Help Me Spend $800!

Stoney80 · 06-19-2003, 04:57 PM

My mom needs a new computer. Her old one gave up the ghost. She is in no way a big time game player, but she does use the internet alot, plus a lot of documentation. So, she obviously doesn't need a killer machine, but she also doesn't want to go cheap product wise. (she was thinking of getting a Dell; gah!) At this point she does NOT need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc. What she does need is a new case, powersupply, motherboard, CPU, RAM, video and sound card etc. Yes, I'll be doing research, but from your own experience how would you spend the $800? Thanks.

omalleytrading · 06-19-2003, 05:02 PM

For $800, she could get a very nice system if you build it yourself.

* AMD Athlon XP -- maybe a Barton 2600
* GeForce4 Ti4100
* 60GB Hard Drive (will she need more? Doubtfully)
* 512MB DDR Ram

In fact, you might have a hard time spending $800 for what she'll need.

That said, keep this in mind -- if you build this, you're the tech support for it. If she buys a Dimension, you can have her call Dell with her problems!

Something to think about....

Atomic Rooster · 06-19-2003, 05:04 PM

Have a look at this thread. It deals with the same question.

edwelly · 06-19-2003, 05:06 PM

Stoney80 - sorry but I think you should get her a Dell - she could get a simple 2350 for $400 - $500 and that would be a nice little PC for her
I am currently running a Dell 2350, 1 gb of RAM and a 64mb PCI video card - runs great in everything I do...
---edwelly

Omardeth · 06-19-2003, 08:16 PM

depends on what you want to do , amd or intel . these are all newegg prices but if you look around you might find them cheaper .

if amd i would go with one of these motherboards . all have all onboard that you would need . sound , lan , video they are all good names for motherboards . just add the memory and case and hard drive and cpu you can get under 800$ easy . the onboard video will be fine to fit mom's needs .

as for a case, if you want to get a motherboard instead of a cube type system,cheap cases can be found at www.amamax.com with free shipping . if you want a chieftec case i have a thread that has some great prices on them shipped.

asus A7N8X-VM Retail 119.99$

abit nf7-m 122$

epox EP-8RGA+ 99$

msi K7N2G-L 106$

soltek SL-75MRN-L Retail 96$ doesn't say on newegg what this board has so here

or you could go with a cube type system like these . all you will need is the memory cpu and harddrive .

iwill xp4 160$ new egg 175

Shuttle XPC SN41G2 309.95 newegg is 305

Shuttle XPC SB51GB 285$ newegg is 279$

Asus Terminator P4 400Mhz FSB Socket 478 P4SC Retail 138-189 depending on what model you like .

Asus Pundit 179-184 depending on what model .

if it was me i would go with a cube type system . you get it all in 1 and just add hd , memory and cpu . some i linked are intel based some are amd . i linked the www.iocombo.com links have some freebee's like free hsf with any case or motherboard u buy or jacket with a certian cube . also they give points for money spent whenyou buy that can be used against future purchaces . i have used them before pm me if you have any questions about them . my orders have come just as fast as newegg .

hope this helps
good luck

Siliconjunkie · 06-19-2003, 08:21 PM

I got my mom a Dell, then if it breaks they take care of it. Yes, you can do it cheaper, but you have to support it. My mom is an hour drive and if she has a problem I can just tell her to call Dell.

ArcticFox · 06-19-2003, 08:27 PM

Hmmm... I would suggest saving cash and purchasing the following:

AthlonXP 2000+ (or 1800+, no slower though)
GeForce2 MX 400
Gigabyte mobo, or an Asus or MSI if you want (overkill for web browsing)
512mb DDR333
Onboard Sound
Case from CaseDepot.com (look around, some cheap ones their)
330 watt power supply, no lower than 300

Look around, why spend $800 to browse the web and write papers? That config shouldn't cost much, about $60-ish for the proc, $40 for the video card, $80 something for the mobo depending on type (get either an nForce2 or KT400A), $60 for the memory, and $40-60 for the case and PS.

Have fun!

DPA · 06-19-2003, 08:35 PM

...go do [ill wash my mouth out here in a minute guys] the bad thing, and float over to say best buy or circuit city and pick her up a sony vaio or something "neat and flashy" that they have for around 600-800 that makes no noise and has every feature she'd ever need.

okay, wheres the soap?

BeeQuewl · 06-19-2003, 08:52 PM

AHH!! my eyes!! they're burning...

...had a VAIO as my first PC (was a mac guy for too many years <insert boos and jeers here> got brainwashed by the mac "can do it faster and better" propaganda)...hated that machine, even its case was nasty llookin and it was about as upgradeable as a toaster oven...it ended up being a parts machine (read: steal jumpers and cables off it)...hope they have improved since i had one oh-so-many years ago since you are suggesting it

Omardeth · 06-19-2003, 09:21 PM

i hate to say it dell or gateway would work or any premade system . but you get all the crap also with them . if you make her one you will have to do tech support . but tech support only comes in if there are problems . and problems don't come up much now adays once the system is up and running. if you like to build build one . if you don't wanna be bothered buy one .