The mediocre computer challenge!

[tuumi]

I am a special education teacher and use my old Sony VAIO 200meghertz pentium for old games. The students can be very motivated to do work if they know they can get on a computer and have some fun when they complete their work. For some this is the only thing that works. 45 minutes of work for 10 minutes on the computer. The problem is the computer is very slow and only plays the most basic of games. I never thought of building a computer till I found this site. So my challenge to you is to build a mediocre computer for the lowest price possible. I can keep the case and power supply (I think). The pattern and layout of my mother board matches many of the motherboards I have seen on newegg and tiger direct so think it wil fit in the case.

I am looking to run games like need for speed. Sims. Simcity. The most advanced game may be flight simulator 2002 (but not looking for super high frame rates.
Here are is what I am looking for in my mediocre computer:
1. 1.2 gighertz or slower (should meet or exceed the minimum of most games)
2. integrated sound and video with AGP for future upgrade if needed
3. 512 ram or maybe 256 -what do you think?
4. 10-15 gig hard drive should do.
5. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP - but easy to assemble - I have never done it before so I need it to be easy to put together and very stable.
6. Will my old CD drive be compatible?

Is this possible?
Sound like a challenge? Well try to do it with as little money as possible.

[Cricket]

What's your budget?

Preference: Intel or AMD?

Cricket

[Cricket]

Oops...sorry about the double post.

Cricket

[TheDownloadedNet]

I need cheap says enough.
Asus P4R800VM
Crucial 256MB PC2100 DDR DIMM Memory
2.4 Celeron
5400 RPM

Yes, your old CD-Rom will be compatible, you can use it as long as the performance is bearable.

[TheJackal]

That hard drive isn't compatable with that motherboard, as the hard drive is SCSI, and the mobo only supports IDE drives.

[Cricket]

You can't use a SCSI hard drive with that motherboard.

Cricket

[TheDownloadedNet]

The total is about 234.32, I hope thats cheap enough. I'm assuming you have a case ready? I doubt your old one would be able to fit the hardware. I recommend you get a new power supply, and case.

[TheJackal]

As long as your old case is a non-proprietary ATX case, you should be fine, though a new power supply should be in order.

[tuumi]

Intel / Amd? It doesn't matter. I was planning on keeping the case, power supply, and cd drive. 2.4 celeron would be nice. Lets think less! Though, can I even get a new 1.0-1.4 GHZ chip? Or is that too slow for my needs? Most of the games I was looking to put on had minimun requirements of 500megahertz pentiums. Though I did throw in there that flight sim 2002 might be used. I know the box said minimum 600 megahertz, I think that would not be playable. What would minimum be? Come on a dream computer is easy, THIS is a challenge. Two hundred is a good price, but can someone do better!!!!!
BTW thanks for the help
Chris

[TheJackal]

It would be hard to find a "new" 1.0-1.4ghz chip, however used ones in that range would be easy to find.

I'm thinking that a Sony Vaio would have a proprietary case, in which case, no you cant use the case or the power supply from it.

It might be wise to see if you can get a complete used machine. I'm sure you could get something around 1.4ghz for less then $250

[TheDownloadedNet]

I don't think you'd be able to play Sim2002 smoothly with a P3. Celeron isn't really that powerful.

[trebor]

Ok, went through and did a quick makeup. Since you can transfer the cdrom and floppy from old to new, I did not include them in the price. All prices are in us.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...140-128&depa=1 56.00 for 40gb harddrive.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...127-144&depa=1 78.00 for motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...103-383&depa=1 57.00 for amd Athlon 2000xp

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-305&depa=1 95.00 for video card

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...150-593&depa=1 73.00 for 512mb of memory

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...150-028&depa=1 case for 35.00

total for all is $409.00

You can use the keyboard and mouse from your current computer as well as the motherboard has good on board sound. I was not sure if you wanted new speakers or planned on useing from old computer, as well as the moniter. If you need help throwing it together, just ask, we will help you out all we can.

[tuumi]

Wow that looks like a hell of a computer. After making many comparisons the case appears to be the same layout and design as the cases I have examined online. ATX? The case is almost exactly the same as the case in the above message.

[trebor]

I choose that case because it already has fans installed to keep everything cool. Also it has the 350w power supply, which should be all you need. also you will not be able to keep the old case since the power supply will not be compatable.

[rhdb52]

i would suggest a different case, or at least get a different power supply for the case, because (correct me if im wrong) maxtop doesnt produce reliable quality power supplies.


i think this is a good case. its inexpensive, and enlight manufactures quality power supplies.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...116-151&depa=0

[trebor]

Good one rhdb52, I just didn't look long enough I guess.

[Panama Red]

Just a thought to consider. If you dismantle your present system in order to complete the new one, you still only have one computer - and that one is going to have a mix of old and new parts. Why not keep the old one intact and assemble a new one complete? I know the expense is greater, but you could provide the kids with a two tier reward system. Old machine for completing the work, new machine for excellent work. You should be able to pick up a good used 17" monitor to go with a new system. I just never like to see a working machine dismantled. I made that mistake myself and now I counsel others against it.

[trebor]

I know what you mean Panama, i just recently brought my original computer back from the dead useing parts from dead comps that people gave me.

[Sir]

pricewatch.com is a good place to check out for low prices!

