For a normal PC

[Spikes]

How does this look?
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=24662127

I have never used the new APUs and I was wondering how good they are. This PC will be used for nothing more than surfing and email. 8GB is probably a little overkill, but RAM is so cheap these days, I figured why not. Anything I can do cheaper for the same performance?
Already have HDD. I used this power supply in another build and it has done well.

[Bizman]

This PC will be used for nothing more than surfing and email.

Save the $99 and install a Linux. You don't have to know anything about using Linux for that purpose, just click the icon and go. Even I can do that, being merely Windows oriented.

[gyrene81]

yeah but you have to deal with buggy kernels and patches. and figuring out what flavor of linux has the most stable history and plugins to make it work anywhere on the net, turns into a migraine. but if you have patience and don't mind some operational drawbacks, you don't need high end hardware to get the job done.

you probably could have gone with a smaller case Spikes. good setup for a web surfing email reader...could even stream videos on it.

[Spikes]

I thought about Linux, but this computer is for an older crowd afaik...I think linux might just cause issues that I am not familiar with and will be harder to trouble shoot.

I checked out MicroATX cases but couldn't find that many that I liked (in particular, bottom mount psu). Would it be worth getting one with the PSU included by chance? I know the included ones are usually junk, but I don't need a whole hell of a lot.

[Bizman]

For just surfing and e-mailing I recommend my customers to get the cheapest one they can find. ATM the cheapest desktops here are branded by Acer and Compaq, have 4 gigs of RAM and some 500'ish hard disk, cost about €350 including 23% VAT. Also, our consumer protecting laws extend the manufacturer's liability to 2 years, so that would be the minimal time they'd last. Given that elderly people might not use their computers every day, their lifespan could be well over five years which is an eternity for a computer. I can't get the components for those prices, not to mention the OEM Windows which costs about 20 instead of 99 for the big manufacturers.

One considerable thing is, that with a ready built one you don't have to worry about the quality and warranty of each single component. And, if you're running a business, you don't have to check for free whether the rig should be sent to warranty repair or not.

[gyrene81]

yikes  micro and mini atx cases with the bottom mount power supplies are expensive!!!

what about this apex case?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154085

[Spikes]

That is what I was saying gyrene. I like that case...many say the fan is extremely loud...I may get a couple of better 60mm fans for it if I went with this case. Personally size of the case doesn't really matter much. Their current one is just on a desk in the open. I just those the MicroATX mobo since it is smaller. An ATX mid tower would do, would be icing on the cake if I could find one with a power supply...now that I think about it, I have a 400w laying around here I got with a case a while back. I suppose that would work.

the case on there currently was nice because it was a black interior with a bottom mount PSU for the same price (39.99).

I thought about just buying one from Dell or something, but I figured I could get better quality parts out of one I build myself, plus I wouldn't have to go through Dell if something went wrong.

[gyrene81]

ya Spikes, i looked at the interior layouts. tried to imagine that tiny board inside each one and i couldn't see where things lined up properly in the bitfenix case.

i'd be surprised if that system pulled 250watts at max load...a 400 watt power supply is more than enough.

[Spikes]

ya Spikes, i looked at the interior layouts. tried to imagine that tiny board inside each one and i couldn't see where things lined up properly in the bitfenix case.

i'd be surprised if that system pulled 250watts at max load...a 400 watt power supply is more than enough.

Motherboard Compatibility
    Micro ATX / ATX / ITX

For that case.

I will look around for a smaller PSU.

[guncrasher]

if that's all you want it for, just go to your local bestbuy or such store.  they have computers at about that price with a monitor, keyboard and mouse included.  and you wont have to put it together yourself and you might get a faster cpu.


semp

[gyrene81]

nah Spikes, if you already have a working power supply that exceeds what is needed, use it. no need to spend more money if you don't have to. hell, if you have an older sata or ide drive, use it too.

[Spikes]

That sounds good...I was going to use an older HDD...sata 5400rpm. IT'll be good enough.

In the mean time, time to shop for a new mobo/cpu/ram combo since my mobo pooped the bed.