Budget Build for a friend

[asutke781]

A friend of mine asked me to put together a cheap build for him. Looking to spend less than $600 on the whole system. I looked for a thread with a similar build but the most recent one I could find included black friday deals so its a little out dated.

PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing. It will mainly be used for web surfing and schoolwork.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread $600

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from. Newegg, Tigerdirect, and Amazon.

4. IF you're buying parts OUTSIDE the US, please post a link to the vendor you'll be buying from.
Buying from US sources but I am in the military stationed overseas so it will have to go to an FPO address. This is not a problem from any of the above vendors however the case and psu should be on amazon with free shipping because they are bulky and cost a minimum of $100 to ship from Tigerdirect or Newegg.

5. IF YOU have a brand preference. None

6. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are. Nope, the system needs everything

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds. default

8. What resolution, not monitor size, will you be using? Not sure yet

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within a week

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software? Windows 7 or 8 whichever is on sale at the time of purchase

Here is what I came up with so far

Case/PSU: Rosewill Ultra High Gloss Finished MicroATX
Monitor: ViewSonic VA1912A-LED
CPU: Core 13-3220
MOBO: ASRock B75M
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 8GB (2 x 4GB)
Video Card:Sapphire Radeon HD 7750
DVD Drive: Lite-On DVD Burner

I will add a Hard Drive when it comes time to order depending on what is cheapest in the Newegg or TigerDirect daily deals, figuring around 60 or 70 depending on the day and then 80 dollars for windows puts me at 680 so I am over budget. I could switch to an AMD A8 or 10 and come down a little but I'm not sure if its worth the savings if there will be any. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[lehtv]

First you need to put aside $90 for a Windows 8 license, $17 for a basic mouse and keyboard, and $100 for a basic 1600x900 Acer monitor. That leaves $400 for the rig itself - it's going to be challenging but not too difficult since you have a hard drive to spare.

i3-3220 $120 ($110 shipped at NCIX)
MSI B75MA-E33 $60
1x4GB G.Skill 1600MHz $20
Sapphire 7770 Vapor-X $115 AR
Reuse hard disk $0
Lite-On DVD drive $17
Antec VP450 $38
Xion ATX case $25 AR

= $395 AR (tower)
= $602 AR (total)

If you want to spend a bit more:
- Get the cheapest 2x4GB DDR3 1.5V kit you can find
- Tigerdirect has an AOC 1080p 23" for $130
- The next best bang for buck graphics card is a 7850 1GB

 

[Insert_Nickname]

First you need to put aside $90 for a Windows 8 license, $17 for a basic mouse and keyboard, and $100 for a basic 1600x900 Acer monitor. That leaves $400 for the rig itself - it's going to be challenging but not too difficult since you have a hard drive to spare.

i3-3220 $120 ($110 shipped at NCIX)
MSI B75MA-E33 $60
1x4GB G.Skill 1600MHz $20
Sapphire 7770 Vapor-X $115 AR
Reuse hard disk $0
Lite-On DVD drive $17
Antec VP450 $38
Xion ATX case $25 AR

= $395 AR (tower)
= $602 AR (total)

If you want to spend a bit more:
- Get the cheapest 2x4GB DDR3 1.5V kit you can find
- Tigerdirect has an AOC 1080p 23" for $130
- The next best bang for buck graphics card is a 7850 1GB

Excellent as usual, lehtv. But isn't that HD7770 -a bit- overkill for websurfing and schoolwork...? :sneaky:

 

[RadiclDreamer]

My recommended changes would be to use an i5 and intergrated graphics and move to a dual channel memory config while dropping the graphics card since the onchip intel HD will do just fine for even a light gamer (which im reading he is not) that way you would get a faster cpu which would see use without adding additional power consumption, these changes should make price a wash

 

[lehtv]

Oh sorry, somehow I read it as a budget gaming build! I guess I'm too used to gaming builds...

Anyway, that just means that instead of adding a discrete graphics card, the OP should add an SSD to remove the disk performance bottleneck and keep the rest roughly the same. If there's still some light gaming involved, back down to a Pentium G2120 $85 (NCIX) and get a 7750. Found a better mobo option. Updated recommendation below

i3-3220 $120 ($110 shipped at NCIX)
Asrock H77M $65
Geil 2x4GB 1333Mhz $33
Intel HD graphics $0
Reuse hard disk $0
Plextor M5S 64GB SSD $50 (in stock soon)
Lite-On DVD drive $17
Antec VP450 $38
Xion ATX case $25 AR

basic mouse and keyboard $17
AOC 1080p 23" $130
Windows 8 $90

= $585 AR

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Found this 3225 for $129.99:

http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=75430&vpn=BX80637I33225&manufacture=Intel&promoid=1033

Might be worth it, if you feel the itch to game a bit...

