Cheap build for browsing/word processing

[SuperEliteTechGuru]

My mom's pc is getting BSOD frequently and going into boot loops. I noticed the temps jumping to 70C right after loading OS and then settling around 50-55C afterwards in idle. Simply streaming a video put temps a little past 70C. I was going to clean all the dust out (there's a lot) and put some new thermal paste on. If this doesn't solve the problem, I'm going to replace it. The machine is like 8 years old so replacing parts seems like a waste of money. I might try some ddr2 memory for $18, but that's it.

I have the following parts for $250:
Skylake Pentium G4400 - $70
Gigabyte H110 board - $50
Crucial Memory 4gb-2133 - $20
Corsair 430w psu - $40
Adata 120gb ssd - $40
Zalman Z3 case - $35

I know I could build something a lot cheaper with used parts but I have a lot of Amazon credit that I'll use to get new parts instead. Could I met these needs with a cheaper build? Perhaps an older Celeron or something? A part list would be helpful!

Thanks

 

[cdawall]

Huge overkill for a web browser/word processor.

 

[Ithanul]

Probably could pull it off even with a smaller and cheaper PSU.
Probably better off buying one of those small brick computers. Be cheaper too. Then Velcro it to the back of the monitor.

Here, don't need a monitor. It project itself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gclid=CObFuaWW08oCFYqIfgod1FkJ2w&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Toothless]

Probably could pull it off even with a smaller and cheaper PSU.
Probably better off buying one of those small brick computers. Be cheaper too. Then Velcro it to the back of the monitor.

Here, don't need a monitor. It project itself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164010&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Barebone+Systems+-+Mini+/+Booksize-_-N82E16856164010&gclid=CObFuaWW08oCFYqIfgod1FkJ2w&gclsrc=aw.ds

THAT'S SO CUTE. I WANT ONE FOR STEAM STREAMING.

 

[de.das.dude]

If it were me i'd get those AMD SoC ones that have a decent GPU built in. Cheap (usually ~80$) and silent!

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Can you list what she currently uses.

First step
a thorough clean, reboot and virus scan

next
reuse parts from that pc and use them as the basis for a new build.

e.g. why buy a new case?


The ASUS board in my main rig was released 7.5 years ago and it is still more than capable.

 

[Fourstaff]

NUC?

 

[Aquinus]

I was going to clean all the dust out (there's a lot) and put some new thermal paste on. If this doesn't solve the problem, I'm going to replace it.

Clean that sucker out before you even consider buying a new machine. 70*C at idle after boot sounds like a gunked up stock Intel cooler. If you've never cleaned that machine out, I can only imagine how filthy it is.

 

[Folterknecht]

Aslso don't forget to replace the old thermal mortar and replace is with paste.

If nothing helps an AMD APU + a 120-256GB SSD will make a nice little system for cheap.

 

[SuperEliteTechGuru]

The CPU is Intel Pentium E2160 1.8GHz. It's an old Gateway that has 3gb of memory in four 770mb modules. Seems weird but I'm not familiar with these old components. Doubt that it's ever been cleaned out other than vacuuming vents from the outside.

Was going to clean it out yesterday but have nothing to clean the cpu with. Checked two stores, but best I could find was 91% alcohol. I have some 70% already, can I get away with using this or is it a big risk?

 

[Aquinus]

It's an old Gateway that has 3gb of memory in four 770mb modules.

There are no memory modules with such a weird size. It's probably 2x1GB and 2x512MB sticks. It wouldn't be the first time I've seen vendors like Gateway or Dell mix DIMM capacities.

Was going to clean it out yesterday but have nothing to clean the cpu with. Checked two stores, but best I could find was 91% alcohol. I have some 70% already, can I get away with using this or is it a big risk?

91% is fine. It's what I use.

 

[Devon68]

Clean it out and I'm sure it will work like if should, but if you still want to spend any cash this might not be a bad option:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=intel_compute_stick-_-83-800-008-_-Product
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=intel_compute_stick-_-83-400-001-_-Product
EDIT: I used 70% alcohol and it was fine

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

The CPU is Intel Pentium E2160 1.8GHz. It's an old Gateway that has 3gb of memory in four 770mb modules. Seems weird but I'm not familiar with these old components. Doubt that it's ever been cleaned out other than vacuuming vents from the outside.

Was going to clean it out yesterday but have nothing to clean the cpu with. Checked two stores, but best I could find was 91% alcohol. I have some 70% already, can I get away with using this or is it a big risk?

just wipe it clean with toilet/ kitchen paper.

