hey all you up to date with the ever changing computer market peeps

 

friend of mine from work needs a new PC all he wants to do is go on the internet basically, his 10 y/o son will use it mostly for school projects

so it doesn't need to do anything fancy at all.

 

basically looking at a rig that will be a good reliable home desktop for a 45 year old dad with no idea about computers.

 

i haven't built a PC for over 12 months and not up to date with all the core alternatives and all that jazz

 

does someone who knows about it want to put together a basic list for me

he will need monitor keyboard mouse and all that jazz, but i can find that unless you can be bothered.

 

thanks

check out the dell studio desktops, they are nice for the price

If your going to build it for him I'd go MSY for all the parts ell cheapo style

what's his budget?

Price limit?

snap

budget limit? :lol:

Either a second hand oldie computer, although those can have pretty bad upgrade routes.

 

Depends on the budget, and do they need a monitor etc? [This is just a basic guide, not a spec up so don't follow it]

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/psyrus_uraya/mockup-budget.gif

If you can find a monitor and Case (+psu) on the cheap somewhere, you can do it for ~$300 or less, but if you need everything from scratch, you're looking at about $500. I didn't include speakers because they're largely up to the user's discretion (like do they want a cheap 5.1, a decent 2.1, or a 2.0 or headset only).

Edited August 11, 200915 yr by Husker

A netbook with a 19" lcd, usb keyboard and mouse.

 

 

:hi:

Ebay is your answer!

 

Get a basic build - $400~550

Ebay is your answer!

 

Get a basic build - $400~550

 

EBAY = dodgy imo, and chances of getting a $400-550 pc with monitor & kb are unlikely IMHO, if you're spending that much you'd best go my route in which case you get 100% new components with at least 12 months warranty. (not to mention a 20" LCD)

thanks psyrus thats exactly what i am looking for you are a champion so dual core the way to go? would probably put a video card in as well, yeah would probably want some decent sound he is a bit of a muso, yeah will need everything from scratch, between 5-600 is good 700 maybe if someone can say why it is worth it (an explanation he will get too )

thanks psyrus thats exactly what i am looking for you are a champion so dual core the way to go? would probably put a video card in as well, yeah would probably want some decent sound he is a bit of a muso, yeah will need everything from scratch, between 5-600 is good 700 maybe if someone can say why it is worth it (an explanation he will get too )

 

The motherboard comes with integrated graphics card and 5.1 soundcard on it, so should be good from the get-go

 

That being said if he is a bit of a music aficionado then investing in a decent soundcard + speakers or headset will be well worthwhile. I made sure that everything was included except the speakers in that $550

 

Edit: But as I mentioned before, that build could certainly be tweaked to be more bang for buck, those are just the components I found at that one store, and didn't do much research into the motherboard choice, just got the cheapest with the essential features

I would still say dell, for one, they are cheap and come with alright warranty attached. You can spec them online if you want something extra and it is delivered to your door well packed, pre loaded, and ready to plug in and go.

link?