PC for my Grandma

By Requisition
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Requisition

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Hey guys,
 
My grandpa wants to replace my grandma's PC, so instead of paying too much for lackluster hardware, I convinced him to let me build it. I wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions yourself. I'm merely looking for a most bang for your buck system, that can handle generally web browsing and emailing. After many revisions, here is the build I'm currently looking at:
 
AMD
 

 
CPU:  AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($79.98 @ Outlet PC) 
Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-F2A85XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard  ($62.99 @ NCIX US) 
Memory:  Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($30.83 @ NCIX US) 
Case:  Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply  ($37.99 @ Microcenter) 
Total: $311.77
 
Intel
 
 
CPU:  Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($69.98 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard:  ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($52.99 @ Microcenter) 
Memory:  Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($34.45 @ Outlet PC) 
Video Card:  Sapphire Radeon HD 5450 1GB Video Card  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Case:  Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply  ($37.99 @ Microcenter) 
Total: $315.38
 
I welcome all of your thoughts on the matter and am open to changing anything. I can't seem to get people to agree whether it's best to go Haswell or APU. After much reading I decided a dedicated graphics card would be necessary in the Intel build, but I'm still leaning towards it. Also, my grandpa is footing the bill and isn't concerned about cost, but I'd like to keep it on the cheap side. Above all else though, I want this to be the last system she ever has to buy. Let me know your thoughts, not use to building in the low end like this. 8)
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srbeen

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FWIW, I'd get a sub-$300 walmart-grade laptop. 4gb ram, 250-500gb drive, dual core ~2GHz. has battery backup, built in monitor/kb/mouse and usually VGA/HDMI out. Grandpa can move his laptop to the TV and watch YouTube or stream vudo.

I presume grandpa does exactly what you say, checks weather, email, facebook, etc. Theres no need for him to have a huge computer setup burning an extra 100w of power and being noisy for no real gain. I bought a $288 celeron core and it streams 1080p bluray ISOs fine, what more could you ask for?

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+Zlip792 MVC

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Bleh sorry, up far to late researching, I edited the AMD build into the post.

No need to say sorry, sometime I also mess up with things. LOL!

 

I think you should go for proper APU and also power consumption should be factor also considered, current listed processor takes 100 Watt as compare to it Intel one just takes 54 Watt, I think adding 65 Watt APU will reduce net cost of not having external GPU in that case.

Go for A6, A8 or A10 processor.. I suggest this one: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad5500okhjbox

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Requisition

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No need to say sorry, sometime I also mess up with things. LOL!

 

I think you should go for proper APU and also power consumption should be factor also considered, current listed processor takes 100 Watt as compare to it Intel one just takes 54 Watt, I think adding 65 Watt APU will reduce net cost of not having external GPU in that case.

Go for A6, A8 or A10 processor.. I suggest this one: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad5500okhjbox

:laugh:

 

I still messed up.

 

Here is my current AMD build:

 

 
CPU:  AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard:  Biostar Hi-Fi A85S3 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard  ($58.38 @ Newegg) 
Memory:  Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($33.81 @ NCIX US) 
Case:  Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply  ($37.99 @ Microcenter) 
Total: $320.15
 
I think we are much in agreement. :D
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sc302 Veteran

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If it is for your grandfather, do him the favor of getting a branded computer that offers good support, unless you will be the one supporting it.  I know my time for this stuff for family is limited esp being that they live 45 min or so away.  If I can offload some of the responsibility to dell or hp and just take care of some remote requests, that is where I like to keep it. 

 

If something physically goes bad, dell will come out an replace it for 3 years....it is insurance for me so I am not going out and replacing brainless crap.  They are spending 100 more maybe for that?

With a quick look I found a low end dell optiplex for 500 that comes with a 3 year warranty that covers the entire box, I don't need to go to kingston for the memory, corsair for the power supply, biostar for the mobo, or amd for the proc.  All drivers are in one place, not scattered across websites, and I have piece of mind if there are any hardware failures.  In your pricing you haven't put in for a OS. So with an OS I am at 100 more with a 3 year warranty which is Next Business Day On Site, that is right a tech will be dispatched with the part if needed, not you.

 

http://outlet.dell.com search buisness and optiplex and you will find them in that price range, you can go with lesser models (home models like dimension or vostro) that have more if you choose to, but the support doesn't seem to be as good/as quick to respond to "just get someone out there".  Oh but it isn't as good as what I can build....really you are building a internet pc, it doesn't have to be anything good, it does have to work, and it does have to have support (either by you or by the company you choose or a combination of the both).

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+Zlip792 MVC

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:laugh:

 

I still messed up.

 

Here is my current AMD build:

 

 
CPU:  AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard:  Biostar Hi-Fi A85S3 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard  ($58.38 @ Newegg) 
Memory:  Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($33.81 @ NCIX US) 
Case:  Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply  ($37.99 @ Microcenter) 
Total: $320.15
 
I think we are much in agreement. :D

 

I suggest instead of BioStar go for AsRock or Gigabyte.

