$350 challenge

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
T

teatime0315

Senior member
Nov 18, 2005
646
0
0
Just wondering if its possible to build a decent family computer for around that price, I've been out of the loop for about a two years now. Gaming doesn't need to be taken into consideration.

Looking for an i3 sandybridge. Trying to build something around the new i3 CPUs.

Parts I already have.
HDD
PSU
DVD drive
Monitor.

Thanks again. :)
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,718
15,117
146
MAYBE. What power supply do you have?

Since you just want a "family computer", and say gaming isn't an issue, how about a Dell? The Dell Outlet has some pretty decent deals on computers that will work for your needs.

I know most of us prefer to build our own, and I'm just throwing out ideas.

From your post, you're going to need:
Case
CPU
Motherboard
RAM

What about operating system?
Keyboard/mouse?

It certainly can be done, especially if you don't need a video card, and will be satisfied with the IGP of the i3 processor...

We have a couple of "system building specialists" here who will be along shortly to give you recommendations...(sorry, I'm just too lazy to look up all the parts...:p )
 
Spikesoldier

Spikesoldier

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
6,766
0
0
heres my submission for family build:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157228 MB/CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231396 DRAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112266 case

may be a little different from your i3 sandy build, but i think for light tasks and light gaming the zacate is well balanced.

this build also includes a lian-li case. i think that non-techy people arent interested at whats inside but more about whats on the outside.

this build is also over seventy dollars under budget.
 
D

dma0991

Platinum Member
Mar 17, 2011
2,723
2
0
Spikesoldier said:
heres my submission for family build:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157228 MB/CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231396 DRAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112266 case

may be a little different from your i3 sandy build, but i think for light tasks and light gaming the zacate is well balanced.

this build also includes a lian-li case. i think that non-techy people arent interested at whats inside but more about whats on the outside.

this build is also over seventy dollars under budget.
Click to expand...

+1

Good choice as well. It is a little bit of a compromise to the CPU power for a better GPU and lower power consumption compared to the 65W TDP Core i3 2100.
 
5

50

Platinum Member
May 7, 2003
2,717
0
0
If you have a microcenter nearby you can get a core i3 2100 with motherboard for $120. Throw in $40 for RAM suggested above and take your pick for a case and call it a day.
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,227
126
Easy as pie to do this if you can get the Microcenter deal. If they're not running that deal, consider an AMD Phenom II X4 840 combo deal at MC, with a free or nearly-free mobo.

I built three AMD quad-cores with X4 630 (2.8Ghz quad-core) chips, for under $350, with card reader. That was with 4GB of DDR2, which cost $100 at the time. Now you can get 4GB of DDR3 for $40 or less. You might be able to even go below $300.
 
Chapbass

Chapbass

Diamond Member
May 31, 2004
3,147
96
91
aphelion02 said:
Tried hard to fit a i5-2500k in, fell $10 short:

i5-2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

Asrock H61 mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157241

G.Skill 4gb RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231253

Apex ATX Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811154095

Total: $361.72 after shipping
Click to expand...


If hes not worried about resale value much (with it being a family computer they may keep it for quite a while) and being as such, may not overclock...how about a standard 2500? Thatll save you like 20-30 bucks.
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
teatime0315 said:
$350 challenge

Just wondering if its possible to build a decent family computer for around that price
Click to expand...
yes, it is...
since you've been out of the loop for two years, you don't realize that an i3 SB isn't needed for this challenge
 
aphelion02

aphelion02

Senior member
Dec 26, 2010
699
0
76
Chapbass said:
If hes not worried about resale value much (with it being a family computer they may keep it for quite a while) and being as such, may not overclock...how about a standard 2500? Thatll save you like 20-30 bucks.
Click to expand...

I think the i5-2400 is a better value. I just wanted the 2500k for the HD3000 graphics.
 
aphelion02

aphelion02

Senior member
Dec 26, 2010
699
0
76
Yea, the K processors have the unlocked multiplier and HD3000 with 12 EU's on the IGP. The non-k ones have locked multiplier, HD2000 with 6 EUs, and a bunch of other features like VT-d for virtual machines.
 
T

teatime0315

Senior member
Nov 18, 2005
646
0
0
Thanks for all the great responses. I didn't realize my budget could potentially stretch for an i5. I'll take a good look at the recommendations. BTW I have an OS and KB+M. And IGP is probably preferable :).
 
aphelion02

aphelion02

Senior member
Dec 26, 2010
699
0
76
If it were me, I'd stretch the budget by $25 and go with my 2500k build with the Antec 300 case :)
 
Last edited:
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
aphelion02 said:
Too easy.

i5-2400 + asus H61 mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.631838

Ripjaws X 4gb RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231425

Antec Three Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042

Total: $346.69 after MIR.

Now, if you give me $20 more, you could get an i5-2500k for a better IGP and more resale value.
Click to expand...

aphelion02 said:
Tried hard to fit a i5-2500k in, fell $10 short:

i5-2500k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072

Asrock H61 mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157241

G.Skill 4gb RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231253

Apex ATX Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811154095

Total: $361.72 after shipping
Click to expand...

Both good choices, I'd lean towards the latter.
 
T

teatime0315

Senior member
Nov 18, 2005
646
0
0
mfenn said:
Both good choices, I'd lean towards the latter.
Click to expand...

LOL... i'm leaning towards that one as well. I'm going to be quiet jealous of the i5 if i do go that route. My personal rig has a C2Q 9550 so I'm sure the i5 will smoke it.

If I do go the i3 route, would the funds open up to allow a small ssd?

If there was a rep system, i'd rep all you guys (no homo) :)
 
M

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
teatime0315 said:
LOL... i'm leaning towards that one as well. I'm going to be quiet jealous of the i5 if i do go that route. My personal rig has a C2Q 9550 so I'm sure the i5 will smoke it.

If I do go the i3 route, would the funds open up to allow a small ssd?

If there was a rep system, i'd rep all you guys (no homo) :)
Click to expand...

I don't think you're going to get an SSD for the cost differential between those two configs (about $20). The smallest that I would go on an SSD is 60GB, which will run you $125 for a good one (Corsair Force 60).
 
aphelion02

aphelion02

Senior member
Dec 26, 2010
699
0
76
I'd also suggest getting the Antec Three Hundred for $15 more, much better build quality from a top quality maker. That Apex looks somewhat cheap. (and it is cheap, $20 dollar case lol)

Edit: My first config is a quadcore too, its just has slightly slower clockspeed (3.1ghz vs 3.3ghz), but more importantly much worse integrated graphics.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom