Computer for Parents $800

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TheDixieFlatline

New Member
My parents need a new computer and I'm going to build it for them but it's been a while since I had to go through the computer hardware scene. I really have no idea what to go for. We have a budget of $800 but we don't need to buy an operating system and I'm pretty sure they don't need a graphics card. There's no need for external addons like a mouse or keyboard but if an affordable LCD can be found I'd look into it. Suggestions on hardware please and thanks in advance.

PS: Newegg.ca preferably.
 
FuryRosewood

FuryRosewood

Active Member
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129072
-Case & PSU
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128547
-Motherboard
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
-CPU
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095
-RAM (one or two sets, up to you, id buy two)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227726
-SSD
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
-HDD
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067
-DVD

-Total: 773.93 without shipping, probably could cut back on cpu and ram, but was lookin at a solution that would be good with integrated gpu, however could cut back on the cpu, and pop in a gt430 which would be not integrated but would do a far better job than the integrated at video playback. (so grab a i3 2120 and buy a gt430 with the difference in price, and could cut back about 50 bucks with the change, SSD is optional too, but i think the boot times and responsiveness make it a worthy addition, anyone using it would be impressed with the response)
 
B

byteninja2

banned
Yeah, antecs are okay to awesome,except ones that comes with cases, just below okay.Plus, not enough wattage, you know a good bit about pcs, you should know that, fury.
 
T

TheDixieFlatline

New Member
They like to Skype, some video and picture processing, and they need fast downloads and large HD to transfer stuff from their workplaces to their home (I think the 1TB suggested is big enough). To be honest, there is nothing overly intensive that it needs to do. An integrated GPU might even be overkill but I'd stick with the Sandy Bridge in case I or my brother want to play games on it or something along those lines.
 
claptonman

claptonman

New Member
They could get away with a $400-500 build, easy. But like you said, if you want it future proof, the i5 would be a good choice.
 
FuryRosewood

FuryRosewood

Active Member
^Trying for stable not clocked, 1600 is not fitting the bill here. Keep the 1333 stuff, there is no real point between 1333 and 1600 in a machine that will be surfing the web, nor in any other applications, not sure why people push this garbage. The reason a 2500K went in was for the HD3000 graphics on the die, but honestly if you want more oomph could go with a lower priced i5 and grab a GT430 for some additional GPU horsepower without adding any wattage load to the system.
 
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Okedokey

Okedokey

Well-Known Member
^depends on what you do. If you have a board that supports 1600 and isn't stable then to me that is deffective. Also, I need the extra memory bandwidth, many wouldn't though.

Also, adding a GPU will change the 12V current distribution on the current PSU (its ATX standard specifies this), so although the overall amperage is similar, the PSU cannot provide it.
 
FuryRosewood

FuryRosewood

Active Member
^That is the point, everything will support 1333, and I don't see a point in fiddling with something where you will get a tiny bit of extra bandwidth.

And your telling me a 630W Seasonic cannot provide enough current for a i5 2xxx and a gt430? really? lol
 
Benny Boy

Benny Boy

Active Member
FuryRosewood said:
^Trying for stable not clocked, 1600 is not fitting the bill here. Keep the 1333 stuff, there is no real point between 1333 and 1600 in a machine that will be surfing the web, nor in any other applications, not sure why people push this garbage.
Click to expand...
Why wouldn't 1600 not be stable. (not a ?)
1600 is going to run @ 1333 anyways unless you up it. And the mb doesn't consider 1600 oc'd. But that's not what I'm talking about here.
What I'm talking about is 4 dollars, so might as well.
 
StrangleHold

StrangleHold

Moderator
Staff member
Get the Seasonic power supply, plus the DDR3 1600 memory.
Just because the board defaults to 1333 doesnt mean your overclocking the memory to 1600. Its nothing but a JEDC standard, no more.
 
FuryRosewood

FuryRosewood

Active Member
Nothing but a JDEC standard...yep their the one that sets all the standards on the board...that means nothing absolutely NOTHING...*FACEPALMS HARD* To avoid headaches = stick with 1333, this is a parents machine NOT A GAMING MACHINE.
 
StrangleHold

StrangleHold

Moderator
Staff member
FuryRosewood said:
Nothing but a JDEC standard...yep their the one that sets all the standards on the board...that means nothing absolutely NOTHING...*FACEPALMS HARD* To avoid headaches = stick with 1333, this is a parents machine NOT A GAMING MACHINE.
Click to expand...

They dont set the standards on the boards at all. They set memory standards. Plus they set the standard for DDR3 at DDR3 1600 as long as it has 1.5V with 9-9-9-24 timing its good to go and is covered. Plus the board by default support up to DDR3 2200 without a OC. So really I have no idea what your going on about.



Dont give me no crap about stability. Bet I've built 100 computers with DDR3 1600 and 1866 and set them manually and some set right by default and never have had a stability problem.
 
FuryRosewood

FuryRosewood

Active Member
Good and dandy, but answer me this. What benefit will the end user get out of a slight difference in Mhz in ram? On a machine that will just be opening word and web pages. I frankly do not see the point you are trying to prove. If this was a machine that is moving a lot of data between CPU and RAM over and over it might show a bit, but probably again will be unnoticeable to anyone. That is what I am trying to get at, this is a family computer/office box.

Hell, probably the build should look like this:
i3 2120, 4 gig ddr3 1333, a z68 or equivalent board, 60 gig SSD, and a 1tb data drive, in whatever case, PSU or equivalent that would fit the bill. Machine does not need a ton of power. I keep thinking people use ram like I do, but most don't so probably can get away with less.
 
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