A Windows 8 PC for 99 euros? The task, like the Kinofilm Mission Impossible, was not transmitted as an encrypted message, which destroyed itself after the reading itself, but quite normally during the editorial conference, but it seemed as impossible to fulfill as the missions of Ethan Hunt and his team: We should A complete, modern PC on the legs, whose components together can not cost more than 99 euros. Now, our mission is not so exciting and fortunately not dangerous, but Singapore and Hong Kong play an important role even for mid-European exotic locations.
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Our briefing for the construction of a 99 euro calculator included some tasks, which did not necessarily make it easier to fulfill them: the computer had to be not only completely made from simply available new parts, which excluded the use of cheap used components from the eBay fundus, but He also had to be fast enough for Windows 8. In addition to this, the task of making the 99 Euro PC compact, economical and quiet - at first glance, really an impossible mission.
Mission description
Elementary for a successful mission is the right operational basis. As the starting point for our order, ie the 99 euro computer, only a mini ITX motherboard with integrated CPU came into question. Everything else would have blown up the cost frame immediately. The best of these main boards with a fixed-braided processor are based on the VIA PV530 or the more economical but slower VIA C7-D.
Point Landing
They are available at prices between 28 and 43 euros. But the PV530 processor with two cores and integrated S3 graphics suffices in the computing performance and the 3D performance only modest demands, even if he can play videos liquid. The AMD E-350 on the Asrock E350M1 / USB3, which we got at a very low price of 41.90 euros, is significantly faster - shortly after the computer has been completed, the price for the board has risen to just under 60 euros Code>
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If you want to upgrade our Discount PC, you should still invest the extra charge, because the E350M1 has a Fusion processor with two cores and a comparatively fast Radeon graphics with 80 computing units, which also supports DirectX 11. The performance of the AMD processor is not just enough for office applications, surfing and 3D games, but our mini-PC can also play HD video fluently.
As a working memory a DDR3-module with two GB capacity is used. Here you get modules from brand manufacturers already for less than 10 euros, we have to a DDR3-1333-bar of Kingston for 9.50 euro grasped. It is packaged in a compact Mini-ITX case by LC-Power for 31 Euro. It was really hard for us at the mass storage: in the housing suitable 2.5 inch HDDs are new to get under 35 Euro, the cheapest 32 GB SSDs cost at least 34 euro.
In both cases, our budget would have been thoroughly blown up. The solution seemed to be using a 16 GB SDHC card for 9 euros and a SD-to-SATA adapter, which we found on eBay for 7.40 euros at a provider in Singapore. But unfortunately the adapter did not cope with the AMD-SATA controller on the mainboard. The installation routine of Windows 8 saw either no data carrier or a non-usable with astronomical 37 million MB.
This problem brought us slowly in time and led to rather daring attempts. So we converted a 16 GB USB3 stick with an obscure Hitachi driver into a data carrier. Windows 8 could not be duped with this trick.
The solution for our dilemma brought eBay: Here you can buy for 10 euros new mini-hard drives, which are actually manufactured as replacement devices for older iPods, but in large quantities are also offered individually. However, we still need an adapter from 1.8-inch Mini-IDE to SATA for the connection, which still fits into the budget with six Euros.
Despite all the obstacles, we were able to build the 99-Euro-PC - and the price as a point landing, but without shipping costs. Because component prices change quickly, we can not guarantee that our calculation is still correct.
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But a few euros back and forth: Our self-made "Discounter-PC" is not only a second or third computer for simple office applications, for surfing or for casual games, it can also be used as a multimedia player for the TV In the living room, and to upgrade the TV to a smart TV - at an unbeatable price.
Fast enough for Windows 8
Our Mini-PC does not have an optical drive. If no external DVD drive is available, Windows can also be installed from the USB stick. A Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation button is created quickly: you only need an ISO image of the installation file and the freeware program Windows 7 USB / DVD download tool from Microsoft.
If you want to install Windows 7 and already have a key for the 32-bit version, you can download the ISO file here. The current 30 euro very cheap upgrade to Windows 8 Pro (32 Bit) you get here. Here, you download the upgrade wizard with another 32-bit Windows PC and create the ISO file of the Windows 8 installation media. Keep in mind that there is no operating system included in the 99 euros.
Step-by-step to the 99 euro PC
Our 99 euro PC benefits from the fact that Windows 8 is also designed for weaker hardware. In the PCMark 7 it reaches a sufficient 874 points, full-HD videos in the MKV format, it gives thanks to the Radeon graphics in the VLC or by means of a codec pack in the mediaplayer smoothly.
The assembly of our 99 euro computer is not a witchcraft, it basically consists of only five components. For installation, a cross-screw screwdriver, preferably with a magnetic tip, is equipped with a flat-nose pliers with a side cutter and scissors. Before touching electronic components, you should ground yourself with a handle on a heating tube. In the following picture gallery, you will see the details again.
Picture gallery
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