Looking for computer under $400 for mother who rarely goes on internet mostly solitaire player

[keto6789]

Hi.

Can anyone recommend a good computer for my mom who just occasionally goes on internet to pay bills, check email, etc. She mostly uses the comp to play solitaire lol. She doesn't need a monitor as she has a Samsung 24 inch.

Even under $300 or $350 may suffice?

Hows this?
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16883798803

 

[Silverbear]

If you just need a basic internet computer, you should look at Newegg's refurbished stuff;

First page, an older i5 machine for under $200:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883285924&ignorebbr=1

Or a nice little Optiplex with Windows 10 for $259:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883163258&ignorebbr=1

 

[Chugalug_]

This looks to be hands down the best value, includes an SSD, given she isn't doing much, 250GB is heaps of space.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA60G5MB3871&cm_re=i7_optiplex-_-1VK-0001-101N6-_-Product

 

[keto6789]

Is a core i3 ok for my mom? Is it a fast processor?

 

[Chugalug_]

Nope, you want at least an i5, i've included a second gen i7 though which should prove to be significantly better than an i5, and the best performance for the money in this price range.

 

[keto6789]

Im deciding I think to go with this one. I want a new one, not refurbished.

How's this?
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883795652

 

[Alabalcho]

Nope, you want at least an i5

Really? You can play Solitaire on a typewriter (it is part of Windows since i386 days of Windows 3).

Im deciding I think to go with this one. I want a new one, not refurbished.

Don't forget you'll need a monitor, too.

Have you though about getting your mom a laptop? or tablet?

 

[Tiress]

Yeah that should be fine. Whoever said that i5 was needed is very wrong. I had the same CPU paired with a 750 Ti for a year and surfing the web was smooth. A huge factor is also internet speed. But yeah, the PC will suffice for basic use.

 

[USAFRet]

Nope, you want at least an i5, i've included a second gen i7 though which should prove to be significantly better than an i5, and the best performance for the money in this price range.

"at least an i5" ??
For that level of use?
Really?

Really?

Not even a little bit.
A Pentium Gwhatever will work just fine.

 

[Tiress]

Nope, you want at least an i5

Really? You can play Solitaire on a typewriter (it is part of Windows since i386 days of Windows 3).

Im deciding I think to go with this one. I want a new one, not refurbished.

Don't forget you'll need a monitor, too.

Have you though about getting your mom a laptop? or tablet?

He mentioned that he will not be needing a monitor as his mom already had one.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Nope, you want at least an i5, i've included a second gen i7 though which should prove to be significantly better than an i5, and the best performance for the money in this price range.

Two for two this weekend....

keto6789 do not listen to this garbage. My mother's PC (same use case as yours) has a first gen i3-530. I put a cheap SSD in it last year and it eats up anything that is thrown at it in the range of what you want to do no problem.

The computer you originally linked would be excellent for her, more than enough even.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Nope, you want at least an i5, i've included a second gen i7 though which should prove to be significantly better than an i5, and the best performance for the money in this price range.

You would be hard pressed to tell the difference between an i3/8GB/ ~250GB SSD and my 6700k/16GB/512GB 950 Pro in basic day to day usage.

Solitaire doesn't need a 1080 Ti to do 640 x 480 at 16bit color.

 

[Chugalug_]

Talking in terms of the price range given it's a prebuilt, and only second/maybe third gen CPUs are available with the full kit in that price range, didn't see any G4560 prebuilts or decent i3 ones including OS when looking.
Sorry, I should have clarified that @RogueLeader, @USAFret.
You're right, i'm not having a good weekend. 😛
Lots of stuff going on, the last thread I made a mistake on was quite silly, here it was just a matter of not finding good deals at the time of posting.

The i7 2600 just happened to be about $50 more than the other decent prebuilt + OS & 8GB RAM deals with decent storage, so I figured why not.

 

[Chugalug_]

Im deciding I think to go with this one. I want a new one, not refurbished.

How's this?
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883795652

That's a good buy if you can stretch it, however I just found this which should be more than enough if you're into buying refurbished.
When I looked earlier all the i3s were poor value at around 350, this is a good setup for the money.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883160812&cm_re=i3_prebuilt-_-83-160-812-_-Product

 

[The Paladin]

this is all you need, yes case contains low end PSu, but system using 130w at best this 500w will contain it just fine and under budget

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($57.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - GA-B250M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Patriot - 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($50.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($21.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Apevia - X-QBOII Black MicroATX Mini Tower Case w/500W Power Supply ($59.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $259.75
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-05-15 02:13 EDT-0400

 

[Chugalug_]

@The Paladon, case and PSU are better bought separately, you can get a cheaper and better quality pair for the same price, OS should also be included, and for a bit more i'd go with a 500GB HDD, or 1TB.
The Gigabyte Gaming 3 is also the same price atm, and a better choice.

 

[keto6789]

Thanks guys for all the help!

So do you think the i3 will be ok for my mother after all or should I just go with the one I selected for $449?

I want something that the browser opens fairly quickly and she can play (solitaire on lol).

As you can see in my build I've got an older i5 (I believe). It's the 2500k. My computer is fast enough for my needs (watching youtube, browse web, etc). I'm not a gamer at all. I also am happy with Win 7.

