$500 Craig's List desktop - What should I look for?

[hobkirk]

What should I look for with a $400-500 budget? My target is a Win 10 system in a PC filled with very good components that are 2-4 (?) years old that will run most new games w/ 2 or 3 SVGA 19" screens. More details below, if you care.

1) CPU - Intel i5 or i7? AMD A8, FX?

2) Video - Tom's budget build systems is my main source, but it'd be too hard to figure out what was hot 2 or 3 years ago and whether it would work OK with today's Need for Speed or whatever. I don't have and don't plan to get a 4K screen.

3) Windows - OK to accept 7 or 8 Pro? ...as long as the hardware meets Win 10 upgrade test? Avoid Enterprise edition?

4) RAM
5) SSD - not needed for my modest demands?
6) Anything else?

Thanks, thanks!

--------------------------------
BACKGROUND

I need a new Windows 10 PC to replace my antiquated desktop XP (dated decent PC - Quad 2.4, 3 GB, 3 HD's, bridged dual ATI 2600 XT video cards, Win XP). I figure I should be able to find a decent used PC for $400-500 on Craig's List or eBay or wherever. But I don't know what's good anymore. Lots of guys here do know, so I ask: what should I look for in a PC I buy on Craig's List (or wherever)?

My days as a computer hotshot are long past (I was a full time programmer, boss, teacher until 1980, I had one of the first IBM XT's, then 386, then Pentium. I've sold and installed SCO Unix systems in the 1990's.) Now I am just an old duffer, so I am asking for your suggestions.

I haven't done much gaming other than quick logic games (Free Cell [3 minutes average], Web Sudoku [10 minutes @ Evil], crosswords), but I want to play GTA, racing, "Creed," etc. I have 3 screens (1280x1024), although I'm only using 2.

It seems smart to dump XP and move into the new world, so I plan on ending up with Win 10 Pro. I'd like the machine to have the power to run mainstream games and support 3 (2 might be OK) screens. Since I don't need state of the art, it seems like I should be able to buy a used PC from someone who does need cutting edge system.

 

[Martin1982]

No apu's
Can you put it together yourself?
You can build a decent gaming pc for 500$

If not look for an intel cpu minimum an i3
8 GB ram a decent gpu minimum a gtx 750ti or a r7 270x on the amd side.

An ssd is nice to have but not a must.

 

[mjslakeridge]

I personally would be a little bit hesitant to buy a used PC on Ebay or Craigslist. You have no way of knowing whether the previous owner overclocked the heck out of it or somehow abused it. Plus there is the personal safety issue of meeting someone to buy on Craigslist. If you do go that route, bring someone else along (who is not also an "old duffer"), and set up the meeting in a neutral place and don't flash your cash around until you have possession of the pc. Years ago, I have bought guitar amps and other musical equipment and met up with the seller in their house, but I probably wouldn't do that nowadays, even though I am 6'1", 225 lbs and trained in martial arts.

That all being said, for $500 you could build a pretty decent system using new parts. I am not an expert in suggesting builds, but others here on Tom's certainly are. You definitely want to migrate away from XP, as Microsoft quit doing security updates to that platform almost 2 years ago. I have one Windows 8 Pro system, and a Windows 7 Pro system, both with Windows Media Center which I really like to record TV programs and watch later. Sadly, Windows 10 will no longer have Windows Media Center.

 

[Martin1982]

You can get win 10 pro from kingguin for 20$
Here is a video that shows how.

https://youtu.be/yXTqz3Fd28M

 

[Martin1982]

Linus on a best buy pc https://youtu.be/Clrj_lSDvzQ

 

[hobkirk]

No apu's
Can you put it together yourself?
You can build a decent gaming pc for 500$

If not look for an intel cpu minimum an i3
8 GB ram a decent gpu minimum a gtx 750ti or a r7 270x on the amd side.

An ssd is nice to have but not a must.

Excellent reply! Exactly what I wanted. Which GTX or Radeon card or CPU as a minimum, etc.
Also interesting reply about Win 10 on the cheap.

Build it myself? I've been building PC's since Intel released 386 chips and I have cases and power supplies and misc. I also have 2 SATA HD's. But my concern on building:

■Do modern MB's fit into old cases? Do they accept ATX 24-pin power supplies? (obviously I can check it out)
■The cheapest i3 chip is $120, and $180 for an i5 (quick glance at Newegg) plus $80 (?) for a MB
■Wow, memory has dropped. $40 for 8GB
■So, assuming the case and PS and HD's are OK, that's $120 (i3) + $80 + $40 + $140 for Windows 10 = $380 (I need to think about getting Windows through a Hong Kong questionable source).
■That's $120 for a graphics card.
■Which it turns out is possible. Newegg's cheapest Radeon is an R9 and too expensive, but they have a GTX 750 for $105

Thanks. More ideas to think about.

 

[mjslakeridge]

Stay away from those sketchy sites offering a cheap version of Windows. They are probably selling stolen or bogus keys. Windows may install, but when Microsoft tries to authenticate it in a few days or weeks, it will not be able to and you will be out of luck.

 

[Martin1982]

If you just want to browse the internet and watch YouTube you will be fine with the integrated gpu in any new intel chip. This wil save alot of money.

Any atx cabinet should fit a atx mb

I have bought 5 Keys to five different systems from kingguin all activated and accepted. I build systems next to my work.

Try to get a new and good Psu if possible. This is often forgotten even in huge expensive systems.

 

[Martin1982]

Component Selection Base Promo Shipping Tax Price Where
CPU

Intel Core i3-6300 3.8GHz Dual-Core Processor
$149.99 $149.99 Directron
Buy
CPU Cooler Choose A CPU Cooler
Motherboard

Asus H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
$58.99 $58.99 SuperBiiz
Buy
Memory

Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
$44.99 FREE $44.99 Newegg
Buy
Add Additional Memory
Storage

Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
$39.99 Free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime $39.99 Amazon
Buy
Add Additional Storage
Video Card Choose A Video Card
Case

Rosewill FBM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case
$29.99 Free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime $29.99 Amazon
Buy
Power Supply

Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
$44.99 -$20.00 FREE $24.99 Newegg
Buy
$20.00 mail-in rebate
Optical Drive Choose An Optical Drive
Operating System Choose An Operating System
Software Choose Software
Monitor Choose A Monitor
External Storage Choose External Storage
Expansion Cards / Networking
Add Expansion Cards / Networking ...
Sound Cards, Wired Network Adapters, Wireless Network Adapters
Peripherals
Add Peripherals ...
Headphones, Keyboards, Mice, Speakers
Accessories / Other
Add Accessories / Other ...
Case Fans, Fan Controllers, Thermal Compound, UPS Systems
Custom Add Custom Part
Base Total: $368.94
Mail-in Rebates: -$20.00
Total: $348.94

 

[hobkirk]

Component Selection Base Promo Shipping Tax Price Where
CPU Intel Core i3-6300 3.8GHz Dual-Core Processor $149.99
Motherboard Asus H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard $58.99 SuperBiiz Buy
Memory Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory $44.99
Storage Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $39.99
Video Card Choose A Video Card
Power Supply Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply $44.99 -$20.00 $24.99 Newegg
Total: $348.94

That's freaking amazing!

So why did you skip the graphics card? That's actually the main component I know little about beyond "GTX750ti or Radeon R7 270x or better" (well, I sort of knew the GTX750ti was good)

OUTSTANDING WORK!

 

[Martin1982]

I skipped it if you don't need it. If you only use your pc for YouTube, browse the internet the integrated gpu in the i3 will do fine.
The gtx 750ti / 950 will handle games in 1080p.