Advice needed

[nuahster]

Hi need some advice,

trying to help my old folks, they have a out of warranty HP envy20 d028d AIO desktop, the motherboard is spoilt due to a bios update gone wrong, tried all means of recovery but doesn't work, couldn't find any shop in SLS that could supply the same MB, so send in to HP service centre and the quote to replace new board is almost $400 including labour & taxes.

Now if I don't replace the MB the computer is as good as a huge paper weight, can't even reuse the inbuilt 20"screen as a monitor as it has no hdmi/dp/dvi/vga ports. The only parts that I can reuse is the i3 3220 cpu, a self upgraded ssd, WiFi/Bluetooth mini PCI card, and 16GB ddr3 sodimm ram which was a free upgrade back in 2012 during one of those IT/PC shows.

was looking at this Gigabyte GA-H77TN MB to reuse the parts with, seems to fit all requirement SFF + LGA1155 + sodimm ram slot. I tried asking around some shops in SLS, don't seem to have it. I can buy the MB off Amazon/Newegg, thou got to also factor in the warranty issue and additional stuff like getting a mini-ITX case + SFF cpu cooler, monitor + OS (don't think the HP OS can be reused).

My folks usage is only web surfing, video watching, MS office, Email. Tried to tell them to get laptop instead but their eye sight not too good, they still prefer a proper monitor with KB & Mouse to work with.

Now cant really decide whether to
1) buy a totally new PC for them, eyeing the Intel NUC series
2) reuse parts and try and build a new sys.
either option got to factor in additional cost of getting a new/used monitor and probably OS...and both will also most likely exceed $400 but at least can change parts and reuse the OS/monitor in future.
or
3) just pay HP the $400 problem solved. but if anything goes wrong again, I guess I'll be in the same dilemma.

what would you guys advice or suggest to do?

 

[localITguy]

Hi need some advice,

trying to help my old folks, they have a out of warranty HP envy20 d028d AIO desktop, the motherboard is spoilt due to a bios update gone wrong, tried all means of recovery but doesn't work, couldn't find any shop in SLS that could supply the same MB, so send in to HP service centre and the quote to replace new board is almost $400 including labour & taxes.

Now if I don't replace the MB the computer is as good as a huge paper weight, can't even reuse the inbuilt 20"screen as a monitor as it has no hdmi/dp/dvi/vga ports. The only parts that I can reuse is the i3 3220 cpu, a self upgraded ssd, WiFi/Bluetooth mini PCI card, and 16GB ddr3 sodimm ram which was a free upgrade back in 2012 during one of those IT/PC shows.

was looking at this Gigabyte GA-H77TN MB to reuse the parts with, seems to fit all requirement SFF + LGA1155 + sodimm ram slot. I tried asking around some shops in SLS, don't seem to have it. I can buy the MB off Amazon/Newegg, thou got to also factor in the warranty issue and additional stuff like getting a mini-ITX case + SFF cpu cooler, monitor + OS (don't think the HP OS can be reused).

My folks usage is only web surfing, video watching, MS office, Email. Tried to tell them to get laptop instead but their eye sight not too good, they still prefer a proper monitor with KB & Mouse to work with.

Now cant really decide whether to
1) buy a totally new PC for them, eyeing the Intel NUC series
2) reuse parts and try and build a new sys.
either option got to factor in additional cost of getting a new/used monitor and probably OS...and both will also most likely exceed $400 but at least can change parts and reuse the OS/monitor in future.
or
3) just pay HP the $400 problem solved. but if anything goes wrong again, I guess I'll be in the same dilemma.

what would you guys advice or suggest to do?

You should never pay HP, because its insane. $400 you could build a budget pc or a 2hand PC


You can pick up a used PC for sale at the IT Garage Sales section

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/cpu-ram-mainboard-bazaar-199/wts-inwin-bk-644-htpc-4994391.html this maybe? @LesterQ, if you got sale. i ask u for a 50$ fee. LOL ( nah, this is the best deal i could find)

or you can list out your budget and we can try to help you with a budget build

 

[nuahster]

yup exactly,.. cant bring myself in paying $400 ($385.2 to be exact) to HP for a 3yo com. That's why I cant decide if I should just build or buy a new one. However at the same time my parents are not heavy users, like its it worth it to spend more than $400 to buy or build a new sys if I don't need to?

Requirements is small form factor, like a mini ITX or Intel NUC series.
Parts I can reuse
i3 3220
16gb (2x8gb) ddr3 Kingston sodimm ram
256gb crucial mx100 ssd
Wifi/Bluetooth mini PCIe card
HP wireless KB + mouse
180W power brick from HP

Either way $400 is coming out of my pocket, so if I can DIY what can I build with that? got to include Monitor (20"-24") + OS (win8.1). I guess willing to top up $200 to make a total budget of $600 if needed.

You should never pay HP, because its insane. $400 you could build a budget pc or a 2hand PC

You can pick up a used PC for sale at the IT Garage Sales section

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/cpu-ram-mainboard-bazaar-199/wts-inwin-bk-644-htpc-4994391.html this maybe? @LesterQ, if you got sale. i ask u for a 50$ fee. LOL ( nah, this is the best deal i could find)

or you can list out your budget and we can try to help you with a budget build

 

[localITguy]

yup exactly,.. cant bring myself in paying $400 ($385.2 to be exact) to HP for a 3yo com. That's why I cant decide if I should just build or buy a new one. However at the same time my parents are not heavy users, like its it worth it to spend more than $400 to buy or build a new sys if I don't need to?

