• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Building a budgeted PC for my mom

K

kyrax12

Platinum Member
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mom's work and sometimes HD gaming

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
600$ MAXIMUM

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
U.S I am guessing since I am ordering it from Neweggs

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
I am not a fanboy of any brand. I just want the most quality and long lasting brand.
I am leaning towards AMD/ATI but will take constructive suggestions.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
(These are some of the parts I have chosen. Feel free to switch around to make things cheaper.
*Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147153

Hard-drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148337

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157323

GPU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161396

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=u00000687
Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103996



7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Not going to be overclocking

8. What resolution will you be using?
?? 1920x1080 gaming on a 25 inch Samsung monitor

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
preferably next week.
 
Last edited:
What city are you in? I only ask because you may have a Micro Center store near you, they have great CPU / Mobo bundles for AMD and Intel. What type of games do you play? You can get a decent rig for $600 but you don't want to overspend in certain areas. Also, don't forget the operating system, if you don't have it that's another $99 you need to set aside.

AMD bundle- http://microcenter.com/site/products/amd_bundles.aspx

RAM- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

PSU choices- a lot of people give OCZ power supplies a bad rep, but I've had a 500w unit like the one you picked for a while without issues. I listed 2 very good alternatives at a similar price point.

XFX - good PSU for $65 after rebate: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207013

Silverstone- quality unit for $57 after rebate: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256071
 
Last edited:
dmoney1980 said:
What city are you in? I only ask because you may have a Micro Center store near you, they have great CPU / Mobo bundles for AMD and Intel. What type of games do you play? You can get a decent rig for $600 but you don't want to overspend in certain areas. Also, don't forget the operating system, if you don't have it that's another $99 you need to set aside.

AMD bundle- http://microcenter.com/site/products/amd_bundles.aspx

RAM- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

PSU choices- a lot of people give OCZ power supplies a bad rep, but I've had a 500w unit like the one you picked for a while without issues. I listed 2 very good alternatives at a similar price point.

XFX - good PSU for $65 after rebate: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207013

Silverstone- quality unit for $57 after rebate: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256071
Click to expand...

I live in Sac

I want a cheap PSU with enough juice to run my CPU and video card.


Is this a good one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817152028



Does the Samsung Ram work with my MOBO?
 
What types of games does your mom play?

Also do you live with/near her or would you have to travel a bit to work on her computer? Because building a computer for someone you know very well = you're the tech support forever basically 😛

Have you considered just getting a cheap refurb Dell and just sticking in a decent video card?

As per your actual choices:
RAM: That Samsung RAM is great but doesn't really benefit you in any way if you're not a die-hard system tweaker. Just get this Crucial Ballistix 8GB for $10 less.

Video Card: For any serious gaming, I'd suggest spending the bit extra and going for this Sapphire 7850 as it will be better in every game, run cooler and is more energy efficient.

PSU: For my money, I'd get this PCP&C Silencer MKIII 400W for $50 AR. 400W is far more than enough, and this is a fully modular unit made from Seasonic's factories (one of the best). And yes a 400W unit this efficient is more than enough for your build.

Now for a gaming build (and just about every other type of build lately) you're going to want to go with Intel as opposed to AMD. The only time I'd suggest an AMD build honestly is a low budget HTPC build as the iGPU from the budget AMD CPU's is quite a bit better than the ones tacked on to the Celeron/Pentium lines (though usually the CPU could handle all playback tasks anyways so eh).

CPU: Intel Pentium G620 $64
Motherboard: ASRock H77M $70

And since it's an mATX board, save a bit more on the case and go with this Rosewill Ranger-M for $30.

Build total: $548.93 - $30 in rebates = $518.93

Since this comes in under budget (though not if you need a new Windows license) you could stand to upgrade any component you chose to really. You could get an i3 2100 instead for a decent upgrade, or move up to a 7870, or even just tack in a cheap SSD.

