Low Budget $300-$400 Build

[ccubed]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
Internet, email, playing music, Netflix streaming, nothing too intense.

2. What YOUR budget is
$300 - $400.

3. What country
USA, Southern California with access to both Fry’s and Microcenter. I would actually prefer MC for ease of any returns that might come up.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
Not really, although tending towards Intel.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Keyboard, mouse, monitor, and speakers. Just need the actual core system.

6 . IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Very minor overclocking if any at all.

7. What resolution will you be using?
1680 x 1050.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
As soon as possible. Not waiting for next gen of any of the parts.

 

[frozentundra123456]

You might be better off in this case just to buy an off the shelf system. Maybe from Dell outlet or a good sale at best buy, microcenter, etc. Unless you have a windows license or plan to run linux, windows alone will cost 100.00, which wont leave much for the rest of the components.

 

[richaron]

You might be better off in this case just to buy an off the shelf system. Maybe from Dell outlet or a good sale at best buy, microcenter, etc. Unless you have a windows license or plan to run linux, windows alone will cost 100.00, which wont leave much for the rest of the components.

This.

I recently went a couple of months running off a ~2yr old budget netbook (it was around $400 new). Plugged in a proper monitor/keyboard/mouse & it was fine for everything you listed. Plus you can unplug it!

 

[DesiPower]

You can infact look at a Sandy Bridge Pentium build

CPU - G620 - $65
Mobo Asrock H67 - $90
Case - CM, Antec, whatever - 40$
PSU - $40
RAM - 4GB - $25
HDD - 500 - 750GB - $80
DVD RW - $20

That totals $360, for another $50 you can get a i3 CPU... You can even for for a cheaper H61 mobo, wont be much different in performance. that way you can do i3 and still be under $400. not sure if you need OS, if you do then well, you will be better off buying off the shelf.
Since you have Microcenter, you can actually save $50 over the price I mentioned above...

 

[zardthebuilder]

if you want to gain experience, do the build yourself instead of buying a pre-build. i'm a beginner and the more experience the better.

i was going to draft a sample budget, until i saw DesiPower's post.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

^not enough money=not a good build compared to prebuilt=bad

 

[DesiPower]

^not enough money=not a good build compared to prebuilt=bad

I prebuild would cost the same if OP wants a new one, but it will have OS, but no flexibility in terms of adding components down the line...

Since OP posted here, I am assuming he seeks the thrill or building one himself... cant put a price tag on that!

 

[zardthebuilder]

You can infact look at a Sandy Bridge Pentium build

CPU - G620 - $65
Mobo Asrock H67 - $90
Case - CM, Antec, whatever - 40$
PSU - $40
RAM - 4GB - $25
HDD - 500 - 750GB - $80
DVD RW - $20

That totals $360, for another $50 you can get a i3 CPU... You can even for for a cheaper H61 mobo, wont be much different in performance. that way you can do i3 and still be under $400. not sure if you need OS, if you do then well, you will be better off buying off the shelf.
Since you have Microcenter, you can actually save $50 over the price I mentioned above...

if the OP does need an OS, $60 can be shaved by buying a case/PSU combo for $50 (save $30) and the forementioned H61 for $60 (another $30 savings).

 

[mfenn]

This.

Thirded. You can get a Dell Inspiron or Vostro from the outlet with Windows 7 and warranty for sub $400.

 

[piasabird]

$400 is kind of cheap. Maybe look at dell outlet for a refurb unit.

 

[piasabird]

Here is a Dell Inspiron 620. It uses the cheaper Intel G630, but it sells for 399.99.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&model_id=inspiron-620

It is hard to beat this if you have to buy an operating system. If you saved just a little more you could get the same thing or similar with an i-3 2120 in the slim version for $499

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...4&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&model_id=inspiron-620

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Hitting a $400 budget for a good computer with quality parts including OS is easy. This will be able to run all normal programs at good speed, and the components are of much higher quality than you'd find in an OEM computer.

LG 24X DVD Burner: $17
Rosewill R101-P-K MicroATX Case: $30
Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB: $80 with code EMCNGHC7
Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W: $45
G.Skill 4GB (1x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz: $20
Biostar H61MGC MicroATX: $50
Intel Celeron G530 Dual-Core: $52
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit: $100

Total: $394
Including shipping: $408

For this much you can get a good system inc. OS. The Celeron G530 is quite fast for most tasks, and its speed is comparable to an Athlon II X2 260. It's also very power efficient.

The motherboard, while it doesn't have a ton of features, it's still better than what you'll find on a budget OEM PC. Most don't have DVI or any other digital video outputs, for example (and I know this, I've worked retail). You also have a BIOS in which you can actually tweak some settings. The reviews seem very good, too.

The Power Supply is something you should never skimp on when building a computer, and the NEO ECO line have Seasonic as the OEM and feature Japanese capacitors and are efficient. Unlike the PSUs in OEM computers, which are labeled as being "250-300" W but can deliver only around 150-200W, the 400C can handle 400W with ease. It's fan is also quiet.

For this kind of setup it's better to use one single RAM stick because you can get good capacity and in the future you can add another if needed. It runs at normal 1333MHz speed, which is the max H61 will enable.

The Spinpoint F3 is reliable, decently fast, and quiet. Not much more to add there.

The case is of a MicroATX size, so it'll take little space but have adequate room for a MicroATX board and all the components. It's also the best reviewed budget case.

The DVD Burner is obviously so you can install Windows and your other programs, and it's the cheapest model on Newegg and has good read/write speeds.

Don't buy budget OEM crap. They use horrible, locked-down motherboards, horrible PSUs, horrible cases, have almost no upgrade-ability, and an OS install that's riddled with bloatware.

 

[zardthebuilder]

and pay attention to the hot deals forum. for example, microcenter has a combo deal like this one:

"BASICALLY if you buy the fx4100 for 99 the mobo is free"

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2236555

 

[T_Yamamoto]

and pay attention to the hot deals forum. for example, microcenter has a combo deal like this one:

"BASICALLY if you buy the fx4100 for 99 the mobo is free"

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2236555

this is a fairly good deal

 

[justaguy168]

I basically agree with LOL_Wut_Axel. A lot of these issues have also been addressed in my thread here. The cel-ray chip does seem to be the way to go for a build you own solution. That having been said a re-furb Dell with limited warranty has it attractions.

 

[Hubb1e]

OEM is fine for a system that will never game. As soon as you want to play any graphics intensive game, build it yourself or you're stuck with a crappy PSU that can only power a 7750. You seem to be able to get decent CPUs in OEM systems, but as soon as you want to drop in more than a 6450 graphics card, the prices skyrocket on OEMs.