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$500-550 EveryDay PC Suggestions

P

Patrickz0rs

Senior member
Hello,

Interested in building a cheapish PC for daily usage. (Email, web browsing, some videos, office...ect)

I tried to put a cheap intel system together but was wondering if AMD would be better. I don't want anything cheap - something that will be lighting fast and last for a good number of years.

My thoughts:
$117 Processor: Intel i3-530: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115222

$83 Motherboard: ASUS P7H55: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131664

$75 Memory: 4GB DDR3 1333: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231189

$45 PSU: Antec 380W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371033

$55 HardDrive: Samsung F3 500GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152181

$17 DVD Burner: Samsung: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151175

$40 Case: Anything

FREE OS: Windows 7 64 Bit

Total:$431

I wanted something better than this for $500: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Gateway+...&skuId=9974328

Should I build one or just buy the one at Best Buy? Any suggestions are welcome! I am not a fanboy.
 
I would look at something from Frys, etc....there are some good deals out there for around 350 all the time with about what you are wanting. If you decide you want some light gaming you could always add in a video card....

When it comes to those basic needs you can't build a system for as cheap as you can get at a big box place. Gaming on the other hand is a different story...
 
 
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Ever thought of just buying a good laptop like a refurb Dell Latitude E6400? You can buy those in the $500-$600 range without a lot of problems.

Roughly the same money. Portable. Built-in UPS. Can be hooked to one or two external screens. Some fairly good docking options. Just as fast as what you're looking at there.

Just a thought.

I only recommend desktops these days for people with more esoteric needs, ie: high end video card needs, very large hard drive storage needs or RAID-needs, etc. I switched my desktop to a laptop (Dell Latitude D830) with docking station 3.5 years ago, and never looked back. The premium to buy a laptop versus a desktop has pretty much dissipated to $0.
 
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Patrickz0rs said:
AMD Route:

AMD
$96 - 560 BE - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103887
$64 - ASUS Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131619
$70 4GB DD3 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231193
$45 PSU: Antec 380W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371033
$55 HardDrive: Samsung F3 500GB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152181
$17 DVD Burner: Samsung: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151175
$40 Case: Anything
Total: $387

I think it would give that Gateway a run for its money =)
Click to expand...

Don't forget your O/S, unless you're running Linux.
 
I think the Gateway's a bit better, but not for your purposes. Since you have Windows, the cost savings would make it worth building the AMD system.
 
I agree on the laptop front.

That said, I would make some specific component swaps on the AMD build above if that's what you're doing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231396 No need for ram past 1600, especially since you're not overclocking (and thus, speeds past 1333 won't be used).

This mobo for the slightly faster IGP/USB3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157197

A quad core, non-phenom CPU (this is desktop, not gaming use) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103871
 
Just about the final parts list...

Anthlon II X4 640 - $100: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871

ASUS AM3 w/ USB 3.0 Motherboard - $85 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131656

OR

ASus AM3 Motherboard - $65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619

4GB DDR3 1333 - $65: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274

Antec 380 - $45: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Samsung F3 500GB - $39: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...3-HD502HJ-500GB-SATA2-7200rpm-16MB-Hard-Drive

Asus DVD Burner: $17

CoolerMaster Case: $40

Total: $361-$381 after rebate

This processor outperforms the one at BestBuy. I think for this price, it would be hard to find something prebuilt that would outperm this. - For my basic websurfing, movie playing, and microsoft office uses.

Just oen question - will the Antec 380 handle this? Antec's PSU calculator said this would draw around 260 watts with the case fans.
 
Patrickz0rs said:
Just about the final parts list...

Anthlon II X4 640 - $100: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871

ASUS AM3 w/ USB 3.0 Motherboard - $85 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131656

OR

ASus AM3 Motherboard - $65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619

4GB DDR3 1333 - $65: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274

Antec 380 - $45: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Samsung F3 500GB - $39: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...3-HD502HJ-500GB-SATA2-7200rpm-16MB-Hard-Drive

Asus DVD Burner: $17

CoolerMaster Case: $40

Total: $361-$381 after rebate

This processor outperforms the one at BestBuy. I think for this price, it would be hard to find something prebuilt that would outperm this. - For my basic websurfing, movie playing, and microsoft office uses.

Just oen question - will the Antec 380 handle this? Antec's PSU calculator said this would draw around 260 watts with the case fans.
Click to expand...

http://www.amazon.com/lenovo-087325...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1289138182&sr=1-12

More than fast enough for your tasks AND portable @ $440. Besides, you still haven't factor in the cost for a desktop display.
 
Patrickz0rs said:
Just about the final parts list...

Anthlon II X4 640 - $100: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871

ASUS AM3 w/ USB 3.0 Motherboard - $85 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131656

OR

ASus AM3 Motherboard - $65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131619

4GB DDR3 1333 - $65: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274

Antec 380 - $45: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Samsung F3 500GB - $39: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...3-HD502HJ-500GB-SATA2-7200rpm-16MB-Hard-Drive

Asus DVD Burner: $17

CoolerMaster Case: $40

Total: $361-$381 after rebate

This processor outperforms the one at BestBuy. I think for this price, it would be hard to find something prebuilt that would outperm this. - For my basic websurfing, movie playing, and microsoft office uses.

Just oen question - will the Antec 380 handle this? Antec's PSU calculator said this would draw around 260 watts with the case fans.
Click to expand...

Your 770 motherboard choice isn't going to work without a external GPU, so I'd advise going with the 785G one.

Also, yes a 380W PSU will be sufficient. Hell, a 300W would work wonderfully.
 
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