Building a Computer for Grandma

[GummyBear]

I am about to purchase the parts for my grandmothers computer and I was wondering if could get some approval. I am not really looking to change anything (unless you know of a better component for cheaper or equal price) and I am mostly seeking approval. Just kind of want people other than me to check for mistakes. Thank you in advance for the help. 

 

Here is the PCPartPicker List: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/GJ4Zbv

[Muz]

Looks fine, you could save a lot of money buy getting Windows 10 off G2A or Reddit.

[Sir Asvald]

I am about to purchase the parts for my grandmothers computer and I was wondering if could get some approval. I am not really looking to change anything (unless you know of a better component for cheaper or equal price) and I am mostly seeking approval. Just kind of want people other than me to check for mistakes. Thank you in advance for the help. 

 

Here is the PCPartPicker List: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/P2wmMp

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.88 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($62.89 @ OutletPC) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($38.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Kingston HyperX Fury 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($56.90 @ Mac Mall) 

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($40.00 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $288.65

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-19 10:48 EDT-0400

[themaniac]

I am about to purchase the parts for my grandmothers computer and I was wondering if could get some approval. I am not really looking to change anything (unless you know of a better component for cheaper or equal price) and I am mostly seeking approval. Just kind of want people other than me to check for mistakes. Thank you in advance for the help. 

 

Here is the PCPartPicker List: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/P2wmMp

you dont need that i5, an i5 4460 will be fine and get a better psu, this is the build doing that PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.99 @ NCIX US) 

Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($38.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: A-Data Premier Pro SP600 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($47.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($50.99 @ NCIX US) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($38.99 @ Newegg) 

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($21.98 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($89.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $570.89

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-19 10:47 EDT-0400

[Zenedge]

it seems okay, but i feel like the i5 is an overkill. a pentium or i3 would probably be good enough for your grandma

[themaniac]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.88 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($62.89 @ OutletPC) 

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($38.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Kingston HyperX Fury 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($56.90 @ Mac Mall) 

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($40.00 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $288.65

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-19 10:48 EDT-0400

 

do not get the psu

[jimakos234]

i dont think your grandma needs an i5 tho.....

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($175.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($66.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($37.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($44.73 @ B&H)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($50.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer  ($16.59 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit)  ($86.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $559.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-19 10:49 EDT-0400

[GummyBear]

Looks fine, you could save a lot of money buy getting Windows 10 off G2A or Reddit.

The OS I am not really worried about, I already have a copy of windows that I plan on using. That is mostly just there for a place holder, but thanks for the help anyways.

[Sir Asvald]

do not get the psu

She's isn't going to OC. 500w+ is pointless and overkill. 

[GummyBear]

it seems okay, but i feel like the i5 is an overkill. a pentium or i3 would probably be good enough for your grandma

The thing is she is pretty tech savy and she is partly running a business so she needs a nice computer.

[themaniac]

She's isn't going to OC. 500w+ is pointless and overkill. 

doesn't change that that psu is going to die easily and could easily take the system with it, @STRMfrmXMN and @Aniallation will agree with me

[GummyBear]

doesn't change that that psu is going to die easily and could easily take the system with it, @STRMfrmXMN and @Aniallation will agree with me

Okay thanks because I was kind of worried about the PSU from the begining but the reviews said otherwise. Do you have any suggestions?

[themaniac]

Okay thanks because I was kind of worried about the PSU from the begining but the reviews said otherwise. Do you have any suggestions?

the one i put in my build will be just fine

[STRMfrmXMN]

She's isn't going to OC. 500w+ is pointless and overkill. 

It's got nothing to do with wattage. It's the fact that the EVGA 80+ series is terrible...

[person99]

What programs are going to be run on this computer? Can't really say either way if I don't know that. 

[Aniallation]

She's isn't going to OC. 500w+ is pointless and overkill. 

As others have pointed out, quality over quantity. 

[NumLock21]

Since your grandma runs a business, we don't need if there are any softwares or settings that needs pro such as connecting to a domain. If pro is not needed, then she can go with windows 10 home.

comparison: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10_editions

Went with a hybrid drive so she has the space of a hdd and the speed of a ssd. Core i3 for 2 cores and 4 threads. I'm guessing she will be doing word processing most of the time, so the extra threads on the core i3, is good enough for her needs.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($112.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI CSM-H87M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($68.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Blue 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($41.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate  1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive  ($69.49 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer  ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM (64-bit)  ($138.79 @ OutletPC)
Total: $508.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-09-19 13:39 EDT-0400

[jimakos234]

Okay thanks because I was kind of worried about the PSU from the begining but the reviews said otherwise. Do you have any suggestions?

get the xfx from my build, gold rated psu, made by seasonic. Quality and quiet cheap