Build Advice Budget family PC

[ohio_buckeye]

Thinking of tossing together a family/budget pc for my parents for Christmas time to replace their old HP with an i5 2500 I think.

I’ve already got an older case that’s in nice shape to repurpose, as well as a spare 750 watt modular PowerSpec power supply from microcenter. This won’t be a gaming pc, more like a check email and eBay system, but I’ve already got the parts. Thinking of grabbing this board

https://www.microcenter.com/product/627671/asrock-a520m-hdv-amd-am4-matx-motherboard

I found I can get a ryzen 3 4300g for about 60 bucks US on eBay, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got a stock ryzen cooler kicking around somewhere that may not even be used.

16gb of ddr4 and whatever cheap 1tb nvme I can pick up for storage. Anything I’m missing? Of course I need to get windows. Just thinking of something I can build on a budget that’s faster than what they’ve got. Has anyone used the 4300g? I’ve used a lot of ryzen CPUs but not that one. Keep in mind dad pretty much checks his email and eBay on it so doesn’t have to be a speed demon.

 

[bill001g]

It takes almost nothing to read web pages and watch youtube. The tiny cpu in a tv can do that.

The 4300g is a strange cpu that they only used to sell in bulk to companies like dell or hp.

A actual windows license is going to cost you a massive percentage of your total build costs. Maybe just leave it unregistered or use linux instead. From a simple web surfing there is not going to be much difference.

You might want to look at something like a raspberry pi 5 if you could get one. There are other similar boxes that you can put together for about $150-$200 total when you add in the cases/powersupply etc.

 

[Order 66]

The tiny cpu in a tv can do that.

how powerful are the CPUs in TVs? I have always wondered, but of course it isn't really possible to run benchmarks on a TV.

 

[geofelt]

Older family may not be thrilled to have to change how they do things.
They have their photos and emails, and a familiar way of doing things.
You will not become their PC tech and will constantly be called on to fix things.
If the HP pc is using a Hard drive, you can magically transform the performance by installing a SSD.
You can clone the HDD to a SSD and nothing else but performance will change.
Perhaps up the ram size if it is deficient.

 

[USAFRet]

how powerful are the CPUs in TVs? I have always wondered, but of course it isn't really possible to run benchmarks on a TV.

That has nothing to do with the statement he made. And they are not directly comparable to PC CPUs. They are purpose built things.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

The hp has an ssd. I’m already the family pc tech anyway bring their kid they always call me with a question if needed. Though mom and dad are pretty savvy and almost never need tech help. With Christmas coming just thinking of something I can do on a budget. Got some ideas.

On a side note play around with chrome os flex. I’m actually a tech but we support a Bible college also and they are getting some of our old PCs we’ve been cycling out due to age. We’ve got some of the older Microsoft surface studio desktop systems that we are going to likely try with chrome os flex in the library to give them a new lease on life. For email and research it should be fine for that I’d think.

 

[punkncat]

I used that same motherboard for a recent budget build around a 3600. It seems to do the job well enough, and it isn't a bad looking board if you can't help but find (or have) the typical windowed case. I would triple check on the CPU for the BIOS compatibility.

I utilized this RAM:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QV1V17R/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A25SITGFW0OQJA&psc=1

It was a few dollars cheaper at the time, but booted up fine and had no issue setting XMP.

Also used the Crucial P3 Plus for a very inexpensive M.2 NVMe drive, like so:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B25NTRGD/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

Prices have been doing a slow creep Northward the last few weeks. I figure it is probably the increase to then decrease for Black Friday like it is some kind of deal. On the build I did I cut corners on the PSU, but whole build with case and OS came in at ~$350 using a graphics card already on hand from the previous build. For the use case you mention it would be absolute overkill, which is fine, and particularly for the price.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

So reviving this thread a bit. I currently have a pc with the following specs.

Ryzen 5 5500
Asus b450 prime II micro atx board
32gb ddr4 3200
Rx 5600xt 6gb
Corsair rmx 850 watt.

Considering rebuilding my pc in another case and using my old power supply and a low power gpu something passively cooled preferably in the realm of a gt1030 etc.

If I did that I wonder for under 300 what I could do regarding a cpu/board upgrade. I’m near microcenter so I would have access to something like a 5600x3d which I’ve considered. But how would an i5 12400 or 13400 etc compare? Haven’t put an Intel rig together in a while but am curious.

 

[Lafong]

In single thread performance, per Passmark benchmark:

12400 about 10 percent above 5600x3d

13400 about 15 percent above.

Multi thread:

12400 about 11 percent below

13400 about 14 percent above

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Hm. Something to think on then since the x3d would be a little above my current 5500. Even if I went for the 12400 it would still let me go to 14th gen later.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

So I wonder if I were to get this board

https://www.microcenter.com/product/662424/asrock-b760m-pro-rs-d4-intel-lga-1700-microatx-motherboard

And this 13400 for 189 if that would be a worthwhile upgrade.

https://www.microcenter.com/product/662148/Core_i5-13400_Raptor_Lake_25GHz_Ten-Core_LGA_1700_Boxed_Processor_-_Heatsink_Included

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Or would I be better served with a 12400 at 149 due to my current gpu?

