What is your minimum processor for basic (non-gaming) desktop?

[cbn]

Please list processor type, RAM and whatever other details you would like to include.

EDIT: Just for clarification, hardware can be either new or used.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

man im using dat haswell pentium g3258 or whateva is called, 8 gig. i could get betta but this is fine fa what i do (no gaymes). i found that 4 gigs isnt enough to run 64 bit linux comfortably so 8 gig min for me

 

[waltchan]

Pentium G3220.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I agree with Oblama2009. G3258 (@ 3.8), 8GB DDR3-1600 (ok, my H81 mobo only allows DDR3-1400), makes a very snappy web-browsing rig. Currently have a 7950 installed too, which kind of makes this a "gaming rig", but I do DC with it instead.

 

[ninaholic37]

512MB RAM is ok, 1GB RAM is perfect (for me) without a page/swapfile

 

[jji7skyline]

The Intel Pentiums are great value, even the Celerons are ok if you're on a really really tight budget. My brother's G3258@3.8Ghz is awesome in games.

2GB would be the minimum amount of RAM for me, anything less and you start to feel the pain on any modern operating system.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

The i3 or FX-63xx or better. The Pentium AE is usable and adequate for most things but you'd become dated very quickly.

2GB is fine with a SSD/eMMC installed.

 

[jji7skyline]

The i3 or FX-63xx or better. The Pentium AE is usable and adequate for most things but you'd become dated very quickly.

2GB is fine with a SSD/eMMC installed.

The i3-4150 is faster than the i5-2400 in single-threaded and matches it in multi-threaded. Kinda puts into perspective how much computing performance has increased in the past few years.

On the other hand a Celeron G1820/G1840 performs similarly to a non-overclocked FX6300 in single-threaded operations and the i3-4150 is nearly as fast as the FX6300 in multi-threaded.

Since everyday-use computers are unlikely to utilise 6 cores, I think a Celeron/Pentium/i3 depending on your budget is a much better CPU than the FX-6300 unless you are running highly-threaded applications AND you're interested in overclocking.

 

[ggadrian]

Pentiums and celerons will be OK for most tasks, but to get an all around good experience I'd go with an i3 with 8GB of RAM even for a basic use computer.

If you are going to do anything more intensive consider getting an i5, sure they are expensive, but given the number of hours we spend in front of a computer it's worth to pay a little more for a more capable machine.

 

[NTMBK]

Athlon II X2 250, and a reasonably modern GPU (something like an R7 250) to get GPU accelerated video decode.

 

[waltchan]

For most bare-minimum basic processor regardless of age that competes okay with today's time, a Celeron G460 1.8GHz single-core w/ hyper-threading Sandy Bridge from 2011. It's an amazingly, affordable processor expecting to reach $10 used price on eBay by next year.
,
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+G460+%40+1.80GHz

Yes, it's only 1035, but 822 single-thread score is amazing for the $10 price.

 

[jji7skyline]

For most bare-minimum basic processor regardless of age that competes okay with today's time, a Celeron G460 1.8GHz single-core w/ hyper-threading Sandy Bridge from 2011. It's an amazingly, affordable processor expecting to reach $10 used price on eBay by next year.
,
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+G460+%40+1.80GHz

Yes, it's only 1035, but 822 single-thread score is amazing for the $10 price.

I think that Core2Duo or Core2Quad would be a better choice if buying used. You can get whole systems with monitors for $50.

 

[waltchan]

I think that Core2Duo or Core2Quad would be a better choice if buying used. You can get whole systems with monitors for $50.

Correct, but the LGA775's chipset only supports IDE SATA (no AHCI), some no SATA II, plus obsolete, slow Intel integrated graphics card (you can put in a PCI graphics card, but you will make it 2x more expensive than getting one of Sandy Bridge processor with built-in GPU). Also doesn't compete well for 2015 anymore (maybe in 2013 and before). I favor the Celeron G460 more. Plus, you can still buy new LGA1155 boards.

 

[nemesismk2]

my basic cpu is the amd athlon ii x2 270 Regor 3.4ghz with 4gb ddr3 memory gives me good cpu performance for windows 7 and windows xp.

