Is 600-700 reasonable?

motoxpress

Senior member
May 25, 2001
861
0
0
Is it a reasonable amount of budget to build for $600-700 or is it better to buy a pre-built? Priority is to do basic video/photo editing. Not really much gaming but, some HTPC functionality so HDMI output would be helpful.

Thoughts?
 

nwo

Platinum Member
Jun 21, 2005
2,308
0
71
Yep, I'd say that's definitely a good budget for you to put it all together. Although if you need to buy an OS and do not have any parts you can re-use, you might be able to save a few hundred bucks if you buy pre-built. If you have a MC nearby, then that's a different story.

So; do you have any parts you can re-use?
Do you need to buy an OS?
Do you have a Micro Center nearby?
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Well you could just go to www.dell.com and look at the components they are using for the computers and have an idea What is included in a retail computer. It depends what your expect in your computer build. Maybe make a list of prices it would cost to build a computer. A lot depends on the size of the case the amount of storage you need like hard drive or an SSD.

Another idea is to look at some of the builds on this website.

Just keep in mind Dell likes to build one size fits all with Win 8. Often Retail Computers are also yesterdays technology.

Just make a list and price it out.

I just built a computer with these kinds of parts:

I was going for using Wifi to be able to move my HDTV and computer around the house where I want it. I found it works well for streaming HULU etc.

CASE: Cooler Master 130 Elite MITX case $45
Pwr Supply: CX430 Modular $45
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z87N Wifi, Ver 2.0 (802.11ac/n) $129
CPU: Intel 4330 i3, 4 Meg Cache, HD Video 4600 $129
RAM: Gskill Ares 8 Gig (2 X 4 Gig) $70
Hard Drive: Western Digital Blue 1 TB $69 (Had to RMA) Takes like 14 Days
Optical Drive: Used DVD Free or $20-$50 (Maybe Blu-Ray)
OS Win 7 Home Premium $99 (Look for Sale)
Need keyboard/Mouse? Need to get Wireless Keyboard Logitech K400 $40?
Monitor: Using a HDTV.
Speakers: HDTV
Microphone: ???
Camera: ?? (Skype Use)??
Headphones: ??
 
Last edited:

motoxpress

Senior member
May 25, 2001
861
0
0
I do have Win 7 I am putting on it. Not really any parts to re-use as the previous computer was a laptop. I really like the idea of building as opposed to buying a sub-$500 computer because I am dubious about what they throw in.

AMD or Intel for this price range and performance/$?
 

nwo

Platinum Member
Jun 21, 2005
2,308
0
71
AMD or Intel for this price range and performance/$?

If you are going to use onboard graphics, go with and AMD APU since their IGPUs are several times faster than Intel's. If you are going to use a graphics card then go with Intel since their processors are several times faster than AMD.

Since you are not going to be gaming it doesn't really matter which route you choose. Unless you are willing to spend $$$ for an 8 core AMD, I'd say Intel is the way to go. Lower power consumption, less heat, and just overall much better single threaded performance.
 

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
If you are going to use onboard graphics, go with and AMD APU since their IGPUs are several times faster than Intel's.
Or, ignore the above, as it's not the case.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Core_i7_4770K_Haswell_GPU/11.html

AMD's IGP is faster, but not by enough to make up for the CPU performance difference, and especially so if not gaming. Several times faster was generations ago.

--

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H87M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($80.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($122.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Toshiba 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Corsair 350D MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $695.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-07 16:43 EST-0500)

That's hardly definitive, just a quick thrown together example, but I dare say you can do pretty good around $700, with no need to include an OS.
 
Last edited:

mfenn

Elite Member
Jan 17, 2010
22,400
5
71
www.mfenn.com
OP, when you say "my last computer was a laptop" does that mean that you need everything included in this build? As in, the PC itself, monitor, mouse, keyboard? What about OS, is your existing copy transferable (i.e. not an OEM version)?