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I got 300 bucks to build a budget desktop.

D

DarkLevisa

Junior Member
I haven't been a hard core enthusiast for over a decade and all of a sudden would like to get back into some desktop computing. I've owned a lot of notebooks in my absence from PC gaming and the hobby in general and have plenty of knowledge but kind of out of the loop when it comes to what hardware has the best price/perf ratio. Here is where I stand:

1. I'm in mid 30s and spent the 90s playing lots of simulation titles. SimCity 2K stole part of my middle school life. I also love WRPGs and 4X. Basically I want to play these genres and maybe some others. Just want to dip my toes back into the PC gaming water. Got my eyes on some Sims 3 and Medieval plus the new SimCity. Tropico 4 and Civ 5. Games like that. WRPGS too. I played Skyrim on console but mods and a second or third play thru is possible. Witcher looks appealing too.

2. Basic everyday tasks. Syncing my phones. Netflix and music downloads. Web surfing. PDF game guides for console games and maybe some of those nifty digital comic books. Notebook isn't cutting it anymore. I want a desktop for typical nerd core entertainment.

3. Here is what hardware I do have:

400 and 250GB SATA HDDs. Seagate. Both are 7200rpm, 3.0gb and 8MB cache. Good enough to get started I suppose.

2GB DDR2 memory. (2) 1GB sticks. 533Mhz I believe. Outdated I'm sure.

Radeon 3850 PCIe 512mb. Given to me from a friend. Not sure where it fits in today's gaming environment. Usable? 300 budget is strict folks.

HP2009 monitor. 1600x900 resolution. This is going to be my display. It's good enough for me. I can do 1080p on my HDTVs but this monitor will be primary display. I also have mouse and keyboard plus a Sony DVDRW drive.

300 bucks is firm. Not much room to deviate. I've browsed Newegg a little lately and obviously the entry level stuff is where I will and always be. I do want to have future options for upgraded but ill never be the kind of guy that buys those Core i7s and expensive GPU setups. Case aesthetics are unimportant. The cheapest case with a working PSU will do. I won't have a ton of peripherals. What I priced earlier was a Pentium G2020 with 4GB of the cheapest. DDR3 RAM. The following mobo and GPU :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=13-157-315

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tem=14-161-397

Is there a better AMD alternative? Is that card worth it or do I use the 3850 and wait til I can save up for a better one? Case and PSU too. I know the 40 dollar cases with PSUs included are a crapshoot but I'm willing to gamble and get a better power supply down the road. Thanks in advance for any advice. I knew Anandtech would be the place to seek help.
 
Don't use the DDR2, sell it. The hard drives are good.

The 3850 is pretty slow and obsolete tech. I would sell it.

The monitor is good.

Here's one suggestion:

AMD A8-6600K $110 or AMD A10-6800K $150 (see gaming performance)
GIGABYTE GA-F2A55M-HD2 Motherboard + CM Elite 430 ATX case $87 ($62 AR)
Crucial Ballistix Tactial 4GB 1600 CL8 1.35V $38 (OC and overvolt it for better gaming performance)
Corsair CX430M power supply $45 ($25 AR)
Reuse drives (provided they are all SATA, not IDE)
Reuse monitor, mouse and keyboard

All done for $280 ($235 after rebates) or $320 ($265 after rebates), depending on CPU. If you get the cheaper CPU, you can go straight for 2x4GB of RAM.

Later upgrade: SSD for a system drive.
 
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lehtv said:
Crucial Ballistix Tactial 4GB 1600 CL8 1.35V $38 (OC and overvolt it for better gaming performance)
Click to expand...

If you're going to be doing any gaming, getting a dual channel kit (f.x. 2x2GB) is mandatory to get acceptable performance. Also with APUs memory speed matters a good deal, 1600MHz should be considered the minimum required.

Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231474

DarkLevisa said:
So an AMD A8 or A10 integrated would provide better 3D than that 3850?
Click to expand...

Yes. The 6800K is roughly equivalent to a discrete HD6670 when using high speed (2133MHz) memory. As you can see here, a HD3870 gets completely thumped. The HD6670 is on average twice as fast...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/514?vs=613
 
Insert_Nickname said:
If you're going to be doing any gaming, getting a dual channel kit (f.x. 2x2GB) is mandatory to get acceptable performance. Also with APUs memory speed matters a good deal, 1600MHz should be considered the minimum required.

Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231474
Click to expand...

Point taken. If he can fit it in the budget, 2x4GB of the Crucial I linked would offer better $/GB. It can be OC'd to 2133 CL11 1.65V

Another option:

GeiL EVO Veloce 2x4GB 2133MHz CL10 1.65V $73. Basically this is 68% more expensive than ripjaws for 100% more capacity and 10% faster stock speed.

Unlike Intel, AMD isn't picky about RAM voltage so 1.65V is fine.
 
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INTEL build:

The ivy g2020 you have your eye on....might as well get the newer G3220 haswell $70.-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116950

MSI mobo $52.- ships free
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130731

Xigmatek case ($30.- shipped)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815035

Corsair power supply ($40.- free ship.....$20. after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

2x2 memory kit ($40.- free ship) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146748

Powercolor 7770 GPU $110.- $80- after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131488

$342.- before rebates $292 after.

The AMD builds above are nice too. I've always like the idea of using integrated graphics. This intel build takes a small hit on CPU with only 2 cores but makes up for it with way more powerful GPU. Also lots of upgrade potential.
 
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monkeydelmagico said:
Maybe an FX6300. Decent budget gaming chip with a bit of overclocking headroom. You've gotta have a dedicated graphics card though. Gaming requires it. Even the HIS 6670 you linked is going to outperform integrated graphics by a wide margin.http://www.techspot.com/review/418-amd-a8-3850-apu/page12.html
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Look here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a10-6700-a10-6800k-richland-review,3528-5.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a10-6700-a10-6800k-richland-review,3528-6.html

In some cases the IGP of the 6800K is actually faster then 6800K+HD6670 when using 2133MHz RAM. In other cases they are more or less equal even when the HD6670 is paired with an i3-3220. Not bad for an APU.

Anyway to the OP, a case could be made for an Athlon 750K (IGP-less A10-5700 very easy to get to 4GHz+) + HD7750.

If you take the 6800K out of lehtv's build and add these instead, for $10 more you get more or less twice the performance of the 6800K...

Athlon 750K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819113328

Radeon HD7750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131481
 
Insert_Nickname said:
Not necessarily. Look here:
Click to expand...

Agreed, that's why I quickly edited my post lol. As soon as I looked at some of the specs you and Lehtv were putting up for the AMD build it made the FX build i was working on seem silly.

I'd say the 750k and a 7750 offers very good power and balance CPU vs GPU. Put the Powercolor 7770 GPU $110.- $80- after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131488 on the build list and that is probably the best build yet in this thread.
 
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Wish I had the flexibility to wait on rebates but my budget has to be met without including them. Tight fit I know. The deal is that I have a 300 prepaid Visa that had to pay for everything. I'm really leaning towards the AMD setup. I could definitely deal with the APU graphics until I can afford a better discrete card.

A8 and 8GB of RAM? Or will the A10 and 4GB be fine for now? Don't think I can fit 8GB and that in my budget
 
4G will be fine for now. But the suggested motherboards all just have two RAM slots.
You can get 2x2G for better performance.
Or you can get 1x4G and then fill the second slot later (with a second stick of the same RAM) for easier future expansion.

Though, you can probably sell the 2x2G for a couple bucks when you're done with it for a reasonable compromise.
-M
 
DarkLevisa said:
A8 and 8GB of RAM? Or will the A10 and 4GB be fine for now? Don't think I can fit 8GB and that in my budget
Click to expand...

I'd suggest A8 with 8GB RAM. The A10 does not really add enough performance to be a worthwhile purchase when you're on such a tight budget.

I recommend you read this article to get a sense of where the various APUs are in relation to each other. Since you mentioned primarily older titles, I'd strongly suspect you can get by with "just" the A8-6600K.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-richland-intel-haswell-gpu.html

mjd said:
Or you can get 1x4G and then fill the second slot later (with a second stick of the same RAM) for easier future expansion.
Click to expand...

