Cheap build mostly for web surfing

[kmtallon]

I am looking to built a cheap computer mostly for web surfing and basic tasks. I want it to be fast though. My current computer is starting to take forever on startup and has trouble handling websites with a lot of multimedia, and I have a very impatient husband who is frustrated with it. He goes to a lot of websites like Gamespot and IGN to watch videos and things, and there's usually so much going on that the pages take forever to load or freeze and won't do what he wants them to do. I need a new cpu, mobo, ram and gpu. I have everything else, although my power supply is only 350W and about 4 years old, so that may need to be replaced too. I don't care about AMD or Intel, although it seems like AMD might be better on a budget. I don't want to mess around with overclocking. I don't planning on using it for gaming, but if it's not too much, I wouldn't mind having a system that's capable of playing games decently. I don't really have a set budget, but I'm hoping somewhere around $300, probably no more than $500.

 

[evongugg]

Welcome to the forums!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171028 $34.99
COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 460W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380 $84.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072 $69.99 Free Shipping
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150319 $39.99
XFX PVT95GYALG GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $49.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Total: $279.95

 

[evongugg]

Processor AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE
(2.8GHzx3, 3x512KB L2, 6MB L3 Cache) $145
Cooling AMD Retail HSF -
ATI Radeon HD 4670 $70
Motherboard Biostar TForce TA790GX A2+ $110
Memory 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-1066 Patriot Extreme Performance PDC24G8500ELKR2 5-5-5-15 (after $25 Rebate) $39
Audio On-Board 8-channel HD Audio -
Power Supply BFG Tech LS Series LS-550 550W SLI/CrossFire 80 PLUS Certified $80

Total $444.00

I suggest replacing the power supply. Your's is old.

 

[orangegator]

E5200 + ECSG31T combo $88AR
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $20AR
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Power Supply $40AR

Just $148AR + shipping.

Great budget build for web surfing. Need to add a video card if you want to game. Can easily OC to 3.0Ghz on stock cooler.

 

[kmtallon]

Thanks for the input. I had been leaning toward AMD, but a lot of people seem to like the E5200 and it's cheaper than I expected, so maybe I will go that route.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You can actually get a pretty decent whole new build at the upper level of your price range.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103300 $64.99

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379 $79.99 - $10.00 MIR

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300 $54.95

WESTERN DIGITAL WD3200AAKS 320GB SATA 7200 RPM 16MB Hard Drive
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005615&prodlist=celebros $51.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231246 $59.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008 $49.99 - $10.00 MIR

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

Total - $486.88 - $20 MIR's

You really don't need more than the integrated video for your intended use. The upgrade path might turn out to be a pain depending on what your computer is. Is is an OEM like HP, Dell, etc...? If it is, they often use proprietary components that make it a real pain to upgrade. You also probably won't be able to re-use your Windows installation. You certainly can't just take the HD out of your old computer, install it in the new computer, and expect it to work.

 

[steckman]

For your purposes, I would get a motherboard with integrated video and skip the video card. And since you are skipping the video card, I bet your old 350W power supply will work just fine. You can always get a new power supply and video card later if the integrated solution doesn't suit you.

 

[kmtallon]

The current computer was a custom build done by a friend awhile back, and I've added a new hard drive and optical drive, plus purchased an os in the years since. So it seems like such a waste to replace it all, when many parts are still just fine. It's in an old Antec case with Antec power supply, I'm not sure what model. Will pretty much any power supply fit the case? Or do I need to take measurements or buy another Antec? I've never build a whole new system, just replaced parts here and there, so I've never messed with the power supply.

 

[evongugg]

Any standard ATX power supply should fit the Antec case.

 

[evongugg]

I recommend you check the CPU charts in order to compare the different processors here.

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/processors,6.html

 

[kmtallon]

Ok, so I think I'm getting ready to order. How does this look?

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231226

ASUS P5QL PRO LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - $86.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131329

HIS Hightech H467QT512P Radeon HD 4670 IceQ Turbo 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - 69.99 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161252

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $49.99 at my local Fry's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007

I went with the ASUS mobo over the Gigabyte one that was suggested because it looks like there is more space for the video card, and the one I chose has a large cooler and takes up two spaces. I'm basing this off the pictures of the boards, so I could be wrong. I'm not really sure which would be better, they look very similar to me. The video card is probably more that I need, but it seems like a very good deal. Same with the power supply.

 

[Helloworld_98]

case?

 

[kmtallon]

case?

I am re-using my case, hdd and optical drives as stated earlier in the thread. The case is an old Antec. I don't know what model.

 

[kmtallon]

Another question - Since I've never built a computer before, are there any non-computer parts that I should pick up to help with the build? An anti-static wrist band, tool kit, thermal paste, etc?