[LiveBrianD]

Here's what I came up with:
SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-222AB - OEM -$20
Linkworld 313-06-C2228 Black/ Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $25
Athena Power CA-1015CR30 Red / Black MicroATX Desktop / MicroATX Slim Computer Case 300W Power Supply - $49 (note: I didn't use the PSU from it because many people said it failed very quickly)
Seagate Barracuda ST3250312AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $37 (hey, a cheap pc isn't a cheap pc without a crappy unreliable seagate)
GIGABYTE GA-M68MT-S2P AM3 NVIDIA GeForce 7025/nForce 630a chipset Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $50 (it wasn't much more than a generic Zotac)
LOGISYS Computer PS350MA 350W Micro ATX Power Supply - $19 (it's generic of course, but at least it doesn't fail super quickly)
Mushkin Enhanced 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 20-146-744 - $20 (just a tad more than the ones I've never heard of like Team, but on the other hand OEMs always use generic crap)
AMD Sempron 140 Sargas 2.7GHz Socket AM3 45W Single-Core Processor SDX140HBGQBOX - $38 (nice and slow)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM - $90 (of course)


Subtotal: $347.91


What do you guys think? Is it generic and cheap enough or could I have done better?

[SnyperTodd]

I lol'd at your calling the Sempron 140 a "nice and slow" processor. I'm using one in my HTPC that handles 1080P video smooth as silk with the HD4200 IGP. It'll unlock to an X2 440 or OC easily to over 4GHz. It's a badass little processor to be called nice and slow.

[LiveBrianD]

SnyperTodd, on 13 June 2011 - 06:48 PM, said:

I lol'd at your calling the Sempron 140 a "nice and slow" processor. I'm using one in my HTPC that handles 1080P video smooth as silk with the HD4200 IGP. It'll unlock to an X2 440 or OC easily to over 4GHz. It's a badass little processor to be called nice and slow.

It was one of the cheapest things I could find on newegg.

And hey, my old Pentium 4 with geforce 6200 graphics could play 1080p video smooth. That card is from 2004, CPU from 2003. Still, even an i3 can kick it's ass pretty dang hard.

[waldojim]

For something else to consider...
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811154091 (mini ITX case with PSU) $39.99
http://www.newegg.co...6-006-_-Product AMD E350 board and chip - $110.

EDIT: new total is $335.9

This post has been edited by waldojim: 14 June 2011 - 07:54 AM

[LiveBrianD]

waldojim, on 14 June 2011 - 07:52 AM, said:

For something else to consider...
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811154091 (mini ITX case with PSU) $39.99
http://www.newegg.co...6-006-_-Product AMD E350 board and chip - $110.

EDIT: new total is $335.9

Ahh, nice and generic. Is the E350 faster than the Sempron? After all, it is dual-core.

With those parts, this rig might actually not make it over 5 years of moderate usage. Just the way OEMs do it.

[waldojim]

LiveBrianD, on 14 June 2011 - 09:19 AM, said:

waldojim, on 14 June 2011 - 07:52 AM, said:

For something else to consider...
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811154091 (mini ITX case with PSU) $39.99
http://www.newegg.co...6-006-_-Product AMD E350 board and chip - $110.

EDIT: new total is $335.9

Ahh, nice and generic. Is the E350 faster than the Sempron? After all, it is dual-core.

With those parts, this rig might actually not make it over 5 years of moderate usage. Just the way OEMs do it.

I don't know... the video card is faster though.
EDIT: For what it is worth, the Sempron does at least have a chance at being unlocked...
The motherboard I linked to should do ok, they are a lesser known company in the states, but from what I hear, they are quality parts. Very simplistic, but quality.

Still, you asked for cheap, and that shaves off a few bucks.

This post has been edited by waldojim: 14 June 2011 - 09:38 AM

[LiveBrianD]

waldojim, on 14 June 2011 - 09:37 AM, said:

Still, you asked for cheap, and that shaves off a few bucks.

Cheap and crappy actually...


Hey, I know. What's the cheapest possible rig you can make on newegg.com? I don't care if the RAM has terrible ratings and is known to fail 2 minutes after you first boot the machine or if the power supply will die in a day and kill the motherboard, I am looking at CHEAP and cheap only. Also, I'm including Windows. What can you think of that's under $300? That leaves $200 for parts.

I came up with:
Sony Optiarc CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model AD-7260S-0B - OEM - $19.99 (cheapest they have - it has free shipping that's why I chose it)
Seagate Barracuda ST3250312AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive -
$36.99 (who cares if a more reliable WD cost $2 bucks more?)
Rendition by Crucial 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model RM12864AA667 - $14.99 (yes the mobo uses DDR2, though it has a max of 2GB, 2x1GB, so we've got upgrade room)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM - $89.99 (of course)
BIOSTAR Viotech 3100+ VIA C7-D 1.6GHz VIA NanoBGA2 VIA CN896 Micro ATX Motherboard/CPU Combo - $59.99 (a CPU you've never heard of PLUS mobo PLUS graphics!)
APEX DM-317-A Black/ Silver Steel Micro ATX Media Center / Slim HTPC Computer Case w/ ATX12V Flex 275W Power Supply - $39.99 (case plus PSU)


Subtotal: $261.94


Nice and cheap, parts you've never heard of, a nice cheap PSU that's prone to failure, a HD from a company that makes crap, a nice and small amount of RAM from an old standard, a CPU that you've never heard of, and of course the OS (good luck running 64-bit windows with 1GB RAM! ).

This post has been edited by LiveBrianD: 14 June 2011 - 10:03 AM