I simply can't stress enough why you don't want to do that with an AMD APU. The manual for my own GA-F2A85XN-WIFI even has a notice sticker: "for best performance with HD video, use minimum dual channel DDR3-1333"... 😵
 
I suggest the affordable FM2 750k 1x 4GB and a real video card like the Radeon 7770.

The Intel Celeron route will be faster for single-threaded Facebook games, but the AMD quad will be better overall and in the long run.
 
Blue_Max said:
I suggest the affordable FM2 750k 1x 4GB and a real video card like the Radeon 7770.

The Intel Celeron route will be faster for single-threaded Facebook games, but the AMD quad will be better overall and in the long run.
Click to expand...

+1: I'm also in the Athlon x4/discrete graphics bandwagon. OC that baby to 4+ GHz and you'll have no problems 😛. A Pentium/Celeron are great alternatives, but if OP ever decides to play a more "core-demanding" game like BF3/4, he may have some issues. If not, a G3220 or G3420 would do fine.
 
Last edited:
Dedicated graphics and a better CPU are definitely something I have in mind for down the road. Right now I just want to get started with a good foundation while I have this spare loot to work with.

With AMD and FM2 what kind of board is best if I'm looking towards future expansion with the goal of playing modern games? Mind you I won't be looking to max out Battlefield 4 at 2560x1600 just want good details at my current HD+ and possibly 1080P on a panel. The idea of getting a better case and power supply with my money and getting an A8 for now sounds appealing. Then getting a better GPU when I have the money later. I am DEFINITELY interested in doing some overclocking to maximize my performance one day. Is the A-series good for that with the right cooling?

From the looks of things the best non-graphics integrated CPU is an Athlon X4 on FM2. Correct? I guess what I'm wondering is if there will be processors with FX type performance on FM2 eventually. As far as chipset do I get A85X or will A55 suffice? Sorry about all the questions. :\
 
monkeydelmagico said:
Agreed, that's why I quickly edited my post lol. As soon as I looked at some of the specs you and Lehtv were putting up for the AMD build it made the FX build i was working on seem silly.

I'd say the 750k and a 7750 offers very good power and balance CPU vs GPU. Put the Powercolor 7770 GPU $110.- $80- after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131488 on the build list and that is probably the best build yet in this thread.
Click to expand...

I would second this recommendation. A discrete HD7750 would give about twice the performance of an apu. I consider it the minimun for gaming in current titles at anything over 720p. A HD7770 would be even better if the budget allows.

If I were determined to use an APU I would try to wait for Kaveri (whenever it comes, supposedly in early 2014), as it should be somewhat faster than the 6800k, and would be the first APU with gcn architecture, so IF mantle provided any benefit, it could use it.

Edit: I see you want to buy right away, so I guess waiting for Kaveri is not an option. I still would recommend going the athlon x4 and HD7750 route though.
 
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Wow that Xigamatek case looks amazing for $30. Definitely appears to be more "premium" than other cases in that price range. Thanks to whomever suggested it. Getting the 750K plus a 7750 would mean that I'd have to skimp on case, power supply and memory to meet my budget. I've got bonuses coming up around Christmas and will have some disposable income to get a card in the 78xx range along with some aftermarket cooling so I can overclock. The Corsair PSU suggested looks nice but the Lepa is 500W and a few bucks cheaper. I hear they make a solid power supply. Thoughts?

Alright so here is what I've ended up with based on suggestions ITT:

Xigmatek case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811815035

Biostar A85X mainboard.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138369

Lepa PSU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817494002

G.SKILL DDR3 1866 2x2GB:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231474

A8-6600K:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113333

$275 before shipping. Damn I'm getting excited. Any further advice or suggestions would be welcome.
 
This is what I recommend, given that you need to buy right now:

AMD Athlon X4 750K 3.4GHz: $80
BIOSTAR Hi-Fi A85S3 Motherboard: $53
4GB (1x4GB) Crucial Ballistix Tactical DDR3-1600 CAS 8: $38
HIS Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB: $90
Rosewill Galaxy-02 Case w/Rosewill RG530S12 80 Plus Bronze PSU: $79.98
Subtotal: $288
Total with shipping: $293

That's as good as you're gonna get keeping under the set price. It's better to get an Athlon X4 instead of a Pentium. Two threads just don't cut it these days for gaming, and if you ever find yourself needing to run a heavier program those extra two threads are gonna pay dividends in multi-threaded performance.

