How much muscle should I leave in my computer for my dad?

Ahhhh Tom's Hardware, its so good to be back!!! How I have missed you so! lol, unfortunately a recent lack of money has kept me from looking into new hardware like I once did, and College classes meant I didn't have the time to browse TH anymore. Summer is here, however, and I'm glad to be back!

Here's the situation. I have a rig, whose specs are listed below. Basically, my dad's new job means that he is looking to upgrade his computer equipment (he currently uses a 6 year old dell). He has decided to purchase my computer from me, and then help me with some money to build my own rig. I'm very happy to agree to this, as I'd love to upgrade to a Core i7 computer (I'll make a thread about that later hehe, unless you want to help me now?? lol).

Thing is, I think it has way too much muscle in certain departments for him. I need advice on which parts I need to leave in the computer for my dad, and which parts I should take out and keep for my own new rig. Parts that he wouldn't need anyway.

My Dad's Needs: My dad is now a Lender.
He is scanning documents all the time, and his Dell is horrible at it, extremely slow.
My dad wants to have dual monitors so that he can leave rates open constantly, but his Dell only has one monitor port, and the graphics are not dedicated. The dual monitors are one of the most important things.
My dad needs to be able to access a remote server (not a big deal).
He doesn't want to wait 3 and a half minutes for the computer to boot up anymore.
He wants to do fancy things with photoshop from time to time, but he is forced to use my computer for this....annoying lol. This part isn't that important. Its ok if he uses my new computer for this. What he really just needs is a computer that can get things done fast and reliably. His dell is always having problems, and I'm constantly having to fix problems with it. I feel guilty for making him pay full price for my computer though, as I spent money on things I don't think he really needs. That's why I want to only charge him for the parts he is going to use.
They use outlook, word, and excel alot, and all three programs load slow, and generally have problems.

My current (about to be sold to my dad) rig:
Running Windows XP
Asus 25.5" 1920x1200 monitor (I'm keeping this fo sho lol)
Logitech G15 Keyboard (keeping it)
Logitech G5 mouse (keeping it)
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Rev. 2.0 LGA775 Motherboard (Leave, I want i7 haha)
Intel Core2Duo E2180 Processor (leave)
Velociraptor WD3000GLFS 300GB Hard Drive (I don't know..Keep or leave?)
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm CPU Cooler (your call)
G.Skill 2x2gb (total 4gb) DDR2 800 Ram (Probably leave, I think)
Visionek Radeon HD 3870 512MB Video Card (Definitely keep?? This card plays all my games at 1920x1200 graphics flawlessly...and my parents aren't gamers.)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200rpm Hard Drive (Probably leave)
Lite-On 20x DVD Burner Sata (Leave)
Antec Earthwatts EA430W Power Supply (leave)
Antec 900 Case (Leave)

Ok, what do you think? I max this rig out on a daily basis, the processor really strains with what I try to do with it. I'm a photographer for the school newspaper, and photo oriented things stress the processor a little. The processor is always maxxed out when playing Left4dead, but it only starts to bother me when I try to record demos with Fraps (I only get 20-24 fps). Encoding videos is also very slow. For my needs, I need a faster computer, for my dad's needs, he'll be in heaven. I dread using his old computer whenever he needs help, my computer is 100x faster in everything (25 second boot-up!). Please now just help me decide what parts are essential for my dad's needs, and what parts aren't. Keep in mind that though my dad may not need a Radeon 3870, he does need a graphics card capable of multiple monitors.

Thanks!

The real question is, what do you want your i7 build to be? What's your i7 budget?

He need multi-monitor, so he needs a graphic card... is your i7 going to have the 3870 or not? There are cheaper graphic alternatives out there, but if you're just going to be upgrading to a gtx 260 or 4890 or whatever, then you don't need it, hence your father should keep it.

The processor, you're leaving the motherboard, but your wondering whether you should leave the processor? Come on now.

Is your e2180 overclocked? Will you be using the HDT-S1283 (the Dark Knight? Or its predecessor?) for your i7 or no? Do you have the stock cooler laying around somewhere?

Are you going to want that 10krpm drive? Or will you steal a few seconds off of your dad's boottime for it?

Does your dad need the extra storage?

