Here's what I'd go for:
CPU: Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
LGA 775 is dead. Better go for a cheap, yet fast (very fast), AMD AM3 CPU here.
I've seen this puppy get up to ~3.8Ghz (on air) without breaking a sweat.
Motherboard: Newegg.com - ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards
785G is the way to go here. Somewhat future-proof thanks to AM3 socket. On-board Radeon HD 4200 should be more than enough for non-gaming tasks.
RAM: Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Desktop Memory
HDD: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Blue WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Western Digital, 320GB, 16 MB Cache. Rock solid.
PSU: Newegg.com - Thermaltake TR2 W0070RUC 430W ATX12V V2.2 Intel Core i7 Compliant Dual 80mm Fans Full Cable Sleevings Power Supply - Power Supplies
This PSU will get the job done. I've seen it run Quad core systems with no issues whatsoever.
LCD Monitor: Newegg.com - Acer P235Hbmid Black 23" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 50000:1(ACM) Built-in Speakers - LCD Monitors
Very nice choice =).
Optical: Newegg.com - Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - CD / DVD Burners
Case: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
Keyboard / Mouse: Newegg.com - Logitech 967973-0403 Black 104 Normal Keys PS/2 Standard Deluxe 250 Desktop - Keyboards
Speakers: Newegg.com - Cyber Acoustics CA3550RB 68 watts 2.1 Black Speakers - Speakers
OS: Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Full - Operating Systems
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TOTAL: $835.39
~$65 bucks to spare. Maybe go for a better case?, bigger/better HDD?, more/better RAM?, bigger/better PSU?, bigger LCD Monitor?, etc...
Last edited by SlackerITGuy; 20 Dec 2009 at 02:03.
Here's one I just built. It uses a Core 2 Quad and DDR3 memory and is pretty inexpensive. It turned out REALLY good. I would recommend all these parts. It should last a while too.
I don't see any reason to use Windows 7 64-bit on a machine like this. Based on her needs, I doubt she would benefit at all from 64-bit. More than likely, she would run into a hardware driver or such which wouldn't be compatible long before she suffered a performance problem from sticking with 32-bit.
Thank you for all the suggestions so far.
Good point about the 64-bit OS, but what I am afraid of is that within three to four years, 64-bit software would be the standard and 32-bit ones will be obsolete.
Besides, the current build offers the option of expanding the memory to 4 GB, which a 32-bit OS would be limiting this hardware potential.
Adding a stick of memory is perhaps the easiest and most economical way to upgrade, and I factored that in when I put the system together.
I think the fear of this happening in 3 to 4 years time is unwarranted. I can understand your choice and likely she won't have any hardware which doesn't support it so it likely won't be a big deal anytime soon. Of course, within 3-4 years we would also have a new version of Windows. With so many people simply sticking to Windows XP..I don't see the whole world jumping full bore to 64-bit for quite a long time yet.
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