A basic computer for Internet browsing and more
By Mathieu • Jul 28th, 2008 • Category: Computer SystemsFor other computer systems, see: Computer Systems
Introduction: A reader contacted me and asked me the following:
“If possible can you do a feature on trying to make the cheapest computer thats capable of the basic stuff such as word processing, powerpoint, web browsing, and capable of playing any video file and if possible make it below a hundred dollars. Any operating system would do like Ubuntu if it would lessen the cost. If it’s too impossible then it’s okay. Thanks again! :-)”
As I told him, it’s impossible to build a computer, using new parts, for less than one hundred dollar. You would be better off buying an used one, find it in a flee market or try Ebay. To which he replied:
“I guess the cheapest functional computer would do. I’m interested as to what kind of computer i could get for a grandma or in my case parents who only need the basic things.”
So we settled on building a computer with absolutely the lowest possible cost, while maintaining quality and functionability.
This computer is designed for browsing Internet, do some word-processing, watch videos, listen to music and other basic applications. When I designed it, I tried to reduce the cost to the absolute minimum, while keeping the quality of the parts at a reasonable level. I would not recommend to buy a part if I know that it’s not reliable.
So, let’s move on with my recommendations for what hardware parts you should buy to answer your needs. These are the parts that I believe that will answer your needs, for a basic computer.
For each part of this system, I will tell you my recommendation, the reason for it and give you a link to buy the item for your conveniance. Of course, I’m open to suggestions, comments, questions so please post them.
Cpu: Intel Celeron 222: At 1.20Ghz, single-core, 533Mhz fsb and with 512KB of cache, and 19W of power comsumption. Supports MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, Intel 64 (Intel’s x86-64 implementation) and XD bit technologies. Included with the motherboard, this cpu will allow you to browse the web, watch videos, listen to music, do some word-processing, powerpoint and more basic usages. It draws very little power too, so you don’t need noisy cooling and you’ll save money on your electricity bill!
Video card: SiS Mirage1 Graphics. You will be using the integrated video chipset that comes with the motherboard. Supports a resolution up to 1280×1024.
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Motherboard: With the SiS 662 chipset, this motherboard comes with the cpu, video output, 2 USB 2.0 connections, a LAN connection and 2 channels audio output. Produced by Intel, this comes with a 3 years warranty. Of course, the price helps, as $64.99 for the cpu, motherboard, video and audio output is very cheap!
Detailed specs
Buy the Intel BOXD201GLY2A Intel Celeron 220 Micro ATX Motherboard/CPU Combo for only $64.99
Ram(Memory): A 512MB of DDR2 533 memory stick, running in single channel. Enough memory for browsing the web, do word-processing, watch videos and more. $9.99 for a stick of ram, simply incredible.
Detailed specs
Buy the WINTEC AMPO 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Desktop Memory for only $9.99
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Hard Drive: A Western Digital 80GB Hard Drive. SATA connection and 7200 rpm. As cheap as possible, while still quick and reliable.
Click here to buy the Western Digital Caviar SE 80GB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive for only $37.99
Click here to buy the Western Digital Caviar SE 80GB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive for only $37.99
Dvd Reader: An Asus 16X DVD/48X CD Reader, to watch and listen to all your movies and music . Silent, reliable and cost-effective.
Detailed specs
Buy the ASUS Black IDE 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A for only $13.99
Case: Here’s my suggestion to what case to use. I understand that you might have your preference though, so feel free to skip my recommendation and pick your own case. I would suggest to pay attention to the power supply if you choose your own case however. My recommendation is a nice mid-tower computer case from Athenatech, that comes with a 400W power supply, a 80mm fan and a side air duct included for additional cooling , which is what you need to keep your computer cool and reliable. Comes with 2 USB 2.0 connections and front audio. It has 4 external bays for Dvd-Burner, CD-Rom and hard drives and 5 hard drive bays in the inside. It’s a clean, plain design, which is appropriate for your parents and grand-parents. At this price, this case is an excellent deal.
Detailed specs
Buy the Athenatech A412WW.400 Beige Computer Case for only $37.99
Power Supply: You will be using the included Athenatech 400 Watts power supply that comes with your case.
Sound Card: You’ll be using the included onboard sound of the motherboard. It’s good enough to plug two speakers in or use a pair of ear/headphones. You can also plug in a microphone.
Cooling:
Heatsink: You will be using the Intel heatsink enclosed with your cpu.
Thermal Compound: You will use the Intel thermal compound enclosed with your cpu heatsink.
Case fan: You’ll be using the 80mm fan included with your case.
