Help choosing components for a basic PC

[raum]

Good afternoon.

I need some help choosing components to build/buy a (basically) basic PC. I've searched a lot and in forums mostly advice is given for gaming PCs; well in my case I'm looking for the opposite. Let me explain:

The computer is for my parents.

Their use will be exclusively: Web. Email, image storage, maybe skype and streaming (ace stream)

I will monitor it via team viewer from my house.

It will be connected via ethernet cable.

It will lack a monitor and will be plugged into a TV without 1080 (720), although there is a possibility that they will change the TV in the medium term, via HDMI.

Almost certainly it will have Windows 10 although I will try some Linux distro such as elementary or Linux mint.

I'm looking for something of a size that doesn't stand out too much in a living room, like a barebone micro atx or mini itx. But always considering the criterion of economy the cheaper the better.

My idea is to use the integrated graphics which I think will handle a maximum resolution of 1080 well.
Therefore I would need a case, a motherboard, a micro, memory (4 Gb I think would be enough), a hard drive (maximum 1 Tb) and a power supply (300 or 400 W I think would be more than enough for this project).

I propose to you as a challenge (and by the way help myself) a configuration of that style as cheap as possible and that will perform with ease the tasks it must perform.

I'm sorry if I was a bit cold in explaining what I need, but I wanted my idea of this project to be very clear.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.

[Fassou]

First of all, Welcome to the forum :sisi:

To the point

You can start by reading this post, with similar requirements to the ones you mention.

Salu2!

[Obione]

http://xtremmedia.com/?q=cconfig/view#A032358,A042849,A039618,A001299,A046164,A030153

If you don't need much capacity, you could go for an SSD. I would even stretch with a 250GB Samsung 750 EVO if you see that with just over 120 gigas you're doing well, and from lost to the river, for an extra 20 euros you can rest easy with the RAM by mounting another module. You'll take advantage of dual channel and you'll be able to window without mercy :ugly:

[raum]

many thanks for the welcome and the quick response. I already have a starting point
regards

[Yorus]

If you are going to use AceStream I recommend Windows, and the same with Sopcast, because they integrate well with Internet Explorer. With Mint 17.3 (based on Ubuntu 14.04) I had Sopcast set up, and I think there were guides for AceStream, but for Ubuntu 16.04 and derivatives (Mint 18) I don't know if there is anything already, but a couple of months ago I found little.

Although I am going to change it, I now have a Celeron N2804 as an HTPC, very slow, but it defends itself like a champion with Streaming and with Kodi, but that, Streaming with Internet Explorer.

[raum]

Thank you very much for your reply. I'm sticking with the page because I liked the descriptions of the products.
I thought that range of processor was celeron, but I'm seeing that it's the one immediately before the i3 and for the low demands that I intend it to have it would be perfect.

What's missing for me is the case. It's very... tower, I don't know if you understand. I don't know if my mother will find it funny to have that next to the TV, but it's a good option. As for the SSD and extra RAM. If it were for me I wouldn't hesitate. But the goal is to cost them as little as possible. The SSD thing attracts me a lot because it would be very good for them to start up quickly. But one of the main functions will be to store photos and maybe music at 320 kbps so I wouldn't want to fall short in that aspect. The extra RAM... well RAM is never enough, although from my experience with 4 Gb for the use they are going to give it (the most they will move is youtube 720. movies 720 and the most demanding in my opinion is ace stream (siii those programs of 22 guys on Sundays for my father ) it should be enough, without frills I know.

Anyway, it's very helpful for you to tell me that with that processor I would be enough for my purposes.
So, as I said, thank you very much

[raum]

I've taken note of your advice. I'm almost certain I would have ended up putting Windows on it. But given what you're saying, I'm even more sure because Ace Stream is one of the main reasons for this project.

Thank you very much for your response

P.D. And Internet Explorer... Chrome or Firefox, I wouldn't touch IE with a ten-foot pole ;D

[Yorus]

The issue with Internet Explorer is because it is the only one that supports the integrated players and that accelerates playback with the graphics card when you use a low-power micro. In your case you will have enough power and you can use the external player of AceStream which is a VLC and use Firefox or Chrome. I also have an allergy to IE, and Chrome is not my favorite either, I prefer Firefox.

[raum]

Yes, that's how I use it on my PC. In the end I will test and leave you the browser that gives you the best performance in general.
Because if I leave 3 or 4 installed like I have on mine, my parents will go crazy.

I also tend to use firefox for customization and philosophy but sadly I notice that lately there is a difference in performance compared to chrome.

Anyway, for this case I am still in the process of thinking about which components I will use; with the software issue I will deal with it when I have it

[Obione]

I understand that you want something like a small desktop video, but it comes out more expensive and noisier, or worse, they come with crappy fonts. If there is room to put it in, that mATX that comes with a 12 fan would fit.

Otherwise, if you are looking for price, 1TB + 4GB already suffice.

Editing: What you could do is put something under it so it doesn't vibrate and tip over.

[whoololon]

Let's see if you like this one, based on mITX.