If the gunk is baked on leave the cpu in the board and use a credit card or similar to loosen it.

 

[SuperEliteTechGuru]

There are no memory modules with such a weird size. It's probably 2x1GB and 2x512MB sticks. It wouldn't be the first time I've seen vendors like Gateway or Dell mix DIMM capacities.

91% is fine. It's what I use.

Yes, that is indeed the memory configuration. I hunted the damn thing down for full spec sheet: http://www.cnet.com/products/gateway-desktop-pc-series/specs/

 

[newtekie1]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VFLSIHA/?tag=tec06d-20 $110

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006YG8X9Y/?tag=tec06d-20 $30

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0106AOCPW/?tag=tec06d-20 $40

 

[alucasa]

Yep, NUC is the way to go nowadays for home web browsing / simple word PC.

 

[taz420nj]

Hell for about $6 on ebay you can get an E4600 Core2Duo and slap it in there for a 40% performance increase... $15 for an E4700 would give a 50% increase (brings it up to par with whats in that ZBOX). If the BIOS doesn't support it you can fire off an unlock request on www.bios-mods.com

 

[cdawall]

A6-7400K+GB A68 board is all of $65 at microcenter.

 

[Liquid Cool]

This Gateway GT5622 has an Allendale 65nm LGA 775 processor in it. The motherboard has a pci-e x16 slot and it's s-ata II. For myself...if I was going cheap....I'd spend $50 to upgrade it with a business style video card(IE: NVS 295), used intel 320 series SSD(or X-25M) and a better cpu. I have a similar unit in operation and it's been literally beat on for years....and still runs admirably.

Best,

Liquid Cool

 

[trog100]

ebay is loaded with (refurb) used Dell machines.. if all i wanted was something to browses and not game with they are what i would buy..

i cant see much point in building your own "cheap" machine..

trog

 

[taz420nj]

ebay is loaded with (refurb) used Dell machines.. if all i wanted was something to browses and not game with they are what i would buy..

i cant see much point in building your own "cheap" machine..

trog

Newegg and Tiger Direct sell older refurbs also, many in the $75-100 range.

 

[GhostRyder]

My mom's pc is getting BSOD frequently and going into boot loops. I noticed the temps jumping to 70C right after loading OS and then settling around 50-55C afterwards in idle. Simply streaming a video put temps a little past 70C. I was going to clean all the dust out (there's a lot) and put some new thermal paste on. If this doesn't solve the problem, I'm going to replace it. The machine is like 8 years old so replacing parts seems like a waste of money. I might try some ddr2 memory for $18, but that's it.

I have the following parts for $250:
Skylake Pentium G4400 - $70
Gigabyte H110 board - $50
Crucial Memory 4gb-2133 - $20
Corsair 430w psu - $40
Adata 120gb ssd - $40
Zalman Z3 case - $35

I know I could build something a lot cheaper with used parts but I have a lot of Amazon credit that I'll use to get new parts instead. Could I met these needs with a cheaper build? Perhaps an older Celeron or something? A part list would be helpful!

Thanks

Perhaps building something like an AM1 build would be in order? You can do those fore pretty cheap and they have great video playback performance and basics performance.

Try the following:
Athlon 5350 (You could save some bucks and go even lower to the 5150 if you want).
Asus Micro ATX board
Crucial Ballistix 4gb
Rosewill Case
EVGA 430watt 80+ (Overkill, but a decent PSU and price)
LG DVD Drive
Adata 120gb SSD

Total $232.46. This build included a DVD drive so if you don't need it then that drops $20. You can also drop the processor down a couple notches if you want which can save up to another $20 so it could get well below $200. I did something similar recently but got it down to ~$200 with the 5350 and it performs very well for what it does (a lot of the basics).

 

[newtekie1]

Newegg and Tiger Direct sell older refurbs also, many in the $75-100 range.

Yeah, but with a new Quad-core that I posted with wifi and USB3.0 and an SSD only costing $180 and using a fraction of the power, I'd only do a refurb if money was really tight.

 

[cdawall]

A6-7400k+GB A68 $65

add ddr3 and a cheap case/DC-DC PSU.

 

[taz420nj]

Yeah, but with a new Quad-core that I posted with wifi and USB3.0 and an SSD only costing $180 and using a fraction of the power, I'd only do a refurb if money was really tight.

The N2930 only has a 1600 passmark. Lots of cheap old machines do better than that. He could get an E4700 CPU on ebay for $15 and get his existing machine to a 1500. Power savings and tiny size are the only advantages.