 

[lehtv]

It's not really going to make a game go from unplayable to playable compared to a HD2500. But sure it'll achieve slightly higher framerates. Not worth the extra $20 in my opinion, would rather spend that on a cheap used card like 5770, they seem to go for less than $50 on eBay.

 

[Torn Mind]

It's not really going to make a game go from unplayable to playable compared to a HD2500. But sure it'll achieve slightly higher framerates. Not worth the extra $20 in my opinion, would rather spend that on a cheap used card like 5770, they seem to go for less than $50 on eBay.

The 5770 usually seems to be going for about 50-100 bucks on Ebay, not under 50.

 

[lehtv]

The 5770 usually seems to be going for about 50-100 bucks on Ebay, not under 50.

Here's a page of completed listings for used 5770's. Going down that list, not including Apple cards and items not sold...

dual cards for $100 = $50 each
dual cards for $85 = $42.50 each
$50
$64.20
$65.95
dual 5770's for $120, so $60 each
$66
$56
$46 $60
$75
$61
$66
dual cards for $150 = $75 each
$60
$55
$72
$55
$51
$60
$48
$61
$51
$60
$63

That's the first page dating back only two weeks. 29 cards in total, average cost $58.66. 7 out of 29 were $50 or less. The highest anyone paid was $75.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Not worth the extra $20 in my opinion, would rather spend that on a cheap used card like 5770, they seem to go for less than $50 on eBay.

Very reasonable with a used 5770 for ~$50. If they sell for that, then it would be my recommendation also... for the better driver support alone...

 

[Torn Mind]

Here's a page of completed listings for used 5770's. Going down that list, not including Apple cards and items not sold...

dual cards for $100 = $50 each
dual cards for $85 = $42.50 each
$50
$64.20
$65.95
dual 5770's for $120, so $60 each
$66
$56
$46 $60
$75
$61
$66
dual cards for $150 = $75 each
$60
$55
$72
$55
$51
$60
$48
$61
$51
$60
$63

That's the first page dating back only two weeks. 29 cards in total, average cost $58.66. 7 out of 29 were $50 or less. The highest anyone paid was $75.

Those numbers support my statement more than yours. "Seems to go for under 50" is what you said. To me, I interpreted that to mean that in general, you can find 5770 cards for under 50 bucks. Not the case. Yes, you can indeed find under 50 dollars them sometimes(three listings might finish under it in the next couple days), but usually (and did I use usually in my previous post), it's going for more than 50 bucks, not less than it. Even your cherry-picked first page supports that.

Something like this went for $98.95 as a single card, not an Apple, and doesn't even come with a box. I saw it on the first page, but I set my Ebay settings to display 50 listings per page.

Or this for about 97 dollars: http://www.ebay.com/itm/XFX-ATI-Rad...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[lehtv]

Those numbers support my statement more than yours. "Seems to go for under 50" is what you said. To me, I interpreted that to mean that in general, you can find 5770 cards for under 50 bucks. Not the case. Yes, you can indeed find under 50 dollars them sometimes(three listings might finish under it in the next couple days), but usually (and did I use usually in my previous post), it's going for more than 50 bucks, not less than it. Even your cherry-picked first page supports that.

What is this crap? You're turning this into an argument for nothing. I'm not even going to bother, have a good day.

 

[frozentundra123456]

It's not really going to make a game go from unplayable to playable compared to a HD2500. But sure it'll achieve slightly higher framerates. Not worth the extra $20 in my opinion, would rather spend that on a cheap used card like 5770, they seem to go for less than $50 on eBay.

If the op is really serious about the "no gaming" sentiment, does he really need a graphics card at all? I would think he could just go with a SB pentium and use the igp. Could add a cheap/used card later if he felt it was necessary.

Without a windows license, a prebuilt or Dell Outlet would be a very viable option, but I guess the shipping would probably not work out for that.

 

[Puppies04]

I understand people are trying to give you what you asked for OP but given the usage this machine is going to be used for I would simply suggest you go to dells website and buy something like a Inspiron 660.

These start at $450 with an I3-2120, 1TB HDD, 6GB RAM, DVD-RW and windows 8. That leaves you $150 to pick up something like LEHTVs reccomended keyboard and screen from post #5.

