Building a super cheap last-gen computer

I kinda wanna play more with Linux and the various distros (and try my hand at programming again!), so I want a really really cheap workstation that I can screw around with. And I kinda want something that's 32-bit.

I had an old computer set up, but the motherboard was faulty. It killed 3 hard drives already and would sometimes not boot, so I assumed it had bad capacitors.

Of course, I've taken a look at the build-a-PC thread already, and I did use it to build a system for a media center... but I wanna build one for even cheaper. Somewhere around $150, preferably.

Is there any way to get very cheap parts from last-gen?

ebay? craigslist? local computer shop?

If you have a local Fry's, they often have a cheap cpu+mobo combo for $50 or so after rebate (check Fry's ads). Then get a cheap case with PSU and some RAM and you're good to go (assuming the motherboard has onboard video).

(I was able to snag an AMD Athlon II X2 250 plus a Biostar motherboard for $50 a few months back)

www.pricewatch.com

or your local computer shows

they always have a older rig during the show for $99.

check the stickied build a pc thread. there are a couple in there that are only $200, i mean $150 i think youre looking at buying one second hand instead of building it. i dunno, hard to find parts that old/cheap.

edit: alright, slow day at work so i just build it. its $210 before shipping. i cant possibly imagine getting a computer for much cheaper right now. you could save some money if you have an extra hdd lying around or some ram. but i mean, this is bare bones last gen stuff here.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=12466925

[quote name='RAMSTORIA']check the stickied build a pc thread. there are a couple in there that are only $200, i mean $150 i think youre looking at buying one second hand instead of building it. i dunno, hard to find parts that old/cheap.[/QUOTE]
See, I want something ULTRA cheap.

$150 might even be too high, I want it as cheap as it can get. Maybe even sub $100.

The only reason I say I want to build it because I would have assurance that everything would be replaceable. I have a couple of older Dell Dimensions but the PSU / Case / Mobo are all proprietary and can't be easily replaced.

Local computer shows would be nice but I'm already paying like $20 to get in. =(

yeah, i dont think thats going to happen. maybe you can get a used pc off CL for cheap. but youre probably looking at a dell or something, which you already have.

even a computer show i dont think youre going to find something that cheap. but if youre just trying to use linux, one of your dells will probably suffice for now.

You can actually get a machine under that amount but it would require a lot of leg work with coupons, reward programs and store deals + heading to your local computer shows.

I mean my latest rig was $188 but I did a lot of clipping and running around (online and offline) to get my parts on the cheap.

There is no ONE STOP spot you can hit that will offer new parts @ $150.

gah. well it was worth a shot. =|

let me see if i can get one of the old dells running then...

everything i found on CL was a dell or gateway...

Some Dell and Gateway systems use standard parts. If you come across a cheap used system on CL, google the model number and look at the parts and images.

For $150 I'm sure you can easily find a Pentium 4 system.

I would go the cl route too. I've bought a few older pcs for my wife and kids and if you look hard and often enough, you'll find some killer deals.

I bought a HTPC from a builder who didn't want it any more for $125. It had Vista 32 bit Ultimate, a tv tuner, DVD burner, 160 gig hdd, Athlon X2 4400+ cpu, media center remote, 2 gigs of RAM and a 17" lcd monitor. I added 2 more gigs of ram, 500 gig HDD and a 1 gig HD4670 gpu for cheap. And now it's great.

I would also recommend an IBM Think Centre pc over a Dell, HP or Gateway. They are built like tanks and use quality parts. I bought a used one off of cl for $100. It had a 3 gig HT P4 cpu, 1 gig of ddr2 ram, 80 gig hdd, and a DVD burner. I added another gig of ram, 500 gig hdd and a GeForce 512 mb 7950GT that I had replaced from a gaming rig. Works great. It only has a 300w psu, but it outputs 17A from the single 12v rail. A pretty high quality psu, thus my gpu has no problems working (been over a year now). I can play plenty of newer games (Fallout 3, Dragon Age for example) on low - medium settings with this rig and older games (F.E.A.R., Doom 3 for example) on highest settings.