Ok guys and gals so my moms desktop computer is an antique and ive decided i wana build her a new one for her birthday which is in June, but ok so point being, is it possible for me to use her old gateway case? like do i need to buy a new case or can i keep the old one? and other part of the question is do we have any recommendations for what to put in it. Basically this is what she will use it for: email, searching the web, word processing, taxes, and putting pictures on it. I basically don't wana spend anymore then 500 or 600 if that is even possible, if it is not please let me know.
building a new computer
- Thread starter sarus86
- Start date
ya the old case was purchased in 2000 actually gateway (part#3500581), and ok good about the price range, i don't mind getting her a new case as long as i stay within the price range. as of right now she actually wants XP still but in the future a possible upgrade to windows 7 so hopefully i can just convince her to go with 7. As far as building it right away, i dunno if it has to be right away but soon, like its not a rush but as soon as possible, and i can buy from anywhere, i don't mind ordering online or going to stores if they are around were i live. If any of you could help with the build/recommendations that would be great.
Benny Boy
Active Member
OK. When you know what os, and when to look for current sales and deals,
then we'll know what and when to spec..
Dystopia
Active Member
As said, no you can't use the old case.
One user said a quad-core build -- totally over-kill. Benny said $5-600 -- that's closer, but for simple things like that -- still more than NEEDED. $400 would do it, easy, since you do not need a huge hard drive, a special case, or even a video card.
Your general specs will be 4GB RAM -- pretty much standard nowadays. A nice dual core 2.8-3Ghz will be fine. 500GB HDD will be way plenty. My parents would still be OK with even 40GB, and my mom had a lot of business files on it, and TONS of pics. Mobo will be AM3, you should try to find something with Sata3 and USB3. Case, anything for $50 or less will be fine -- unless your mom is cool (just kidding
) and wants a sweet case. 400, 450W PSU will be fine.
One user said a quad-core build -- totally over-kill. Benny said $5-600 -- that's closer, but for simple things like that -- still more than NEEDED. $400 would do it, easy, since you do not need a huge hard drive, a special case, or even a video card.
Your general specs will be 4GB RAM -- pretty much standard nowadays. A nice dual core 2.8-3Ghz will be fine. 500GB HDD will be way plenty. My parents would still be OK with even 40GB, and my mom had a lot of business files on it, and TONS of pics. Mobo will be AM3, you should try to find something with Sata3 and USB3. Case, anything for $50 or less will be fine -- unless your mom is cool (just kidding
) and wants a sweet case. 400, 450W PSU will be fine.
Benny Boy
Active Member
Well, the TS said 5-600. I said it was very doable. And I agree w/ you, 4-450 will do nicely.
Yep. But for the use, probly overkill and uneeded, like a gpu. I'd go w/ Phenom II over Athlon II in the dual cores. But then the Supermultitasker is only about 17 more than the 260 and less than the Ph II x2's. So I think something like the 440-45(I think the 440 is 77$)whichever costs less, would be a smart choice. She won't outrun that, and if it was asked to do something that needed it, it'd be ready.
A II 440
Quality 880G (hd4250) w/ 1 pciex16
4gb DDR3 1600
F3 HDD 500gb
Optical
Card r/w
PS 450w-ish
OS
Case
About $475
Last edited:
As said, no you can't use the old case.
One user said a quad-core build -- totally over-kill. Benny said $5-600 -- that's closer, but for simple things like that -- still more than NEEDED. $400 would do it, easy, since you do not need a huge hard drive, a special case, or even a video card.
Your general specs will be 4GB RAM -- pretty much standard nowadays. A nice dual core 2.8-3Ghz will be fine. 500GB HDD will be way plenty. My parents would still be OK with even 40GB, and my mom had a lot of business files on it, and TONS of pics. Mobo will be AM3, you should try to find something with Sata3 and USB3. Case, anything for $50 or less will be fine -- unless your mom is cool (just kidding
But the price difference between athlon IIx2 & x 4 is just $30 - $40, i don't see why not getting quad-core if he has enough money.
linkin
VIP Member
Assuming $600 and using newegg.com:
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871&cm_re=amd_640-_-19-103-871-_-Product
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_re=880g_motherboard-_-13-131-654-_-Product
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0145260&cm_re=4gb_ddr3-_-20-145-260-_-Product
GPU: Integrated on motherboard
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...52185&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...072&cm_re=seasonic_psu-_-17-151-072-_-Product
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_re=coolermaster_case-_-11-119-227-_-Product
Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...6&cm_re=sata_dvd_drive-_-27-106-276-_-Product
O/S: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...54&cm_re=windows_7_oem-_-32-116-754-_-Product
Total: $541.92 without shipping/rebates
Will do everything they need and more, will be reliable and should still be fast enough if it gets loaded with IE toolbars and crapware
On a sidenote, teach them good habits like not clicking "Next" through installers that have pointless toolbars, and running malwarebytes daily, as well as good browsing habits, using adblock and firefox etc.
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871&cm_re=amd_640-_-19-103-871-_-Product
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_re=880g_motherboard-_-13-131-654-_-Product
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0145260&cm_re=4gb_ddr3-_-20-145-260-_-Product
GPU: Integrated on motherboard
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...52185&cm_re=samsung_f3-_-22-152-185-_-Product
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...072&cm_re=seasonic_psu-_-17-151-072-_-Product
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_re=coolermaster_case-_-11-119-227-_-Product
Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...6&cm_re=sata_dvd_drive-_-27-106-276-_-Product
O/S: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...54&cm_re=windows_7_oem-_-32-116-754-_-Product
Total: $541.92 without shipping/rebates
Will do everything they need and more, will be reliable and should still be fast enough if it gets loaded with IE toolbars and crapware
On a sidenote, teach them good habits like not clicking "Next" through installers that have pointless toolbars, and running malwarebytes daily, as well as good browsing habits, using adblock and firefox etc.