Budget build for poor man.

[gerry410]

Hey all, I wanna put a low budget pc together for my girlfriend. She's big on facebook, itunes and photos. I don't need a good video card or a powerful processor. I don't wanna go overboard if its not necessary. Any advise on appropriate hardware for the needs is appreciated.


Approximate Purchase Date: May, 2011

Budget Range: from $400.00 to $600.00 After Rebates

System Usage : surfing the internet, itunes, u tube

Preferred Website: newegg.com, micro center, directron

Country of Origin: USA

I'm not sure what processor is best. It's not going to be a gaming rig but more for general use.

Overclocking: No

Tanks y'all

 

[damasvara]

@dalauder: You don't need to feel like a jerk over some simple issue as this. Just try to express your thoughts less aggressively... :lol:

@hextech: Fine link, which points out my opinion as true, Since for the application that utilizes the number of cores,the Phenom "true" quad core is superior (Adobe Lightroom 3 benchmark). This also means that the better option for the OP is clear, which is the i3. Since his girlfriend can't possibly use the Lightroom software 😛

But for a dual core with virtual extra cores to be superior than a true quad core in almost every aspect is amazing by itself. Intel has set a very high standard for AMD to catch up. 😀

 

[dalauder]

I know, but it's a big thing for me personally to call someone stupid versus say what they did was stupid.

AMD's really only cost competitive for sub $260 builds with Athlon II x3's ($70) and cheaper.

 

[dalauder]

$59 8GB G.Skill 1600CL9 DDR3: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2879713

 

[addison]

The thing is if his girlfriend is browsing she doesn't need a good processor, so the intel would do just fine, but the amd is cheaper and intel and a little worse performance, My new build would be

MOBO and CPU: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7104082&CatId=4721 185.00$
GPU:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6899715&CatId=3669 75.00$ Just incase she games (you don't have to buy it)


HDD: 40.00$

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7332879&CatId=2459

PSU:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2227022&pagenumber=1&RSort=1&csid=ITD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart 35.00$

DVD: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=140649&CatId=480 30.00$

RAM:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7010612&CatId=3433 75.00

OS: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5213932&CatId=306 100$

Case: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6531504&Sku=C283-2094 50$ or http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2337812&CatId=1842 same price better air flow and take of ultra thing (this is the same case I have) It uses 120mm fans! and has a pre made mic and headset plugin with 2 usb on front great case deal!.

TOTAL: 590 (and taking away vid card) 515.00$ And with sata cabels and fan i say 560-570 or 530-550.


Oh and sorry Dalauder I didn't mean to yell at you, based to my info quad cores i guess are only good for gaming and that was made in like 2008 so I feel stupid, and your apology is accepted.

 

[geekapproved]

$59 8GB G.Skill 1600CL9 DDR3: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2879713

The reason I kept saying what Hot deals section is because in your other post you said Newegg's Hot Deals section, which doesn't exist.

 

[addison]

That is why I buy from tiger direct Newegg gave me the wrong memory module 2 times. Tiger direct is better by fare I NEVER had a wrong item sent to me.

 

[Subidoo]

Since you live near a Microcenter and don't need any high end stuff just the basic..

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0357448 ( GA-E350N-USB3 mITX Motherboard with AMD E-350 Dual Core Processor) It's a mobo and Processor bundle that can run 1080p. -149.99

 

[dalauder]

The reason I kept saying what Hot deals section is because in your other post you said Newegg's Hot Deals section, which doesn't exist.

I'd posted the link in Tom's Hot Deals section. But I simplified it to just link slickdeals there.

 

[dalauder]

Subidoo, he might not need high end, but can you really recommend an E-350 for $150 when an i3-2100 w/mobo is $190? An E-350 cannot handle everything she'll want to do in the next two years.

That E-350 is on par with Pentium D's from 2005. The i3-2100 is high end current AND cheap.

 

[genghiskron]

yeah i hear facebook 2 is gonna require a 6-core +gtx 580 MINIMUM.

 

[damasvara]

^ :lol: sarcastic, but funny...