For a more precise build post the games that your mom currently plays and will likely play in the future, as well as whether or not you need a Windows license, and what type of work she does on the computer (I'm assuming basic Office programs + email).
 
I live with my mom so I am basically her tech support since she isn't very good with computers.


The problem I see with buying a refurbished dell computer would be the incompatibility with upgraded hardware. Like how would the PSU in the refurbished dell powered a high end video card or if the case would be big enough to fit the stuff I want to put in there..etc,..etc,
 
kyrax12 said:
I live with my mom so I am basically her tech support since she isn't very good with computers.


The problem I see with buying a refurbished dell computer would be the incompatibility with upgraded hardware. Like how would the PSU in the refurbished dell powered a high end video card or if the case would be big enough to fit the stuff I want to put in there..etc,..etc,
Click to expand...

Does she need a top of the line video card? And truth be told the PSU's are decent, not great but they'll get the job done for the most part; you could also always just change them out as I believe Dell stopped using a proprietary set-up. The cases should be fine, most cards today aren't super long and require enormous cases to even fit and such.

Again, what games does your mom play? And do you need a Windows license?
 
krnmastersgt said:
Does she need a top of the line video card? And truth be told the PSU's are decent, not great but they'll get the job done for the most part; you could also always just change them out as I believe Dell stopped using a proprietary set-up. The cases should be fine, most cards today aren't super long and require enormous cases to even fit and such.

Again, what games does your mom play? And do you need a Windows license?
Click to expand...

My mom doesn't play any games but I do lol.

Games like the witcher 2, sleeping dogs, Planetside 2, GTA IV.. etc,

Yea I also forgot to mention I need a windows license so I don't need a top of the line video card.
 
A Windows license itself is $100, if you really want to buy brand new parts I stand by my build from earlier. However if you're okay with a refurb you can get that pretty cheaply and just stick in the 7850 and be fine for most games, should come within budget.
 
krnmastersgt said:
What types of games does your mom play?

Also do you live with/near her or would you have to travel a bit to work on her computer? Because building a computer for someone you know very well = you're the tech support forever basically 😛

Have you considered just getting a cheap refurb Dell and just sticking in a decent video card?

As per your actual choices:
RAM: That Samsung RAM is great but doesn't really benefit you in any way if you're not a die-hard system tweaker. Just get this Crucial Ballistix 8GB for $10 less.

Video Card: For any serious gaming, I'd suggest spending the bit extra and going for this Sapphire 7850 as it will be better in every game, run cooler and is more energy efficient.

PSU: For my money, I'd get this PCP&C Silencer MKIII 400W for $50 AR. 400W is far more than enough, and this is a fully modular unit made from Seasonic's factories (one of the best). And yes a 400W unit this efficient is more than enough for your build.

Now for a gaming build (and just about every other type of build lately) you're going to want to go with Intel as opposed to AMD. The only time I'd suggest an AMD build honestly is a low budget HTPC build as the iGPU from the budget AMD CPU's is quite a bit better than the ones tacked on to the Celeron/Pentium lines (though usually the CPU could handle all playback tasks anyways so eh).

CPU: Intel Pentium G620 $64
Motherboard: ASRock H77M $70

And since it's an mATX board, save a bit more on the case and go with this Rosewill Ranger-M for $30.

Build total: $548.93 - $30 in rebates = $518.93

Since this comes in under budget (though not if you need a new Windows license) you could stand to upgrade any component you chose to really. You could get an i3 2100 instead for a decent upgrade, or move up to a 7870, or even just tack in a cheap SSD.

For a more precise build post the games that your mom currently plays and will likely play in the future, as well as whether or not you need a Windows license, and what type of work she does on the computer (I'm assuming basic Office programs + email).
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: to this build. A 7850 will do pretty well at 1080p as long as you don't insist on high levels of AA or absolute max details all the time (though you don't really have the budget for max details at 1080p anyway).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top