New build for mom. Is it good?

J

jsquid526

New Member
I have plenty of experience building computers building 2 full computers for myself with various upgrades in between. My mom has been complaining about the performance of her computer. Really the only things she uses her computer for are Internet, movies, scrap booking, digital photo editing, music, and the occasional video game (the sims 2, sim city 4 etc....) She asked for a computer that would last her for more than 3 years and around $500 budget. She has an E-Machine with an AMD 3000+, onboard GeForce 4, 768Mb DDR memory a 160gb HDD, onboard sound, and a dvd-rom and cd-rom. She Wants to keep the case, disk drives and hard drive. As for the rest this is what I've come up with.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231087
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028

Any type of feedback positive or negative would be appreciated. I just want to make sure it's well worth her money.
 
Kornowski

Kornowski

VIP Member
That looks really good! What about the motherboard?

The 8800GS was a good choice, it'll be great for light gaming! ;)
 
Respital

Respital

Active Member
Looks good.
I'll post up a build as soon as i can. :)

*Goes to newegg and starts looking for parts.*
 
Respital

Respital

Active Member
jsquid526 said:
My bad. This is the motherboard i think would work well with this upgrade.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130081R
Click to expand...

Caution : That motherboard is open box!

Heres what i came up with for 500$ :)

Case: Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
Price: $129.95 ($99.95 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate pdf )

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
Price: $89.99

Processor/Cpu: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028
Price: $184.99

Ram: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
Price: $60.99 ($30.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate pdf )

Video/Graphics Card: EVGA 384-P3-N853-AR GeForce 8800GS Superclocked 384MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333
Price: $129.99 ($99.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate pdf )

Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262
Price: $64.99

CD/DVD Drive: LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106072
Price: $32.99

Total: $603.89
Over budget.. :(
Good build though. :)
If you want to be in your budget just change the processor.

Alternate processor: Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
Price: $67.99

Price with cheaper processor: $486.89 (After mail-in rebates.)

Hope this helps. :)
 
J

jsquid526

New Member
Respital said:
Caution : That motherboard is open box!

Heres what i came up with for 500$ :)

Case: Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
Price: $129.95 ($99.95 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate pdf )

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
Price: $89.99

Processor/Cpu: Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028
Price: $184.99

Ram: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
Price: $60.99 ($30.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate pdf )

Video/Graphics Card: EVGA 384-P3-N853-AR GeForce 8800GS Superclocked 384MB 192-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333
Price: $129.99 ($99.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate pdf )

Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262
Price: $64.99

CD/DVD Drive: LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106072
Price: $32.99

Total: $603.89
Over budget.. :(
Good build though. :)
If you want to be in your budget just change the processor.

Alternate processor: Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036
Price: $67.99

Price with cheaper processor: $486.89 (After mail-in rebates.)

Hope this helps. :)
Click to expand...


Thanks a lot that mainboard and dvd bruner were great finds.
 
U

UriA702

New Member
I agree with the others build the whole system from scratch, replacing drives with sata will show a big increase in performance. I will post up a build for $500 including everything in a minute.
 
Respital

Respital

Active Member
jsquid526 said:
Thanks a lot that mainboard and dvd bruner were great finds.
Click to expand...
No problem.
Unless she plans to do heavy video rendering that build should be the best one for her. :)

UriA702 said:
I agree with the others build the whole system from scratch, replacing drives with sata will show a big increase in performance. I will post up a build for $500 including everything in a minute.
Click to expand...

