Author Topic: Building A Computer - Inexpensive  (Read 3173 times)

Betazep

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Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« on: April 19, 2014, 09:18:55 PM »
My 13 year old wants to build a computer. I have been spending too much money lately.  Is there a way to build a computer very very cheaply?  I always buy instead of build these days.  So I don't have a great deal of experience where to get parts inexpensively.  I only know about Fry's electronics near me.

I am thinking at most $300... and that includes monitor, keyboard, mouse, case, MB, PS, processor, memory, fans, and peripherals. 

Is this even possible these days?

I told him that I think you can do a pretty good job being cheaper by building a really good system.  Like if you were to buy one for $5000, you could build it for $2,500.  But when it gets to lower end models, the corporations can build them and sell them for cheaper than you can make them.  Is this true?  I think it is.
"The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents." -Nathaniel Borenstein

KnuckleBuckett

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2014, 10:16:04 PM »
Well...

What is this PC to be used as?  Internet and MS Word?  Gaming?  What kind of games?  I would say just about every single kid in the gaming clan has built there own from about 11 years old up.

In my opinion $300 is way too low for all that.  If you can't afford it fine.  Wait until you or he can.  FWIW the kids often earn their own funds to build a PC.  I personally like to see this.  It creates ownership.  It isn't a toy to be treated like crap.  They earned the cash needed, worked out the parts list with my help, built it, installed the OS, and finished out all the drivers and apps.  Killer.  Now they are fully responsible and capable of caring for it, upgrading it, and helping others in their lives with such matters. 

I have seen kids and parents work together in these matters as well.  Kid earns $600 the parent matches it. 

Building it is easy until you hit an issue.  Bad motherboard, pin pushed back in a connector, etc.  But you know.  In all these years, they have always figured it out.  Amazing.  Heck they have figured out issues that had me scratching my head.  Awesome!

That said a good build with OS keyboard, mouse, and monitor is not cheap.  Also, yes, building your own is significantly less expensive.  Typically you can double the cost for finished version.  Oh and even then, you have to know your stuff because those places love to slip in a couple BS parts to save $$.  I really hate that.

KnuckleBuckett

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2014, 11:01:07 PM »
Best guess at a low cost gaming machine would be $700-ish for the machine, then tack on OS, keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

If you want the parts let me know.  Now or whenever.

We can always work it out on Skype, Mumble or such.


Perspective

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2014, 09:25:58 AM »
Maybe check Craig's list for some "broken" machines and try to assemble something from the parts?

KnuckleBuckett

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2014, 10:27:59 AM »
I have seen it done.  Annnnd I have done this.

I purchased a video card and Win 7 this way.  Both IMO were a tad dicey but they did work out okay.  To this day I think the graphics card was probably hot.  It most certainly was not new as advertised.

It requires knowledge, trust, luck and patience.

The real question is how do you know part X is actually functional.  Patio bricks are one thing a video card is another.

What is the kiddo's earning potential?  I have and am always amazed at the work kids found to build their computer. 
EDIT:  This is usually a fairly slow process, but my favorite by far.

If you are patient you can wait to purchase parts when on sale.  Sales happen every day.  This includes sending in rebates and watching shipping costs.

My last build I saved about 30% doing just that.  Took about 3 months to get all the parts.

BensBargains dot net is awesome for this sort of endeavor.

What is the primary use for the machine?


KnuckleBuckett

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2014, 11:54:01 AM »
Rough costing and such.
Case: $39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146076
Case be sure it has openings for at least four 120mm fans.  Fans are about $5 each.
Rear fan exhausts the case.
Top fan rear  exhausts the case.
Front two intake.
Best case for the money.  Aluminum so it is light, ideal quantity and placement of 120mm fan ports, comes in white and black, button quality is the best I have encountered, perfectly designed to attach Swiffers as intake filters, acceptable but not great cable management, looks great, and again cheap.  Oh and did I mention bigfoots like them.

Power Supply:  $69
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139050
Best brand out there.
It is often up for a coupon code knocking the price down to $50.
500 Watt and modular to help with cable management

Mobo:  $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157370
A good solid motherboard.  Note does not have onboard WiFi.
It is often up for a coupon code knocking the price down to $90.

Memory:  $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313344
If you watch you can get the same spec for up to $20 cheaper.
Be sure to get 8GB in two sticks.
Four is too little these days and two sticks allows for upgrades if necessary (it won't be).

CPU:  Intel Core i3 to Core i5, 1150 Haswell, $124 to $189
This can always be upgraded, but a core i5 is a great long term answer.

Video:  $150 -$200
Example:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150702
Example 2:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487028
Sounds like a lot, however you have to remember that this card is a GPU, mobo, memory set, and cooler all in one.  Also if gaming it does significantly more than the CPU.

The rest is up to the user...
Case fans
Optical Drive
Storage - HDD or SSD (I still like a 1TB HDD)
Monitor (it is wise to be sure it is a 1920 x 1080) any size is fine
Keyboard is a personal choice
Mouse is a personal choice (be sure it has forward and back buttons)

This should get you a solid build that has several years of useful life.  As it ages you can always update the graphics card.

If you connect to the router via WiFi dongles usually suck.
Consider this...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131979
Amazing connectivity.  Best I have found to date.

Betazep

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2014, 02:50:43 PM »
He wants a gaming machine. I think the best thing to do is just get started. Buy a case. Then let him figure out what goes in it. I can help him along the way. And I will shoot over questions in this thread as we go along.
"The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents." -Nathaniel Borenstein

Betazep

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2014, 02:52:08 PM »
Oh and thanks for everything. This is great.
"The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents." -Nathaniel Borenstein

KnuckleBuckett

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Re: Building A Computer - Inexpensive
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2014, 08:50:26 PM »
Purchase the video card last.  Before you purchase parts other than the case give me a yell and I can look them over.