 

[dalauder]

All I'm saying is that a Pentium 4 sucks and can't handle 1080p. What if she wants to watch a digital copy of 1080p 3D on her new 3D TV? An E-350 cannot handle it. That could happen next week. What do you think could happen in two years?

What if she wants to use Photoshop this year sometime? An E-350 can't handle it. The list keeps going on.

I'm not saying i7/GTX 570. I'm saying i3-2100 w/ integrated.

 

[dalauder]

Did anyone see how horribly bad my math was in my first post? I thought that added up to $411, but it was $514! Wow! I still stand by an i3-build though.

 

[addison]

Mine is the same but 515 intel is so much but worth it. Mine also includes a os did you see my new build? AMD pc are so much cheaper and about the same performance.

 

[addison]

He should just get this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=411222&CatId=3446

I mean if she is mainstreaming there is NO point for a I3 a pentium daul core will do just fine and save the budget he may also consider more ram though. And like a windows 7 home is only 100$. And the sata and such cable and the fan is like a extra 30-40$


Grand total :350$ perfect build for his needs does he really need a i3 for just main streaming lol?

 

[dalauder]

I completely disagree with the combo you linked for 1 important reason: It has a no-name PSU. It is dangerous to use a cheap PSU. Most of the time when components die, it is due to a bad PSU.

"AMD pc are so much cheaper and about the same performance." Please find me a benchmark that implies AMD wins on performance within $50 on price at any point. I love AMD, but it's bad advice until Llano gets wide release and Bulldozer comes out.

You're completely right that he doesn't need an i3. But do you think he'll need to upgrade that E5700 combo in two years? The answer is yes. And if he spends $250 again then, why not have spent $400 once and have a better computer the entire time? And to be completely clear, that build does not do video nearly as well as an i3 or include a DVD drive.

He said his budget was $400 to $600. Can you honestly tell me that the experience using an E5700 is the same as an i3-2100? Because I feel like the Q9400 I use at work is much worse than my home build. There are numerous areas where it makes a difference on a daily basis and my OC'd Q9400 blows an E5700 out of the water!

 

[addison]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=322880&CatId=332 Is this better it's a ultra power supply and a phenom 2 and has a pretty high GHZ but she doesn't need so much but I guess it's gonna be a REALLY fast pc LOL.

 

[addison]

Even comes with a 3 year warrenty and if you registar a life time!

 

[dalauder]

If you don't have a great review as a reference (see http://jonnyguru.com for examples), I wouldn't trust any PSU outside of Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, Silverstone, or XFX. There are also some more expensive lines like PC Power & Cooling that are consistently amazing.

Other brands tend to overrate their wattages (like a 600W that can only provide 350W is VERY common), have out of spec voltage fluctuation, and generally just damage your components over time.

Here's what kind of review your typical cheap PSU might get: http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=204

 

[damasvara]

^+1 Fine explanation...

 

[seraphimcaduto]

Since you said that the microcenter website is an option, can you go to a local micro center? If you can, they have a buy the AMD processor and get a motherboard free (or at a discount).

Hey all, I wanna put a low budget pc together for my girlfriend. She's big on facebook, itunes and photos. I don't need a good video card or a powerful processor. I don't wanna go overboard if its not necessary. Any advise on appropriate hardware for the needs is appreciated.


Approximate Purchase Date: May, 2011

Budget Range: from $400.00 to $600.00 After Rebates

System Usage : surfing the internet, itunes, u tube

Preferred Website: newegg.com, micro center, directron

Country of Origin: USA

I'm not sure what processor is best. It's not going to be a gaming rig but more for general use.

Overclocking: No

Tanks y'all

 

[dalauder]

^+1
Microcenter should always be your #1 option. It's got the best prices by quite a bit.

 

[genghiskron]

something tells me GERRY isnt coming back...

 

[dalauder]

haha...I should probably just close this thread.

 

[Deadstick50]

Well I for one thought that your geek bitch slapping session was completely un-called for, and Im not surprised you scared the poor guy off....he just needed a 'net mule for his GF and you all turned it into this??

BTW I wouldnt buy from Tiger D if they gave it away, bunch of hacks there... TTFN!