Is it possible to build a better system for $300 or less?

[njalterio]

My roommate's budget is $300, so they asked me to build a computer for them.
Tasks include: Web browsing, MS Office, etc. (NO GAMING)

This is what I have:

$79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167036
MSI MBOX K9N6PGM2-V AMD Socket AM2+ / AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Black & Silver Barebone - Retail

$37.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134641
Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N6K2/4G - Retail

$79.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103272
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000 3.1GHz Socket AM2 89W Dual-Core Processor Model ADV60000DOBOX - Retail

$74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

$24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM

Total: $296.96

Thanks!

 

[kubes]

I'd say this isn't to bad, unless you need to also worry about case, psu, keyboard, mouse, OS. Then i'd look into maybe a full store package at that price range. It'd be close however.

 

[njalterio]

That case and PSU are part of a barebones kit that comes with motherboard.
Keyboard, mouse & monitor are taken care of; just reusing Dell stuff.
Being students we get licenses of XP and Vista (Professional and Home Premium respectively, 32 bit or 64 bit) for a couple of bucks.

 

[123urpked]

Well, don't forget a DVD-drive and a monitor, unless you already have them.

 

[njalterio]

The total amount includes a DVD drive. I forgot to post it with the other parts.
We are reusing an old Dell monitor.

 

[njalterio]

BUMP

 

[vladtepes]

Those cheap NvIDia mothers dont get along with SATA Optical drives. Youll get a lot of BSODS, try an AMD chipset instead or ide drive

 

[Proximon]

G43 board
E5200 Wolfdale

That PSU is asking for trouble. No name, 8A and 13A on the 12V rails???? 300W MAX means maybe 200W on this PSU, if lucky.

 

[megamanx00]

G43 board
E5200 Wolfdale

That PSU is asking for trouble. No name, 8A and 13A on the 12V rails???? 300W MAX means maybe 200W on this PSU, if lucky.

Poximon, they aren't going to use it for gaming. The PSU should be fine as the most power intensive part is that 89W Athlon. As for your suggestion it's true that the E5200 Wolfdale would be a better CPU as far as heat and power, and the onboard video in that G43 may be enough, but it would cost more and the budget is only $300.

Well I think it would be hard to do too much better. If you wanted to upgrade it latter on or something I would consider getting something like this motherboard CPU combo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138133

allowing you to use the $79 you would have spent on the 6000+ on a better case/PSU combination. Of course that is only were able to upgrade the CPU and GPU relatively soon. If the build is gonna stay like that for a while it's gonna be hard to do too much better than what you got there.

 

[Onus]

There's so much not to like about that MSI barebones...it's MSI, the PSU could be a paperweight, the graphics is bottom of the barrel; here's a non-gamer build I just did:

Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #:N82E16811147112
$29.99 -$5.00 Instant $24.99

Foxconn A7VMX-K AM2+/AM2 AMD 780V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813186143
$64.99 $64.99

SeaSonic SS-300ES 300W ATX12V Ver.2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM
Item #:N82E16817151055
$37.99 $37.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000 Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5000DOBOX - Retail
Item #:N82E16819103211
$59.00 $59.00

SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
Item #:N82E16821103203
$7.49 $7.49

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #:N82E16822136075
$41.99 $41.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-08 - Retail
Item #:N82E16827106264
$25.99 $25.99

Subtotal: $262.44

Oh, I had the RAM on hand. You'll need to add that. You may not need the floppy though, and I think the Antec Earthwatts 380 is available now for $35, so you still may make budget.

 

[njalterio]

Excellent suggestions jtt283!

That processor is slower by 500 MHz, but I think it will still be plenty of CPU. The better motherboard and graphics is a good idea for upgrading.

 

[Onus]

When he has the cash, he can put a Phenom II on that board.