Building My Grandfather a Computer

[Arete12]

Purchase date: ASAP
Budget range: As cheap as I can go to get the job done, Max $800
Usage: Internet, Movies, DvD burning, casual gaming
Parts not required: monitor, keyboard, mouse
website: i like newegg but i will chase the cheapest price
Country: US
Overclocking: NO
SLI: NO
Monitor: I do not know yet, he may be getting my old one which is 1980X1260

Ok so after building my own computer a couple months ago my grandparents decided they need a new one too. There current computer is 7 years old right now and although I don't remember the specs it is an HP Pavilion a1648x. So as you can imagine, it won't take much to improve what they have. I want something that will last them the next 5-6 years while being upgradeable if need be. My grandfather uses it for burning movies for the most part and my grandmother plays casual games, like the ones you pick up for $5 on the shelf.

Here's what I have come up with so far, if you know a way to save money without sacrificing quality or upgrade ability then I am open to suggestions. Also need to know if it is all compatible, Im not use to AMD at all, but I am going with them for price.

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz ( I want at least Quad core)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
MOBO: ASUS M5A97 AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-131-767&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=4#scrollFullInfo
GPU: MSI R5770 Hawk Radeon HD 5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490
case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136490
OS: windows 7
Lite on Dvd Burner

 

[James McKeane]

Purchase date: ASAP
Budget range: As cheap as I can go to get the job done, Max $800
Usage: Internet, Movies, DvD burning, casual gaming
Parts not required: monitor, keyboard, mouse
website: i like newegg but i will chase the cheapest price
Country: US
Overclocking: NO
SLI: NO
Monitor: I do not know yet, he may be getting my old one which is 1980X1260

Ok so after building my own computer a couple months ago my grandparents decided they need a new one too. There current computer is 7 years old right now and although I don't remember the specs it is an HP Pavilion a1648x. So as you can imagine, it won't take much to improve what they have. I want something that will last them the next 5-6 years while being upgradeable if need be. My grandfather uses it for burning movies for the most part and my grandmother plays casual games, like the ones you pick up for $5 on the shelf.

Here's what I have come up with so far, if you know a way to save money without sacrificing quality or upgrade ability then I am open to suggestions. Also need to know if it is all compatible, Im not use to AMD at all, but I am going with them for price.

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz ( I want at least Quad core)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
MOBO: ASUS M5A97 AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=13-131-767&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=4#scrollFullInfo
GPU: MSI R5770 Hawk Radeon HD 5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127490
case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018
Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145345
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136490
OS: windows 7
Lite on Dvd Burner

Just something i threw together. I went with intel. i personally don't think you need 6790 for $5 casual gaming. in fact i don't think you need a graphics card at all. but you know your grandparents best. go with your gut. also, i went with 1333 to save money, but i think the 1600 is a good idea.

Part list permalink / Part price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-2105 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($132.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($127.27 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6790 1GB Video Card ($139.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Rosewill R218-P-BK ATX Mid Tower Case ($39.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 650W ATX12V Power Supply ($52.46 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH22NS90B DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $758.63
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated 2012-03-28 22:35 EDT-0400)

 

[Arete12]

Best answer selected by Arete12.