Basic Build Suggestions/Lists ?

[bourque]

I have done alot of research and reading about building my dream gaming PC, but I now have a question about any suggestions any of you may have for a basic build?

I am planning on building a PC for my wifes parents as thier PC is OLD!!!! My budget would be around $500.00.

This will not include monitor/keyboard/mouse etc. Just CPU and OS.

Would it be prudent to purchase a "barebones" sysytem from newegg and add to it or to just build the entire thing from scratch?

They will use the PC for mosyly email, photo sharing and editing (grandkids) and basic word documets and some music.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions, tips, advice or lists you guys come up with for me!!!




Looked at dell and built this unit but thought could do better for less??? ($650.00 price)

Intel® Celeron® D Processor 325 (2.53 GHz, 533 FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
MEMORY 1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
HARD DRIVE 160GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
OPTICAL DRIVE Single Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability
MONITORS No Monitor
My Accessories
SPEAKERS Dell A225 Speakers
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER 3.5 in Floppy Drive
My Software
PRODUCTIVITY Microsoft Works Suite 2006 - Includes MICROSOFT WORD plus much more! edit

Video Cards Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 2
Sound Integrated 2.0 Channel Audio
Modem 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
Mouse Mouse included in Wireless, Laser or Bluetooth Package
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0
Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Miscellaneous Award Winning Service & Support

[Alaron]

For that budget, Dell is the best way to go. With a $500 budget, and $90 used by Windows, that is a tight margin for hardware. And for the uses you mentioned, they don't need any extra power. A basic Dell like that one you mentioned is more then enough. Check out the Dell Outlet for even cheaper systems.

[Stuey]

If you do go the Dell route, don't forget to check out some deals/coupon sites for coupons. I've had good luck with xpbargains.com.

People have been known to negotiate slightly better prices when ordering over the phone.

Originally Posted by Dell.com with no additional coupons added Dell Dimension E520 Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 524 (3.06GHz, 533FSB), Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition Unit Price Qualifies for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium Expires on March 15 2007 FREE Upgrade plus $10 shipping & handling payable at time of redemption Expires on March 15 2007 View Details Dell Home Customers: Save $100 off on this Dell Dimension E520! Limited Time Offer! View Details - $100.00 Dimension E520 Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 524 (3.06GHz, 533FSB) Operating System Genuine Windows® XP Media Center 2005 Edition Memory 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz- 2DIMMs Keyboard and Mouse Bundles Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse Monitor No Monitor Video Cards Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 Hard Drives 80GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet Modem 56K PCI Data Fax Modem Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0 CD or DVD Drive 16X DVD ROM Drive Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio Speakers No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system) Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) No productivity suite- Includes Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD Anti-Virus/Security Suite No Security Subscription Warranty and Service 1Yr Ltd Warranty and At-Home Service Internet Access Service 6 Months of EarthLink Internet Access Included TOTAL:$484.00

Speakers, a productivty suite which includes Word, and a media card reader bring the price to $613 before tax. Note this is without a monitor like you specified. If you stay with 512mb ram instead of 1 gig and upgrade from a 3rd party, and add speakers and the card reader separately, you can probably shave off a few more bucks. For a few more bucks you can upgrade to a dual core but for basic use it won't be necessary. Still, a Pentium 4 processor is way ahead of a Celeron.

[Cricket]

With a budget of $500 you're better off getting a DELL than trying to build a budget box. If the $500 has to include the OS, monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers the rest of the components inside the computer itself are either going to be older technology or cheap, very low quality parts.

When I do a "budget" build I know I'm looking at around $650 just for the components for the computer and the OS. I leave the monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers up to the owner.

Cricket

[bourque]

oh well, was hoping to build but seems as if Dell is the way to go.

Thanks for your help and time....happy holidays!!!!