Building a PC Desktop that will be like a iMac 4K or better for a fraction of the price

lekazou

Prominent
Dec 21, 2017
22
0
510
First of all, hello to you, member of this community. I’m a long time Mac user. I got a 2011 macbook pro that still performs well, because I upgraded it with a SSD and doubled the memory to 8GB, but now it’s getting older after all these years. I was interested by buying a new mac, but I’m very upset with the price of new Apple machines and I really find that it’s a total rip off. I’m sick of this company that takes advantage of their customers and use suspicious techniques to make you buy a new device.

That’s why I’m asking your knowledge. I need your help, after all the years, to get out of this money eating monster (Apple). I need your help to come back to the sources, the PC that you build. After all these years, I forgot how to build a PC… Thank you very much in advance.



Approximate Purchase Date: Within 6 months

Budget Range: Around 1000$ CAD After rebates, after shipping, monitor included

System Usage from Most to Least Important: What a regular user of iMac 4K would do: Surfing the internet, Watching HD videos, Listening to music, sometimes converting videos, sometimes editing photos and videos, ripping, etc.

Are you buying a monitor: Yes, I’d like a 4K monitor if necessary, because I want to see images and videos of the world at it’s best, that’s why I was thinking of buying an iMac 4K.


Parts to Upgrade: Everything to buy, from A to Z.

Do you need to buy OS: I guess, since I’m building a machine.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Preference for Canadian website, since I don’t want to pay for customs.

Location: I’m living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Parts Preferences: I’d like an Intel processor, i5 or i7, as you suggest.

Overclocking: I heard that overclocking reduce the life span of a machine?

SLI or Crossfire: I don’t know what is that.

Your Monitor Resolution: I’d like to see photos at it’s best. For example, a professional photographer from Africa is taking a wonderful photo of the nature, I’d like to be able to see every single pixels like I would on an iMac 4K screen. I’d like a screen that I can move around a bit by adding a long wire. I have a computer desk in my living room but no TV, so to watch a movie I’d like to bring the screen on my table in the middle of my room in front of the sofa.


Additional Comments: It’s also very important for me to have a very quiet machine. Though I don’t want to pay 200$ more for a fan, I’m still ready to pay more to have something that is very quiet.

Also, a very important point is that I’d like to build a machine that will last me between 7 to 10 years without upgrades. (Okay, maybe 10 years is a lot, but at least 7? )

Thank you very much in advance.

Mathieu
 
You don't want much do you?

The 4K Monitor puts it over $1,000

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i3-8100 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($151.99 @ PC Canada)
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-L9x65 33.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.85 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z370 HD3 (rev. 1.0) ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($159.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($264.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($105.75 @ Amazon Canada)
Storage: Seagate - BarraCuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($55.95 @ Vuugo)
Case: Fractal Design - Focus G (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ PC Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($116.75 @ Vuugo)
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($399.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $1485.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-12-21 23:14 EST-0500



 

lekazou

Prominent
Dec 21, 2017
22
0
510
Hi Jankerson,

Thanks for your advices. So you're saying that this computer would last 7 years without being slow for my tasks?

Also, is there cheaper memory for 16Gb 2400?

For the SSD, it's fine, but for the 1TB, could I get a 3TB one?

For the case, could you give me the smallest one and most discreet one?

Thank you!
 


Well if you want to make it small everything will change... That's everything and it would be even more expensive.

Small is more money.


 


Sure, cases are a personal choice, but it has to have good airflow if you want it quiet and needs to take a full ATX motherboard.

Here is an example of what small costs.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i3-8100 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($151.99 @ PC Canada)
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-L9x65 33.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($59.85 @ Newegg Canada)
Motherboard: Gigabyte - Z370N WIFI Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($209.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($268.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($105.39 @ Amazon Canada)
Storage: Seagate - Constellation ES.3 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($225.65 @ Newegg Canada Marketplace)
Case: Corsair - 250D Mini ITX Tower Case ($106.99 @ PC Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($116.75 @ Vuugo)
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($399.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $1750.58
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-12-23 03:01 EST-0500

 
As for the memory question the slower memory was only $4 cheaper.

As for lasting 7+ years, yeah should be no problem unless your needs change like you want to start playing games then you will need a Graphics card.

But for what you use the pc for it's fine as is.

And upgrade to a 2TB or 3TB drive is fine also.

If you really what it quiet I would recommend an even quieter PSU like the Seasonic Focus Plus 550W, would raise the cost some.

 
Comapred to the imacs Janker's build is still much cheaper:
https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-mac/imac/27-inch

But here's how i'd get it down small and cheap:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($236.99 @ PC Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($184.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Crucial - Ballistix Sport 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($87.74 @ Amazon Canada)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($97.25 @ shopRBC)
Case: Cooler Master - Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($116.75 @ Vuugo)
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($399.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Other: DP Cable, Rankie 15FT Gold Plated DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 4K Resolution Ready (Black) - R1104D ($17.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $1265.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-12-23 03:28 EST-0500

The cable is so you can move the monitor... but I think you'll still need to replug the actual power cable as that's not going to be longer than maybe 6ft.

it doesn't have speakers though, so you'll need a headset.

