really cheap machine

im doing a build just for use as a web surfing computer, maybe some light word processing. so, i want the cheapest computer possible (w/ parts only from newegg). all the parts have to be new, so that rules out sites like ebay.

i took the ratings of the items into consideration, too.

i already have a monitor, a case, and an operating system (linux, of course :cool)

here are the items:

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144102
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138038
Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814241057
CD Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827134013
Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182001
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609084
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103197

does anyone have any suggestions to lower the price even more?

this computer might also be used to stream video from a host computer over a wireless network. would this computer be able to do that, or would a more powerful processor or graphics card be needed?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128045

that mobo already has video built in, tho i would probably up your system ram to make up for it....i would think about upping your ram to 1gb either way, just to be safe

also keep an eye out for new computers at some big box stores (best buy, circuit city, etc)that sell for less than $300. might get all you need without having to put it together

 

thanks for the suggestion!

revised so far:

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144102
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128045
CD Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827134013
Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182001
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146580
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103197

total price so far: $183.87 (incl. shipping)

suggestions welcome!

 

Well I can't save you any money, in fact, I want you to spend more
A CD reader is a bit limiting IMO, and I think you should up it to a DVD or preferably a DVDRW to make it far more versatile machine. A combo DVD/CDRW shouldn't cost much more than a CD reader

 

well other than loading the linux operating system, i wouldn't really be using the cd drive much at all, the main purpose of this computer would be to surf the web and to stream media from my main computer

 

i was just wondering, doesn't a cd drive and a hard drive running on the same IDE channel make the system unstable? i heard somewhere that it does. (since the mobo only has one IDE connector...)

 

More and more 'distros' come on DVD nowadays, and according to the site you posted, we're taking an extra $15 for a DVDRW - well worth it IMO.

And using the same IDE channel will cause no problems. This machine I threw together recently, I've also set up like that because I didn't have a SATA HD spare, and I've seen lots of older PC's set up like that too, even with a spare IDE channel to use.

As long as you remember to set the master/slave jumpers to their correct positions, you shouldn't have any problems

 

well i wouldn't really need a DVD drive IMO b/c i wouldn't be using it for watching DVDs (i would be streaming the video and other media from my other computer) and i would be installing the CD version of ubuntu linux 64-bit edition. i can't really see it being used for hard core gaming either (which would require a DVD drive for installing the games).

 

This hard drive is a couple of bucks more, but would be a lot faster, and as it is SATA, would free you up if you needed to add a DVD drive or other IDE drive in the future. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136225

I would be afraid of that power supply. I know you are going for a budget machine, but $11 for one? I would wait and save for something a little better. I have used a few similar to this in 'web browsing' PC's, had pretty good luck with them. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023


E :cool

 

You heard (somewhat) correctly.

Your IDE devices on the same channel can only run as fast as the slowest device in the chain. That and data cannot be sent/receivied at the same time.

 

well okay i am planning to make a lego computer case (i saw some online and wondered if i could do it) and these are the computer parts i would stuff it with

the CD/DVD drive is not an issue anymore, i found a spare cd-rw drive in my closet (i will probably not include the CD drive in my final lego case design anyways, it takes up too much room)

i replaced the IDE hdd w/ the SATA hdd (IDE cables if not rounded are HUGE)

i kept the psu, this computer will be on probably only 5-6 hrs a day anyways, and the psu got good reviews

revised list so far:

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136225

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128045

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182001

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146580

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103197

 

Hell, I got nothing to add - just wanted subscribed to this one to see how it ends!
Thrash them Legos! I want a picture of that case, inside and out!

 

well sorry port-o-san but i might not even be building it until march, i just started this thread to see how cheap i could build it.

fear not though, once i get it finished i will post lots of pictures