On a side note, LEHTV I think you misread that the OP has a HDD spare to use on this build. He actually said he didn't have one and was going to purchase one seperate from the other components for some reason which would put your suggested build over budget unfortunately.

 

[Torn Mind]

What is this crap? You're turning this into an argument for nothing. I'm not even going to bother, have a good day.

I didn't mean to offend you. I simply wanted to point out there aren't that many 5770s that get sold under 50 bucks. Yes there are some, but they are uncommon.

And it is not for nothing. It's to inform people who might be looking into getting a 5770 on Ebay know that they might have to watch and track multiple auctions and do some waiting until they get the super deal there.

 

[riversend]

Then why didn't you just say that? In post#8 or #11 you could have just made that point because it is valid to mention that e-bay is not always consistent or on your timeline.

 

[Torn Mind]

Then why didn't you just say that? In post#8 or #11 you could have just made that point because it is valid to mention that e-bay is not always consistent or on your timeline.

I have a habit of getting caught up with discussing all of the details sometimes instead of just selecting the most important one and leaving the minor things alone. Not trying to make an excuse, just giving an explanation.

 

[mfenn]

I understand people are trying to give you what you asked for OP but given the usage this machine is going to be used for I would simply suggest you go to dells website and buy something like a Inspiron 660.

These start at $450 with an I3-2120, 1TB HDD, 6GB RAM, DVD-RW and windows 8. That leaves you $150 to pick up something like LEHTVs reccomended keyboard and screen from post #5.

On a side note, LEHTV I think you misread that the OP has a HDD spare to use on this build. He actually said he didn't have one and was going to purchase one seperate from the other components for some reason which would put your suggested build over budget unfortunately.

I don't think his name is all caps.

Overall though, I agree. Hit up Dell outlet and get any of the Inspiron 660(s) models for ~$400, just avoid the Celeron G465. They will come with an OS license and I'm 90% sure they come with a keyboard and mouse. Then add any monitor of your choice, Dell or otherwise.

 

[asutke781]

If the op is really serious about the "no gaming" sentiment, does he really need a graphics card at all? I would think he could just go with a SB pentium and use the igp. Could add a cheap/used card later if he felt it was necessary.

Without a windows license, a prebuilt or Dell Outlet would be a very viable option, but I guess the shipping would probably not work out for that.

Yes, anything pre-built has a minimum $100 dollar shipping charge. There are some systems available locally but the selection is pretty weak.

 

[asutke781]

I will pass the word along to him about Dell outlet but I am not sure they will ship the system here, that's how building the system came up in the first place. According to their website they do not ship to P.O Boxes which is what an FPO address is. I have an email in to their customer support to find out for sure.

 

[lehtv]

I didn't mean to offend you. I simply wanted to point out there aren't that many 5770s that get sold under 50 bucks. Yes there are some, but they are uncommon.

And it is not for nothing. It's to inform people who might be looking into getting a 5770 on Ebay know that they might have to watch and track multiple auctions and do some waiting until they get the super deal there.

Fair enough. I never meant to imply that 5770's go for <$50 on average. I just meant that it's reasonably easy to get a 5770 for 50 bucks or less, considering that a quarter of the cards sold in the past two weeks were sold for 50 bucks or less. We express prices the same way for new items - the lowest available price is quoted, not the average price across all retailers.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Overall though, I agree. Hit up Dell outlet and get any of the Inspiron 660(s) models for ~$400, just avoid the Celeron G465.

Don't knock it 'till you tried it...

Coupled with an SSD and 8GB RAM, its plenty fast enough for basic tasks. Assuming you don't have a ton of flash-heavy tabs open at the same time...

 

[Puppies04]

I don't think his name is all caps.

My mistake .

 

[mfenn]

I will pass the word along to him about Dell outlet but I am not sure they will ship the system here, that's how building the system came up in the first place. According to their website they do not ship to P.O Boxes which is what an FPO address is. I have an email in to their customer support to find out for sure.

They ship to APO/FPO, there are special entries in the State field for it. I looked up a random APO in Saudi Arabia and the shipping was $20.

Don't knock it 'till you tried it...

Coupled with an SSD and 8GB RAM, its plenty fast enough for basic tasks. Assuming you don't have a ton of flash-heavy tabs open at the same time...

Sure, but the 465's are not very good deals on the outlet when +$50 gets you an i3.

 

[asutke781]

Yes, they do ship to APO/FPO so that was perfect for him. Its also what customer service told me in their return email. Thanks for all your help I appreciate it.