'Cheap' Budget PC

[someguynamedmatt]

I'm planning on putting together a PC for a family member, but I don't really know much about... well... lower end parts. What he's looking for is just something quiet that can basically take the place of an old dell laptop and do some web browsing and financial stuff on. This isn't a gaming PC whatsoever... in fact, all I want is integrated graphics as of right now.

---------------------------------------------------------------

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Don't know... sometime this year hopefully...
BUDGET RANGE: $600 and under before rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Web Surfing, Office Applications

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Need everything, starting from scratch

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: Prefer AMD, doesn't matter that much, though
OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: You tell me... I don't have a monitor for it yet...

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Try to keep it quiet and power-efficient for me...

---------------------------------------------------------------

I know this is probably a tough one on this budget to get a decent PC, considering it's $200 for a decent monitor. Maybe it's even better just to buy something from HP this time around, but I figure you guys can at least come up with something a little better...

Much Appreciated,
Matt

 

[Lmeow]

I can provide the main components, but I don't have much experience with monitors or peripherals.

AMD Athlon II X3 435 2.9GHz - $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103724

Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 - $94.99, $7.87 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128419

Crucial 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 - $55.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148149

Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache - $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Cooler Master Elite 360 w/350W PSU - $49.99, $16.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119205

Total = $355.81 shipping included. $345.81 after $10 rebate with the Gigabyte motherboard.

This system should suit all your needs.

If you want a monitor, how about this:

ASUS VH236H 23" 1080p Widescreen w/built in speakers - $199.99, $10.99 shipping, $20 rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059

Total after the monitor would be $566.79 shipping included w/o any rebates, $536.79 after rebates.

Later on you can add another 2GB stick, up to 4 sticks are supported for 8GB (doubt you'd need that though.)

This doesn't include Windows 7 though, although it costs $99.99 from newegg, if that costs too much then simply downgrade the processor to an Athlon II X2 250, save $10 and you'll only be ~ $25 over budget, if you count rebates.

 

[batuchka]

$554 AR, might be just add in a cheap pair of 2.0 speakers and/or kb/mouse if u dun have those lying around ^^

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Those both look pretty much like what I had in my cart earlier, actually... I think that I had a little better Athlon II, though, and a cheap 790-series mATX mobo. I'll look into what was posted here, though, and put the best of what I see together and give you an update.

Thanks for the ideas... I'll get back to you...

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Wow, this thread is dying extremely quickly...

Anyway, I'm looking for a good, cheap case right now... neither one of us are big fans of that CM case, and I'd like to have a full size ATX case just for future upgrades and such...

I'm sort of looking for a case with the look of something from an HP Pavilion... in fact, the Lian Li PC-7FN case is pretty much what I'm looking for. Any suggestions for under $70?

 

[Wired2k]

Finding a full ATX tower for under $70 would be extremely difficult. The cheapest full tower I found on newegg looked like an alien with a ton of lights and it was $69.99. Other than that, the next cheapest were Broadway Com Corp cases for $79.99. Cases that cheap don't come with PSU's either so you'll have to buy one separate as well.

Broadway Com Corp R-910 Black thick Steel ATX Full Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811162054

 

[someguynamedmatt]

I don't really need a full tower case, just something that can fit a full ATX motherboard instead of a mATX one. That looks pretty good, though... I'll keep that in mind...

Does anyone know anything about the "IKONIK Zaria A10 IC-Z1DBM"? It's cheap and seems to be fairly decent for the price...

 

[Wired2k]

It seems solid although a lack of reviews would have me a little hesitant. You can go with this Antec case that's really quite good and it's cheaper as well if you're going with an ATX mobo.

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

OR

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

The Cooler Master case can handle both ATX and micro ATX motherboards.
Both cases are mid-towers that aren't too flashy but have a lot of positive feedback.

 

[someguynamedmatt]

I'd say it's down to one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106&cm_re=centurion-_-11-119-106-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811118021&cm_re=IKONIK_Zaria-_-11-118-021-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233039&cm_re=gigabyte-_-11-233-039-_-Product

The Zaria looks a little tight to me, and I've heard some bad things about Gigabyte cases, too. Right now, I'm running in a CoolerMaster CM690 II Advanced, and it's a great case, so I'm tempted to go with the centurion. Sorry, Timop... I do like that case, but it just doesn't look much like a typical office computer. Thanks, though...

Here's what I've got so far. Is there anything I'm missing if I'm starting from scratch? Anything obvious? Oh, and I figure I'll put an old GeForce 8400 GS in it from an old Dell I had... it's better than nothing I figure...

 

[cheapfrag]

What about a pre-built HP computer? Seems like you will get more for your money?

http://dealnews.com/HP-Pavilion-p6380-t-Core-2-Quad-2.5-GHz-PC-for-580-free-shipping/360909.html

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Well, I thought about it, but that's not always the case, especially if you've done a lot of research and know what you're doing. I'd rather spend about a hundred more for a good, brand-name motherboard, some decent RAM, and a faster (but smaller capacity) hard drive than whatever HP gives you. It would be different if they used quality parts, but I don't even think they give you Windows with it anymore... just some stupid 'restore disk' prefilled with their nice mix of bloatware.

I just had a lot better build put together for probably $20 less with an Athlon II x4 630 and a better motherboard, too... I'll put a pic up here in a sec. Maybe someone else would be able to use, it, too...

 

[antisyzygy]

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
$24.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$54.99

ASUS VW193TR Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor
$119.99

Logitech Internet 350 Black USB Standard Desktop
$25.99

CORSAIR XMS3 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9DHX
$94.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders
$99.99

COMBO :

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Antec VSK-2000 Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$79.98

COMBO :

AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Model ADX635WFGIBOX
GIGABYTE GA-785GMT-USB3 AM3 AMD 785G USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
$185.98

Subtotal: $686.90


This is a bit more expensive that budget but it gives you a very good motherboard with decent integrated graphics, DDR3 and USB 3.0 support, a quad core processor for multitasking, a decent case, a highly rated PSU and peripherals.

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Well, it was $20 cheaper until I decided to go with 4gb of ram instead of 2...

Oh, and frag, that HP didn't come with a monitor, either, so add on another $120 to that...

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Well, I'll make one last attempt to keep this thread alive...

That's my last update for this. If you see anything wrong, have any comments, or anything to say at all about this build, say it now. I'll be ordering this before the end of the month, so this is probably going to be my last update unless someone comes up with something better.

Any thoughts? Anyone out there?