Budget PC for Xmas present to my Dad

fran426ft

I'm thinking about getting my Dad a new PC for Christmas and I'm trying to figure out what would be the better option pre-built or self build. Budget is toward the low end as my dad really doesn't need a power house of a machine.

1. What is your budget?
€400ish (if lower is possible great)

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer?
Internet/Creating family tree/Some older games command and conquer series type/Photos we got him a Nikon D7000 DSLR for his 60th and his current PC about 10 years old is very slow doing anything with them.

3. Do you need a copy of Windows?
Yes (this is probably where the pre-built option will win out)

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer?
I'd say the DVD drive would be all that's useful. Hard drives are small and old might try and salvage them but would like to fit a new primary hard drive.

5. Do you need a monitor?
No

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future?
I'm thinking of treating myself to a Dell U2711 so I'd give him my old Samsung 1920x1080 monitor. (Tempting Price on Komplett at the moment €579)

6. Do you need any of these peripherals?
No just a basic build his current mouse and keyboard are fine and can add on later if needs be.

7. Are you willing to try overclocking?
Shouldn't be needed for what it will be used for.

8. How can you pay?
Credit Card/Laser/Paypal

9. When are you purchasing?
Over the 2 weeks

10. If you need help building it, where are you based?
Don't need help. Built my own PC about 2 years ago thanks to help from here and it's still going strong.

Monotype

The price of windows is not the biggest problem, it's actually the price of hard drives. There's a worldwide shortage at the moment and prices have tripled. The cheapest hard drive is nearly a quarter of the budget.

You might just about be able to make it if you cut back other areas, get a cheap SSD for Windows and re use your old drives.
Can you save by buying windows as a student? €45.45 from software4students.ie for students including those attending school.

fran426ft

Would I qualify as my sisters and girlfriend are all teachers? Don't have any students in our family anymore.

Also those are only upgrade editions but I heard there is a way to use them for a clean install.

Monotype

Yeah, I think working in education qualifies as well, though you'd have to read up on it.

Right, here's one possibility. 8GB of RAM is unnecessary, but it's cheap at the moment.
Item|Price
Total build cost: €313.21 + €30 shipping + €45.45 Windows = €388.66
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€41.48
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€29.34
BitFenix Merc Beta|€31.86
MSI 880GMA-E35 (FX), Sockel AM3+, mATX, PCIe|€63.71
Samsung SH-222AB bare schwarz SATA|€15.23
OCZ Vertex Plus 60GB SSD SATA 6,4cm (2,5")|€66.14
AMD Athlon II X3 450 "Boxed" 95W, Sockel AM3|€65.45


You'll need the hard drives (make sure they're compatible) and always backup anything on that's on SSDs.

Monotype

Monotype wrote: »

Yeah, I think working in education qualifies as well, though you'd have to read up on it.

Right, here's one possibility. 8GB of RAM is unnecessary, but it's cheap at the moment.
Item|Price
Total build cost: €313.21 + €30 shipping + €45.45 Windows = €388.66
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€41.48
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€29.34
BitFenix Merc Beta|€31.86
MSI 880GMA-E35 (FX), Sockel AM3+, mATX, PCIe|€63.71
Samsung SH-222AB bare schwarz SATA|€15.23
OCZ Vertex Plus 60GB SSD SATA 6,4cm (2,5")|€66.14
AMD Athlon II X3 450 "Boxed" 95W, Sockel AM3|€65.45

graphics card?

deceit

Deleted User wrote: »

graphics card?

Onboard video would be more than enough for what he requires?

deceit

deceit wrote: »

Deleted User wrote: »

graphics card?

Onboard video would be more than enough for what he requires?

uuhhhhhh!, on board graphics
even get a gt210 or a 5450. only €25

Serephucus

An alternate Intel i3 build. Uses one of the few i3 processors that also has HD 3000 graphics. (Same as 2600K)

Item|Price
Total build cost: €363.88 (inc delivery Free!)
Gigabyte S1155 Intel H61 DDR3 mATX|€49.01
OCZ Technology 60GB Vertex Plus Series SATA 3Gb/s 2.5" Solid State Drive|€69.32
Antec Earthwatts 380W ATX 12V 80Plus|€47.02
Kingston HyperX Blu 4GB (2 x 2GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL9 DIMM (Kit)|€21.09
Samsung 22x DVD-RW SATA Black|€16.16
Fractal Design Core 1000 Mid-Tower Case|€35.42
Intel Core i3-2125 3.3GHz LGA1155 3MB|€125.86

Monotype

That's not bad either.
The XFX 450W is €1.50 cheaper.
http://www.dabs.ie/products/xfx-450-watt-core-edition-single-rail-psu-w--full-wired-cables-7NSV.html?src=3


Edit:
The features on the gigabyte board are a bit scant actually, especially those connectors at the back. In particular, I'm looking at the VGA only lack of DVI/HDMI. I don't have time to check out what dabs have now, but I think a bit more should be spent here if the intel route was the preference.
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3917&dl=1#sp

Trevor451

Have you guys considered AMD's llano platform? Is it a fair bit more expensive than the builds listed here?

Tij da feen

This motherboard had DVI and HDMI connections at the back. It's only 3 quid more as well so it might be more worth your while getting this one.

Monotype

Trevor451 wrote: »

Have you guys considered AMD's llano platform? Is it a fair bit more expensive than the builds listed here?

It could be done alright.

The boards themselves are not bad.
Four back USB 3 ports on this one for €60 is pretty good (no DVI though, but you could use HDMI->DVI adapter).
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=48515
€73 for the cheapest tri core.
http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=50238


Item|Price
Total build cost: €313.96 + €30 shipping + €45 windows
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€40.94
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€29.57
BitFenix Merc Beta|€32.63
Samsung SH-222AB bare schwarz SATA|€15.23
OCZ Vertex Plus 60GB SSD SATA 6,4cm (2,5")|€62.35
AMD A6-3500 APU mit AMD Radeon HD 6530D Grafikeinheit, Sockel FM1, boxed|€73.07
ASRock A75M-HVS, FM1, mATX|€60.17


Disadvantages of going with this is that the future is a bit more uncertain for this socket. I think that we have at least one more generation to go with AM3+. Also, you'd be losing out on a lot of CPU power. The clock speeds of these are quite comparable and the A6 is 2.1GHz vs the Athlon's 3.2GHz. You could also overclock the Athlon a bit. I don't know where the A6 stands with unlocking, but it is possible to unlock the athlons (if you're lucky, that is).
The big advantage is the far superior graphics. The Radeon 4250 in the AM3+ board or Intel's HD3000 aren't that bad though. It's fine for HD videos and older games. Source engine games will run pretty well at 720p on them too. There's youtube videos of people experimenting with what they'll run (I wouldn't advise following that person who overclocked their 4250 100%). I think Llano could be useful for some who just wanted a compact PC with a small case and wanted an extra few games.

I forgot to mention it earlier, hardwareversand only take bank transfers (standard in Germany) and paypal (+3% charge).