$300 PC Build

[cbk]

This is my second build, I am making a cheap $300 PC, but the top of my budget is about $370. Any suggestions on my part choices would be highly appreciated. I will be doing light work on this and I am wondering if there are parts I can cheap out on. I have a spare optical drive I can use for this build. I live in the US. I do not care what brand of parts you suggest. I think I am going to have to use Windows, as others will also be using the PC. (Too much to learn, they just want to be able to use a PC) Resolution: I don't know, what can get out of the build? I will not OC, unless it gives more power to the system than it will burn it out. I hope to get this PC built within a month.

Link to PC Part Picker list:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/Zuuh

EDIT:
Changed HD to 250GB

 

[Ken g6]

OK, first, what are you using this PC for? Just basic office stuff?

Actually, despite the low price - or even because of it - I think [thread=80121]all these questions[/thread] apply here.

Now, are you sure you need:
- Windows? Linux is a very decent OS, and Wine is a halfway-decent way to use Windows apps on Linux.
- An optical drive? Could you just borrow one to install an OS?

We can discuss Intel vs. AMD once you answer the questions I linked to above.

 

[Montosaurous]

What will you be using the PC for?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

At this price it's very hard to beat a pre-built machine from the Lenovo Outlet. Right now you could get a Core i3 Lenovo H430 Scratch and Dent for $297 with free shipping.

Lenovo H430 - Scratch & dent
Part number: ES09724046-2558XF4

Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 processor i3-2120 (3.30GHz, 3MB Cache)
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 - English
Display: None - Desktop
Graphics: Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD
Memory: 4GB PC3-10600 DDR3 1333MHz SDRAM UDIMM Memory
Hard Drive: 1TB, 7200RPM Serial ATA 2.5" Hard Drive
Optical Drive: DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer


Outlet price:$457.00
Outlet sale price:
$297.05
You save:$159.95

Better overall performance and larger hard drive for $89 $72 less. Downgrading to Windows 8 could save you another $20.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Are you doing this for the experience, or do you need a working computer? You can likely get a more powerful computer from the Dell Outlet if it's the latter (and you're in the US).

 

[postmortemIA]

I would seriously consider not paying 1/3 of the price for the OS. A extra $100 can make heck of difference in your case. Stick with so many free versions of Linux, even play with evaluations of Windows 7, 8 (for 90 days), in hope that it will go on sale on some point, or that you can find retail key by some reseller.

 

[frozentundra123456]

At this price it's very hard to beat a pre-built machine from the Lenovo Outlet. Right now you could get a Core i3 Lenovo H430 Scratch and Dent for $297 with free shipping.



Better overall performance and larger hard drive for $89 less. Downgrading to Windows 8 could save you another $20.

Those are some really nice prices. I wonder what kind of condition they are in. Stick in a 100.00 graphics card and a better power supply and you have a decent gaming machine for slightly over 400.00.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Those are some really nice prices. I wonder what kind of condition they are in. Stick in a 100.00 graphics card and a better power supply and you have a decent gaming machine for slightly over 400.00.

I bought a refurb ThinkCentre Edge 71 last month and, quite frankly, I am impressed. It's a quality build, looks brand new, and so far has been just fine. Couldn't imagine building my own basic machine when these are available for so cheap.

 

[cbk]

Questions are answered!

 

[cbk]

Light work.

 

[mfenn]

Agree 100% on the "buy a prebuilt" answer. The fact that you need a Windows license within a $300 budget pretty much seals the deal. The Lenovo that AnonymouseUser linked is not bad at all.