Looking to build a decent rig for my mother.

[NumbrXerr0]

Hey guys, I just want to preface this by saying thank you to the community. You've been a great help in building my gaming PC over the past few years. So now I come to you for help again.

My mother needs a PC. Badly. She's in her 40s and still using one from the early 2000s. She insists that she doesn't need a new one, but I'm over there every week fixing issues with it. My conundrum is how to go about getting her one.

Obviously building one is the best option, but I've never built one from scratch. I've changed out and upgraded every part of a PC that was already built, but never started from nothing. Buying a pre built one is also something I would do, but I'm not sure where to start. She doesn't game. All she does is watch movies, use YouTube, go on Facebook, download stuff here and there..very basic activities. What kind of PC would be a good choice for her?

My soft limit would be around 500 dollars, but willing to go higher if need be. I want to get her something up to date. Do you guys have any recommendations on a good pre built rig I could get? Or recommendations on what parts would be needed for it? For my gaming PC, I basically went for the best I could afford in each category at the time. This is a bit different. I don't want to waste money on overkill but I also don't want to make something bad that would need replacing in a year.

Looking forward to your answers! Thank you in advance.

 

[why_wolf]

I'm assuming she can just reuse her current monitor and keyboard/mouse.

Anyways for basic usage like you described there is no reason to go past the Pentium G4560/4600 CPU. I like this build as it puts everything in a nice small package. You can even mount it to the back of a monitor if it has a VESA mount point.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4600 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($86.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi - Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($112.98 @ Newegg)
Other: ASRock Deskmini 100W ($120.00)
Total: $466.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-27 14:39 EST-0500

 

[MoxNix]

You could always buy her a cheap used SFF machine like the HP Elite 8200 with an i7 2600 for 150 bucks or so.

 

[richiestang_78]

You can get a basic HP or Acer desktop for 400 bucks. Or you could lookinto perhaps a cheap Chromebook laptop and see if it fulfils her needs.

 

[shrapnel_indie]

This one includes WiFi card, OS, Mouse & Keyboard, and a Monitor. You can get the build cheaper if you don't need any of those pieces.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($77.77 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - B250M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Aegis 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Toshiba - P300 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Corsair - 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.92 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Antec - EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.59 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus - DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.29 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($97.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte - GC-WB867D-I PCI-Express x1 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Adapter ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Monitor: AOC - E2425SWD 24.0" 1920x1080 60Hz Monitor ($112.10 @ PCM)
Keyboard: Gigabyte - GK-KM6150 Wired Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($22.74 @ Amazon)
Total: $627.86
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-27 15:15 EST-0500


Dropping the monitor AND mouse & keyboard, saves $134.84.

 

[shrapnel_indie]

I'm assuming she can just reuse her current monitor and keyboard/mouse.

Anyways for basic usage like you described there is no reason to go past the Pentium G4560/4600 CPU. I like this build as it puts everything in a nice small package. You can even mount it to the back of a monitor if it has a VESA mount point.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4600 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($86.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi - Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($112.98 @ Newegg)
Other: ASRock Deskmini 100W ($120.00)
Total: $466.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-27 14:39 EST-0500

CPU, RAM, HDD, OS - Upgrades to the Deskmini 100W?

 

[geofelt]

My first criteria for a snappy desktop would be a ssd 240gb is about right assuming lo large storage requirements like video files.
For mom, it is probably best to continue with windows 7.
integrated graphics is fine and 8gb of ram is sufficient.

If you want a pre built, look at the Lenovo outlet.
Here is a thinkcenter tiny for $327
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/outletus/commercial-desktop/thinkcentre/thinkcentre-m-tiny-series/ThinkCentre-M710-Tiny/p/10MRX028US

Here is a stronger desktop for $415:
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/outletus/m-series-towers/ThinkCentre-M910-Tower/p/10MNX01700
I would buy a 240gb Samsung 850 evo and clone the OS to it.

 

[why_wolf]

I'm assuming she can just reuse her current monitor and keyboard/mouse.

Anyways for basic usage like you described there is no reason to go past the Pentium G4560/4600 CPU. I like this build as it puts everything in a nice small package. You can even mount it to the back of a monitor if it has a VESA mount point.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4600 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($86.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi - Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($112.98 @ Newegg)
Other: ASRock Deskmini 100W ($120.00)
Total: $466.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-27 14:39 EST-0500

CPU, RAM, HDD, OS - Upgrades to the Deskmini 100W?

The Desk mini is bare bones; motherboard, case and PSU.

 

[Vic 40]

I'm assuming she can just reuse her current monitor and keyboard/mouse.

Anyways for basic usage like you described there is no reason to go past the Pentium G4560/4600 CPU. I like this build as it puts everything in a nice small package. You can even mount it to the back of a monitor if it has a VESA mount point.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4600 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor ($86.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($95.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Hitachi - Travelstar 1TB 2.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($50.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($112.98 @ Newegg)
Other: ASRock Deskmini 100W ($120.00)
Total: $466.95
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-27 14:39 EST-0500

This with a nice ssd instead of hdd.

My first criteria for a snappy desktop would be a ssd 240gb is about right assuming lo large storage requirements like video files.
For mom, it is probably best to continue with windows 7.
integrated graphics is fine and 8gb of ram is sufficient.

If you want a pre built, look at the Lenovo outlet.
Here is a thinkcenter tiny for $327
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/outletus/commercial-desktop/thinkcentre/thinkcentre-m-tiny-series/ThinkCentre-M710-Tiny/p/10MRX028US

Or this.Can add another ssd/hdd for more storage if necessary.

Or something like this,

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($77.77 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - B250M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws 4 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2800 Memory ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial - MX300 275GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master - MasterBox Lite 3.1 TG MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: BitFenix - Whisper M 450W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($63.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($97.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $479.21
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-11-27 16:52 EST-0500

Bit worried about the case with window,but it's a nice case for the price.Can look for yourself for a nice case,something m-atx would be fine.