This will be a very tiny computer, about the size of a 4 slot toaster. but you could easily carry it with one hand.

it's a bit tricky building a small case, but without haveing to put a GPU in there it should be a bit easier.

7 years is also a really insane amount of time for a computer to not get any upgrades, unless all you do is "grandma" computering which consists of checking your email and playing solitaire. But 4k videos shouldn't change much in theory in 7 years, except maybe a new compression/decompression method that only new CPUs can take advantage of.
 
A slightly upgraded version:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($236.99 @ PC Canada)
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-L9i 33.8 CFM CPU Cooler ($49.95 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($184.00 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Team - Dark 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($199.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Memory Express)
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($97.25 @ shopRBC)
Case: Cooler Master - Elite 110 Mini ITX Tower Case ($44.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Newegg Canada)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($116.75 @ Vuugo)
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($399.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Other: DP Cable, Rankie 15FT Gold Plated DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 4K Resolution Ready (Black) - R1104D ($17.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $1537.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-12-23 04:39 EST-0500

It's quite a lot better than what you'd get from the $1900 21' imac or the $2400 (cad) 27" imac.
 

lekazou

Prominent
Dec 21, 2017
22
0
510
Hi ppl, thanks for your replies, very appreciated. I looked at all this and I picked some parts and made a build. I find the build I made expensive, is there a way to make it cheaper without sacrifying the performance and quality? Also is there a power supply that consume less electricity and still quiet? Thanks a lot!

CPU:Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($271.34 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
CPU Cooler: Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series SSR-550FX 550W 80+ Gold Intel ATX 12V Full Modular 120mm FDB Fan Compact 140 mm Size Power Supply ($118.63 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($231.21 @ Vuugo (tx+shp in))
Memory: Corsair]https://www.amazon.ca/Corsair-CMK16GX4M2B3200C16-Vengeance-DDR4-Memory/dp/B0143UM4TC?tag=genius_ca_test-generic-20]Corsair Vengeance LPX 2 x 8GB [/url] ( $300 @ Amazon Canada (tx+ shp in)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($111.28 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($123.01 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Case: Fractal Design - Focus G (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($80.70 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Power Supply: SeaSonic - 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($92.38 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($137.11 @ Vuugo (tx+shp in))
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($425.77 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Other: DP Cable, Rankie 15FT Gold Plated DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 4K Resolution Ready (Black) - R1104D ($17.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total:$1918.85 (All taxes and shipping cost included)
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


You have a power supply in the CPU cooler space.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


From your above parts list....
CPU:Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($271.34 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
CPU Cooler: Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series SSR-550FX 550W 80+ Gold Intel ATX 12V Full Modular 120mm FDB Fan Compact 140 mm Size Power Supply ($118.63 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($231.21 @ Vuugo (tx+shp in))
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 2 x 8GB ( $300 @ Amazon Canada (tx+ shp in)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($111.28 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($123.01 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Case: Fractal Design - Focus G (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($80.70 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Power Supply: SeaSonic - 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($92.38 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($137.11 @ Vuugo (tx+shp in))
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($425.77 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Other: DP Cable, Rankie 15FT Gold Plated DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 4K Resolution Ready (Black) - R1104D ($17.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total:$1918.85 (All taxes and shipping cost included)

The thing highlighted in RED.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


The CPU comes with a cooler in the box. You do not need another one.
So take that $118 off your price list.

The power supply is a whole different thing.
You have one listed in the Power Supply line.
 

lekazou

Prominent
Dec 21, 2017
22
0
510
Okay so I have to remove the part on the CPU cooler section and i'm good to go with that computer build?

So here is the final build that I could buy:

CPU: Intel - Core i5-8400 2.8GHz 6-Core Processor ($271.34 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
CPU Cooler: None.
Motherboard: ASRock - Z370M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($231.21 @ Vuugo (tx+shp in))
Memory: Corsair]https://www.amazon.ca/Corsair-CMK16GX4M2B3200C16-Vengeance-DDR4-Memory/dp/B0143UM4TC?tag=genius_ca_test-generic-20]Corsair Vengeance LPX 2 x 8GB [/url] ( $300 @ Amazon Canada (tx+ shp in)
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($111.28 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Storage: Seagate - Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($123.01 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Case: Fractal Design - Focus G (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($80.70 @ Amazon Canada (tx+shp in))
Power Supply: SeaSonic - 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($92.38 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($137.11 @ Vuugo (tx+shp in))
Monitor: LG - 27UD58-B 27.0" 3840x2160 60Hz Monitor ($425.77 @ Newegg Canada (tx+shp in))
Other: DP Cable, Rankie 15FT Gold Plated DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable 4K Resolution Ready (Black) - R1104D ($17.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total:$1800 (All taxes and shipping cost included)
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


That's an awfully large case for such a tiny motherboard.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Is there a specific need for that little mini-ITX motherboard?
If so, then the case should be changed to something smaller.

If not, then why that specific tiny motherboard? You could probably find something more mainstream for less.
MSI Z370-A PRO
CDN$ 139.99
https://www.amazon.ca/MSI-Motherboard-Motherboards-Z370-PRO/dp/B075GN9YC4
 

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