Best Entry-level rig using "modern" parts?

[whm1974]

Every single AMD desktop chip is currently inferior to i5-8400, and the i5-8400 itself is barely worth buying over EOL intel parts with DDR3 due to the gigantic pricing disparity between ebay DDR3 systems and memory cartel's blood DDR4 (like diamonds, but more expensive).

Realistically if you are considering buying anything less than a 8600k or 8700k you would be better off with a DDR3 equipped system if you care about cost of your system at all.

How about this then? The only thing I would add is an SSD.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/krMRLD
The Ryzen 2000 series or the i3-8100 would be a nice upgrade from my dad's Haswell Pentium build.

 

[24601]

How about this then? The only thing I would add is an SSD.
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/krMRLD
The Ryzen 2000 series or the i3-8100 would be a nice upgrade from my dad's Haswell Pentium build.

Depends entirely on how long you think only having 8 gB of ram and only 1 channel of bandwidth will tide you over.

DDR4 is just cancer right now, even cursory glances on ebay can get you haswell systems that are just as fast (or faster) as the build you laid out.

Basically the first result from my searching ebay on a whim with the first haswell processor i can think of, don't buy this one, search harder for a cheaper one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-Desktop-Computer-OptiPlex-9020-Tower-Intel-Core-i5-4570-3-20-GHz-16-GB-DD/292219177850?_trkparms=aid=555019&algo=PL.BANDIT&ao=1&asc=20150817211623&meid=b5e1464c7a4c45fea73254265d1a5d4f&pid=100505&rk=1&rkt=1&&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

DELL Desktop Computer OptiPlex 9020-Tower Intel Core i5 4570 (3.20 GHz) 16 GB DD
Intel Core i5-4570 3.2 GHz
16 GB DDR3
1 TB SATA 7200 RPM
Windows 10 Pro


US $464.99

Here we go, a cheap one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Optip...181802&hash=item3f90cfaf35:g:4m8AAOSwryBaT6uw

Dell Optiplex 9020 Desktop Intel i5-4570 3.20GHz 8GB RAM 250GB WIN 10

Description
This listing includes:
(1) Dell Optiplex 9020 Desktop
(1) Power Cord

Specifications:
Intel Core i5-4570 @ 3.20GHz
8GB DDR3 RAM
250GB Hard Drive
DVD-RW
Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit Operating System Installed
Windows 7 CoA

US $174.99

 

[whm1974]

Depends entirely on how long you think only having 8 gB of ram and only 1 channel of bandwidth will tide you over.

DDR4 is just cancer right now, even cursory glances on ebay can get you haswell systems that are just as fast (or faster) as the build you laid out.

Basically the first result from my searching ebay on a whim with the first haswell processor i can think of, don't buy this one, search harder for a cheaper one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DELL-Desktop-Computer-OptiPlex-9020-Tower-Intel-Core-i5-4570-3-20-GHz-16-GB-DD/292219177850?_trkparms=aid=555019&algo=PL.BANDIT&ao=1&asc=20150817211623&meid=b5e1464c7a4c45fea73254265d1a5d4f&pid=100505&rk=1&rkt=1&&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

DELL Desktop Computer OptiPlex 9020-Tower Intel Core i5 4570 (3.20 GHz) 16 GB DD
Intel Core i5-4570 3.2 GHz
16 GB DDR3
1 TB SATA 7200 RPM
Windows 10 Pro


US $464.99

Here we go, a cheap one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Optip...181802&hash=item3f90cfaf35:g:4m8AAOSwryBaT6uw

Dell Optiplex 9020 Desktop Intel i5-4570 3.20GHz 8GB RAM 250GB WIN 10

Description
This listing includes:
(1) Dell Optiplex 9020 Desktop
(1) Power Cord

Specifications:
Intel Core i5-4570 @ 3.20GHz
8GB DDR3 RAM
250GB Hard Drive
DVD-RW
Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit Operating System Installed
Windows 7 CoA

US $174.99

Yes I know about the cheaper refurbished systems with decent specs for not much money. In fact I've been steering folks who ask me about computers toward them.

 

[24601]

Yes I know about the cheaper refurbished systems with decent specs for not much money. In fact I've been steering folks who ask me about computers toward them.

Considering we only have Intel + AMD (Intel's anti-trust blocking pet company) in high performance consumer CPUs, this is how it's going to be for the foreseeable future when combined with memory cartel 100% killing the new purchase low end hardware market.

 

[whm1974]

Considering we only have Intel + AMD (Intel's anti-trust blocking pet company) in high performance consumer CPUs, this is how it's going to be for the foreseeable future when combined with memory cartel 100% killing the new purchase low end hardware market.

Yeah I hear you on the memory issue. I'm glad I'm not in the market for building a new system right now.

 

[ao_ika_red]

Every single AMD desktop chip is currently inferior to i5-8400, and the i5-8400 itself is barely worth buying over EOL intel parts with DDR3 due to the gigantic pricing disparity between ebay DDR3 systems and memory cartel's blood DDR4 (like diamonds, but more expensive).

So, if DDR4 price return to 2015/2016 level, I can recommend RR APU or Kaby Lake Pentium again, am I right? Looking for refurbished / off lease PC is quite hard in my country. Unless you have some connection to a PC lessor company, you'll have a hard time finding them.

 

[whm1974]

So, if DDR4 price return to 2015/2016 level, I can recommend RR APU or Kaby Lake Pentium again, am I right? Looking for refurbished / off lease PC is quite hard in my country. Unless you have some connection to a PC lessor company, you'll have a hard time finding them.

Well yes you can. Bummer you can't get a hold of refurbished systems where you live, they have the best deals.

 

[MrTeal]

How about now? (well, February 12th to be exact) With $99 price tag, this thing will dominate low cost rig.

I don't see any desktop parts or prices listed in the AT article. What $99 chip are you talking about?

 

[ao_ika_red]

I don't see any desktop parts or prices listed in the AT article. What $99 chip are you talking about?

Dang, I used different link. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm talking about Ryzen 2200G SKU.

 

[VirtualLarry]

$99? For a true 3.5Ghz modern IPC quad-core CPU, plus an RX 550-equivalent Vega-architecture iGPU? YES, PLEASE!

 

[epsilon84]

$99? For a true 3.5Ghz modern IPC quad-core CPU, plus an RX 550-equivalent Vega-architecture iGPU? YES, PLEASE!

I highly doubt the Vega 8 iGPU is as fast as an RX550, I don't think even the Vega 11 on the 2400G can beat an RX550, especially when paired with more 'budget' memory configurations these builds are likely to house.

That being said, I agree these chips are awesome value, especially if you can overclock them beyond 4GHz with a cheap HSF, which I hopr the 12nm process will allow.

 

[ao_ika_red]

I highly doubt the Vega 8 iGPU is as fast as an RX550, I don't think even the Vega 11 on the 2400G can beat an RX550, especially when paired with more 'budget' memory configurations these builds are likely to house.

That being said, I agree these chips are awesome value, especially if you can overclock them beyond 4GHz with a cheap HSF, which I hope the 12nm process will allow.

Agree with that. It will only just equal if not almost comparable with RX550. But then again, any ultra budget gamer who choose to play with 2200G class APU usually has old monitor which has standard ~720/768p res so it will still has good fps for MOBA games.

 

[AtenRa]

If the iGPU of the 2200G has 16ROPs , then at 1500MHz + 3600MHz memory it could make it come extremely close against the RX550.

 

[cbn]

Deleted. (Posted to wrong thread)