Build or Buy???? Budget Computer in the Sub $400 range

[itakey]

I'm looking to buy or build a machine that will mostly be used to remote desktop into a much faster machine over a fast connection at both locations. So this machine doesn't need to be anything crazy, but I want it to have some decent speed in case I want to do some work on it without being remoted into the other machine.

Trying to decide if I should build a budget rig, or buy an HP or something off the shelf in this range.

CPU:
How are either of these?
Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge-$110 at Newegg after promo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115077

Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge-$129 at NewEgg
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116775

I'd like to utilize the build in graphics card, possibly dual monitor.

I built a kick ass machine with the Intel i7-2700K that I got for a sweet price and an SSD and that machine is sick fast, but I don't want to spend as much.

Any tips appreciated!

 

[Ken g6]

If you need Windows, buy. If not, maybe build.

 

[frozentundra123456]

If you need Windows, buy. If not, maybe build.

agreed. Maybe Black Friday will have some good deals.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

The two i3s are going to be similar in terms of performance, but if you're mostly using it as a dumb terminal you will probably be just fine with a Pentium G630.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116406 - $66

Add in:

MoBo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121505 - $75
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820576006 - $32
SSD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148584 - $60
Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811108196 - $45

and an optical drive if you want (I doubt you'll need it). It looks to me like that motherboard supports dual monitors on the build-in video.

You end up with a <$300 low-end system that's quiet, sips power, is fairly responsive/zippy when you're doing local work, and will happily run a couple of background apps (iTunes, whatever) while you're remoted into the "good" machine.

As mentioned above, buying a cheap prebuilt will probably work fine too and be less hassle.

 

[itakey]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I have an extra copy of Windows so that won't come in to cost.

I'm willing to spend closer to $400 if the machine will be that much better. I also want to use dual monitors, probably one will be analog, one digital, I think some of the intel and mobo's have that built in, the other rig I built does.

I may just buy a pre-built, but it seems like the pre-built always have issues or are build inferior. At least when I build on my own I can check out reviews and choose half decent components that I know have a decent track record.

PS, I might want to use photoshop for the occasional edit, but infrequently. I at least want it to be able to do it though half decent. No gaming, this is a work machine

All feedback is appreciated everyone! keep it coming.

 

[Hubb1e]

Build. You'll regret the prebuilt if you already have windows. And you will be impressed with the speed of the low end pentiums. You can throw together a cheap system for $250 and you can always toss in a quad core if you decide later on to turn this into a serious workstation. The only thing I would recomend when building out a cheap system is that I always end up regretting buying a motherboard with only 2 ram slots. 5 years down the road when you want to upgrade this box those extra 2 slots will be nice. Plus the motherboards with 4 slots also tend to use better components. It's worth the extra 10-20 bucks now IMO.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Buy a s&d dell

 

[kleinkinstein]

CPU - Intel Core i3-2120, $110
MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3, $79
RAM1 - Samsung Green 8GB (2x4) 1600, $29
RAM2 - G.Skill 4GB (2x2) 1333, $20
GPU - Radeon HD 7750, $90
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB, $70
PSU - CORSAIR CX430 V2 430W, $25
ODD - Samsung 22x DVD Burner Model SH-222, $14
Case -Fractal Design Core 3000, $39

$456 total for 8GB
$366 total for 8GB and iGPU

$446 total for 4GB
$356 total for 4GB and iGPU

 

[Eureka]

Got a microcenter near you? http://microcenter.com/product/396286/Core_i3_2120_33GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor

$90 and $50 off any motherboard you purchase there.

If you really wanted something light and compact, wait until this pops up again.

You'll save money on the prebuilt in this range, I think, but you won't have control over your parts (also no overclocking, limited expansion, etc). That's a choice you'll have to make.

 

[EliteRetard]

Dell has 25% all outlet desktops and laptops...there can be some good deals like:

G630 1x4GB 500GB Windows 7 desktop $225
i7-3770 desktops/all in ones under $500
14-15" i5 laptops at $300

CODE: SC1NP?80L4H6CG

M18x 3940/20xm with SLI 675MX or Xfire 7970M for $2200-1750...makes me wanna buy one.