Honestly, most of this can only be answered by YOU, but I'm tempted to just say leave everything except the 3870 UNLESS you're getting such new video card. You're purchasing another video card at any rate, whether or not you keep the 3870.

You:
Monitor
Keyboard
Mouse

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ700MXSP 700W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341018
99$ - 30$ MIR, 25$ combo savings

Antec 900 Case

HDD: Velociraptor WD3000GLFS 300GB Hard Drive

There are a million i7 builds around and they're all identical. Look one up.

Dad:
Mouse and keyboard from his old Dell unless he needs new ones

PSU: Antec Earthwatts EA430W Power Supply

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119068
50$ - 25$ combo savings

CPU: e5200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116072
70$ - stick the HS on there and OC that puppy; you'll dad will buy you all the computer you want

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Rev. 2.0 LGA775 Motherboard

Cooler: Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm CPU Cooler

RAM: G.Skill 2x2gb (total 4gb) DDR2 800 Ram

Visionek Radeon HD 3870 512MB Video Card

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200rpm Hard Drive

HDD: WD 640GB Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319
75$

Optical: Lite-On 20x DVD Burner Sata

Monitors: Acer X213Hbid Black 21.5" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor x2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009175
300$

That's 470$ for your Dad, 60$ for you /w MIR.

Trash Can / Robot project for automated tennis-ball-tosser for dog
Intel Core2Duo E2180 Processor

Just give him the whole thing. at 99 dollars a 4770 would be a upgrade for you. and you would still need to buy your dad a video card which would be about 50 bucks. really all the other parts are so dated I would just sell him the whole thing.

Your dad is likely doing things this way as much for you as he is for himself. He's taking the old stuff off your hands because it will work for him. And he's "helping" you with additional funds for your new system. Typical good dad

As for what you "charge" him . . . there's a big difference between original retail and current value. I don't imagine there's a large market for those old parts. I'm not sure he cares much about the price, he's probably more interested in seeing you handle this "correctly" than he is in the financial outcome. You'd do well thinking about how *he* would do it.

And thinking about what it would cost *him* if he just bought a new, servicable Dell lol. Anyhow . . .

It's reasonable to believe he thinks he would get your PC, minus the monitor of course. Anything else is techno-detail, and your preference.

Give him the whole box. But . . .

- clone the raptor onto a properly sized (for him) WD caviar black. He doesn't need the noise, heat, MTBF, or speed. You'll be happier keeping it, too.

- The 3870? Not sure you want to keep this, especially when it will serve him well and its capability is easily replaced. Talk to him about it. Tell him it may be more power than he needs, but its cost "used" but in known good condition is very attractive.

- Settle the finances.

- Done. Go build your new box.

- Love your dad

Your father's needs are for a much nicer CPU than an e2180. Keep that CPU around only for BIOS flashing if needed; get him at least an e7400.
Let him keep the VRaptor, or at least get him a WD Black drive.
He might benefit from a new, faster scanner, if that's where his big wait is.
All-in-Ones are versatile and cheap, but a lot of them aren't fast; your father is conducting business with his system, and needs decent performance for all of its parts (with the possibly exception of the video card). A 3870 is more than he needs now, but probably less than you want. Leave it for him.

+1 for Twoboxer. Make your father pleased and proud. Feel free to rip the festering idiot from the dorm, never your own father.

Yes, that's a complete ripoff. you're "selling" him parts that you've used for a year at OVER LIST PRICE .........................

I MIGHT pay 200$ for that system. If it didn't have the Vraptor it wouldn't be worth 50$.

Did you not read anything we wrote?

You can't be serious.

E2180 Processor
Worth: $50 Hell no, maybe $25.

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
Worth: $50 Eh, nice board, but no more than $30 used.

Case:Antec 900
Worth: $75 WTF!? Used, $45

Antec Earthwatts EA430:
Worth: $60 Competent PSU, but maybe worth $30 due to its age.

Lite-on DVD Burner:
Worth: $15 Maybe, if it's Lightscribe.

Visiontek Radeon 3870 Graphics Card:
Worth: $100 Holy poop! Maybe $40. Maybe.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250gb
Worth: $52.99 New price? Ok, but the WD Black is better / faster.

