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The right PC build for your parents? Choose your own adventure!!!

Tags:
  • Barebones
  • Intel
  • AMD
  • budget
  • parents
  • Build
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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August 7, 2013 1:32:53 AM

:)  This is a pickle right now with my parents. For reference, here is what they have today:
  • AMD Athlon XP 1600+
  • Nvidia GeForce FX 5200
  • 80GB IDE HDD
  • 512MB of non-standard RAM that fails POST 1 out 3 times.

  • Here is where the challenging part comes into play. Do you encourage them to save ~$550 for a build that's probably going to last them ANOTHER 10 years? Or, do you throw together something quick and dirty for $200 and call it a day?

    Here's what you imagine them to be doing:
    • Using the build as a compact, wireless HTPC -- utilizing digital audio to their receiver and streaming perfect HD content to their LED tv -- and doing some occasional gaming via Haswell HD4600 graphics as well.

  • Here's what they will probably be doing:
    • Checking emails, collecting photos, surfing old-timey websites, etc.

  • The later makes me afraid that money would not be used and that the $200 build is probably the best option. Here's some spare parts that could already be fit into the system:
    • a 2008 Hitache deskstar 1TB sata II HDD
    • an LG blu-ray/dvd burner optical drive
    • a copy of win7 pro
    • Parents already have peripherals and an okay 19" vga monitor

  • Here was my first build attempt: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1pczl
    • cpu: Intel Core i5-4570 -- I can buy for $160
    • cpu cooler: Noctua Low-Profile Quiet CPU Cooler NH-L9I -- $47
    • mobo: GIGABYTE GA-Z87N-WIFI -- $140
    • ram: Corsair XMS3 8GB DDR3 1600 (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) -- $73.06
    • case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced Mini ITX Case -- $36
    • psu: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 -- $20
    • ssd: SanDisk Ultra Plus SSD 128 GB SDSSDHP-128G-G25 -- $96
    • hdd: Included Hitache 1TB hdd -- free
    • optical: Included LG drive -- free
    • TOTAL: $572.06
  • This build nearly has it all, good Intel graphics, dual-channel RAM, wireless chipset, digital audio, good mobo features from a Z87 chipset, and an honestly-needed cpu cooler for that portable case.

    Here's probably only what's "needed": http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1pddP
    • cpu: Intel Celeron G1610 2.6GHz Dual-Core -- $43
    • mobo: ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0 Micro ATX LGA1155 -- $60
    • ram: Kingston HyperX 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 -- $45
    • case: Antec VSK-3000 MicroATX Mid Tower -- $30
    • psu: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply -- $20
    • hdd: Included Hitache 1TB hdd -- free
    • optical: Included LG drive -- free
    • TOTAL: $198
  • I had a difficult time finding compatible RAM since this list only liked dual-channel setups for some reason.

    So, which route would you chose or is there a 3rd option -- your own build?
    Thanks for looking.
  • More about : build parents choose adventure

    August 7, 2013 1:49:52 AM

    I would say probably the second option. The i5 4570 is overkill IMO for what they will probably be doing.
    !