Build my folks a PC? Does it even make sense?

[ItsZanoniBro]

Okay so this sounds strange to many of the community I'm sure, but I recently built my first medium to light gaming PC (build listed in my profile). It took me a good month or so to iron out all of my kinks in the drivers, software, etc... but I now know much better after diving in head first how to do one of these bad boys, and am slightly addicted.

After informing my parents of my feat (and at the time with one functioning hand after surgery on the other had me unable to use it as anything more than a brace to lean stuff on - they informed me they're running the same unit we bought we I went off to college. In 2003. So I offered to build them one if the cost made sense - and the short of it is that I'm finding out it doesn't. When I can find them a great basic Dell to run e-mail programs, Facebook, and a word processor for under $300 during sales - I'm simply guessing there's no way to buy this stuff cheaper and still run Windows on it (1/3 the price of the overall machine if $300 is my budget lets say).

So bottom line here is I'm willing to go a bit over that budget and maybe make them something that would be worth spending a few extra bucks. It needs two things - an optical drive, and windows 7 or 8 factored into the cost. What is something worth putting together at bargain prices going to cost and should I just mail them a dell and tell them I did it?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Wolfshadw]

It's been my opinion that the Build vs. Buy point has been around the $550 mark. If you're looking to spend less than $550, you should probably just buy an off the shelf system. If you're looking to spend more, then you should build. The only caveat I have to that is if I don't care about spending more for less performance and just want to build and support the system (as I did with my mother's system).

-Wolf sends

 

[spdragoo]

Nope, although it's not necessarily the cost of Windows -- pcpartpicker.com has 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium available for under $90 USD.

The problem is all of the components combined. Right now, looking at a single 1TB HDD with 4GB of RAM, before including the motherboard, CPU & PSU, it's already up to about $222 USD. No way you can get mobo, CPU & PSU for under $78.

But, you can probably build one for under $400, especially if you decide they need a smaller HDD.

 

[pierrerock]

Hum for this kind of use, I would recommend a ChromeBox: http://www.amazon.com/Asus-CHROMEBOX-M004U-ASUS-Desktop/dp/B00IT1WJZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411654675&sr=8-1&keywords=chromebox

I know it run ChromeOS not Windows, but if it is only for internet browsing, this is more than enough 155 $ Plus Google anounce they are working to make google android apps works on ChromOs.

This Box comes with and HDMI port so it can also be used on a TV and play HD movies.

EDIT: Also, ChromeOS has no problem reading PDS and Words doc.

 

[johnnyb105]

Something to consider http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883155954&cm_re=dell-_-83-155-954-_-Product

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-Pre-Owned-Refurbished-Silver-745-Desktop-PC-with-Intel-Core-2-Duo-Processor-4GB-Memory-750-Hard-Drive-and-Windows-7-Professional-Monitor-Not/21907344


http://www.walmart.com/browse/3944_3951_132982

Reason I bring these up , is his folks going to need a terrabyte of space a screaming fast pc these have everything his folks need for the basic day to day operations and more. Hope this helps...

 

[ItsZanoniBro]

Thanks guys - I'm probably just going to have them invest in a new Dell. Unfortunately my own research was right. I really like the build vs. buy price point estimation, so I had to go with that as my answer, but thanks to everyone for chipping in.