$400ish office PC build. (where can i save?)

[samrialj]

im building a office desktop to be used in a church office (if i can get the sell...im currently competing with the prices at best buy, some people just don't understand...)
for mostly all text or picture documents, very minor disk burning possibly and music. internet use also.

im competing with a flashy $380 Athlon II x2 4gb DD?? Ram and a 750gb unknown brand hardrive (at best buy)
im sure it seems like a no brainer to a tech guy like me or you but to a lady who works at a church its just not getting threw,
i really need to cut some money somewhere even if i get $10 out of building it it would be worth it for me, this would be my third build but the least expensive.
im mostly concerned with the unfamiliar jetway mobo.


ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
Item #: N82E16827135204
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$18.99


Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Item #: N82E16811147112
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$29.99


Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #: N82E16822148697
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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-$10.00 Instant
$64.99
$54.99


JetWay JM28GT4D3-LF AM3 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 & 630a (MCP68S) Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #: N82E16813153211
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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-$5.00 Instant
$49.99
$44.99


SeaSonic SS-300ET Bronze 300W ATX12V V2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM
Item #: N82E16817151086
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
-$10.00 Instant
$47.99
$37.99


CORSAIR Vengeance 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 Desktop Memory Model CMZ4GX3M2A1600C9
Item #: N82E16820145343
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$32.99


AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX
Item #: N82E16819103872
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
Protect Your Investment (expand for options)
$74.99


Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116986
Return Policy: Software Standard Return Policy
$99.99

Subtotal: $394.92

Shipping: $16.76

total: $411.68 i would really like it to be a even $400.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

Rosewill RC-CIX-01 mini-ITX case with 150W PSU and 80mm fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147133
$44.99

ASUS E35M1-I Fusion AMD E-350 APU (1.6GHz, Dual-Core) AMD Hudson M1 Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131732
$124.99

Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR1066D3N7K2/4G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134718
$26.99

Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (compatible with SATA II)
ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.696141
$67.48

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
$99.99

Total: $364.44 + shipping

Alternately, you could substitute the motherboard/cpu/gpu combo with a SandyBridge Celeron G530 + ASUS P8H61-I motherboard for about $25 more. It'll have more CPU horsepower than the Zacate board but the GPU won't be quite as good. Either is going to be more than adequate for light office work, music, surfing, etc.

What you can sell them on is this: either configured system will use at most the power of a 40W lightbulb. That "Best Buy" system is probably more like a 100W lightbulb (at least). This tiny system also turns heads. There's even a version of that case that comes with a red front if that sells it better -- same price.

 

[samrialj]

thank you for the response but i wasn't looking for another build, i was looking for comments on my own.

would never buy Intel anyways.

x3 3.1ghz vs 1.6ghz dual core.? that's not even at the same level.

i do appreciate your time.

 

[lazylazyjoe]

Use an open source OS. Will save 100 right there. Use wine or virtualization if u HAVE to use certain win programs, but probably wont be necessary. Most Linux distros are easier to get working and can be configured so the average win user wont even notice.

 

[samrialj]

i know how to use ubuntu linux
thank you

but your newcomer status explains your newcomer response.


i dont hold it against you.

 

[samrialj]

open source OS are free for a reason, most lack the full functionality of a paid OS

everyone has to have there windows 7 programs.


understand XD?

 

[Dougie Fresh]

Ok, then let me translate my comments for you.

Your motherboard choice sucks. GeForce 7025? nForce 630a? That's got to be at least 3 years old. Newer motherboards cost, what, $20 more?

An x3 is overkill for light office work, music and surfing the internet. It's a waste of money and electricity. It's also old technology. There are new generations of AMD and Intel processors.

That case looks like every other cheap Best Buy build, maybe uglier.

At least there was a combo on your DVD and HDD choice.

That's one of my favorite power supplies.

God yes I am just a troll and Intel fanboi -- that's why I picked a AMD Zacate motherboard.

 

[samrialj]

eh it doesnt really matter anymore.

shes not buyin.

i myself have a phenom II x4 a AsRock mobo 8gb mushkin enhanced DDR3, a HIS iceq HD 5770 a antec 500 watt, 500gb WD.

 

[samrialj]

and whats with intel fanbois these days,

it seems the extra $100+ on every CPU is paying for their commercials.

 

[samrialj]

Best answer selected by samrialj.