If he does not want gaming, it will cost half that.

i3 cpu
any mobo that fits the i3 with onboard graphics.
choose your SSD.
ram
case
cheap PSU

With PC's you either build for 3D or not, even the worse PC made of current new components will be more than suitable, so you can't really go wrong so just pick based on cost.

Just buy him a second hand one, stick in the SSD.
Save even more and he won't tell the diff.

The SSD will make all the diff in a system like that.

Check this out, looked quite helpful: http://www.esreality.com/post/2529817/pc-upgrade-help/#pid2529990

Intel fanboy here. No gaming needs? Forget your i3s, i5s and all that shit. Go full AMD, maybe even jump on an upmarket APU for onboard graphics, balance it out with some blazing fast RAM (as it will be shared between the CPU and the onboard graphics), and save the money to be put elsewhere. SSDs, good peripherals, half of a decent chair, whatever.

You will have saved money by not paying a premium for an Intel chipset and CPU, meaning a cheaper motherboard without an excess of features your old man is likely to not be interested in, the machine will likely be faster than most 'light gaming' rigs (depending how upmarket you go), it will be a balanced machine, and there will be a clear upgrade path in the way of graphics and CPU once your father decides he's outgrown it. Plus, upgradeability and tweaking potential on an amd system is fairly simple and affordable, so if your old man is into tinkering and tuning, there's an extra layer of satisfaction to be had in the long run.

Intel upgrade paths are usually expensive, and at times very limiting (I'm looking at a £700 upgrade, and that's only mobo, ram and CPU-no coolers, PSUs, monitors or anything of the like, just to get my work done). granted, the purpose of this build is very different, but I can't count the amount of times I've felt boxed in by certain limitations, and it's nice to have the option to move up, not to mention that for me, being a starving student, that's so much money that it is ludicrous, yet it's a necessary expense.

AMD will be the right balance between price and quality, and as I've said before, it's an incredibly fun platform to tweak, whether you're an absolute beginner, or already quite experienced.

Don't cheap out-he's family after all. And not cheaping out is not only just about money. Good luck!

I second the AMD APU, i bought a brand new A8-5600K on ebay for £50.... quad core 3.6ghz with 7560D graphics.

Would also suggest an AMD APU. My suggestion would be the A10 6700. Put it together with a Samsung Evo SSD in a Cooler Master 110 mini itx case. (with a new fm2+ board you can upgrade later to a kaveri apu or even newer)

Success!

Get the old man dual Nvidia Titans, the experience would be similar to him receiving a dance at a titty-bar.

thanks for the input guys, much appreciated! guess I'll go for AMD (A6 5400K, socket fm2+ board) then, get a samsung ssd and 8 gigs of ram, which should put me at just under 500€ incl. the OS and will be good in terms of upgrade possibilities. 350w psu should do I guess? any hardware manufacturer that has been supporting quake lately btw? :>

350W seems rather tight. I'd recommend a 450W single rail to be on the safe side.

I've had two PSUs die. The first time it took the CPU with it, the second time it took my mobo. Both times very lucky to have so little damage done.

give jonnyguru.com a look for reviews. I have to run out for a little bit, so can't do an investigation right now, but will look for something affordable once I get back.

I have a 450W psu for a i5 and gtx760. You think a 65w apu needs 450w?

Good point.

Force of habit instantly adding in a rough 200W extra for a dedicated graphics card and an array of HDDs.

Fair to say, a 350 would definitely suffice. My bad.

Just don't get a no name psu.

THIS! SO MUCH THIS!

You are not old man :D

That's what I keep trying to tell myself but the quarter life crisis is well underway I'm afraid ;) when's the next quake do in Berlin?

No plans yet, due to my permanent absence and rather spontaneous short visits there, which leave almost no room for such events. :(

Life crisis. Hah! :D

*slow-edit*: Why not doing something similar in Hannover? If you still reside there? I remember that small bar, with some videogaming theme? So.. well... It doesn't have to be big, just get a few quakers to gather, drink, watch some quake fragmovies (and other video game movies too), spec some streams, play some fungames on the laptop or some available decent monitors? At least that's how the next Berlin QL community gathering could look like! Nothing super serious. Just relaxing for a bit :)