Basic Budget Build for Mom

Hardware Build a PC
1

Budget is 600 dollars, here's some basic info on what she uses it for:

-iTunes
-Paying bills
-Web browsing

Essentially, her old PC is kinda crapping out and she wants a new one. Budget must include a monitor (preferably ips with speakers), a wifi adapter, and the smallest case that can fit this mobo (she's used to having an all in one PC with no tower so she wants something with a smaller footprint) :

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/msDwrH/asus-motherboard-m5a78lmusb3

As far as storage maybe just a slightly larger SSD for fast booting and general use since she is used to an old HDD.

That's all I can think of right now, thanks in advance for any help.

2

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/nM6HNN
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/nM6HNN/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400T 2.2GHz Quad-Core OEM/Tray Processor ($153.82 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($18.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI H110I PRO AC Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($85.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($29.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($154.84 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case ($84.99 @ Directron)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $571.51
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-03 16:40 EDT-0400

I think you'd be perfectly fine with a mini itx option seeing how this is more for a web browsing mother rather than a 4k gamer. A low power CPU in this case an i5 to keep things speedy without topping the electricity. 500gb SSD for all the things a good ssd is for, 500gb should be enough for even a modest gamer. one stick of 8gb RAM for the expand ability of needing more for some reason in the future. and no GPU as it would break the budget putting anything reasonable in there lol

3

Could probably go with a build with a Pentium G4400 or i3 6100 to save her wallet and have better Integrated Graphics and cost less.

Edit: Here is one with the Pentium G4400 + Intel HD 520: http://pcpartpicker.com/list/3KGCyf

I am going with this one combined with the R7 360 I have sitting there for my parent's build (This one jas the Pentium G3258, but I am trying to choose between that, the A10 7870/7890K and Athlon X4 870K/880K).:
http://pcpartpicker.com/list/8mRWXH

1 Like
4

Maybe use an amd fm2+ part since she won't be requiring the extra horsepower from a graphics card

5

This might be an interesting alternative.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
CPU | AMD A10-7890K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor | $148.99 @ Amazon
CPU Cooler | Gelid Solutions CC-Siberian-01 51.9 CFM CPU Cooler | $9.88 @ OutletPC
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard | $94.99 @ NCIX US
Memory | G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory | $35.98 @ Newegg
Storage | A-Data Premier SP550 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $34.99 @ NCIX US
Storage | Toshiba 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive | $42.49 @ OutletPC
Case | Inwin BP671.FH200B Mini ITX Tower Case w/200W Power Supply | $65.98 @ Newegg
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total | $433.30
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-03 16:42 EDT-0400 |

Not sure about the case but it's a real small formfactor, sort of looks like they type of small case PC you might buy at a big box store. Maybe a better more mainstream case would be better.

2 Likes
6

I mean I'm not the final say, OP is. Feel free to give your parts list, this is just my two cents.

7

True I was more thinking along the lines of may as well get an apu since free pci slots on a mini itx board may be needed for a wifi adapter / pci ssd / usb 3 pcie etc and afaik apu gpu components tend to be better than integrated on board gpu's

1 Like
8

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD Athlon X4 845 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($67.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock A68M-ITX Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($63.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($41.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.99 @ Adorama)
Video Card: XFX Radeon R7 360 2GB Core Edition Video Card ($76.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone SG05BB-LITE Mini ITX Desktop Case ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Silverstone 300W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply ($48.49 @ SuperBiiz)
Monitor: Dell U2414H 23.8" 60Hz Monitor ($222.35 @ B&H)
Total: $626.78
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-03 17:01 EDT-0400

The GPU is a placeholder for the RX 460 that should be released in a few weeks and cost about the same.

Oh, speakers are not included but the display is worth it. .... Come on, speakers are cheap.

9

Well now I feel dumb, I forgot to mention that I have an AMD FX 4350 already so there's no need for a CPU

10

You won't be able to build a really small system around an m-ATX board.
And I don't know of an m-ITX AM3+ board.

11

Best Buy has some good monitor deals for the 4th.
Last week Walmart had HP 27" 1080 monitors for 179 with speakers

12

noted, I'll look into other options for mobos

13

IMHO, just toss that thing in the garbage.

The money you save on a CPU, you will end up spending on a GPU. Plus that thing is slow with absolutely no hope of future proofing.