She needs a new desktop computer. My only requirement is that it's as fast as my 5 year old Athlon 3200+ w/ 1 gb ram, which I'm sure would be a given no matter what I use. I'd love to build her one of those "miniature" desktop boxes (micro ATX?) that i'm seeing in some electronics stores. Already have a monitor. She doesn't need a video card. Can this be done reliably for $200 - $250? Or should I just get her a docking station for her netbook?

If the older parts were readily available, I'm sure you could do it for that price. The problem is actually finding these parts, and not having to pay much for them (or shipping). Most are discontinued.

I was trying to do similar lately, but couldn't get my hands on the part I wanted. Namely decent RAM at an affordable price. Old ram sells for more than recent ones because its so scarce.

I just gave away something roughly that good, where were you that day? lol

The cheapest you're going to get a micro PC with a monitor is going to be $300+

Theres a decent deal on dell for a micro + 22" screen for ~$450

edit: word fail.

Whats the concensus on these things?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103228

Are they anything more than a netbook packaged into a small container minus a keyboard and screen?

I've heard that the cheap Acer products are good, if all you want to do is surf the internet. Anything else (even watching movies as they don't have dvd drives) and you'll need a better computer.

Of course, portable dvd players are only like 50 bucks these days too.

I think you're thinking of Mini-ITX

Any nettop (like the Acer you mentioned) will only be marginally better than her current netbook so there would really be no point to it.

Anyways

Mobo - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121381


Proc - $53
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116265

Case + PSU - $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147137
The PSU might be a little weak so here's another alternative
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147131 ($40)

2GB RAM - $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226087
(I can't believe it's this expensive ... look for deals on RAM or something cuz half a year ago you could get 4GB for this price)

320GB HDD - $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098

Totals to $259 or 264 with the alt case (doesn't have Windows so if you need that you will need to add on at least $30 if you don't have a way to get it for free)

If you really feel like you need to add an optical drive, add another $20-30 for any such drive.

Btw tho, there are a lot of deals (like mid to high 200s) on prebuilt computers that provide comparable performance

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1721175

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1720481

I'd look into the barebones systems too

This is what I'll probably do. Tough to beat that.

(plus emachines rule)

Good lord, those computers are faster/better than the one I paid 1500 for back in 2001.

Srsly?

Every emachine I've touched was a peice of ****, mobo's failed

I would still advocate the mini-itx build I suggested

eMachines are terrible, always have been.

I was being sarcastic.

On a more realistic note, are they really all that much worse than any other prebuilt PC?

Go to a local school, ask to buy one of their outdated systems (Mine nearly always has at least 4 that are being moved out, and they work) Buy a hard drive (They probably won't let you take those) and upgrade as neccesary.
I have more RAM then god and piles of other spare parts thanks to helping at my school.

To all you guys suggesting I pick up an outdated computer from a school or pick one up free from some dude on the internet:

have you ever had a girlfriend?




Anyway, I've decided not to get her a computer for Christmas, I've got a better idea...

Thanks for the help though.

Well then, could go for a netbook. The newer ones around 250$ are around the same power of that machine, not graphics wise of course.
E: Im idiot, she already has one.