Budget build for father's PC.

[paul02]

Ok. Just ordered everything. Probably my last DIY ever. Haha changing rams and ssd on laptops can't be considered DIY.

Hey learn something new and have fun while at it!

 

[MultiSystemAtrophy]

Hey learn something new and have fun while at it!

yeah just for fun. And want to show my kids what a computer is. Or else inside a phone or laptop, they really cannot understand. Basic technical knowledge is underemphasised in our current society.

 

[Project_Xco]

Lol lazada.

I was waiting for the "sales" last night.

the A300 pre-sales price was $308. Now it's $308.
The A3000G was $79, now its $78+ lol

Wah save $1. hahaha.

I wanted to get a power extension cable. Yesterday $19.90. Today Lazada sale $24.90.

 

[MultiSystemAtrophy]

Wah save $1. hahaha.

I wanted to get a power extension cable. Yesterday $19.90. Today Lazada sale $24.90.

Hahaha lazada cmi lah.

 

[MultiSystemAtrophy]

In a twist to the story.

I realised that actually my dad's PC is not as chui as i thought it was.
I thought it was my e6300 2 core CPU + a GB mobo.

But actually it's an intel i5-3450 + GB B75M-3DV (micro atx board) + 8gb DDR3 PC1333mhz. Which is still old no doubt, but actually it's not as chui as i thought. I must have changed the whole thing when my previous e6300 motherboard died.

Now i have to find a use for it. Cos no one will want to buy this anyway. But unfortunately this is LGA1155 socket which is outdated, and there is no way to get a m-itx mobo for it.

And wow, somehow during the reinstallation of windows along the way, my dad is using 32-bit windows 7. That means his win7 only recognise 4gb memory.
I've been using a wireless-N USB adaptor wifi for him in the room, as i was really busy in the last years and had no time to get a pci-e wifi card. Wah i checked it's speed last night, just 20mbps.

Was considering to send it for donation after i refreshed it. but seems like even computer donations doesn't want to receive PCs.
Maybe change it to a cheap micro-atx case so that i get more usb-3 ports, get a pci-e wifi card and add an old ssd (and junk my really old Lian Li case). But dunno what to do with it after that. Lol...

 

[MultiSystemAtrophy]

Haha only blame myself for being too hasty, instead of just upgrading my dad's pc.
I only go over once a week.

 

[MultiSystemAtrophy]

Ok build completed.

Deskmini A300 (Local)
- AMD 3200G (Local)
- 2 x 8gb Sodimm Crucial DDR4 3200mhz (amazon USA)
- WD Blue 500gb NVME (amazon USA)
- AX200 Wifi (bundled with deskmini)

Links below. I couldn't find a cheaper or better buy relative to these locally or the options offered via amazon SG. Ironically a 1gb SiliconPower NVME that i ordered via amazon SG is still not here yet though the amazon USA stuff forwarded by ezbuy i received on monday.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YFF3JCN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q6PJVTX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The A3200G u need to remove the fan shroud of the stock cooler to fit. It will then just squeeze in just nice without the shroud. Prying the shroud away took about 2 pry tools and a couple of mins of jimmying.

I had an incredibly difficult time trying to screw in the screw into the washer to hold down the M2 Wifi card. It took me >20mins. I struggled. Tried different screws and just couldnt figure out why my screw cannot enter. I thought the manufacturer inserted the wrong washer or left out the correct screw in the screws package. I even tried other small screws i had.
Finally in frustration i poked the washer on the circuit board and felt there's something inside the internal washer. I broke it and it was the same kinda transparent silicone that's used to cover nibs of new pens. ABC XYZ!!!! I couldnt see it cos my living room lighting isnt super bright. And it's really invisible.

After that the last major obstacle is trying to squeeze in the internals into the case.
There is a 2 x USB 2.0 header panel that goes to the side of the unit, the USB panel cable is really thick and hinders u pushing it. It will get caught very easily between the sliding in.

It took another 15 mins trying to push in the thing, hooking the USB 2.0 cable around the heatsinks and pure luck with the cable not being caught while sliding in the whole internals on a tray. Not an experience i want to repeat.
Without installing the usb 2.0 header panel, it would be a much simpler experience. But u lose 2 USB ports. There's only 3 usb ports if u don't use the header panel.

 

[Project_Xco]

Very nice. Does it boot up fast?

 

[Slowdown]

You may want to set the fan speed to silent in the bios. I find stock cooler fan to be too loud inside this casing. As it is small it is located on top of the table and I can clear the fan noise. Setting to silent does not seemed to lose any performance.

With regards to the usb adaptor I mastered one trick. You can take one ear stick (those long metal type) and put the stick through one of the air vent holes from the side of the casing and lift the usb cable as high as you can. It will allow the MB to slide in quite effortlessly. Any long and thin stick that is thin enough to go through those air vent hole should work.

Ok build completed.

Deskmini A300 (Local)
- AMD 3200G (Local)
- 2 x 8gb Sodimm Crucial DDR4 3200mhz (amazon USA)
- WD Blue 500gb NVME (amazon USA)
- AX200 Wifi (bundled with deskmini)

Links below. I couldn't find a cheaper or better buy relative to these locally or the options offered via amazon SG. Ironically a 1gb SiliconPower NVME that i ordered via amazon SG is still not here yet though the amazon USA stuff forwarded by ezbuy i received on monday.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YFF3JCN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q6PJVTX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The A3200G u need to remove the fan shroud of the stock cooler to fit. It will then just squeeze in just nice without the shroud. Prying the shroud away took about 2 pry tools and a couple of mins of jimmying.

I had an incredibly difficult time trying to screw in the screw into the washer to hold down the M2 Wifi card. It took me >20mins. I struggled. Tried different screws and just couldnt figure out why my screw cannot enter. I thought the manufacturer inserted the wrong washer or left out the correct screw in the screws package. I even tried other small screws i had.
Finally in frustration i poked the washer on the circuit board and felt there's something inside the internal washer. I broke it and it was the same kinda transparent silicone that's used to cover nibs of new pens. ABC XYZ!!!! I couldnt see it cos my living room lighting isnt super bright. And it's really invisible.

After that the last major obstacle is trying to squeeze in the internals into the case.
There is a 2 x USB 2.0 header panel that goes to the side of the unit, the USB panel cable is really thick and hinders u pushing it. It will get caught very easily between the sliding in.

It took another 15 mins trying to push in the thing, hooking the USB 2.0 cable around the heatsinks and pure luck with the cable not being caught while sliding in the whole internals on a tray. Not an experience i want to repeat.
Without installing the usb 2.0 header panel, it would be a much simpler experience. But u lose 2 USB ports. There's only 3 usb ports if u don't use the header panel.