Basic e-mail/web surfing computer - $400 budget

[Sunrah]

Hello-

I am building a basic websurfing/e-mail computer for a friend of mine, and I saw this combo deal advertised on a Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.231336&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL080609&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL080609-_-Combo-_-LM1A-_-231336

Here is what is in the combo:

1. Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5200

2. ECS G31T-M7 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

3. Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM

4. SPARKLE SX94GT512D2L-NM GeForce 9400 GT 512MB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card -

Price for this is: 189.96 w/ a $15 mail in rebate for $174.96

Here are the questions I have:

1. Is this a good way to go?
2. If so, what case, ram, CD/DVD burner and PSU would work well here?


The computer will be running XP for a few months until Windows 7 is released.
Monitor is 22" resolution: 1680 X 1050
I have mouse, keyboard and basic stereo + subwoofer speakers.

The machine will be used primarily for storing photos, music, web surfing and e-mail.
They may load some basic educational programs for their kids.
I would like to keep the overall budget under $400.

If this is not a good way to approach this, can you recommend a better way?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[batuchka]

This was for someone who asked for a 1280 x 1024 light gamer (and reused there HDD) so for your purposes you could just run on integrated graphics ^^ Upon reflection 99 USD gets ya a 710 Tricore so ya : integrated graphics + tricore hehe Throw in 2GB more RAM maybe? Nab a $50ish 500GB HDD as well

 

[Wolfshadw]

Another option:

MSI Wind Barebones - Intel Atom 330 (1.6GHz dual-core) on board.
G-Skill DDR2-533 - 1x2GB DDR2-533 SO-DIMM
Western Digital Caviar SATAII Hard Drive - 160 GB (you can get a larger one if needed).
LG Black DVD Burner - 22x and includes lightscribe.

Total cost is around $250 shipped.

-Wolf sends

 

[Sunrah]

Thanks for the responses. I decided to cobble together a system from older parts I had laying around the office to get him through the winter, and then I will take a fresh look next spring.

 

[hunter315]

AMD 710 $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103648

ASUS 785G $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398

Corsair 400CX $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

Rosewill Case $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147068

LG Sata DVD burner $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136167

WD Caviar Blue 250GB $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113

Crucial 4GB DDR3 1066 $46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148150

Comes to exactly 400 before $20 MIR on the corsair PSU and will greatly outperform the Atom, while giving you plenty of upgrade options.