First Build for Friend, Advice??

I would say that the graphics card is underpowered.

I'd ditch the 2 GB of 1066 (unneccessary speed) and choose 4 GB (2x2GB) off of this list: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=P...

There are some good values there.

The rest looks good.

Operating system? 64 bit is needed for 4gigs.

I would get mushkins DDR2 800 kit for 84 with a 25 dollar rebate. Or g skills DDR2 1000 for the same with no rebate if he wants to overclock.

The P35 chipset has compatibility issues with RAM that is natively faster than DDR2-800.
Get this: mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $37.50 after MIR:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
If your friend works with pictures and videos, he may appreciate a larger hard drive. This 640GB Western Digital is $85: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Again, working with video, he may appreciate newer tech in his video card. Check out a 3450, such as this Sapphire for $18 after MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

+1 for the WD 640 GB and for DDR2-800.

This video card supports two monitors with DVI connectors, and it can also be used to watch HD videos:

SAPPHIRE 100237L Radeon HD 3650, $55+$8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102725

TBH at these prices jtt's 3450 is a smarter buy, but maybe your friend prefers DVI. Some people do say it makes the image better.

Dell Outlet

or

Sunday Sales Circulars

You'll need a PSU. Right now, it would be tough to beat an Antec Earthwatts 380 for $30: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

If hes not going to play any games, just go to your local electronics stores. It will be a lot cheaper to buy their system than to build your own lower end system.

And for for around 500-600 dollars you can probably get a deal with a monitor and basic printer.

Don't overlook refurbished desktops that come with a *edit* noticed in most cases it's 30 now....30 day manufacturers warranty. Usually have decent integrated video or a weak GPU along with card readers and other extras.
http://www.recoupit.com/Shop/Control/fp/scat/142653/SFV...

ew ugly case pick antec p182

LOL, luxury case on a $500 budget. Please say you were kidding  

I think popaholic and dirtmountain are right. On that sort of budget, Vista alone consumes 25% or so of the money if you do a custom build. Something from Future Shop or WalMart or whatever is closer would be better.

Sad but true. Start with a cheap pre-built and maybe toss in a $20 video card to replace the Intel Graphics Media Deccelerator. You won't need to touch the PSU for that.

hart140 > I can spot a subtle flaw in your choice of equipment... Uhmmm HINT are you planning run it on air??
               

Yes I think you have forgotten something...

Bob

#1 - NEVER BUILD A COMPUTER FOR A FRIEND OR RELATIVE. (Feel Free to Help.....Not Do.....)
#2 - Tell Your FRIEND To Come Here and Get Advice. That way when Something Breaks or arrives DOA
(And Something Will Go Wrong Eventually), It's not your fault.
#3 - What about an OS? Mouse? Keyboard? Monitor? Speakers? Memory Card Reader?
#4 - Dude........Get a Dell or Other Retail System. They are perfect for Non Gamers.


System Price : $459.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
3 GB DDR2 NON-ECC SDRAM 667MHz (4 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
320 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem
V.92/56K PCI DataFax Modem
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Inspiron Desktop 530 Mini-tower: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4600 (2MB L2 Cache,2.4GHz,800 FSB)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Upgrade
Microsoft Works 9.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Upgrade
Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
USB Keyboard
Dell Optical USB 2-button Mouse

Or Better Yet...............

Dell Vostro 200 Mini Desktop with Core 2 Duo E7200 CPU, 2GB, 250GB & 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor $499

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=34929...

Hows abouty:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025
CASE - P182
100.00 USD (50.00 USD rebate)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006
PSU - Antec Earthwatts 430W
30.00 USD (30.00 USD rebate)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819105219
CPU - AMD Opteron 1210
54.00 USD

6827106263 ]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106263
DVD Burner (same) - Lite On
25.00 USD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090
MB - Gigabyte uATX 780G
85.00 USD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100
HD - Samsung Spinpoint F1 750Gb
110.00 USD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134125
RAM - Kingston Hyper X 2x 1Gb
48.00 USD

Total: $452.00 USD (OK after rebates - but at least it has a powersupply!!)


More HD space (750Gb), integrated graphics (but with sideport RAM and HD/x264 playback/CPU off-load capability), better case (P182), powersupply (this item is quite important don't you know!!), AMD MB (only uATX but has IEEE1394a, eSATA port, HDMI, etc. built-in), AMD CPU (1.8Ghz dual-core Opteron, 2Mb L2 cache, will overclock to ~3.0Ghz).

Just a thought

Bob