Computer upgrade question/dilemna -- Help please

[techiecool]

Hi all,

I need some advice from the experts. I have an 3 - 4 year old server box just sitting in my room. My younger sister who is in High School needs her own computer (wants it really). so the current set up is as such:

- Intel Server Board S875WP1-E (on board video but no DVI)
- Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz HT (i believe)
- WD Caviar 120G HD
- Antec Case w/ PS
- CD Drive

That's all that's in there. So she just bought a Samsung LCD in anticipation of a new computer. I figure the old computer needs/could use:

- Ram (maybe 2G of DDR400)
- new Graphic card
- probably a DVD drive as well
- maybe new SATA HD to replace the old one
- Should I just find a MB/CPU deal at Frys and upgrade that too?

The other option is to have her get a laptop. she really doesn't need the mobile computing yet. She will in a few years (2-3) in college, but I was thinking what the heck just wait.

So good idea to upgrade? Advice as to what to buy/replace and what to keep? Product recommendations?

Questions:
_______________
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mainly Homework, surfing, IM, etc. Not a power user or gamer at all.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Depends on what should be reused. The less the better as this is a temporary machine. If it gets over $300 then might consider the laptop route.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
No preference.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Not sure...please read above...as that is the reason i am posting.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
I have but a server board makes it too different.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within the next week or two.

 

[DSF]

If all she does is surf the net and IM, any laptop you buy now will be fine for quite a while. She also wouldn't need 2GB of RAM, and DDR isn't as cheap as DDR2.

Edit: Just reread and remembered that she bought a new monitor. Rather than throw more money into an old PC, I'd give it to her as-is with a DVD drive and see if it meets her needs. If not, I'd look into a rebuild rather than trying to upgrade the old one piecemeal.

 

[Rockhound1]

If all she is going to do is surf the Web, e-mail, IM, and homework, then what you have is sufficient. Plus, she already bought a monitor for it, so stick with the desktop. Don't waste your money buying a laptop at this time. By the time she needs a laptop for college in a couple of years, you will be able to get a lot more laptop for the same money you would spend today.

For the operating system, go with WindowsXP. This is a better choice than Vista given your current parts. You can pick up a copy of WindowsXP Pro for about $90 (academic upgrade version).

Since you do not list any memory in the description of the current specs, then I would suggest 1 GB of DDR400. WindowsXP runs really well on 1 GB. More memory would be a waste since she is not gaming.

Since she will not be gaming, there is no need to get her a video card. The integrated video should be plenty good for surfing, IM, e-mail, etc.

The 120 GB hard drive should be plenty, unless she is going to be downloading a lot of music and pictures. Then I would suggest going with something a little larger like a 500 GB drive.

While the CD player would probably serve her well, you might go ahead and swap in a DVD drive instead. That way she could watch a DVD movie if she were so inclined. And, if you are going to do this, then you might as well make it a DVD burner. A DVD burner is only about $5 more than a plain DVD drive (when considering shipping costs). Look at Newegg for a DVD burner that is on sale with free shipping. They usually run from $23 to $27.

In all, you will probably spend less than $200 getting your sister up and running. This rig should be more than enough for her. Good Luck

:beer:

 

[Roguestar]

I say get a laptop now. What needs will the average college student have in two years' time that won't be fulfilled by today's laptops? Hell, average Joe User has been browsing the same Fox News website, his MySpace page, and occasionally running some downloads for the last three years. The only thing that has changed is that we use the flash plugin more. Get the laptop now and it'll do everything she'll need in college; microsoft office, internet exploder, windows media player. I bet my hat that these things will still be the main use in two years' time.

 

[techiecool]

thanks for the replies. she got the monitor for Costco so she could return it. and she got it last week. so no worries there.

I do actually have an extra copy of XP already that she can use. so at minimum I would need RAM and DVD burner. I guess I can spend less than $150 and get it going. But the dilemma mentioned here is valid. If we put the $150 towards a $700 laptop you're ahead. but then again 2 years from now that same laptop should be cheaper too...so that's something i'm still debating.

 

[OverVolt]

Laptop would suit her needs fine IMO.

Even though she doesn't "need" the mobility, if you have a laptop im sure she'll like watching DVD's or whatever if you ever take a plane/bus trip/vacation etc.

I would imagine that she will get a couple virus' on there Keep that in mind lol. My sister is pretty terrible about that. If you build a box from scratch, don't use a huge hulking case that will have to be moved around every year in the dorms. Use an mATX case/mobo or something, but that would easily break your $300 budget, so IMO you might be better off just going the prebuilt/laptop route.

No matter what Antec case you have, we are talking about an awkward 18-20lbs. If you want to carry it up a couple flights of stairs twice a year or whatever, then more power to you

 

[Roguestar]

^ I have the P182 and while it's a fantastic case, it's not one for throwing in the car to carry to LAN parties or stuff like that, it's a heavy ah heck!

 

[JDMnAR1]

Personally, I wouldn't even consider investing $300 in upgrading your current system, as you can get this for $219 at the Dell outlet and have a warranty.

If you want to rehab your current parts to get it up and running on the cheap, you should be able to accomplish that for substantially less than $300. Since she doesn't game, she won't need a high-end video card (and can actually get by with on-board more than likely). Check Hot Deals - Fry has been having some decent deals on DDR400 RAM lately, and DVD drives are cheap too.


Edit:
RAM link