[Pc_Support] Suggestions for a $200 barebones? Also, modem recommendations (winders)?

[Jason Boxman]

On Saturday 21 January 2006 22:14, Damien McKenna wrote:
> My father-in-law has asked me to build a $200 barebones system for him.
> He doesn't need to include a copy of Windows in the deal, but it does
> need a case, motherboard, CPU and RAM, which will go with his existing
> drives.  Right now I'm thinking of a simple Socket754/Sempron64 system
> as they seem really cheap.  This is to replace a K6-333 that has driver
> problems (old Via chipset) and really doesn't get used much, hence the
> low investment and low specs.
>
> On NewEgg they have nForce 430 / Geforce 6150 boards for $80, or 6100
> series for $60, then throw a CPU, cheapo case and a stick of RAM in
> there and its about $200.  Any other suggestions?

Last one I did was a Biostar based Socket 754 system with a Sempron 2800+ 
64-bit CPU on Bryan's advice.  The board was around $40 and the chip around 
$60 I think.  1GB of RAM set me back another $80 or so.  The PSU was a 
CoolMax which I've had good success with so far ($40) -- one of their 120mm 
fan models.  Forgetting a case and a possible CD/DVD-RW ($40) and USB/floppy 
($?) I think you're over $200 with shipping.  (I forgot about the HSF fan, 
too, although I think I got a retail CPU which included one...)

> Also he needs a good modem to go with it, so probably a good PCI card -
> what's good these days, I've not bought one in five years?

I'd get an external if you can still find those and systems still have serial 
ports. ;)

-- 

Jason Boxman
http://edseek.com/ - Linux and FOSS stuff