I'm interested in someone building me the cheapest computer they can that will run windows XP, not crash everyday, able to use wireless internet, and have a CD burner. I don't need a monitor or keyboard or mouse or speakers. Just a tower.

I didn't know if someone here knew how to do it cheaper than $300 for a Dell or something open box from a big electronics store.

9/3/2005 6:08:09 PM

buy a dell.....no one can beat a 300 dell computer.

9/3/2005 6:19:37 PM

you could do it for free by scavenging parts.

9/3/2005 6:20:40 PM

well scavenging has been a thought, but I don't know if I could put it together. Last time I built a computer it has 4 megs or RAM and that was HOT.

that's why I thought I'd ask here

9/3/2005 6:22:34 PM

For that range of uses, I think a Dell is probably your best bet.

9/3/2005 8:11:53 PM

shoot you can build a $200 that will run OS X, why not one for XP?

see: http://www.osx86project.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=2


[Edited on September 3, 2005 at 8:18 PM. Reason : .]

9/3/2005 8:17:14 PM

Wouldn't someone doing it for you incur an extra charge you didn't want to pay?

9/3/2005 8:59:20 PM

The Dells come with a monitor and a free printer for $300. You cant even touch that building it yourself.

9/3/2005 9:17:32 PM

^^ true, but you never know. Someone might have an old turd sittin around that'll do the job for dirt cheap. Or they might have parts layin around that they'd be willing to put together for $150 or something.

My girlfriend is running an OLD ASS aptiva with a CD-ROM drive and Windows 98. The thing freezes, won't shut down right, is loaded with spyware and shit and won't run half of anything that she needs/wants. I'm tired of trying to play the IT guy when I don't know hardly anything about computers since DOS went out of style.

my broke ass is trying to find her something better on my nothing budget cause she can't get one from her parents for her birthday on monday.

9/3/2005 10:08:20 PM

hahaah i had an aptiva


http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=D24VB1&s=dhs


buy the floppy drive + usb A/B printer cable from somewhere else for less. they arent 40 and 25 respectively, its just how they make money.


(it has a cd-w)


come to 430 w/ shipping and tax though.

[Edited on September 3, 2005 at 11:00 PM. Reason : - ]

9/3/2005 10:55:32 PM

Quote :

"The Dells come with a monitor and a free printer for $300. You cant even touch that building it yourself."

i've never seen that before, the best i've seen are the servers that aren't upgradable for $299

9/3/2005 11:48:07 PM

well then click the link i posted.

9/3/2005 11:48:40 PM

Quote :

" 3.5 in Floppy Drive [add $40 or $2/month4] Great Add On!"

omg, they charge $40 for a floppy drive... there is no justifying that.

9/4/2005 2:13:51 AM

ok well get that cheap ass dell and get the floppy drive on tww

i've gotten like 5 from here before for like a total of 10 bucks(some free some i bought with a 10 dollar case)

9/4/2005 3:03:01 AM

well I appreciate the help, gonna just get her a new one form Circuit City

lemme know if this is worth it

Emachines T6410

lite-on DVD burner
512 dual channel RAM
Athlon 64 3200+ chip

basic...but is the better chip and the Drive worth $500?

[Edited on September 4, 2005 at 5:19 PM. Reason : .]

9/4/2005 5:18:43 PM

uhhhh...well youve got a proc thats great for gaming..

you dont need a 200 dollar 3200+ less youre gonna be doing gaming. also youd need a video card. and if youre a multitasker youd wanna go with a p4

its not such a great deal

i hate it when people buy computer power they dont need

the dell will hold up much better then that piece^.

the ram isnt an issue. adding a stick of 256 will cost you 15 bucks or some shit like that.



[Edited on September 4, 2005 at 6:35 PM. Reason : -]

9/4/2005 6:31:44 PM

well what do you mean by processor they don't need?

I found out that I can get an Emachine with a better processor. If I stepped down to a computer with a Celeron, I don't get the DVD Burn Drive. But it's only $350, which consider shipping from Dell, it's cheaper.

If she doesn't get a DVD-RW, I don't think it's the end of the world.

9/4/2005 11:03:17 PM

Quote :

"the cheapest computer they can that will run windows XP, not crash everyday, able to use wireless internet, and have a CD burner."

you dont need an athlop XP 3200+ to do that

a celeron 2.66 will do that just fine. youre paying for power you wont use.

9/4/2005 11:10:51 PM

and if I were to get the cheaper celeron computer, how much do you suppose I could get a DVD burner for?

9/4/2005 11:18:42 PM

40 dollars

9/5/2005 12:12:31 AM

actually since that onewaypc guy is in raleigh you can avoid shipping...so check them out too

9/5/2005 3:21:46 AM

BUY A FUCKING DELL. LISTEN TO WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU.

EMACHINES DESKTOPS ARE SHIT.

BUY A 300 DOLLAR DELL.

9/5/2005 3:27:10 PM

I've got an old computer I don't need that I made from salvaged parts. It's pretty decent. I think it runs a 1.8 gig celeron with 512 SDRAM. It just has a cd drive though, not a burner. But I'll sell it you to cheap. If you're interested, let me know. No wireless card either, but again, I'd sell it to you cheap as hell, so you could just buy that stuff and put it in and you'll still be under 300. If you're intersted PM me.


[Edited on September 5, 2005 at 3:36 PM. Reason : ey]

9/5/2005 3:34:17 PM

some people dont like dell, but they are the BEST by far.

their shit doesnt break bc they use good quality parts, and their support is the best.

[Edited on September 5, 2005 at 3:34 PM. Reason : 0]

9/5/2005 3:34:35 PM