G.Skill 4gb ram
Worth: $47 New.

Velociraptor 10,000 RPM hard drive
Worth: $250 No, it's USED. Perhaps $125-$150.

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283
Worth: $26 Eh. $20 used.

Now, here's where you can make some honest money on the deal, if your father's company is buying, and/or he can write it off on his annual extortion as a business expense. You charge a consulting fee, discussed with and assisted on pricing by your father. Consultant hourly rates can be considerable; I think Geek Squad is something like $75-$95 per hour, so a couple hours at those rates would be reasonable.

I think part of the key here is to discuss the whole deal with your father. You know he's going to help you out on your new system; let that be separate from the price on your old one, since it is basically a gift.
Look at the prices of so-called "gamer" boxes on eBay. The 9500GT cards in some of them would be good enough for your father. A sane person would immediately replace the POS generic PSU with a real one (for maybe another $80), but the rest of the parts, if not great, would still be adequate for your father's needs.
Or, go out to Dell and price out a multi-monitor system that would meet your father's needs, and include 3 years of on-site service in the price.
In either case, then you need to price a decent scanner.

Sentimental value aside, things are worth no more than what it costs to replace them.

- GO CONFIGURE a Dell that would do the job for HIM. That sets your maximum price.

- Deduct the price of a WD caviar black.

- Deduct something because you are giving him used stuff.

That's the price***. Be certain in your own mind that your system and this Dell configuration would both work for HIM. Then:

- Tell him you asked for tech advice on how best to do this.

- Tell him you chose this approach and why (because what matters is what it would cost him to buy the new capability he needs, not the original or even current price of your components), and tell him the price.

- Ask him what the right thing to do is from there, and the rest will work out fine.

Even if he thinks you came up with the wrong price, or used the wrong method, he will admire how you did it. You both might even learn some important stuff from the conversation that follows



*** It won't be much, but your dad knows he needs to buy two new computers, and has figured a way to buy only one. The rest is just bookkeeping lol.

If the business is buying it that changes things.

How big is the business (small im guessing)?
Do they have a computer tech?
If not they may need something with more support than ... you.

In that case maybe you're better off having your dad get a new computer (ANYTHING but Dell for the love of God), picking up an e8400 and 4850 for yourself.

What are your needs? You game 'some' and you're 3870 can run all the games you play at 1920x1200. What games do you play? I don't think a 3870 can load the installation screen for Crysis. But if you're happy playing older games you don't need an i7. You don't need an i7 unless you're doing video editing of high end graphics work, really.

So many questions still.

WHAT!?!

The 3870 is just barely slower than an 8800GT, and as such would have no problems playing Crysis.

I think you should keep:
monitor
Keyboard
mouse
Velociraptor HD

The rest should be for your father, the 3870 isn't fast enough for i7, and he needs 2 monitors.
I recommend that you wait for i5 and the dx11 card.
If you cant wait, buy i7 920 and ATI 4870 crossfire.. ATI will drop prices during this summer.

http://iax-tech.com/video/3870/38704.htm

Didn't realize this was playable for you:

-1280x1024. no AA
-Min fps: 9.13
-Avg fps: 14.77
-Max fps: 17.42

not to mention the poster plays at 1920x1200...

It's like anything else, the longer you wait the better stuff you'll get. You can wait til the fall and see what the i5 look like, or you can get a computer now. You'll always get better stuff for the $$ if you wait, that's how this game works.

If you want to upgrade your system today, we can help with that. Otherwise, come back when you're ready. It's hard to predict exactly how things will shape up in the future.

You aren't looking for configurations totally comparable with yours!

Look for a reasonable configuration to do what your dad needs to do.

THAT is the alternative to buying from you.

As for the rest - whatever you and your dad work out wil work out.

Unless they announce or have announced that boards supporting both SLI and Xfire will be available for the core i5 then I wouldn't wait. The entry lvl i5 chips are suppose to perform on par with the i7 920, which is why intel will discontinue the 920 when i5 becomes available. bleeding edge i5 chips will likely compete with the 950 or 975 at similiar price points.

In short I wouldn't wait. the i7 920 is a amazing chip and the i7 boards will have the most features.