Requirements is small form factor, like a mini ITX or Intel NUC series.
Parts I can reuse
i3 3220
16gb (2x8gb) ddr3 Kingston sodimm ram
256gb crucial mx100 ssd
Wifi/Bluetooth mini PCIe card
HP wireless KB + mouse
180W power brick from HP

Either way $400 is coming out of my pocket, so if I can DIY what can I build with that? got to include Monitor (20"-24") + OS (win8.1). I guess willing to top up $200 to make a total budget of $600 if needed.

ITX Build is gonna cost you more. why not go with MAtx?

Please don't use back the junk from HP, you can re-use the processor its a good core i3 processor , WIFI PCI Card,SSD


You can pick up a 2nd hand mbo from the sales forum or just buy from the link i provided

 

[nuahster]

Yup I know itx will probably cost more.. But folks want a neat table with a SFF mini pc due to space constraints as well.. Hence they went for a AIO before.

thanks for the suggestions n link thou.. Either way It's hard trying to find a LGA1155 board that can accept sodimm ram too, hence options r quite limited to only specific MB. So just trying to weight out the pros n cons for the most logical n suitable thing to get for them.

IT show this wkend, I can look out for a monitor too.

ITX Build is gonna cost you more. why not go with MAtx?

Please don't use back the junk from HP, you can re-use the processor its a good core i3 processor , WIFI PCI Card,SSD


You can pick up a 2nd hand mbo from the sales forum or just buy from the link i provided

 

[Alternative X]

yup exactly,.. cant bring myself in paying $400 ($385.2 to be exact) to HP for a 3yo com. That's why I cant decide if I should just build or buy a new one. However at the same time my parents are not heavy users, like its it worth it to spend more than $400 to buy or build a new sys if I don't need to?

Requirements is small form factor, like a mini ITX or Intel NUC series.
Parts I can reuse
i3 3220
16gb (2x8gb) ddr3 Kingston sodimm ram
256gb crucial mx100 ssd
Wifi/Bluetooth mini PCIe card
HP wireless KB + mouse
180W power brick from HP

Either way $400 is coming out of my pocket, so if I can DIY what can I build with that? got to include Monitor (20"-24") + OS (win8.1). I guess willing to top up $200 to make a total budget of $600 if needed.

Since you have got SODIMMs left, get a NUC.

NUC: Gigabyte BRIX BXBT–2807 (199)
OS: Windows 8.1 (132)
Monitor: Dell S2340L (229) (PC Themes)

Total Cost: $560

Unless otherwise stated, buy at Laser Distributer, #05-58. DIY yourself. If you can't into DIY, bring parts to PC Care & Solutions, #02-32, and have Nigel assemble for you for a fee.

Notes:

1) Things to reuse into NUC: SODIMM, SSD, KB&M. The BXBT-2807 does come with a mPCI-E wifi card, but can keep the HP one as a spare. The BXBT-2807 comes with a 30W power brick, not sure if safe to use a 180W power brick with the BXBT-2807.

2) Can consider connecting NUC to TV using HDMI cable, use TV as monitor, save lots of $$$.

3) The Celeron N2807 is fast enough for internet surfing. You can spend more $$$ for a NUC with a more powerful CPU if you want to, but NUCs with a i3 mobile CPU will cost around $400+.

 

[nuahster]

thanks for the suggestions and detailed notes.. am checking out a few mini pc now. Intel nuc, gigabyte brix, asus vivopc, zotac zbox, some even comes with win8.1 w/bing. Price wise boils down to the type of processor, there are quite a no. of processor models to choose from, Celeron XXXX or quadcore celeron or i3 i5 4th/5th gen, rather confusing in what to choose.

in my folks case, besides email/video/web surfing, they use a lot of MS office, esp ppt with photos/video. coming from an i3 3220 paired with a ssd, they are very satisfied with the performance. I don't think their MS office usage is very CPU intensive anyway, but will there be any noticeable performance change going to a mobile processor?

Since you have got SODIMMs left, get a NUC.

NUC: Gigabyte BRIX BXBT–2807 (199)
OS: Windows 8.1 (132)
Monitor: Dell S2340L (229) (PC Themes)

Total Cost: $560

Unless otherwise stated, buy at Laser Distributer, #05-58. DIY yourself. If you can't into DIY, bring parts to PC Care & Solutions, #02-32, and have Nigel assemble for you for a fee.

Notes:

1) Things to reuse into NUC: SODIMM, SSD, KB&M. The BXBT-2807 does come with a mPCI-E wifi card, but can keep the HP one as a spare. The BXBT-2807 comes with a 30W power brick, not sure if safe to use a 180W power brick with the BXBT-2807.

2) Can consider connecting NUC to TV using HDMI cable, use TV as monitor, save lots of $$$.

3) The Celeron N2807 is fast enough for internet surfing. You can spend more $$$ for a NUC with a more powerful CPU if you want to, but NUCs with a i3 mobile CPU will cost around $400+.