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+Frank B. Subscriber²

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To play the devil's advocate: Does your grandmother really need a PC? A tablet would do as well, or not

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Requisition

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Heh, I wish I could, sc302, but he insists on being any issues straight to me. **

 

 

To play the devil's advocate: Does your grandmother really need a PC? A tablet would do as well, or not

 

I agree with ya there, but she is stuck in ways and doesn't like change. She has no interest in learning to use a different OS or try and replace the recipe software she still uses that was made by a developer that doesn't exist any more. She has a Nook, but has a hell of time with it.  :laugh:

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Requisition

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Why do you say that, Ulpian? Others online are convincing me that APU is the way to go with this build.

 

 
CPU:  AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard  ($74.98 @ Outlet PC) 
Memory:  Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 
Case:  Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply  ($37.99 @ Microcenter) 
Total: $392.93
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riahc3

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Hello :)

 

I would aim to get the cheapest build possible. I dont think she will do anything in the future that will be groundbreaking or anything that needs more....At most a wireless 802.11 card incase they switch over to wifi but since this is a desktop...

 

I didnt notice this when I posted but a SSD? You said email and browsing so I guess storage isnt something important to choose between speed (price) and storage (slower)

 

Also I completely agree with sc302; Getting a PC premade by Dell, HP, etc can save you SO much in the long run (and Im not talking about money). For what you are looking for, I HIGHLY SUGGEST, like sc302 said, a premade.

 

Dell/HP offer on their site a "semi custom build" although the price (in the short run) will be more expensive.

 

If you want a custom build still, then (even liking more Intel than AMD) I would go with the AMD build as it is cheaper.

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riahc3

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iPad?

Someone mentioned a tablet but for grandparents I dont think its the best choice already being introduced into the Windows PC era.

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Requisition

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I think I'm in camp AMD now, people online have convinced me that APU is the way to go for this build. 

 


 

CPU:  AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard:  Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard  ($74.98 @ Outlet PC) 

Memory:  Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 


Case:  Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply:  Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply  ($37.99 @ Microcenter) 

Total: $392.93

 

She didn't care for the iPad either because they would take trying something unfamiliar out. :P Shes fine on the desktop, really, I just want to build her a great one.

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fusi0n

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Honestly, if they are just using it for email\web.. the best thing you could give them would be an iPad.. 

Also, it is very easy to learn.. It would be less stress on you.. when something goes wrong.. they are going to call you.. They can't ###### up an iPad.. 

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Andre S. Veteran

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Yup, APU is the way to go. If you're looking to save a bit of money, go with 4GB RAM and an A6-5400K instead. That shouldn't make any difference for the sort of task she'll be doing with the computer; the single-threaded performance is the same and I doubt she'll ever run into the 4GB limit. The APU only uses 512MB and there are only negligible benefits to make it use 1GB or more.

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riahc3

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fusi0n,

A iPad I imagine is very easy to use for browing and emailing (long time I have used one). But lets weigh in some cons/pros:

Custom built:

+ Best bang for buck

- Support given by builder

Premade PC (Dell, HP, etc):

+ On site support

- Less customization and a bit more expensive

iPad (or any tablet for that matter):

+ More or less the same price as a prebuilt

- New OS, new way to interact, wifi only

I imagine OP weighed in the pros and cons but Ive listed some them as well. I for one if Im going to only use a device for certain things, I would get one that I am used to and know how to do those certains things myself without asking a first time around.

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fusi0n

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fusi0n,

A iPad I imagine is very easy to use for browing and emailing (long time I have used one). But lets weigh in some cons/pros:

Custom built:

+ Best bang for buck

- Support given by builder

Premade PC (Dell, HP, etc):

+ On site support

- Less customization and a bit more expensive

iPad (or any tablet for that matter):

+ More or less the same price as a prebuilt

- New OS, new way to interact, wifi only

I imagine OP weighed in the pros and cons but Ive listed some them as well. I for one if Im going to only use a device for certain things, I would get one that I am used to and know how to do those certains things myself without asking a first time around.

Well, I am just speaking from my own experiences.. I built two computers for my Grandmother and it was not fun at all.. She owns beach properties too, and needed a way to manage the money\tax, ect..

 

Bought her an iPad.. showed her how to do everything.. she is able to use it for everything and without issues.. No viruses, no random changing to the screen resolution(i'm she she was doing this, but not realizing it) among other crap that was mostly self inflicted..

 

Yes, it is a "new os", but how hard is it to use an iPad vs Windows for just using the web\email.. much easier on the iPad and a lot less maintenance.. 

 

Everyone is entitled to their option.. but I would at least give it a try..

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+Advancer Subscriber²

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My wife and I are almost in the same situation, her grandmother needs a serious computer upgrade. But she is only using it for internet activites like email and catching up on facebook, so we are going for a Chromebook - easy and simple.

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Requisition

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My wife and I are almost in the same situation, her grandmother needs a serious computer upgrade. But she is only using it for internet activites like email and catching up on facebook, so we are going for a Chromebook - easy and simple.

 

I wish my grandmother would give ChromeOS a chance, I believe it's be a pretty perfect OS/Machine for her.

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