Building / buying a low-end PC.

[Spartan]

All,

I need a low end PC to run DOS MAME in a cabinet I plan to build. I'm thinking in the neighborhood of a 233MMX processor with 48-64MB RAM, a 2 GB hard drive, and some sort of cheap sound card. No modem, NIC, CD-ROM, or extras like that are required. I recently bought a 20" VGA monitor, so I'm squared away there as well.

After doing a little homework, it seems like the best choice would be to buy a used/refurb from somewhere. This is based purely on prices. I don't want to spend more than $150. Under $100 would be ideal!

If you had to make this choice, what would you do? Assume that you have no parts from old PCs to cannibalize -- so if you built, you would have to do so from scratch.

Ideas?

[marcusbateman]

You can pick up low spec motherboards and processors really cheap from online auctions.

Try www.ebay.com (http://www.ebay.com)

You could get a Cyrix for next to nothing

[Mike311]

Try e-mailing some companies in your area. I throw stuff like that away all of the time. The MMX might be a little tough because most companies did not buy mmx back then. They have to buy it now. I often regret throwing good computers away that do not come up to spec but they are hard to get rid of. If you can get a hold of the right people, you can get a lot for free because the paperwork to sell a computer can be horrible.

Ted

[bhess]

check out http://www.compgeeks.com/
They seem to have changed their site. Check back often. They usually have barebones systems for 100-150 $

[Spartan]

Thanks for the replies, unfortunately I've been down most of those avenues already.

While on ebay, I've found a refurb outfit locally which sells what I'm looking for -- except not right at the moment. They're the ones I bought that 20" monitor from. Nice thing about that is that I saved shipping.

I talked to the folks at my company -- but they don't want to part with any old PC's because of political reasons. If I get one, then the next guy will want one, etc. Also, they may be able to get more $$$ if they donate them and write them off.

Compgeeks is interesting. I priced some things out there earlier, but I think shipping might put it over the top.

I really hope my local refurb outlet gets some new stock. Here's a shameless plug for them: CompRenew (http://www.comprenew.com) . They have auctions on all of the major auction houses.