$300 Office setup please.

[kurtcrosbie]

Looking to purchase in the next week.

This system will strictly be used for work. No gaming/cad etc.

Will any motherboard with two display outputs be able to support dual monitors?

Needed:

Case
Mobo
CPU
PSU
RAM
HD
DVD
OS

This is what I have so far:

Case
Rosewill R101 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147112
$30
Mobo CPU combo
BIOSTAR A780L3L + AMD Athlon II X2 245 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.626915
$93
PSU
Rosewill RV350 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182006
$27
RAM
Mushkin 2GB DDR3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146744
$20
HD
Western Digital - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
$40
DVD
Samsung Black - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151175
$20
OS
Windows 7 HP
$100

There were a 3 promo codes I used also and everything came up to $335 shipped. Thats a tic over budget but I can live with it.

 

[rwpritchett]

$300 is tough if you need a Windows license (-$100). Are you willing to try linux?

 

[sadams04]

+1 ...very tough if you need to buy the OS license.

Using Microcenter, and buying in-store, you can get hardware for a basic PC for just under $300. Do you have a Microcenter near you?

 

[kurtcrosbie]

+1 ...very tough if you need to buy the OS license.

Using Microcenter, and buying in-store, you can get hardware for a basic PC for just under $300. Do you have a Microcenter near you?

Nope. No microcenter near Charlotte. Is newegg the best online?

Would you go any further back than a II X2 for even a nongaming office build? I found an AM2 5200 chip on tigerdirect for $45...

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the overall system there isn't bad at all for basic office use, I'd suggest squeezing $10 more or so into the build to get an 80+ Bronze 300/350W PSU for $39.99

 

[kurtcrosbie]

the overall system there isn't bad at all for basic office use, I'd suggest squeezing $10 more or so into the build to get an 80+ Bronze 300/350W PSU for $39.99

What does 80+ signify?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

80+ i a power efficency rating. How much power if draws to get its rated power. 80+ Bronze is 82% efficent. higher efficency ratings mean several things.

1) Lower power bills. a 400W PSU and a 400W 80+ PSU will both supply 400 W to your system, the 400W PSU, at say 75% efficiency, will use 533W from the wall to supply it. the 80+ one will use 500W from the wall. and an 80+ Bronze would use 488W

2)better quality: To make the units efficient, you get better quality parts put into the unit, meaning less chance of failure that can take out your system

3) less heat: Because they are more efficient, the power supply generates less heat, making cooling your system easier

 

[cin19]

If you don't care, you can get the deal from Dell, $304 Dell optiplex 380.

http://dealsea.com/view-deal/48577

 

[aznshinobi]

Build guide in MAH SIGGY! $280

 

[selas]

I definitely second the Ubuntu suggestion... You save $100... Come to the dark side...

 

[rwpritchett]

Come to the dark side...

I thought that was apple??

Wouldn't Ubuntu be the light side because you have "seen the light"??

 

[kurtcrosbie]

I definitely second the Ubuntu suggestion... You save $100... Come to the dark side...

What would I lose by running Linux?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

basically, just the familiarity of windows.
open office will do MS Word/Excel/Powerpoint files just fine. Firefox & Chrome are the same.

 

[Dyers Eve]

I have seen windows XP Pro on ebay go for around $40-50 from 100% positive feedback sellers: http://cgi.ebay.com/Microsoft-Windows-XP-Professional-SP3-100-Genuine-/180650121926?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0f961ac6

Really, I don't see a point in home building a computer when you can get an equivalent one from dell for ~$300. And at least Dell gives you some type of warranty and they put it all together. Another options is buying re-certified computers from newegg or buy.com

 

[ScrewySqrl]

dyer: the $300 system you build yourself will come with better quality parts, ESPECIALLY the power supply.

 

[selas]

Plus -- most important parts will have a 3yr warranty (or even 5yr in some cases)

Ubuntu has improved tremendously in the last few years. I would say it is more similar to a Mac OS... Once you load everything you need -it is quite easy to use. Particularly if you are not using graphics-dependent software

 

[aznshinobi]

^ +1