 

[Lafong]

If you bought the 12400 or 13400, would you likely want to upgrade to a 14xxx CPU later?

Or would you stick with the 12400/13400 until you again changed to a 15th generation motherboard with a newer socket?

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Hm. Something to think on then since the x3d would be a little above my current 5500. Even if I went for the 12400 it would still let me go to 14th gen later.

Skip 12th gen and 14th gen, get a 13th Gen (and overclock it if need be). Money saved. Time saved.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

In the case of the 13400, is the stock cooler adequate and can you even overclock it? Been building PCs for years but not any Intel systems for personal use so my knowledge there is limited to prebuilt.

Starting to look at the 13400 and this board as Microcenter shows one open box as an rtv return for 75. I would not prefer gigabyte but on the other hand that's a tempting price and it looks like the back plate is built into the board so as long as it's working.....

https://www.microcenter.com/product/646053/B660M_AORUS_PRO_AX_DDR4_Intel_LGA_1700_microATX_Motherboard

 

[bill001g]

Most the non "k" sku cpu come with coolers and they will keep the processor from hitting the thermal limit in most cases. You need to have the k cpu to overclock and also why you need the proper motherboard with the correct chipset and power to overclock.

Which motherboard you pick is mostly a personal preference when you are not looking to overclock them. Mostly it depends if it has the number of pcie and m.2 slots you want. And then you have the very subjective things like color of the board and led.

The 1700 series of motherboards has been around for a fairly long time so most the manufacturing issues are gone. You can even risk buy those strange boards direct from china that have unusual paint themes and likely be ok.

Buy any used motherboard is a risk even though microcenter has a good return policy. I would very carefully examine the socket since that is easily damaged. I would take a photo of it with your phone and then zoom it so you can see all the pins. Make sure all the pins look the same.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Ok one other question.. 2 actually. They’ve got the 12600k for 10 bucks more. Worth it? Guys on YouTube seem to think they trade blows but I’ve not used either one.

Also, if I went for a 12600k, any budget cooler for it maybe a low profile if I’m not overclocking asi do usually tend to stay stock mostly.

 

[Lafong]

Ok one other question.. 2 actually. They’ve got the 12600k for 10 bucks more. Worth it? Guys on YouTube seem to think they trade blows but I’ve not used either one.

Also, if I went for a 12600k, any budget cooler for it maybe a low profile if I’m not overclocking asi do usually tend to stay stock mostly.

"they".....

12600k and 13400??

They are very close; both 6 P cores and 4 E cores. Small benchmark edge to 12600k; maybe 3 to 5 percent. Likely unnoticeable unless you live and die by benchmarks.

I would shy away from a low profile cooler unless you already own one or unless your case is too narrow to accept a traditional single tower cooler. Temp difference with low profile "down blowing" coolers can be 5 to 10 degrees. But if you are not excitable by coolers, probably OK. The better ones aren't necessarily cheaper than a standard single tower.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Sorry, I say they I mean microcenter. I have one about 40 minutes away which is likely where I’ll be purchasing from.

 

[Lafong]

I meant your second use of "they".

"they trade blows".

But maybe you meant Microcenter trades blows with something.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Oh, in that case I meant the 2 CPUs. Will likely just go for the 13400 then just due to not needing as high power of a cooler and having a stock cooler to use until I get a better one if needed.

 

[Lafong]

Oh, in that case I meant the 2 CPUs. Will likely just go for the 13400 then just due to not needing as high power of a cooler and having a stock cooler to use until I get a better one if needed.

Sounds plausible....."family budget PC" implies it won't get a heavy workout very often and you save a few bucks by not buying a cooler.

There is some chance you will have to do a BIOS update for the 13400 if you buy a 600 series board, but I haven't kept up with that. Maybe you can get Microcenter to do it for you to alleviate a bit of worry.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Well I’ll give some closure to this thread.

So I’ve purchased a new case for my parents and another for myself.

The plan is use my old asus b450 prime-II a board, and purchase for my parents a ryzen 5 4600g. According to asus website this cpu should work. Found a deal on 32gb 3200mhz team group ram for about 50 bucks. I’ll pick up likely a 500gb or 1tb nvme for a boot drive on their system.

The case I selected for them was the diypc ma08.

Specs here

Ryzen 5 4600g
32gb ddr4 3200mhz
500gb nvme(possibly)
If I have a spare, toss in a DVD burner.
750 watt PowerSpec modular psu from microcenter (overkill but it’s actually a spare and should be far more than this pc will ever pull)
Windows 11 Pro

For my pc I’m doing this.

I5 12600kf( purchased on Amazon during Black Friday sale)
Unsure on motherboard-have yet to purchase any recommendations on a budget?
Fractal Design Focus G blue case
32gb gskill trident z, ddr4 3200mhz left over from previous build that I’m intending to reuse
Corsair rmx 850 watt psu.
Think I’m going to sell my 5600xt and use a 6700xt instead.
CPU cooler I got the Thermalright peerless assassin 120se white rgb version based upon recommendations from this forum.

Going to do a bit of a Donald Duck theme on my case using some decals and figurines. Always thought Donald Duck was cool since I was a kid and wanted a pc a little unique.