 

[itakey]

Great recommendations everyone. I'm going to check out the build kleinkinstein suggested, and will probably end up either building something quick, or I'm going to watch the market for a pre-built just to see what hits now that Windows 8 machines are here, so there may be some windows 7 boxes to be had even though I don't need the os.

 

[EliteRetard]

Well can you sell the extra license for $50+?

In the case of those used Dells, I wonder if getting a cheap laptop might be nice. A 14" mobile i5 system around $300 should be plenty powerful, cheap, and allow you to take it with and use it for other things.

 

[itakey]

Well can you sell the extra license for $50+?

In the case of those used Dells, I wonder if getting a cheap laptop might be nice. A 14" mobile i5 system around $300 should be plenty powerful, cheap, and allow you to take it with and use it for other things.

Guess a laptop could work IF I hook it up to external monitors and a keyboard. Think any of those i5 laptops will allow 2 monitors to be hooked up externally? Figure this way it will be like a desktop, just not easy to upgrade (Other than the ram and HD).

 

[irul77]

CPU - Intel Core i3-2120, $110
MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-Z68AP-D3, $79
RAM1 - Samsung Green 8GB (2x4) 1600, $29
RAM2 - G.Skill 4GB (2x2) 1333, $20
GPU - Radeon HD 7750, $90
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 1.5TB, $70
PSU - CORSAIR CX430 V2 430W, $25
ODD - Samsung 22x DVD Burner Model SH-222, $14
Case -Fractal Design Core 3000, $39

$456 total for 8GB
$366 total for 8GB and iGPU

$446 total for 4GB
$356 total for 4GB and iGPU

nice info

 

[Arkaign]

Well can you sell the extra license for $50+?

In the case of those used Dells, I wonder if getting a cheap laptop might be nice. A 14" mobile i5 system around $300 should be plenty powerful, cheap, and allow you to take it with and use it for other things.

I like this idea myself, but it's important to note that the clock speeds on notebook CPUs are a good bit less than on desktop.

The i5-3360M is the fastest mobile i5, but is 2.8Ghz with max turbo of 3.5Ghz (not all cores, and with notebook cooling, won't last for long).

The lowest non-specialty desktop i5 Ivy I can find is the 3330, which is 3ghz w/3.2Ghz turbo (??).

When you think about getting the mobility, integrated screen, wireless N, etc, if you could get one for $300ish, I still think the notebook is a good bet for non-gaming use.

Obvious penalties are lower cpu performance and dramatically lower upgrade potential, with repair/replacement of components also more cumbersome with little choice other than original parts outside of ram/hdd. This is also not a huge deal if you wouldn't ever care to upgrade it anyway, and take care of it so it never needs part replacement.

 

[Arkaign]

Guess a laptop could work IF I hook it up to external monitors and a keyboard. Think any of those i5 laptops will allow 2 monitors to be hooked up externally? Figure this way it will be like a desktop, just not easy to upgrade (Other than the ram and HD).

No, it's very atypical for any affordable notebook (think sub $1k) to have the option to drive more than one external display at a time.

I have installed a good number of affordable ($60 and less) USB to VGA/DVI/HDMI adapters, which essentially are miniature, very weak video cards connected via a USB cable. They have their own small amount of memory and a video processor. As far as I can tell, they are all made by DisplayLink. Performance for office-type stuff is okay, documents, file management. Performance for video playback is poor. Performance for games is nil.

 

[EliteRetard]

Really? I'm sure its laptop specific, and I don't know the details of these Dells...but I got a $600 Asus for a friend years ago (Nvidia GPU) and he is able to run 2 external displays (2 monitor max at a time though, so laptop screen off). Even if it can only handle one extra screen the laptop itself has a monitor. I know all laptops with an output can display on both at the same time. I guess it depends if you can use the 14-15" 13x7 display as your second or if you need a bigger 20"+ 1080p. Maybe find a cheap 17" 16x9 laptop.

As far as power goes, he was looking at a desktop i3, a regular mobile i5 would compare favorably. External keyboard/mouse should certainly be a yes.

 

[teh_pwnerer]

Just by a Celeron. All these guys praise it like the second coming of Jesus.

I left your other thread open, since its an opinion, but this is just trolling. Keep it up, and you will see a vacation in your future.
Markfw900
Anandtech Moderator