Cheapest build for my 65 year old aunt to read email

[DannyITR]

I just need a tower with no peripherals. I was considering a refurb from a local store (in Canada btw)


Intel P4 3.0Ghz cpu
1 GB Ram DDR
DVD Rom / CD Burner
40 GB Hard Drive
Sound, Lan, USB Ports
Windows XP Pro (new fresh installation)

$269.99 + tx = $305

Then I went on NCIX and made this, Can you tell me if the parts match and maybe suggest less expensive options?

Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 Dual Core Processor LGA775 2.5GHZ 800FSB 2MB Retail Box $82.86
ASUS P5KPL-CM mATX Intel G31 LGA775 1PCI-16 1PCI-E1 2PCI SATA2 Video Sound GBLAN Motherboard $56.39
Kingston ValueRAM KVR667D2N5/2G PC2-5300 2GB 1X2GB DDR2-667 240PIN DIMM Memory $30.59
Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB 8.9MS Hard Drive OEM 3YR MFR Warranty $58.91
Samsung SH-S222A/BEBE 22X Dual Layer DVD Writer Black IDE OEM $33.57
Powercolor Radeon HD 3450 Fanless 600MHZ 512MB 667MHZ DDR2 PCI-E HDMI Low Profile Video Card $33.99

Total: $296.11
Case with power supply (local) $50
Shipping $16.50
Total: $362.61

So for $55 more I get a Dual Core instead of a P4. Thoughts?

Edit: forgot the OS. Dang that's another $115 or so. Can I shave the HD down a bit? Suggestions?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You don't need the 3450 since your motherboard has integrated graphics. You should also ditch the IDE DVD burner for a SATA model if you go with building your own.

Samsung SH-S223B/BEBE 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer Black OEM $34.48

 

[Newf]

Why not look at an AMD integrated graphics motherboard and a 45nm X2 cpu with 2x1 GB DDR2-800 for a cheap home-build? No videocard needed.
Either this or your E5200 build will be WAY better than an old P4 full of dust.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Here's a suggestion for the motherboard/CPU:

AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail $69.99

GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $59.49

That's $10 cheaper and a faster CPU.

 

[Newf]

Cheapest NEW Dell build w/OS runs $489CAN. It's hard to build a decent machine for less than they can, but makes for a worthy goal.

 

[Killer_au]

If she only wants to read e-mail y dont you just by a second hand 1.6ghz or something? you could pick up a whole tower for around $100

 

[jbakerlent]

AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688

BIOSTAR TA790GX XE AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138140

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227298

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

Antec earthwatts EA380 380W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005&Tpk=EA380

Thermaltake VI5000BNS Black SECC Steel MicroATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133066

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187

One note, this build is Micro-ATX.

 

[dodonga]

well u dont want ur granny to be waiting 4 hours to load up windows and then the browser

 

[batuchka]

80+ certified modular PSU and a monster dual core

 

[DannyITR]

Thanks for the replies guys. I didn't realize my link was for an IDE burner.

I'll look at the AMD combo posted. Whats a micro ATX though?

 

[batuchka]

mATX = smaller than ATX form factor and comes in 9.6" by 9.6" The integrated GPU though is good to go for HD DVDs/ Blu Ray if those become mainstream down the road ^^

 

[DannyITR]

mATX = smaller than ATX form factor and comes in 9.6" by 9.6" The integrated GPU though is good to go for HD DVDs/ Blu Ray if those become mainstream down the road ^^

Wow thanks!

 

[batuchka]

You are welcomed ^^

 

[fancarolina]

Check out the Asus Eee Box
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220012
If She needs HD playback capability
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220013

Mount them to the VESA mount on the back of an LCD and your golden.

 

[DannyITR]

If I get a microATX motherboard does this mean it wont fit into a normal tower? I wonder if I could use her current tower.

 

[batuchka]

Yes normal towers have standoffs to mount both ATX and mATX mobos so more savings if reusing current tower ^^

 

[fancarolina]

If I get a microATX motherboard does this mean it wont fit into a normal tower? I wonder if I could use her current tower.

microATX will fit just fine in standard ATX cases. You can put the smaller ones in the big case but you obviously can't go the other way.

 

[DannyITR]

Hi guys,

This was the cheapest combo I found on NCIX:


AMD Athlon II X2 240 Dual Core Processor Socket AM3 2.8GHZ
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=42090

Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 AMD740G mATX AM2+/AM3 1PCI-EX 2PCI SATA2 RAID VGA Sound GLAN DVI Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=30471

I changed the burner to SATA and kept the same DDR2 RAM and my total is $390.23 shipped WITH Vista Home Basic. That's not too bad. I jsut want to make sure the mobo is ok. I chose the one with DVI and VGA inputs.

 

[batuchka]

Well if starting afresh it would be best one went with a budget AM2+ like 760G or GF8100 rather than AM2 cos even those have far better integrated video, HT 3.0, PCIex16 2.0 in short: more updated features and better performance...

 

[DannyITR]

Isn't the one I chose AM2+?

 

[batuchka]

Nope its an AM2

 

[batuchka]

From NCIX:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=36026&vpn=GA-MA78GM-US2H&manufacture=Gigabyte

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I'm not sure where you're getting your info from batuchka. The motherboard the OP picked IS AM2+/AM3. It's right there in the description. It's the same motherboard I linked for Newegg.ca. By the way, the prices on Newegg.ca are lower for the same hardware.

 

[jbakerlent]

I'm not sure where you're getting your info from batuchka. The motherboard the OP picked IS AM2+/AM3. It's right there in the description. It's the same motherboard I linked for Newegg.ca. By the way, the prices on Newegg.ca are lower for the same hardware.

+1

 

[1tym]

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10124810&catid=20217

on sale for $249.99 has OS already installed, simple and affordable plus free shipping. Yah it uses the atom processor but this is only for internet and email right?