Screen: Although I don’t include the screen in the budget, as the price is only for the computer itself and you may already have a screen, I recommend to you that you get a used CRT screen, from a yard sale, a family member or anyone that could be giving a screen away to you. You can also look for a used parts electronic shop in your area, many will be selling used CRT screens for very low prices. I’ve found a CRT screen recently and I’ve bought one for $10 in the past.
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Keyboard and Mouse: Once again, you can get a keyboard and a mouse for very cheap, if not free, used, coming from a friend, a relative or a yard sell. If you rather buy brand new, you get a keyboard and a mouse from Logitech for only $12.99.
Detailed specs
Buy the Logitech Black Deluxe 250 Desktop for only $12.99
Operating system: For the Operating system, I recommend that if you have a copy of Windows NT, 2000 or XP lying around, go ahead and install it. Otherwise, I would recommend going with Linux, as it’s free and it will be fine for your needs. If you don’t want Linux, want to stick to Windows and don’t have a copy, I would then recommend Windows Xp Pro SP3, as it is a mature OS, especially with the SP3. The OS is not included in the budget, as you may already own it or go with Linux, but here’s a link if you need it Windows Xp SP3.
Detailed specs
Buy Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 English CD for only 139.99$
Total price, for the computer only: $164.95, taxes not included, as they vary depending on where you live. Yes, that is not a mistake, the total price for that computer is $164.95
Ratings -On a scale of 10- :
Gaming : N/A You will not be able to play any games on this computer, except for the ones that are browser based, or very old games with low system requirements.
Office : 2/10 This system is based on a slow single core processor; it will run any applications rather slowly, limited to web browsing, listening to music, word-processing and other basic tasks. Which is what we want anyway.
Overclocking : N/A This system is simply not overclockable, nor is it designed to be.
Power consumption : 10/10 This system uses a 19W cpu, one stick of ram, an hard drive and a motherboard. That’s it. It will consumes a very low ammount of electricity.
Value for the money: 10/10 I wish I could put 11 there. Imagine, a computer that’s built with brand new parts, that allows you to browse the web, listen to music, watch a movie or more, all that for a incredibly low price of $164.95! I mean, this is cheaper than any system from any company that I know of. Cheaper than the so called “budget computers”.
Conclusion: There it is, your basic computer that can be used to browse the web, listen to music and more, for the lowest price possible. Of course, this is not a powerhouse, but it’s enough to run basic things, while consuming very little power. Oh yeah, let me repeat the price again: $164.95! Just wow.
Well, what do you think of this system? I invite to comment on it, give me your opinion. Would there be any part that you change in it? If yes, which one and why?
Mathieu is a young man, who's passionate about everything related to computers. He enjoys overclocking, water-cooling, modding and getting the most performance from any computer. He's the man to ask if you have any hardware related question!Email this author | All posts by Mathieu | Receive all his posts via RSS
I prefer a Pentium Dual 1G, 500G, with 250 $
I recently was placed with the problem of getting my mom a new computer. I went to a local computer repair store and picked up a refurbished (used) P3 with win2k pre-installed (licensed legally) for $87.
@Zeeol: I couldn’t live without a laptop and my water-cooled powerful desktop. But some people just want the absolute basic, with low power consumption, for the lowest price possible.
It’s a bit buying a Nissan 350Z vs a Honda Civic I guess. Sure, the 350Z is more powerful, but more expensive too. A lot of people are happy with just an Honda Civic, which consumes less petrol too.
@Jon: Of course, you can get excellent used computers for an excellent price! That’s a really good deal that you’ve got there, although I’m not a big fan of win2k, but that’s me hahaha.
I use this same MB in my car, car-puter, works great. I think you could increase your game playing ability if you were to add a PCI video card to the open PCI slot. Also you could upgrade the Office score if you were to use web based software such as google’s spreadsheet and word proccessor.
This is pretty much the system I built for my daughter with the addition that she wants to run iTunes for her iPod.
I put together a beast of a machine for $330 including shipping. 4x more powerful than this little guy for barely double the price. Still not a gaming machine by any means, I use it as a backup server for my customers. Athlon64 2.4GHz X2, 2GB of RAM, 500GB SATA3 HD. Not bad at all for $300! And yes, it runs Linux.
This is more of a Civic Si — very expandable and pretty fast The computer spec’d on this page is more like Kia Rio…
For $18, I’ve multiplied the power of this machine by thousands.
See here:
http://i35.tinypic.com/2duyyqc.jpg
Now, we have a 2.3Ghz Dual Core 64-Bit AMD Processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a CD/DVD burner - and I didn’t even research the hard drive.
A 1.2Ghz processor wouldn’t be feasible nowadays anyway, I fear, even for the most basic of users.