$300 Office PC

[Transmaniacon]

Hi guys,

Looking for some input on a build for my parents. They have an old Dell Inspiron with Windows Vista and it really is a terrible thing to use. I was hoping to put together something that will work well for their needs and be affordable.

Approximate Purchase Date: Within the next 2 weeks

Budget Range: $300 ideally, can go a little higher but don't think I need to

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Web browsing, email, itunes, Microsoft Money.

Are you buying a monitor: No

Parts to Upgrade: Need everything but a PSU & Optical Drive, I have an old Corsair 650TX in my closet.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes, if anyone knows of any good ways to get Windows 7/8 cheap, I am all ears.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg or whatever (Don't have a Microcenter nearby)

Location: North Carolina

Parts Preferences: Value

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1440x900

Additional Comments: I think the BitFenix Prodigy in white would be a good choice, my Mom loves apple stuff and will probably like something that isn't a black box. Doesn't have to be mITX, but the case should be small.

Thanks!

 

[g-unit1111]

Can't be done for $300 because of the escalating hard drive and RAM prices. Especially if you want a Prodigy. This was the cheapest I can do:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-ITX Mini ITX FM2 Motherboard ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($63.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.68 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $438.62
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 14:01 EDT-0400)

 

[Fire2251]

I had an old Dell Inspiron like your parent with Intel 2140, 1G memory on Vista. It seems really slow on boot up and loading. To speed up, I updated the bios then upgrade CPU to Intel Core 2 duo 6750 for $20 on ebay, add 2 more gig memory, and buy AMD graphic card 5450 1gig low profile card for $15 after rebate on newegg. Now, it boot up and loading quicker, no memory bottleneck due to just 1 gig running with Vista. Since your parent's PC usage are just web browsing, email, itunes, Microsoft Money, I think you just need to upgrade like I did for around $50

 

[Transmaniacon]

I think that is probably more than they need, what do you think of something like this?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G860 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($68.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H61N-USB3 Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($73.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($56.68 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (White) Mini ITX Tower Case ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $316.62
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 14:00 EDT-0400)

Don't need the PSU or optical drive, and 4GB is probably plenty. They are coming from a Celeron system with 1GB of RAM...

 

[JackNaylorPE]

If this is an "office PC", I'd suggest increasing the budget....the time wasted by the office worker (Mom and Pop business ?) "waiting" for the computer to do anything will far exceed what ya saving with a $300 budget.If it's just e-mail, the occasional letter and stuff, I'd opt for an inexpensive tablet.

 

[Transmaniacon]

I had an old Dell Inspiron like your parent with Intel 2140, 1G memory on Vista. It seems really slow on boot up and loading. To speed up, I updated the bios then upgrade CPU to Intel Core 2 duo 6750 for $20 on ebay, add 2 more gig memory, and buy AMD graphic card 5450 1gig low profile card for $15 after rebate on newegg. Now, it boot up and loading quicker, no memory bottleneck due to just 1 gig running with Vista. Since your parent's PC usage are just web browsing, email, itunes, Microsoft Money, I think you just need to upgrade like I did for around $50

Thats a good idea, although its just a temporary thing because the hard drive is starting to go.

 

[Transmaniacon]

If this is an "office PC", I'd suggest increasing the budget....the time wasted by the office worker (Mom and Pop business ?) "waiting" for the computer to do anything will far exceed what ya saving with a $300 budget.If it's just e-mail, the occasional letter and stuff, I'd opt for an inexpensive tablet.

By office PC, its just something for them to use at home. Surfing the internet, reading emails, my mom uses MS Money, and they have their music on there. I had thought about a tablet but I think they still need and prefer the desktop.

 

[ismaeljrp]

This is a great build, for what you want and has tons of value.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A4-5300 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Xion XON-560 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $301.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 14:10 EDT-0400)

 

[Transmaniacon]

This is a great build, for what you want and has tons of value.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A4-5300 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Xion XON-560 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $301.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 14:10 EDT-0400)

Thanks, that looks like a good value system for them. I may pick a different case, but everything else should work well.

 

[g-unit1111]

This is a great build, for what you want and has tons of value.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A4-5300 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A55M-E33 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($26.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Xion XON-560 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($93.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $301.92
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 14:10 EDT-0400)

Thanks, that looks like a good value system for them. I may pick a different case, but everything else should work well.

Xion cases are complete garbage, I would definitely suggest something else. The Fractal Design Core 1000 is a good value in the sub $40 range.

 

[Transmaniacon]

I would probably go with this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163226

It's Silverstone, it's white, and its a good size for where she will keep it. Slightly over budget, but I think this will work well.

 

[Transmaniacon]

Regarding OS, in the past with Windows 7 when I reformatted or upgraded, I put it in my old key and then had to call and Microsoft would give me a new one. Does this trick still work?

 

[Aristotelian]

I doubt if Mom would notice any difference with this build. This gets you down to about $270 for the hardware, $350 if you include Windows.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UNvL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UNvL/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/UNvL/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Celeron G1610 2.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($34.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Biostar H77MU3 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.83 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: HEC 6K28BB8F MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $258.76
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-03 16:25 EDT-0400)

 

[ismaeljrp]

I only recommended the XION cuz it was a nice looking white case and it also has 2 120mm fans, plus the cost was very low. I've never owned a XION case so I wouldn't know personally how good it is, I'm an Antec fanboy when it comes to cases .

 

[MOMOJOJO-1302146]

With a computer like this that is going to be doing very basic tasks and doesn't have much hardware, there is no need for great cooling or space so the XION case should do fine and look good while doing it. And to Aristo, I would put in the extra 30-40 to make it a pentium g860 or something of the likes just to give a little boost and too keep it
"seeming fast" for longer.

 

[g-unit1111]

I only recommended the XION cuz it was a nice looking white case and it also has 2 120mm fans, plus the cost was very low. I've never owned a XION case so I wouldn't know personally how good it is, I'm an Antec fanboy when it comes to cases .

I can't say this enough - the words "cheap crap" don't begin to accurately describe Xion cases. They look pretty and have a bunch of fancy looking LED lights but really, the steel underneath is of extremely poor quality and there's lots of cheap plastic throughout. They fall apart really quickly and you'll be chucking these cases within a year.

 

[ismaeljrp]

Thanks for the heads up on Xion cases, I'll stick to Antec for myself

 

[g-unit1111]

I only recommended the XION cuz it was a nice looking white case and it also has 2 120mm fans, plus the cost was very low. I've never owned a XION case so I wouldn't know personally how good it is, I'm an Antec fanboy when it comes to cases .

I can't say this enough - the words "cheap crap" don't begin to accurately describe Xion cases. They look pretty and have a bunch of fancy looking LED lights but really, the steel underneath is of extremely poor quality and there's lots of cheap plastic throughout. They fall apart really quickly and you'll be chucking these cases within a year.

Let me add the cd/dvd door will break off easy and the fans are load

I had one and the front door fell off and the USB ports shattered. Yeah, not good under any circumstances. :lol: