$250 - $300 Desktop Computer?

[kevin11951]

I am trying to build a desktop computer on newegg, for my little (8 years old) brother. He goes on the internet, and plays preschool playtime (not very intensive). All my builds come out to about $400. it has to have a monitor, keyboard & mouse. must support ubuntu as well.

help please?

[Redache]

For that amont your only option is second hand really, or find a free recycling company that might have some old systems. You could then spend the $300 on upgrading the Computer if it's possible.

I tried out a Via System but the Monitor will pretty much kill anything for under $300. Minus the monitor it's 100% possible to build a small low powered system.

[Therion]

I am trying to build a desktop computer on newegg, for my little (8 years old) brother. He goes on the internet, and plays preschool playtime (not very intensive). All my builds come out to about $400. it has to have a monitor, keyboard & mouse. must support ubuntu as well.

help please?
You want to build a COMPLETE tower, from the ground up, and do it for under three-bills?

NO parts you can cannibalize from existing systems?

Wow...

I'd say forget about building from all new parts and tell you to look for a used system on Ebay or Craigslist instead.

[Reaper29]

go on craigslist.com , you can find a full up-to-date desktop system, with flatscreen monitor, dvd burner, etc...for under $300...

wouldnt even be worth building.

imo, building a computer is for someone thats gonna put some serious use to it, need really good graphics, sound, storage and speed..

dont need to build a computer to play preschool games and such cause thats requires no stress on a regular computer.

you can also try walmart, usually you can get a system for about $300 new, but i dont think it comes with a monitor.

[wolfen69]

if you already have a cd drive, case, and whatever, you can do it for $300. there are dual core processors for $40, 1 gb ram for $30, mobo for $59, etc. sure, it can be done.

[kevin11951]

its not that i dont have the money, its that my uncle got an emachines desktop for $200, monitor and all (dont know where, but it was brand new, and not ebay, etc...), and i wanted to try to build something for around the same price, but better for my little brother.

[mips]

What the spec of the emachines pc.

You do gets some cheap pc's out there but without monitor. You can get a everex pc for about $200 (with Ubuntu installed) but there are other companies that do this as well, just can't remember their names.

http://www.everexstore.com/everex/



Edit: I just did a google search and Best Buy had a emachines+monitor for $200
http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/rr-homepage-deals/136861-emachines-el1200-01e-amd64-desktop-200-a.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2032280010%204017&name=%24100%20-%20%24200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2032280010%204018&name=%24200%20-%20%24300

[forrestcupp]

I tried out a Via System but the Monitor will pretty much kill anything for under $300. Minus the monitor it's 100% possible to build a small low powered system.

I just got a decent CRT monitor from the local Goodwill store for $10. They always have them because people want to unload them when they get an LCD.

[kevin11951]

What the spec of the emachines pc.

You do gets some cheap pc's out there but without monitor. You can get a everex pc for about $200 (with Ubuntu installed) but there are other companies that do this as well, just can't remember their names.

http://www.everexstore.com/everex/



Edit: I just did a google search and Best Buy had a emachines+monitor for $200
http://www.resellerratings.com/forum/rr-homepage-deals/136861-emachines-el1200-01e-amd64-desktop-200-a.html

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2032280010%204017&name=%24100%20-%20%24200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2032280010%204018&name=%24200%20-%20%24300

OH! i forgot all about the shuttle pcs!

[aaaantoine]

I picked out parts for a gaming-oriented tower for ~$315 on Newegg.com, but that doesn't include keyboard, mouse, and monitor. (Also, I left out the optical drive.)

[mips]

OH! i forgot all about the shuttle pcs!

You will just have to find a cheap lcd monitor somewhere, does not have to be new either, 17" should fit your budget. Keyboard & mouse is dirt cheap.

PS, don't get your brother a crt, I reckon they are pretty harsh on the eyes and I speak from experience.

[gymophett]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10858497
You can use that, and maybe use a monitor you already have, or find a second-hand one.

[cb951303]

Here is my $322 solution for you. You can easily pull it under $300 if you don't need AMD X2 4400 :popcorn:

[billgoldberg]

Why in Jebus' name would you buy a new machine if you only got that much money?

You're not going to save money.

Either buy a decent second hands pc or buy a new cheap one.

They'll most likely have the same specs (unless you can find a bargain), so just buy some mass produced cheap tower in a supermarket or something.

Or buy a netbook.

[swoll1980]

The monitor, and keyboard alone will run you like $125 that would only leave you $175 I don't think you can do much with that. You can buy a cheap p4 referb (microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0306121)at microcenter for under $150 add the screen it will run you under $250

[Npl]

Pc for 149$ (http://beagleboard.org/). Just need an Keyboard, Mouse + Monitor

[WatchingThePain]

Your builds are about the going rate. You can use second hand components but make sure they come with a years warranty.

