Cheap comp build

[Decker87]

Hi. This is the scenario: my girlfriend's family has an old, crappy computer made by dell or something that is just too old and slow. Her family *might* give me the opportunity to build one for them. Hearing this, I came up with a build, tell me what you think:

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-145-046" target="_new">case</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=11-999-963" target="_new">fans</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=19-104-210" target="_new">AMD Sempron 2400 Retail</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=20-223-009" target="_new">RAM</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=21-103-301" target="_new">Basic Floppy Drive</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=22-144-122" target="_new">80GB Hard Drive</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=26-147-001" target="_new">Optical Mouse</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=27-190-011" target="_new">CD-RW Drive</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=13-135-153" target="_new">Motherboard</A>

Alright, so what do you think? We have plenty of spare monitors and keyboards and speakers around, so she doesn't need any of that. They don't play any videogames, mainly just use office applications and the internet and messaging.

What I am iffy about:
Fans: Should I get more than two? I was thinking that I'd just put an input fan on the back and an output fan in front. I plan to do very little overclocking (maybe 10% increase). The computer will be very close to a wall, will this be a problem?

Processor: The Duron 1.8Ghz is the cheapest and the clock speed is higher than the cheap semprons. However, it's only reatail which means another +$10 for a HSF. Most of all, it's only got 64KB of L2 cache versus 256KB of the semprons. Did I make the right choice here? Out of the semprons, the 2400 offered the lowest dollar about per megahertz so I chose that one.

The CD-RW Drive: It costs $13 more to upgrade to a drive with the ability to play DVDs. Is this worth it? I think the deciding factor is: if it has the ability to read DVDs, does that just mean movies, or could it read files and data written onto DVD-R media? Is a good videocard needed to play DVDs? Do DVDs, when played on a computer, lag?


Also, where is the cheapest place I can purchase XP Home?<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Decker87 on 03/23/05 08:05 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[endyen]

I know it's a lot more money ($50) but get a decent mobo like <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-150&depa=0" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-150&depa=0</A>
You wont regret it. Not that ECS doesn't make good boards, but somebody already bought bothe of them.

 

[Decker87]

No. Spending $100 on a motherboard is out of the question.

 

[endyen]

A cheap mobo usually costs more in the long run. You may get lucky. Dont get any scratches on the mobo though, ECS is fussy about what they will rma. Oh, and be prepaired to pay for the rma, that gets refused (or if they accept it). Most of Amd's bad rep has been based on bad mobos, and the lies Intel tells so I hope regular crashes are okay with the users.
Forget any kind of OC, Sis, and ecs dont do that.

 

[Crashman]

SiS overclocks: The 735 was known to go around 166MHz bus even though it was designed for 133. The 645 was a decent overclocker too. The 755 overclocks to the limits of the boards, which are unfortunately limitted by the manufacturer (such as ECS and Foxconn).

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[Spitfire_x86]

Get a LiteOn CD-RW instead of Rosewill. If you spend little more, then you can get a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive.

I would strongly suggest you to stay away from ECS trash. <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-130-488&depa=0" target="_new">Here's a $54 MSI nForce2 IGP mobo</A>. Integrated graphics of nForce2 IGP is also lot better than SiS integrated graphics.

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[Decker87]

Alright, maybe I will go with the MSI Mobo. But anyway, can you guys comment on some of my questions at the end, like the stuff about DVD-Reading?

 

[Flinx]

Check out the ABit VA20.. I think this is a great starter board. It is very inexpensive. Has SATA Raid, Video, Audio and Lan. It has an AGP slot.

Very nice board <A HREF="http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=226" target="_new">http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/products.php?categories=1&model=226</A>

The loving are the daring!

 

[endyen]

First off, the sempron will be better because of the higher fsb.
Get a combo drive, for the extra $10+ so they can watch movies (wich you can do with the nforce board) and because software, and games may require dvd-r before they upgrade again. The two fans set up as you listed should be enough. If you do decide to get a third, set it up as an intake to the psu.

 

[Spitfire_x86]

My linked nForce2 IGP board has everything that ABIT VA10 offers, plus better onboard graphics and better drivers.

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