Is this a good part list for a $600 Homework computer build.

[Zayoid]

Hello guys, I've been tasked with the project of building my brother a computer to use for homework, very little gaming. Ive decided that he wont be needing a graphics card, but I had a bit of a hard time picking a CPU with onboard graphics. Any suggestions would be fantastic, but I really cant go over $600, the price at the moment is pushing it, without the monitor and peripherals. Suggestions? Thanks!




PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jXygZL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/jXygZL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.55 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($66.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.99 @ Newegg)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($17.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $570.44
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-08 22:11 EDT-0400

 

[byza]

If it is just for homework you can go cheaper. Pretty much any CPU will handle basic tasks without problems, I'd probably look at an AMD APU like an A8 but really you could go for something cheaper still. For $600 with OS you can make a half decent gaming build.

 

[gamer1357]

If his homework is just typing and internet surfing then something like this would be perfect. I included a dedicated gpu and dropped the cpu to a dual core.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 3.2GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 PERFORMANCE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R7 260X 2GB DirectCU II Video Card ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($17.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $571.85
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-08 22:28 EDT-0400

Unless his homework involves cpu intensive tasks you would be better off with this. He can study with it and game. If you dont want this, then the maybe look into the new AMD APU's. They have pretty good integrated graphics.

 

[Zayoid]

If it is just for homework you can go cheaper. Pretty much any CPU will handle basic tasks without problems, I'd probably look at an AMD APU like an A8 but really you could go for something cheaper still. For $600 with OS you can make a half decent gaming build.

Any specific CPU suggestions?

 

[Karadjgne]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI A88XM-E35 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($68.85 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($78.30 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($37.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($17.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $491.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-08 22:35 EDT-0400

 

[flamefire999]

Look at something like an A8-5600k or A8-6600k. They are both ~$90.

 

[Zayoid]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.97 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI A88XM-E35 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($68.85 @ Mwave)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($78.30 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($37.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Micro Center)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($17.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $491.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-08 22:35 EDT-0400

Thank you! Much appreciated!

 

[byza]

I'd probably go with an A8 6600K
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad660kwohlbox
Although the build put together by gamer1357 is what i'd do with $600, although i'd go for an Asrock Z97 anniversary for a better upgrade path
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z97anniversary

Really you could go cheaper again, probably put something together for under $450 that would be fine for web browsing and using Word/Excel/Powerpoint, using something like an A4-6300.

 

[byza]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A4-6300 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($55.18 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($17.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $403.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-08 22:55 EDT-0400

 

[flamefire999]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A4-6300 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($55.18 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($17.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $403.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-08 22:55 EDT-0400

I think that he should get a better APU (at least an A6) and only get 4gb of RAM. The A6 will be better than the A4 for multitasking and such. Just a suggestion.

 

[Karadjgne]

In an APU, the cpu 1/2 uses system ram. The igpu 1/2 uses system ram. You pair that with only 4Gb of ram, and you may as well take up a hobby like watching paint dry. The pc will be seriously slow under any heavy graphics usage

 

[byza]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A4-6300 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($55.18 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($12.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($87.98 @ OutletPC)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($17.95 @ Amazon)
Total: $403.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-08 22:55 EDT-0400

I think that he should get a better APU (at least an A6) and only get 4gb of RAM. The A6 will be better than the A4 for multitasking and such. Just a suggestion.

I would go for something better too if it was for myself, i'm just pointing out that if it's just going to be used for browsing and word processing than you can go very budget. I don't know the financial situation so i'm just suggesting a very budget option in case that is what the OP is looking for. Personally i'd go for a G3258 gaming build but that has already been suggested so i'm just putting out options.