Yeah, never buy pre built systems ever again. ;)
Unless it's a laptop. :p

I'm curious to see what you come up with.. :rolleyes:
 
U

UriA702

New Member
sorry my hosting service for images shrinks them down.

barebone: coolermaster case/psu with msi mobo $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167008

lite-on dvd burner with lightscribe $29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106073

barracuda 32mb cache es.2 250gb HDD $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148309

evga 8800 gs (you could go with an 8600gt if you want to save some money) 129 -30 rebate = $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333

a-data 2gb 800mhz memory $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

e2220 2.4ghz - $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116070

total is 470
 
Respital

Respital

Active Member
UriA702 said:
sorry my hosting service for images shrinks them down.

barebone: coolermaster case/psu with msi mobo $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167008

lite-on dvd burner with lightscribe $29
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106073

barracuda 32mb cache es.2 250gb HDD $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148309

evga 8800 gs (you could go with an 8600gt if you want to save some money) 129 -30 rebate = $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333

a-data 2gb 800mhz memory $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066

e2220 2.4ghz - $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116070

total is 470
Click to expand...

No offence but..
My build is A Lot better..
That motherboard only supports up to 2GB ram.. not very good.
Why spend more money on the E2200 when the one i recommended overclocks further?
Everything else looks fine but i would personally go with my build suggestion.

Hope this helps. :)
 
U

UriA702

New Member
I did that in a hurry, didn't check the specs, but he can easily find one that supports 4gb for the same amount of $.

I do know the e2160 will overclock just as well, but considering he will most likely be using stock cooling and it's for his mother who wants it to last as long as possible the ideal way to go would be to keep everything stock. Your build is very good indeed, I did not see your posts earlier. Either way the machine will be fine for his mother. I think your machine with an e2220 would be a great build for him.
 
U

UriA702

New Member
Your machine also involves almost $100 in mail in rebates which are hit or miss. Maybe his mother is skeptical of the mail in rebates. your total comes out close to 600 before rebate mine is under 500 before rebates, so it's two different routes he can take.
 
Respital

Respital

Active Member
UriA702 said:
I did that in a hurry, didn't check the specs, but he can easily find one that supports 4gb for the same amount of $.

I do know the e2160 will overclock just as well, but considering he will most likely be using stock cooling and it's for his mother who wants it to last as long as possible the ideal way to go would be to keep everything stock. Your build is very good indeed, I did not see your posts earlier. Either way the machine will be fine for his mother. I think your machine with an e2220 would be a great build for him.
Click to expand...
Yes it would but 0.2 or 0.4 GHZ isn't really worth the extra $..:p
UriA702 said:
Your machine also involves almost $100 in mail in rebates which are hit or miss. Maybe his mother is skeptical of the mail in rebates. your total comes out close to 600 before rebate mine is under 500 before rebates, so it's two different routes he can take.
Click to expand...
They are a hit if you send them in properly and the computer will me really quiet, i have the same case same fans when i first turned it on if it wasn't for the HDD indicators then i would think it wasn't working. :p If his mother was skeptical i think he would have posted something by now. Yes but it's only about $5 over budget with the rebates and whats wrong with having the best computer money can buy? According to his mothers budget. :)
 
R

reddevil6

Active Member
i would do this
CPU $199.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
MOBO $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
Ram $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211282
Video card $79.99 after MIR it is $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121231
HDD $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136062
it will be faster with a SATA HDD so i got 1 in the build.
she plays game's like sims an simcity she does not realy need a GPU like a 880GS this 8600GT will do fine it will max out all of her games easy.
this was $509.95 an after the MIR on the GPU it is $489.99
 
O

oscaryu1

VIP Member
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116070&Tpk=E2220
E2220

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135063
G31T-M ECS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
XMS2 CL5 2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2-800

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147067
Rosewill ATX Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339001&Tpk=hec+orion
hec Orion XPOWERX585 585W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228
Lite-On Black DVD Burner PATA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130333
EVGA 8800GS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822210004
Excelstor Jupiter 160GB SATAII 8MB HDD

Total after rebates including shipping: $438.18
 
J

jsquid526

New Member
Thanks guys, we went with this

GFX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121237
PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023
CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028
MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106072
HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

It came out 50 buck over without taxes or shipping but she was ok with that. Thanks for all the great input. Until next time.
 
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