--------------------------------
Guys, everyone please go check out:
http://www.ampednews.com/?page=profile&id=4122
and tell me what you think
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[edfair]

In an earlier parallel challange I bought used gateways 200MMX for 130.00 each. That was then.
If I had to do it today, in Atlanta, it woud be used IBM netvista 500 celerons 64mb, 10gb, for $109.00. Older, sluggish, not upgradable, propriotory build. But you can give 4 kids time on machines for the same price a new build will give one kid the same time.
You can't supply something that will run everything. There will always be something coming down the line that needs more horsepower than you have.

[ceh4702]

I work at a community college and we have a sale every so often where we sell older computers. Sometimes you can find used computers for sale. I am talking a computer for about $200 or even $50 for an older one.

You might try finding someone who writes grants and maybe apply for a grant. The government has all kinds of money for education.

Another idea is to contact corporations in your area and see what they do with their old PC's when they upgrade. Sometimes they give older PC's away to churches and stuff like that. Might also check a custom computer shop and see if they ever have any trade-ins.

People in your school district probably have older computers that are not doing much when they buy new ones. Maybe you can offer a tax dodge type of a deal. They donate the old computer, you give them a receipt and they claim it on their taxes.

These are just a few Ideas I have been thinking about.

I work for a community college and we have a Community use computer Lab that IBM keeps running. In return we buy all our PC's from them. We must have about 10 different computer labs if you count them all. Then we also have Community Centers where we teach classes and all of them have at least one computer lab. We even have a Math Computer Lab with a couple computers to do Statistical Diagrams and graphs from the TI-83 graphing calculators.

[mb26]

ok heres my 2 cents..

Old machine for completing the work, new machine for excellent work.

well that i imagine could cause more problems than it solves lol.. plus, when theres a newer, better computer, no one would want to use the old one. (i would also say a 200mhz CPU is more trouble than its worth IMO) - so i'd say use all u can from the old computer; it is possible that u may be able to re-use your powersupply.. but u'd have to check it if u were going to use it. CD-rom, floppy drive, mouse, keyboard and monitor are all fine to use, and case and hard drive is probably aswell.

Also a good on-board video would do more than fine for those games you suggested (make sure to allocate the full 128mb to it though).. therefore, i'd suggest CHAINTECH 7NIF2 - $80 for the motherboard.

how big is the hard drive on old current computer? you really wont need much space from what it sounds, especially if you run all the games off CD.
perhaps you could use your old HDD with the new computer, using win98 SE (if u have win95 on the old one (and a full install CD with it) then that would probably be alright, if the games say they allow/reccomend it... that would save you some more money). if you are sure the hard drive wont be big enough, buy some second hand, (perhaps someone u know has old HDDs they dont want?) at Ebay you would certainly find some.. remember you could run 2 or 3 hard drives together if u needed to.

i'd second trebor on the RAM (edit: i'd say usually that 256mb would be enough for what u are saying, but as 128mb would be eaten up by the graphics, i'd go w/ the 512.. and anyway the more ram the better), also i'd agree with the CPU, but only b/c it is the slowest u can get 'retail' (with HSF). if you could get a 1800XP (Thoroughbred core) with a HSF for less, i'd go for that.

u may be able to re-use your PSU but look on the PSU and find out the ratings ie for 3.3v, 5v, 12v.. what the Amp ratings are for each... for peace of mind you could get a Sparkle ATX-250GU (250W) for $16.

so, $57 for CPU
$73 for RAM
$80 for motherboard

tot: $210 (or $226 with PSU)

this would be highly upgradeable also if u ever in the future feel u need faster (although i think that would be a long while)

also, u might get a few $ for the motherboard (of your old computer) if it is any good.. (eg if it supports 133fsb), and if u have a large amount of ram, then u might get a few $ for that too... on ebay... 256mb of used pc133/pc100 ram goes for about $40 + p&p, and a 128mb stick can go for $15-$20

[ceh4702]

This is a reconditioned sale item but they did not have any left.
Many places sell reconditioned items. They may or may not come with a warranty

This is from www.computers4sure.com

I purchased a Network card from them about 3 or 4 years ago. They usually sell mostly Namebrand computers like Compaq and IBM.

Compaq Presario S4000nx Reconditioned Minitower
•Intel® Celeron™ processor
•2.4GHz, 128MB RAM, 40GB
•CD-RW , 10/100, 56k, XPH


$299.99
Ground Shipping $26.55

There are some deals out there like this somewhere.

I think for around $400-$499, you might find something like this brand new.


Here is a deal from Dell:

Dimension 2400
Value System
Intel® Celeron® Processor at 2.4GHz with 400MHz front side bus

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

17 in (16.0 in v.i.s., .27dp)E773c Monitor

FREE CD Burner!

FREE TurboTax Basic Software!

Featured at
$499
$399
After $100 Mail-In Rebate
Rebate Details

This configuration only

This says it comes with a new 17 inch monitor!

[JPMiller]

Where are you located?... you may be able to find some deals locally or from these forums to bring price down...

Case $16 shipped
Power Supply $21 shipped... or Power Supply 2 $24 shipped
Motherboard $46 shipped
40 gig HD 7200rpm $56 shipped
512 pc2700 DDR $75 shipped
Athlon 2000+ $57 Shipped
Roughly $275 without CDRom..