Low budget light use PC

[Bob338]

m going to build a low budget computer for my daughter. Their current one is a dinosaur and has to be replaced. Use is very light, for minor internet and financials, plus communications. No games but a bit of photo editing and storage. It must be expandable for her retirement in about 3 years when she'll make more extensive use of the home computer.

Please review compatibility and feel free to make suggestions.
Case and PSU Combo:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail 216944Antec earthwatts EA430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Mobo:
ASUS M3A76-CM AM2+/AM2 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

CPU:
AMD Athlon X2 7550 Kuma 2.5GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor Model AD7550WCJ2BGH - OEM

RAM:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail

HD:
Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM

OR:
LITE-ON 24X CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS324-08 - Retail

The only thing I'm married to is the case/psu combo. I considered an ASUS Intel board but there seems more flexibility for the future in the AMD boards, plus comparable boards and cpu's seem a to cost a bit less.

Question? We have speakers, wireless card, desktop and a new Dell monitor, plus I have Windows XP, builders copy, from my own build a few months back. However, that begs a question. I went to Windows 7 RC, fell in love and have bought the upgrade copy for the October release date. Can I install and use Windows RC using my key code? I know the RC trial period is supposed to end mid August and won't be available by the time this is built. I'd guess the current listed price for Windows will drop somewhat when they start shutting it down every two hours next March. By that time we may be able to get it from Newegg for something less than the $119 from Microsoft. Anyone know for sure?

[Khalil]

You can't use the upgrade from your current installation on the new computer, Micro$soft considers that piracy, you will need a seperate license for the new machine.
Low budget means how much exactly? Some people low budget is $1200, what do you have in mind?
The hardware you picked is excellent for a little girl or even an adult it is very capable of handling most applications. That motherboard is of great quality and the processor is very fast for the price.

[Bob338]

Thanks. I really didn't make myself clear on the Windows 7. I meant using the RC copy which I downloaded and have on disk, and am using currently. Since it's free and still available (not for the new build which won't be bought and done till after the freebie stops mid August,) it seemed to me there would be no piracy since it is a free trial copy. I know the release copy I've bought won't be usable hence my suggestion of continuing use of the release candidate until the prices come down a bit next year. If I have to I'll use XP for which I have a builders copy.

Budget? Under $400 I'd guess, at least that's the number I threw out at them.

My daughter is adept on a computer, at least operationally, which she does at work. She'll retire in 3 years and at that point who knows what she'll do but she's into finance and investments and photography and rather than buy a throwaway Dell, which we checked at the Dell Outlet, it just seemed to me one could be built that would be much better and last beyond the 3 years life of an of-the-shelf computer. It appeared this motherboard with all the expansion slots would provide flexibility for expansion and upgrades should it be required over the next 6 years or so, hence the build suggestion.

[Khalil]

Like I said before the parts you chose are excellent and will do well for your daughter, as far as 6 years, no one knows what new operating systems come out.

[Bob338]

Any suggestions for either an alternate CPU or CPU/mobo combo?

Went to pull the trigger today and about half the items at NewEgg were out of stock. I've bought the case and PSU but have to again spec the built. Same with the HDD and DVD burner. The optical drive isn't critical and I'll just get a different model LiteOn.

Suggestions on the CPU or CPU/mobo in the same price range are welcome!

[Khalil]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103678 + http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131330 Excellent motherboard

[Bob338]

Thanks. I had pretty much figured that was exactly the next step, just confirming. I thought maybe an Intel combination might be suggested by someone as well.

[glc]

Intel?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131288 P5KPL-CM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072 E5200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 Corsair 2x2 DDR2-800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136074 WD Blue 320
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106291 Lite-On 24x

[Bob338]

Thank you! Ordered this combination just now as it was about $20 cheaper than the AMD upgrade. Funny, yesterday that same LiteOn burner was in my cart at checkout and was removed as being out of stock. No problems this morning.

Everyone's help was greatly appreciated! Thanks again.

[Bob338]

I have a couple of questions relating to RAM and motherboard. Hope it's proper to post on this thread, if not I'll repost elsewhere.

The computer is for my daughter. She ran the list of parts by the IT guy where she works and he came back with the comment that it was a great build for her. But he also commented, “have your dad install editboot.ini to allow 4GB RAM....otherwise you won’t be using it all...he can google it”

That one threw me. This isn't a dual boot system, which I did and had problems on my own recent build which I resolved in the boot.ine. I'm using Windows 7 RC on a clean install here and I see no relation between the boot.ini and what is suggested. I'll admit I don't know much but I can see no purpose in this nor have I ever understood this is doable, particularly from the boot.ini part. Comments? Is this something which should be considered if it can be done? My answer to her is that she has all the RAM she will need for the relatively light home use of this machine. My understanding is that the OS will only recognize and use about 3.25 Gigs of RAM with a dual core CPU and that is applicable only to XP. Education please?

Second question; in reading the Newegg reviews for the motherboard and the Antec 300 case, several commented on the fact the case has a 3 pin connector, and the motherboard has only a two pin connector for the LED on the power switch. Some indicated they just didn't connect it, which is fine, but a couple of guys did "work arounds", split the case connector and hooked up to the mobo. My question is; what is the third connector to the case? Which of the connectors on the plug can be "split" off to enable mobo connection? Suggestions and education?
Edit: Just looked in and at the case and connector. I have it covered. A piece of cake! Depress a plastic tab, remove one wire and reinsert in empty and grind of the first one to fit the connector.

As a matter of interest, received the case tonight, damaged slightly by UPS. Newegg handled the issue in exemplary fashion to my satisfaction. Rest of parts due in a couple of days.

[shadowpr]

I wouldn't bother doing any editing of the boot.ini file for ram.

Any 32 bit operating system will only see about 2.75-3.25 out of the 4gb. You will need a 64 bit operating system to see more than that.

To be honest, i wouldn't worry about it.

[Bob338]

Everything arrived in good shape and working from Newegg, assembled and installed softward and OS and it was running fine. My daughter is thrilled with it. No problems at all. Thanks to all for the advice.