What can I get for $300 or a little more? I'd like to get decent quality parts that'll last a while.

It's either I build them something or buy them a cheap dual core laptop for <$450.

I've got a case, network card, OS, optical drives, PS, and HD.

I'm assembling a computer for the rents. They do little more than cruise the net, email, and watch streaming video.

Thanks.

3/16/2008 11:10:41 PM

Dell dude, there was a $359 deal a couple of days ago, with 20" lcd. Just keep an eye on slickdeals for a week or two

3/16/2008 11:58:40 PM

Considering what you already have (assuming the power-supply is sufficient though):

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard -
89.95
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Allendale 2.2GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor -
124.95
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
44.95
MSI NX8400GS-TD256E GeForce 8400GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
36.99

Alternatively, get a board with onboard video, ditch the card, and get a faster processor. I couldn't find too much in the way of motherboards (not included in case+mobo deals) with onboard video though on newegg. They're there but I'm lazy, its late, and I should be doing homework.

3/17/2008 1:03:58 AM

i've got a 2ghz core duo, mobo (can't remember manufacturer/model, but it has pci-e and 4 sata, supports 4gb of ddr2), and an 8500gt you can have for $200

components are less than 4 months old

3/17/2008 8:44:42 AM

Quote :

"Dell dude, there was a $359 deal a couple of days ago, with 20" lcd. Just keep an eye on slickdeals for a week or two"

exactly. worst case is they don't need the monitor, and you sell it for $180-$200 or whatever and the actual desktop barely costs anything (and its brand new with a warranty). then you don't have to mess with building/supporting the thing, just tell them to call dell

go to http://bensbargains.net/ and search for dell in the right hand search box

3/17/2008 8:48:46 AM

Quote :

"the actual desktop barely costs anything (and its brand new with a warranty). then you don't have to mess with building/supporting the thing, just tell them to call dell "

It's easy, yes, but I don't know that I would call a bargain-basement Vostro-series Dell "decent quality parts that'll last a while". Also most of your 'killer deal' Dell systems will be Pentium D or Athlon models, not Core2 systems, and will be short on RAM. Warranty will be at most 1 year.

I kinda agonized over this a while back, since I wanted to build my girlfriend a new machine for Valentine's day but I didn't want to shell out $texas to do so. I ended up hitting up NewEgg for:

Intel Core 2 Duo E4500, $124.99
Kingston KVR667D2K2 2 x 1GB DDR2 667 Dual Channel RAM, $38.99
MSI 945GCM5-F LGA775 board, $46.99

While the RAM is only 667 MHz and the board isn't high-end, I just wanted a solid machine that would get the job done in a fairly undemanding environment, and those items together only set me back $215. I already had a video card lying around (a PCI-E gf6600GT) but there's still plenty of cost room for that. Of course I also had to buy a case, but...

3/17/2008 10:30:20 AM

Quote :

"It's easy, yes, but I don't know that I would call a bargain-basement Vostro-series Dell "decent quality parts that'll last a while". Also most of your 'killer deal' Dell systems will be Pentium D or Athlon models, not Core2 systems, and will be short on RAM. Warranty will be at most 1 year."

Thats not even remotely accurate. This isn't even one of the "killer" slickdeals, just a normal every day deal I found on their website.

Core 2 Duo @ 2.2GHz
2GB RAM
250GB Hard Drive
DVD Burner
1YR on site warranty/support
20.1" Monitor

$489+tax = ~523

sell the monitor for $200 and you have a very capable, complete system (with OS and warranty) for a little over $300. Not to mention I'd put money on a dell system (think engineering + quality control) lasting longer than the average homebuilt system put together with whatever used/new parts one can find lying around. not to say i dont build systems, its just that for my parents or some other non-pc savvy/non-demanding user, it doesn't get any better or more headache-free than a new dell.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/hot_offers_dt?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

it doesn't sound like the OP is interested in buying new for his parents, but I would since I value my time and would want their PC to be as problem free as possible

3/17/2008 11:19:49 AM

here's one of the slickdeals: http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=770431

* Intel Core 2 Duo Proc E4500 (2.20GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800FSB)
* Genuine Windows XP Home Edition or Vista Home Basic
* Dell 20 inch Widescreen E207WFP Analog Flat Panel Display (includes DVI)
* 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz - 2DIMMs
* Single Drive: 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive
* 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
* Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
* 1 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 1 Year NBD On-Site Service

I don't see any outdated processor or small amount of ram there.

$359 + tax = 384

Sell the monitor for $200 and you've got a great system for ~$200. Try to build that!

3/17/2008 12:04:32 PM

DELL SUCKS.

3/17/2008 12:06:32 PM

message_topic.aspx?topic=517093
$85 for 2 tv tuners, video card
you can get a cpu for ~$30
$100 gets you a dual channel set of ram too

[Edited on March 17, 2008 at 12:18 PM. Reason : ]

3/17/2008 12:17:13 PM

Quote :

"its just that for my parents or some other non-pc savvy/non-demanding user, it doesn't get any better or more headache-free than a new dell."

agreed...i wouldn't go with one myself, but dell has a decent track record, and it's hard to beat the price

3/17/2008 12:19:54 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I really appreciate it. I'll keep on the lookout for a decent dell deal, b/c I'd rather not have to put together a machine and support it .

3/18/2008 12:34:43 AM

I just actually bought this tonight, would be perfect + 10,000 for your parents:

http://www.slickdeals.net/?permadeal=11944#direct_deal_11944

Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
AMD Phenom 9500 quad-core processor - 2.2GHz
2GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400, DVI-I, VGA adapter,HDMI
500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, video, audio
ATSC-NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote
Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports
Norton Internet Security 2008 - 15 Months
Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
HP keyboard and HP optical mouse

$366AR - $466 out the door (before tax)

3/18/2008 4:43:43 AM

damn that's a SLICKDEAL

see what I did there?

3/18/2008 7:52:56 AM

^^ i bought that yesterday also
a fine deal :>

3/18/2008 7:54:39 AM

whatever you get make sure to install Folding@Home as a service!
message_topic.aspx?topic=118820

3/18/2008 9:18:05 AM

Quote :

"I just actually bought this tonight, would be perfect + 10,000 for your parents:"

just missed that deal.

would have been a hell of one too.

3/19/2008 8:11:10 AM

Neon's got a PC potentially for sale in this thread: message_topic.aspx?topic=519032

Maybe he'd do you a solid.

3/19/2008 8:14:12 AM

wow, I haven't seen frosh in tech talk in a good 2 years

3/19/2008 10:17:28 AM