Planning a build for my a mother. I just built a PC a few months back for the first time so I am fairly confident. The computer would be used mainly for just general use (pics, surfing the web, MS word, etd.) and I would like to throw in a fairly decent TV tuner card as well. It should be vista capable as well. The budget would be around 400 or so. I would slightly OC if the setup allowed, but that is not a major concern. Have a copy of vista as well so that would not be factored into the cost. What would you guys recommend? I am familiar with the c2d e6300 and up, but no the newer processor. So far I was thinking:

c2d e6300
Mobo with integrated video (possibly Foxconn)
Seagate 160 GB
G.Skill ddr2 667 (2GB)
Lite-On or Pioneer DVD Burner

The E6300 would be fine.

Even the E4300 would be just as good and cheaper. This is the build I did for my dad recently, but you should be able to save more then what I spent for my dad (under 600 bucks):

E4300 build

I did end up OC to E6600 speeds. I think its pretty lil rockin system. I kinda envy my dad, since I'm still on a P4 system.

thanks for the link. That was a nice system you built for your dad. I think I could use the money saved on getting a mobo with an integrated video card and a cheaper case towards the psu and tv tuner card. How easy is it to OC the E4300? I would assume it is similar to the E6300. Anyone else have any recommendations?

I'd instantly agree with Grimmy - E4300 is the way to go. Very easy to overclock on the stock cooler and cheap too. You may as well save some more with DDR2 533 RAM and just oc the E4300 to match that - your mom isn't going to need anything faster.

It may seem a lil confusing, but the E4300 is easy to OC like the E6300.

What may be somewhat confusing is the E4300 is a 800 FSB CPU, while the E6300 is a 1066 FSB.

Even with DDR2533 memory, the system would under clock the memory 200 x 9 = 1.8 to make it run with a E4300. What I'm saying here is if you were to run the 533 memory at its regular speed, your OC would be 266x9=2.394 Ghz. So even with DDR667 memory, you can achieve higher speeds. If you were to run the 667 memory at its regular speed, your OC would be 333x9=2.997 Ghz.

Hope that helps.

Mom?


Hmmm....

Celeron D / P4 3GHZ
1 GB RAM ( 512 MB IF using XP )
ASROCK I945GZ MOTHERBOARD - onbord graphics will support Vista Aero
LG DVDRW
Maxtor 80 GB SATA Hard drive
A Black 300W PSU inclusive Case.
17" TFT Monitor with built-in speakers
Logitech keyboard and mouse

Thats it.

Approx. price - £280 - £560

She probably won't need more then 1 gB of ram (512 X 2).

Well for only $59 you could get a 3600+ x2 which I would think would be good for what she is wanting to do.

You beat me to it. An X2 3600+ and a 690g chipset motherboard would work well. Asus has one with HDMI but it uses an add in card that takes up the video card slot to use it but Biostar has one where the HDMI port is on board and no card is needed. It also has S-video port on board as well. Ram has really gotten cheap too so it will not affect your price much I do not think as far as the type you get. You can get 2gb for around $100 now for ddr2 800. 8O In terms of features for the motherboards I think the AMD route is a better choice if any kind of tv type use is involved. Not to mention ATI graphics are known to be better for video playback anyway than either Nvidia or Intel.

Retail X2 3600+
BIOSTAR TA690G AM2 motherboard
Seagate 320gb hdd. (not much more $ really than the 160gb and one of the best hdd for the money right now)
2gb gskill ddr2 800
DVD burner of choice.

It would come out to about $375-$400 or so.

This is the setup I'd recommend as well. Add a PVR150 tv tuner and either windows XP MCE 2005 or Vista home Premium and you're all set. Even if your mom doesn't have a need for a computer in the living room yet, in the future she may find the idea attractive. Definately get a mATX board and a small, classy looking mATX case.

The only other route you may want to look at is the mini ITX solution. I'm sure your mom would be quite surprised when she can hold here new computer in the palm of her hand, but for this price, you could also buy a used Mac mini.

dood, it's your MOM and she's WEBSURFING.

go to walmart, get a celeron based e-machines.

she'll love it to pieces and far cheaper on you.

Valis

Dude, why does your little sig banner have bits of porn in it? That is so classless.
-cm

What about a laptop? I mean, my Mom would probably like to have a laptop. They are getting nice and cheap.
-cm

If she is a hot mom, throw in a webcam as well...
LOL!

Yeah...

Mmmhmm...
<stunned silence - disturbed>
-cm

Yeah, come to think about it properly, it's only your mom. AMD processors are much better at the sort of performance level you're looking at, and 1GB of RAM is adequate (although 2GB isn't overly expensive).

I have to agree with everyone else. AMD would be the cheaper route.

And more delicious!
-cm

thanks for the replys. I will see what I can put together for her using an AMD processor.

If you are looking for onboard video, heres one MB I did see awhile back:

ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI LGA 775 Intel 945G Micro

Pairing that up with E4300 and DDR2667 memory could make things abit cheaper on the Intel side of things.

I did notice on eWiz, the OEM E4300 was at $100.75, though you'd need to buy a HSF of your choice, has no free shipping, and it only has 1 year warranty. I've owned quite a few CPU's and they surely last more then even a retail warranty. Or the retail for 114 bucks for the E4300 isn't all that bad.

But AMD does has some great prices to look at as well to pair up things. That was a pretty good looking system by logainofhades put together on his post.

Just like to remind everyone that it's her Mom we r talking about. Wot ?DDR2-800??? E4300??? 2GB ??? Yh! like she's gonna overclock!

And wot the hell is she gonna do with a 320GB HDD??? Store DVD-rips like us ?

I personally don't like AMD's. Most are DOA and they die quickly. And they are expensive. Take Intel and you have a bright future.