[nowin4me]

PS, don't get your brother a crt, I reckon they are pretty harsh on the eyes and I speak from experience.

+1 I agree with that.

I got 2 PC's free by asking my local PC store/shop for any faulty parts they don't need... One of them works but its better than nothing (it's a P4).

So try asking your local PC store.

[WatchingThePain]

Yeah but tft/lcd will be a large percentage of that budget even pre-owned.

[mips]

Yeah but tft/lcd will be a large percentage of that budget even pre-owned.

What's more important, a couple of dollars or bad eyesight & head aches for the rest of your life ???

[Stan_1936]

Pc for 149$ (http://beagleboard.org/). Just need an Keyboard, Mouse + Monitor

the specs aren't particularly good.

[mips]

the specs aren't particularly good.

No, but for that price you are not going to get a Cray supercomputer either...

[nowin4me]

What's more important, a couple of dollars or bad eyesight & head aches for the rest of your life ???

Eyesight is more important.

You could always get him a netbook (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&~oid=us~en~29~linux_6~~) it's in your price range and no horrid CTR monitor.

[WatchingThePain]

Eyesight or two dollars?
Leave that to the customer..maybe they like to live dangerously.
Have masses of crt manufacturers been sued for burning peoples eyes out yet?.
The images are clearer on high end crt's and flat panels cause eye strain as well. More so for some people.
But it's more about buying a dying piece of technology.

[TwiceOver]

Go to the Dell Outlet and look for a cheap Inspiron.

I got a full desktop with keyboard and mouse for $175 shipped. I'm sure you could find a LCD for another $125.

The tower I got was:
AMD X2 2ghz
250gb HD
1GB ram

Runs Ubuntu perfectly.

[Bart_D]

Go to the Dell Outlet...

+1

That's a great place to find cheap hardware.....;):D:):P:KS

[mips]

Go to the Dell Outlet and look for a cheap Inspiron.

I got a full desktop with keyboard and mouse for $175 shipped. I'm sure you could find a LCD for another $125.

The tower I got was:
AMD X2 2ghz
250gb HD
1GB ram

Runs Ubuntu perfectly.

That sounds like a good deal but I don't see anymore on the site at that price.
http://www.dell.com/outlet

These look like cheap LCDs, http://www.geeks.com/products.asp?cat=MON

[WatchingThePain]

Go to the Dell Outlet and look for a cheap Inspiron.

I got a full desktop with keyboard and mouse for $175 shipped. I'm sure you could find a LCD for another $125.

The tower I got was:
AMD X2 2ghz
250gb HD
1GB ram

Runs Ubuntu perfectly.

Wow, I am not keen on Dell but that was a very good deal. It's just that I have seen some Dell Desktops that cannot be opened. My cousin had a dell and the fans were failing. I went round only to find that the case was sealed (at the factory) and the two small fans were at the bottom of the case. Had to take it to an electronics shop, force open the case, cut off the old fans and solder two new ones on, patch up the case. Cost about $80 to get that done.

[mips]

Wow, I am not keen on Dell but that was a very good deal. It's just that I have seen some Dell Desktops that cannot be opened. My cousin had a dell and the fans were failing. I went round only to find that the case was sealed (at the factory) and the two small fans were at the bottom of the case. Had to take it to an electronics shop, force open the case, cut off the old fans and solder two new ones on, patch up the case. Cost about $80 to get that done.

Do you remember what model that was or have a link to a website. I kinda find it hard to believe that you cannot open a case without breaking/forcing it.

[Orlsend]

I just bought a Asus eeepc 900HA for 290$ (160GB hard drive and 1gb Ram, with a super fast Intel Atom processor) I am going buy a 50$ screen and 3 dollar mouse along with a 5 dollar keyboard. Plus when i start my classes in August at the university I just carry my eeepc around :D. (Oh I bought it on newegg.com) Fully operational with eeebuntu.

[WatchingThePain]

Do you remember what model that was or have a link to a website. I kinda find it hard to believe that you cannot open a case without breaking/forcing it.

It was just the part with the fans that did not open, right at the bottom of the case.
I couldn't believe it either. The only thing I can remember is that it had dual xeons. Only heatsinks inside case. At first it looked like a small tray that could be opened but nope, it definitely had to be forced. His cousin is a graphic designer and gave him the pc so could that have been specially made for a company?. I don't see the point in doing that with fans.
Right I just called him and he thinks it's a Dell workstation 600?. Not sure about the 600 I reckon it looks like precision 670 workstation. Anyway what you're supposed to do is replace the whole fan bay from Dell parts.

Now that I think of it that bay might contain the psu as well.


http://www.ciao.co.uk/Reviews/Dell__5302170