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply $63
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BPBOX $114
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 $80
SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP $7
Western Digital Caviar WD800BB 80GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive $45
BIOSTAR GEFORCE 6100-M9 Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $60
SAMSUNG Combo Drive Black IDE Model SH-M522C/BEBN - OEM $25

Total: $400 ish (+ OS for new build)
I'd like to keep this system in this price range. Thanks for your input. Mcaren

 

[MrMr]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128009 Motherboard $73
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103637 AM2 3200+ $77
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827129001 Pioneer dvd burner $33
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822135106 Wester digital 80gig $44
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231102 Gskill DDR2 PC6400 $109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16821152005 Floppy $6
Total $342 +case (your preference)

That's the best I could come up with on your budget. All the parts are good quality and you should have no problems with the build. As a matter of fact, you should keep this one for yourself, and give yours to your mother. Not that it will work much faster than what you have presently, but it is a more "up to date system" with better future upgrade potential.
The biggest hog on your system is the on-board video. It takes a decent amount of CPU resources, and is slowing down your computer. A cheap $30 video card would give you a big leap in performance.That is if it matters to you.

Or you could always pick this up. Looks like it's in your price range and has some nice specs. Windows media center included.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883103033

My 2 cents.

 

[mcaren]

Thanks very much! mcaren

 

[MrMr]

Glad to help