Basic Low Budget System for Mom & Dad

[SpazBoy357]

Trying to come up with something to compete with the Internet specials for my parents.

It really doesn't have to do much (Web surfing, blog posting, photo storage, Facebook, etc.), but I'd like to try and keep it relatively current.

Here's my first crack, tell me where I can make better choices in the same price range, please.

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 Sandy Bridge LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I32100
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078)
MoBo: GIGABYTE GA-H61M-D2P-B3 LGA 1155 Intel H61 Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128482)

RAM: G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231396)

HDD: WD Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" - Bare Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073)

Optical Drive: LITE-ON DVD Burner - Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 – OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289)

PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D 430W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 80 PLUS BRONZE Active PFC
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066)

[zanzabar]

your better off with an amd apu setup.

that HDD is crap get a samsung f3 or f4 they are cheaper per GB and much better than a WD blue

and change the psu to the cheap corsair antec low end is garbage now
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

[erikmorgan]

your better off with an amd apu setup.

Microcenter is a great way to go with a low $$ AMD setup... there website says there is one in Long Island.

http://www.microcenter.com/specials/promotions/AMDbundlePROMO.html

when you bundle you save a bunch. I do it all the time for customers builds. always works out great.

[SpazBoy357]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

1) PSU looks good, did not know that Antec had let the low end stuff slip off so badly.
2) SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185) instead of Caviar Blue
3) As for AMD, I am completely an Intel guy. Nothing against AMD, just never found the need to go there before. Are these good options?

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache HDX840WFGMBOX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103921)

MoBo: GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-S2P AM3+ AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128504)

4) Yes, there is a Microcenter in LI, but they used up all of my good will several years ago. I have several cases from them that I caught on special (Antec 300's for $40 each), but I won't buy anything from them that can go bad.

[zanzabar]

thats an am3 not an apu, the apu has a gpu on the cpu die and its socket fm1, u could do am3 but the fm1 is quicker and lower wattage with a much faster IGP so it will do things like HTML5/flash acceleration better and it can even play games so it will last for a long time. when u pick a MB its also a good idea on low noise small systems to get a MB with a heatsink on the PWM it helps keep the wattage down and since that is a spot with low air flow to start with its a nice safety feature is some1 say never cleans their computer out.

so u need on of thees cpus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=socket+fm1

and i would go with one of thees MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128511
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138330

there is also this combo pack
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.687729

[SpazBoy357]

Thanks for all the advice. That combo looks good and I'm sure I can find somebody that wants Dirt 3.