You don't get to sacrifice much, either way. You get a motherboard with goodies like USB 3 and SATA 3 in case you want to upgrade to an SSD, 4GB of fast and low-timing RAM, an HD 7770GHz which will stomp on an HD 7750 DDR3 and any APU, and a case with decent ventilation and USB 3 coupled with a good-quality PSU.
 
I think OP should wait for that bonus of his to arrive. If the anticipation is unbearable, I still think that a 750k/7770 is a much better build than a A8/1866 RAM. The gaming performance doesn't compare.

When OP gets the extra money, selling the 7770 to recoup losses and buying a heftier GPU would be a splendid idea.
 
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Insert_Nickname said:
Not necessarily. Look here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a10-6700-a10-6800k-richland-review,3528-5.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/a10-6700-a10-6800k-richland-review,3528-6.html

In some cases the IGP of the 6800K is actually faster then 6800K+HD6670 when using 2133MHz RAM. In other cases they are more or less equal even when the HD6670 is paired with an i3-3220. Not bad for an APU.

Anyway to the OP, a case could be made for an Athlon 750K (IGP-less A10-5700 very easy to get to 4GHz+) + HD7750.

If you take the 6800K out of lehtv's build and add these instead, for $10 more you get more or less twice the performance of the 6800K...

Athlon 750K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819113328

Radeon HD7750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131481
Click to expand...

The charts you linked from Toms Hardware are for a DDR3 HD6670. The OP posted a link to a GDDR5 HD6670, which I think it is fair to say would be faster than the A10 in all games. In any case, the HD7750 is the way to go.
 
LOL_Wut_Axel said:
AMD Athlon X4 750K 3.4GHz: $80
BIOSTAR Hi-Fi A85S3 Motherboard: $53
4GB (1x4GB) Crucial Ballistix Tactical DDR3-1600 CAS 8: $38
HIS Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB: $90
Rosewill Galaxy-02 Case w/Rosewill RG530S12 80 Plus Bronze PSU: $79.98
Subtotal: $288
Total with shipping: $293
Click to expand...

Best build yet. 😀

RayTheKing said:
I think OP should wait for that bonus of his to arrive. If the anticipation is unbearable, I still think that a 750k/7770 is a much better build than a A8/1866 RAM. The gaming performance doesn't compare.
Click to expand...

Definitely. To avoid any misunderstandings, I think I should point out that my reservations on non-dualchannel only apply if you're going to use the IGP. If you're just going to use the CPU portion (750K), then any cheap single channel 1333MHz memory is good enough.

frozentundra123456 said:
The charts you linked from Toms Hardware are for a DDR3 HD6670. The OP posted a link to a GDDR5 HD6670, which I think it is fair to say would be faster than the A10 in all games. In any case, the HD7750 is the way to go.
Click to expand...

Well as I wrote "not necessarily". Of course the GDDR5 version brings some extra performance to the table. I'm just not sure its enough to be worthwhile. The GDDR5 version of the 6670 is roughly equal to a GT640. Which is an awful lot slower then a HD7750...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/535?vs=612

In all cases it going to be a trade off. I really don't recommend APUs unless you're on a seriously tight budget or can't fit a graphics card in your case.
 
If you are planning on gaming with a tight budget, a 750K is a great cpu for its price, it gives you more flexibility in oc'ing and using a gpu instead of IGP. Plus you get a quad core which is always helpful when dealing with some programs. For gaming a 7770 is a great entry level gpu. Also, with a 750K you don't need to get faster memory and save you a few bucks.
 
pcsavvy said:
If you are planning on gaming with a tight budget, a 750K is a great cpu for its price, it gives you more flexibility in oc'ing and using a gpu instead of IGP. Plus you get a quad core which is always helpful when dealing with some programs. For gaming a 7770 is a great entry level gpu. Also, with a 750K you don't need to get faster memory and save you a few bucks.
Click to expand...

Going with the 1600MHz CAS 8 RAM costs only $1 more than the 1333MHz CAS 9 cheap stuff, so might as well.
 
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