I'm thinking of building the cheapest internet computer possible... what should I get?

Question

How much would it cost to build the absolute cheapest computer for internet and email? I'd just use open source software... but I don't know what computer parts to get and where (without having to pay a lot for shipping).

Answer 1

honestly you can get a cheap already made computer on ebay for a small fee.
listen here is a good link to a laptop that can get you connected via the net good specifications.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Gateway-Solo-2150-14-1024x768-TFT-Screeen_W0QQitemZ230110842454QQcategoryZ140081QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

here are other auctions for buy it now for laptops as well.
and bid auctions
these are low end laptops some could be higher as well but it can connect u to the net. make sure if u do buy a pc or laptop from ebay u read the feedback from the buyers as well.

Also make sure it says it has an ethernet card in it.
the link above has a dvd player in it but the batteries are dead it says but still its good for surfing the net for a reasonable price.
here are some more links etc.
just read it and look at the auctions. if u feel like buying from someone try dell like the other guy said too.
good luck
more links this is buy it now for other ones
http://listings.ebay.com/_W0QQsocmdZListingItemList?sofocus=so&sbrftog=1&catref=C3&from=R2&sbrbin=t&socmd=ListingItemList&satitle=&sacat=51148%26catref%3DC6%26curcat%3Dtrue&a14=-24&a26444=26554&a12=26562&a25710=-24&a26446=-24&a10244=-24&alist=a14%2Ca26092%2Ca26444%2Ca12%2Ca25710%2Ca26446%2Ca10244&pfmode=1&reqtype=2&gcs=1505&pfid=1811&pf_query=&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=78216&sascs=2&fasi=1&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&price=1&saprclo=&saprchi=150&fsop=3%26fsoo%3D2&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=
this is regular auctions for laptops so u might get it cheaper etc
http://listings.ebay.com/_W0QQa10244ZQ2d24QQa12Z26562QQa14ZQ2d24QQa25710ZQ2d24QQa26444Z26554QQa26446ZQ2d24QQalistZa14Q2ca26092Q2ca26444Q2ca12Q2ca25710Q2ca26446Q2ca10244QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfasiZ0QQfgtpZQQfromZR2QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQgcsZ1505QQpf_queryZQQpfidZ1811QQpfmodeZ1QQpriceZ1QQreqtypeZ2QQsacatZQ2d100QQsaprchiZ150QQsaprcloZQQsascsZ1QQsatitleZQQsbrbinZtQQsocmdZListingItemList

once again I recommend u read the auctions, read the feedback. thanks I learn to buy from ebay and have been buying for awhile. I never got scammed thank goodness and matter of fact I only buy from a seller who is fair, dont put high price for shipping and the buyers and other sellers give good feedback. even if they have some negative feedback i recommend giving the seller a try. also once again there is dell.com

i brought a laptop for about 100 dollars.
I got a 800 mhz laptop with 256 ram a ethernet card, build in speakers good battery and a charger and cd rom.
perfect
or if u want a desktop pc u can get one with shipping and everything for cheap. i will provide a link and u see what u like off ebay.
For the desktop pcs it will have a buy it now option as well or bid.
I do buy it now often because its better.
make sure u have ebay account though.
and you should buy only from sellers that are trust worthy.

Answer 2

ok the fact of the matter is that i think you could get a computer on dell.com or emachines.com for around 300-350$. i'm not sure it gets much cheaper than that. the website i will now give you has for 200$ a computer that has some ram, a descent processor, but need a video card. this can be bought for 50$or less. the website is: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2952603&CatId=332
i actually am looking to sell a computer i have had for less than half a year. this computer is very good since i use it not only for internet but also to play games. i could sell it to you for 250-300$ depending on where you live. this is your best bet for a cheap yet good computer. the computer i could sell you would be vista capable, and id a dell(a super reliable brand) but if not for the same price you could also configure your own it would just be a little worst. you should probably go on www.tigerdirect.com
buy :
1. MachSpeed MSNV-939 Socket 939 Barebone Kit / AMD Athlon 64 3500+ OEM / 512MB DDR PC3200 / CPU Fan / ATX Mid-Tower Case with a 450 Watt Power Supply
2. NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 / 128MB DDR / PCI / VGA / TV Out / Low Profile / Video Card
this would end up 250$, plus shipping about 300$. the computer i would sell would be better and windows vista capable, as i'm not sure this one is.

Answer 3

if you're bound and determined to build it try the website below. fry's has all the necessary parts for building a computer. my guess is you could do it for around $400 not including monitor. i look into this once and that's about the figure i came up with.
but many other people here are right. you can get a complete system already built for not much more used on ebay or through local companies that specialize in just this thing.
basic list of parts:
tower case
mother board
processor(s)
ram
sound card
video card
ethernet card
hard drive
disk drives
peripherals
power supply
cooler fan
firewire/usb cards

some mother boards come complete with everything. all you have to add is the processor and ram.

check the website below or go to fry's if you have one in your area. hope this helps.

Answer 4

Cheapest Internet PC is a non gaming machine to do Email, Surfing, music, and light video. A Celeron class PC will do nicely running XP or 2000. Linux would be a great way to reduce your cost unstead of going with Windows. It's free and it's chopped full of software and games including a fully compatible Office Suite.

Answer 5

hi person, i'm a working laptop or workstation tech, and that i purely outfitted a working laptop or workstation at my keep for around 500 and that is totally quickly and is working living house windows 7 living house perm 64bit the main costly products that u will would desire to purchase is going to be your troublesome force and your possessor different than which you would be able to build a superb workstation with purely a final diagnosis mobo and expertise furnish i desire to advise a 500 w skill furnish through fact u would have the means to do alot with 500w additionally for mobos i might advise going with like msi or asus. (they have large tech help if mandatory) and are realy good motherboards. you will get ram for sort of 50$ and dvd drives run approximately 25-30$ a superb card reader is approximately 20$

Answer 6

You should get the address of Best Buy or Dell. You can't build a computer for cheaper than one of the $300 clearance models.

Answer 7

Athlon 64 processor, 1 gb of ram, and some crap or mediocre video card. The radeon x1650xt is an awesome price to performance card at $100. Newegg has the best prices on all parts, period. and obviously you'll need a motherboard, power supply, and something to put it in.

Answer 8

As a start, I would look for specials and clearance sales on some of the Barebones Kits from Tigerdirect.com. Some real good deals at times.

And of course, some distro of 'nix is a must (but you already knew that)

Good luck.

Answer 9

Don't go new. Look around for a used one. For what you want to do, someone might even give you a computer. If you take an old computer, add a stick of RAM, load Linux you will be good to go. Good luck.

Answer 10

Best idea is probably to buy an old used computer.
Try on your local CraigsList site (craigslist.org) or eBay or similar.

Then install a Linux distribution made for older computers. Like VectorLinux. Or if you are familiar with Linux you can get any distro and just trim it to your requirements.