 

[mikeymikec]

I wonder if the OP had new hardware in mind when asking the question.

 

[cbn]

I wonder if the OP had new hardware in mind when asking the question.

Can be new or old hardware.

 

[Flapdrol1337]

Not tried it, but I reckon the new raspberry pi would already be acceptable for just browsing.

I use a notebook with a core2duo and an intel graphics chip, works fine for everything but gaming.

 

[waltchan]

I wonder if the OP had new hardware in mind when asking the question.

Most likely new. Except for a used Celeron G460 processor, you can buy everything new for LGA1155 socket.

But with Core 2 Duo, you can only buy used LGA775 motherboard as the new ones are cost-prohibitive (over $80 for one MSI model), plus used IDE DVD burner drive, and used IDE hard drive if one LGA775 board (probably a lot) doesn't have a SATA connection.

 

[mikeymikec]

Can be new or old hardware.

I have customers who wanted Windows upgrades on PCs with single-core s939 Athlon 64s and they're happy with the results, (though the typical ones I was upgrading were dual-core Athlon 64 AM2 machines IIRC), and I think on almost every occasion I also swapped the HDD out for a WD Black (as well as more obvious things like upgrading the memory to a reasonable amount for Win7/8x).

When building new desktop PCs, the minimum I recommend is a Haswell Pentium, and I recommend that customers go for the Core i3-4330 (better graphics than lower i3s) if they have the budget.

 

[Blain]

What is your minimum processor for basic (non-gaming) desktop?

Please list processor type, RAM and whatever other details you would like to include.

My minimum desktop (non-gaming), configuration would be a Celeron J1900, 4GB's of memory, an SSD and some Linux distro.

 

[waltchan]

My minimum desktop (non-gaming), configuration would be a Celeron J1900, 4GB's of memory, an SSD and some Linux distro.

I was considering the J1900 over G460, actually, but then I found out the single-thread score is only 533 (not worth it, I think). :'(

 

[Seba]

Haswell Celeron and 4GB RAM. Integrated graphics. Preferably with a 120GB SSD.

 

[Blain]

I was considering the J1900 over G460, actually, but then I found out the single-thread score is only 533 (not worth it, I think). :'(

I've built a couple of J1900 rigs with SSD's and found them to be quite capable. Using a spinning platter HD would really cut down on the "snappy" factor.

 

[jji7skyline]

Correct, but the LGA775's chipset only supports IDE SATA (no AHCI), some no SATA II, plus obsolete, slow Intel integrated graphics card (you can put in a PCI graphics card, but you will make it 2x more expensive than getting one of Sandy Bridge processor with built-in GPU). Also doesn't compete well for 2015 anymore (maybe in 2013 and before). I favor the Celeron G460 more. Plus, you can still buy new LGA1155 boards.

Interesting points! I had in mind more of the later-gen E7xxx Core2Duos and such, but I can see where you're coming from. Some of the earlier C2D systems would be horribly out of date by today's standards. If you are able to find something like an E7500 powered system though, you'd be more likely to get a motherboard with SATA2 HDD and ODD. Additionally, the built-in GPUs weren't too bad back then (although it depended on the motherboard which is where the iGPUs were built into back then).

I can also see the appeal of being able to buy a LGA1155 motherboard so that you can possibly upgrade to a better CPU when Sandy/Ivy prices go down and also have the latest technologies such as USB3 and SATA3.

I guess it really depends on what your budget is. Is it $50 or $100 or $150.

 

[waltchan]

I can also see the appeal of being able to buy a LGA1155 motherboard so that you can possibly upgrade to a better CPU when Sandy/Ivy prices go down and also have the latest technologies such as USB3 and SATA3.0.

That's right, it's going to be a big buy used market. All the LGA1155 processors are in borderline facing 80% depreciation costs within the next 3 years after LGA1152 socket come out.

Over 85% of used LGA775 processors on eBay now cost less than $5 shipped, up to Core 2 Duo E7500. All Pentium 4s and Ds listed are $2-$3 each. Only Core 2 Duo E8400 and above are at least $8 and have some value, with E8600 highest at $30 (stay away from E8600, E8500 is only $13 and much better buy). LGA1155 is next in-line for $5 whenever the time comes. ()