Yet Another PC build....

[darth_nevus]

Have someone looking to build a "smaller" pc for desktop use, and doesn't need to be too powerful as primary use will be saving picutres, occasionally using word, hates Vista, surfing the net, and buring cd's from time to time. Mouse, keyboard, & monitor are carryovers from the old pc, a Dell Optiplex GX50

Thoughts on the following:

CPU: AMD A63 X2 3800+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103735)
Motherboard: ASRock ALIVEN6G-VSTA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103735)
Case: nMediaPC HTPC 100BA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811204003)
DVD/CD: Samsung 20x (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151151)
OS: XP Home (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056)
Ram: Team Elite 1GB DDR2-800 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313021)
HD: WD 160GB SATA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075)
Cost: $410.93
Combo Deals/instant rebates= $53.00
MIR: $0.00
Shipping: $25.43
Total out of pocket: $383.36

Or, should i go with somethine like this (http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/services/inspndt/530s_DDCWFAS?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs) from dell & have her cough up the additional $$ so it has xp on it?

[ryanbatc]

I might just go with a Dell for a cheap PC....however, can you even get XP on the Dells anymore?

Otherwise, that looks like a decent config you got there

[darth_nevus]

I might just go with a Dell for a cheap PC....however, can you even get XP on the Dells anymore?

Otherwise, that looks like a decent config you got there

they do, but the models of inspirions start at 500. i called them, and got a price for 450, but its still insane compared to a vista model exactly the same for $369...

[Rand{CLR}]

I might just go with a Dell for a cheap PC....however, can you even get XP on the Dells anymore?

Otherwise, that looks like a decent config you got there

they do, but the models of inspirions start at 500. i called them, and got a price for 450, but its still insane compared to a vista model exactly the same for $369...

Check Dell Outlet online (delloutlet.com? Dunno--google it). I got my laptop there, great shape, some extras, and it was $200 cheaper than it would have been on the main site.

-Rand

[juneau]

Let me know what that htpc case is like Darth. When i overhaul my rig next year my left over parts will be used for a media center. I'm undecided if i should go for a htpc case or a small standard ATX variant.

[WalkinTarget]

Juneau, have you looked at the Ultra Micro Fly ? I love mine, and the #1 reason I bought it was its larger than average size. It will accept a full sized PSU so no worries about that, which is the #1 problem when building an HTPC, but you never realize it until you try and assemble it.

[pigworthy]

I might look at something like this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3169461&CatId=6

Already built but a refurbished.

[TheSilentAssassin]

Graphics Card?

[WalkinTarget]

No need for a dedicated card ...

doesn't need to be too powerful as primary use will be saving picutres, occasionally using word, surfing the web

Any discrete card would be money wasted. If necessary, I'm sure it has a free PCIe slot to add one later if necessary.

Don't read too much into this buy, its not meant for gaming. Darth has a handle on the overall rig, he just needs suggestions or hot deals that crop up from time to time.

[darth_nevus]

True WT. that an being lower end, i don't dabble too much in it.

The hardest part is if i can find a prebuilt PC WITHOUT Vista on it. Lets just start by saying the person this is for is very comfortable with windows XP. she tried vista. and loathed it to no extent.

even though it *might* be more user friendly, i don't want to force it on someone. and considering there will be no upgrade path for this pc or person, thats the least of my concern. the current pc she has still has windows 2000 on it for heavens sakes. and thats only because my work donated it to her a year ago. her old pc was still running windows 3.11.

But its come to the time when the the pc needs to get swapped out.

Good catch though piggy. the c2d family is too expensive for a new build with the given budget. and when the current AMD chips are so freaking cheap and yet entirely usable for the day to day pc user, you just can't help go there. the rig, even if refurbisehd you listed does indeed have everything needed. i'll add that to the list as her other options. even if it has vista, thats dirt cheap.