So if I get a comp with the i3 for my mom do you think at least the browser and everything will OPEN fast? Her computer now, which I bought for her maybe 6 years ago, the browser opens a little slow and stuff and she gets tired of waiting.

Someone mentioned a laptop. My mother is OLD SCHOOL and would like to stick with the desktop in her office downstairs. I realize she could hook the laptop to her 24 inch monitor, but I've asked her and she says the desktop is fine.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Thanks guys for all the help!

So do you think the i3 will be ok for my mother after all or should I just go with the one I selected for $449?

I want something that the browser opens fairly quickly and she can play (solitaire on lol).

As you can see in my build I've got an older i5 (I believe). It's the 2500k. My computer is fast enough for my needs (watching youtube, browse web, etc). I'm not a gamer at all. I also am happy with Win 7.

So if I get a comp with the i3 for my mom do you think at least the browser and everything will OPEN fast? Her computer now, which I bought for her maybe 6 years ago, the browser opens a little slow and stuff and she gets tired of waiting.

The i3 would be fine. Get a cheap SSD and move the OS to that if you want to ensure fast loading of everything. Like I mentioned I added one to my mothers very old i3 and its like a new PC now (in terms of basic "mom-tasks").

 

[keto6789]

Thanks guys for all the help!

So do you think the i3 will be ok for my mother after all or should I just go with the one I selected for $449?

I want something that the browser opens fairly quickly and she can play (solitaire on lol).

As you can see in my build I've got an older i5 (I believe). It's the 2500k. My computer is fast enough for my needs (watching youtube, browse web, etc). I'm not a gamer at all. I also am happy with Win 7.

So if I get a comp with the i3 for my mom do you think at least the browser and everything will OPEN fast? Her computer now, which I bought for her maybe 6 years ago, the browser opens a little slow and stuff and she gets tired of waiting.

The i3 would be fine. Get a cheap SSD and move the OS to that if you want to ensure fast loading of everything. Like I mentioned I added one to my mothers very old i3 and its like a new PC now (in terms of basic "mom-tasks").

Maybe I can get a prebuilt with an ssd? I built my pc a few years ago, but I just don't feel like building a comp for my mother, she doesn't mind the prebuilt. Come to think of it though, it may be fun to build another computer!

I'm gonna go see what neweggs got for my mother. It's fun looking!

 

[Rogue Leader]

Yeah if you can find a prebuilt with an ssd it would be perfect, otherwise find a cheap I3 with a case that has enough room for an extra drive, buy a cheap SSD at around 250 gb, clone the hdd to it using something like EaseUS disk copy (its free), leave in the SSD, profit!

 

[keto6789]

Thanks all!

I think this one with the ssd and i5, 8gig ram, etc will do just fine for mom. I don't feel like cloning things and stuff, I just want something that'll work well out of the box for mom.

One of the REVIEWS though said there's no COA with Windows 10. Is that a big deal? Can you make rescue disks or whatever? Is this a possible deal breaker?

What happens if the SSD dies? Will I have to buy a new 'set of Windows' ? lol

$450 not bad I think
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883795652

 

[Chugalug_]

Ditto.
Looks good, enjoy!
An alternative could be getting a barebones used system and slotting in an ssd, but not sure how that would work out cost wise, and i'm on my phone. 🙁

 

[g-unit1111]

Thanks all!

I think this one with the ssd and i5, 8gig ram, etc will do just fine for mom. I don't feel like cloning things and stuff, I just want something that'll work well out of the box for mom.

One of the REVIEWS though said there's no COA with Windows 10. Is that a big deal? Can you make rescue disks or whatever? Is this a possible deal breaker?

What happens if the SSD dies? Will I have to buy a new 'set of Windows' ? lol

$450 not bad I think
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883795652

Don't read too much into the store reviews and you'll be fine. They can make you crazy with conflicting reports. It's a classic mistake people make - store reviews are to be taken with major grains of salt.

 

[keto6789]

Ok, if you people think the i5 will be overkill for my mother, can you please recommend some from Newegg that will be adequate for her? I want the windows and browser to open fairly quickly and if she watches Youtube once in a while for the CPU to be able to handle 1080, etc.

Is there an i3 system that will fit the bill for her? I was set on spending the $450 for the i5 one I mentioned and my mother is going to give me $100 towards it also.

 

[Rogue Leader]

Ok, if you people think the i5 will be overkill for my mother, can you please recommend some from Newegg that will be adequate for her? I want the windows and browser to open fairly quickly and if she watches Youtube once in a while for the CPU to be able to handle 1080, etc.

Is there an i3 system that will fit the bill for her? I was set on spending the $450 for the i5 one I mentioned and my mother is going to give me $100 towards it also.

$235

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5965C80147&cm_re=i3_ssd_refurbished-_-9SIA5965C80147-_-Product

i3, 250gb ssd, and Windows 10 pro, can't beat it for a mom PC. 4gb of ram is more than enough for her.

$210

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5964U07877&cm_re=i3_ssd_refurbished-_-9SIA5964U07877-_-Product

small form factor, smaller ssd, but does have 8gb of ram. personally I'd go for the bigger ssd, way more useful for her.