Budget ATX small system

[Justin]

Somebody in my class is looking for a new machine.
The machine will be used for Office applications, internet junk - home
stuff.
I'm thinking an 18 inch monitor, Windows Vista 64 Home, but the rest I
need help with.
I woudl like to present an AMD and Intel option just because I think AMD
deserves more credit than they get. I don't want to eh case to be HUGE
- but I'm not building a microatx system (this time).
So, what would you suggest?

 

[Don Phillipson]

Somebody in my class is looking for a new machine.
The machine will be used for Office applications, internet junk - home
stuff.
I'm thinking an 18 inch monitor, Windows Vista 64 Home, but the rest I
need help with.

Under two conditions . . .
1. If the class member does not mean brand new (as first
purchaser), and
2. If there is any sort of market where you live for used
office machines,
the actual need as described here can be met by a used
PC running WinXP at prices between $100 and $200,
depending on hard drive size and (CRT) monitor size;
(20 inches will please more than 18.)

 

[Rarius]

Somebody in my class is looking for a new machine.
The machine will be used for Office applications, internet junk - home
stuff.
I'm thinking an 18 inch monitor, Windows Vista 64 Home, but the rest I
need help with.
I would like to present an AMD and Intel option just because I think AMD
deserves more credit than they get. I don't want to eh case to be HUGE
- but I'm not building a microatx system (this time).
So, what would you suggest?

If you are only looking at Office and internet type stuff and not
looking to be playing major 3D games, I would suggest something like a
Core2Duo and a motherboard with everything (graphics, sound, network) on
it.

I suggest something like the following:
Intel Core 2 Duo E7400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206
ASUS P5QPL-VM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131387
4GB of DDR2
250GB HDD

I don't know AMD current CPUs well enough, but I suspect a similar dual
core CPU and motherboard won't be much different on price.

I would also question your choice of 64bit Vista. You may have trouble
getting 64bit drivers for hardware. If you don't need more than 3-4GB of
memory (and I suspect you don't need that much!) there is no point in
going to 64bit.

BTW Have a look at 19in monitors... 18in ones are not made! ;-)

Rarius

 

[Justin]

Under two conditions . . .
1. If the class member does not mean brand new (as first
purchaser), and
2. If there is any sort of market where you live for used
office machines,
the actual need as described here can be met by a used
PC running WinXP at prices between $100 and $200,
depending on hard drive size and (CRT) monitor size;
(20 inches will please more than 18.)

Just forget it.

 

[Fishface]

Somebody in my class is looking for a new machine.
The machine will be used for Office applications, internet junk - home stuff.
I'm thinking an 18 inch monitor, Windows Vista 64 Home, but the rest I need help with.
I woudl like to present an AMD and Intel option just because I think AMD deserves more credit than they get. I don't
want to eh case to be HUGE - but I'm not building a microatx system (this time).
So, what would you suggest?

It's hard to beat the pre-built budget systems on price, but...

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3563

Check the entry level systems for AMD and Intel.

 

[NT]

Somebody in my class is looking for a new machine.
The machine will be used for Office applications, internet junk - home
stuff.
I'm thinking an 18 inch monitor, Windows Vista 64 Home, but the rest I
need help with.
I woudl like to present an AMD and Intel option just because I think AMD
deserves more credit than they get.  I don't want to eh case to be HUGE
- but I'm not building a microatx system (this time).
So, what would you suggest?

There really is no specific spec point to aim for, you can get as much
or as little as you want, and all will do the things you've listed.
Even a 10yr old pc will happily do that lot

What matters far more is what software you choose.


NT

 

[Rarius]

There really is no specific spec point to aim for, you can get as much
or as little as you want, and all will do the things you've listed.
Even a 10yr old pc will happily do that lot

What matters far more is what software you choose.


NT

To do that sort of work (Office/internet/eMail) you could go with one of
the small form factor Atom PCs. They are cheap as chips and work fine.
Something like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883114074 just add
a monitor.

Rarius