Build for my mother and sister

[_WBaS_]

Ok so Xmas is coming up and I need to build a computer for my mom and sister. They will be using this system for mostly internet browsing, microsoft office, music, possibly movies, possibly low end games. They told me they want an LCD monitor and speakers so my sister can listen to music. I don’t plan on overclocking it, and if I do it will be a mild overclock. I’d like this computer to last them awhile as I know they won’t be upgrading. To give you an example... we got a computer back in 2001 maybe 2002 and they are still using it. They need a computer BAD! The budget is around $600. This list totals about $610 shipped.
Is this good? Any suggestions?

Case- Antec NSK4480B with 380W Earthwatts PSU
Mobo- ASUS M2A-VM
CPU-AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200 Brisbane 2.2GHz
RAM-Corsair XMS2 2x512MB DDR2 675
HDD-Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 3.0GB SATA
Optical- Philips 20x DVD+-R DVD Burner
Monitor-HannsG 19” 5ms Widescreen LCD
Speakers- Logitech X-230 32 watts RMS 2.1

Thanks in advance! :)

[azianai]

honestly unless you really prefer AMD, you may want to look towards a low end Core2Duo ie the PentiumD E21XX line. I picked up an E2140 for my little brother for 60 bucks. I think newegg sells it for 75 shipped. Simple ASRock MB or equivalent 775 socket board for like 60 bucks would run fine. You dont need to buy Corsair XM2 ram for them, especially at 512 per stick, i'd just buy ValueRam from Kingston or something for 2 gbs at like 50 bucks since you said not overclocking or anything. I'm not seeing a dedicated vid card, so i guess you'll be using onboard video? For movies and what not i'd recommend at least springing for a dedicated low end video card, you can find low end Nvidia 8000 series for under 50 bucks. Hard drive, i'd just scour the holiday ads and pick one up from bestbuy/circuit city/etc. Black friday's coming up and staples for the last 2 yrs have had HD deals at like 200gb+ HDs for 20-30 dollars so if you can start waiting at like 4AM lol. Case/PSU costs WAY too much, you can find cheaper buyin separate actually. Link below is if you're gonna buy it today or tomorrow, slickdeals has it from fry's after rebate for the PSU and Case. Same thing with the monitor, check the ads you can get one for cheaper especially with black friday and xmas coming up.

What i have listed below is basically what i'd change from your listed setup, it comes out to be $275.94 before shipping charges (some items are free shipping, some aren't so can't calculate the ship yet). Just missing factoring in HD, Monitor, Speakers. From your totals on the listed items, you'll be lookin at $252.96 before shipping, and thats without a video card. Could just be me lookin too into these things, but just another suggestion. Oh and if you do have a local computer store nearby (CompUSA, Microcenter, Fry's), you may want to look to purchase some parts there, sure you'll get charged tax and price will possibly be higher, but they offer better return policies (dont gotta RMA/ship it back). Also check the daily sunday ads, you may find some good deals, and as well as check the online deal sites ie slickdeals.

Essay Over, really bored at work lol. Hope that helps a little

Ram: Newegg.com - CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Processor: Newegg.com - Intel Dual-Core E2140 Allendale 1.6GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
Motherboard:
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-945GCMX-S2 LGA 775 Intel 945GC Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Vid Card:
Newegg.com - EVGA 256-P2-N732-LR GeForce 8400GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
PSU:
Antec EarthWatts (Seasonic built) 80PLUS 500W Power Supply $29.99 after $30 rebate @ Frys.com FREE SHIPPING - SlickDeals.net Forums
Case:
Antec Solo Black Mid Tower Case $29.99 after $50 rebate @ Frys.com FREE SHIPPING - SlickDeals.net Forums

[screwballl]

Great setup for a budget system being that it includes the LCD!!

I myself would not change a thing

based on azianis reccomendations, you are looking at $382.25 after shipping and without the LCD, hard drive, speaker or optical.
With the other needed items that total is $715.92

I say every item you picked out is great for a budget system. AMD is still a very viable option where the 4400 X2 will get you better performance than the E2140 mentioned. the 4400 X2 is equivalent of the E6300 in most benchmarks (give or tae a few depending on the setup).
Also since you said no need for the extra video, onboard should be fine, but if you do want a video card, look into the $50 8400GS he mentioned.

[azianai]

mainly those are just the MSRP, i was factoring in rebates and deals. Like when i built my comp, i started to accumulate the parts over a span of 3 months lol. I just know depending on your OS, you may want to put into the dedicated video especially if you're thinkin Vista. And i didn't throw in shippin cost since some items were free, and when you combine shipping, newegg gives discounts for them. But my only change really from his original listing would be the memory, i dont see why you want to spend $$ on SLI certified "gaming grade" memory at 1 gb when you're not gonna be utilizing its max potential for OC or anything, just better off gettin the valueram's and what not for 2 gbs at basically the same price.

[gvblake22]

Looks like a great build for a basic machine. On the low-end processor, it's really a toss-up between AMD and Intel at this point. I say find a motherboard that has the best layout and features you want and get whatever processor suits (AMD or Intel).

When you mentioned low end gaming, are we talking about casual games (like tetris, pong, etc) or 3D games? Onboard video is prettymuch worthless for playing any half-way modern 3D game, so don't get your hopes up. I say stick with onboard video and if they decide they do want to play 3D games, then get a budget mid-range add-on video card later.

Also, if you are planning on using Vista, you might want to up the memory to 2GB right now. Or if you are trying to keep cost as low as possible, go with a single 1GB stick now so it leaves a good upgrade path to 2GB in the future.

[Capper]

then you have our Recommended Hardware Lists.

[_WBaS_]

Thank you very much everyone! I've been hearing exactly what I wanted :).

Some more info based on your comments:
1. This will be using XP Pro, so no hard vista requirements
2. I don't know when I will be buying, if you noticed, most of the items do not depend on rebates. I personally hate rebates although I do still use them.
3. The games my sister might be playing would be playable with onboard video. Not sure what exactly if at all. My sister just turned 16 so I think she is getting out of the gaming phase. She use to like to play the older sim games.

Please if you have anything else to add, feel free to do so.

Thanks again!

[Panda Man]

Everything I would have said has been said except for this - Do they really need the 250GB hard disk? Unless they plan to actually store the movies on the disk I don't see why they need more than an 80GB disk

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

That will also put it below the $600 budget =D I assume you're recycling the mouse the keyboard, correct?

[Yellowhello]

Looks like a really nice budget build there! Those Corsair sticks you have listed there are actually the exact same ones I had for my initial build... I have since upgraded to the G.Skill ones in my sig. But they are still great.

[_WBaS_]

Originally Posted by Panda Man

Everything I would have said has been said except for this - Do they really need the 250GB hard disk? Unless they plan to actually store the movies on the disk I don't see why they need more than an 80GB disk

Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST380815AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

That will also put it below the $600 budget =D I assume you're recycling the mouse the keyboard, correct?

Heh... you know I completely forgot about a keyboard and mouse... but that's something I'd just pick up in just about any retail store. No need for special order. And I was thinking about that for a HDD, but the price jump is minimal for the amount of space increase... I'll consider that though thanks.