College PC Build

[NLamki]

Hello, so recently I've decided that I wanted a custom PC, but can't afford a good gaming one. So I think I'll just go with a College work/research PC Only, the computer will basically be dealing with Microsoft apps and basic research things. I'm planning on using 16gb of RAM Intially but upgrading to 32 later when I can afford it.
I would appreciate if someone could like drop me a link of a build they recommend, I need like 256gb of SSD and maybe 500 or 1tb gb of HDD, depending on the price difference. Also, If you could some RGB to some but not all components so I can see them through the glass. Yes, I'm going for the opposite of a sleeper PC, I'm going for a awaker PC.

[RAM555789]

9 minutes ago, NLamki said:

will basically be dealing with Microsoft apps and basic research things

If you need 32GB of RAM to do this, stop using Chrome or don't open so many tabs. (honestly you don't even need 16GB of RAM but its way more price efficient to just purchase 16GB at once)

 

I'm assuming your  trying to keep the cost of this PC as low as possible, and if your only goal is to do basic Microsoft apps and all then you won't need anything crazy like a GPU. RGB is overrated, and if your really want it you could get some LED strips and stick them inside.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Best Buy) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450M DS3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($72.99 @ Best Buy) 
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($57.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($46.98 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ Walmart) 
Total: $397.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-07-17 22:04 EDT-0400

[NLamki]

15 minutes ago, RAM555789 said:

If you need 32GB of RAM to do this, stop using Chrome or don't open so many tabs. (honestly you don't even need 16GB of RAM but its way more price efficient to just purchase 16GB at once)

 

I'm assuming your  trying to keep the cost of this PC as low as possible, and if your only goal is to do basic Microsoft apps and all then you won't need anything crazy like a GPU. RGB is overrated, and if your really want it you could get some LED strips and stick them inside.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Best Buy) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450M DS3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($72.99 @ Best Buy) 
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($57.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($46.98 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ Walmart) 
Total: $397.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-07-17 22:04 EDT-0400

I Know I don't need 32 but I'd like to have 32. I'm not that tight on money so I'll try to add some RGB components. But thank you for the recommendation, I appreciate it!.

[NLamki]

33 minutes ago, RAM555789 said:

If you need 32GB of RAM to do this, stop using Chrome or don't open so many tabs. (honestly you don't even need 16GB of RAM but its way more price efficient to just purchase 16GB at once)

 

I'm assuming your  trying to keep the cost of this PC as low as possible, and if your only goal is to do basic Microsoft apps and all then you won't need anything crazy like a GPU. RGB is overrated, and if your really want it you could get some LED strips and stick them inside.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($99.99 @ Best Buy) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B450M DS3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard  ($72.99 @ Best Buy) 
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($57.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($46.98 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Corsair CXM (2015) 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply  ($69.99 @ Walmart) 
Total: $397.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-07-17 22:04 EDT-0400

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (14nm) 3.1 GHz Quad-Core Processor	$94.82 @ Amazon
Motherboard	Gigabyte B450M DS3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard	$72.99 @ Best Buy
Memory	Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory	$57.99 @ Amazon
Storage	Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$49.99 @ Amazon
Case	Cougar MX330 ATX Mid Tower Case	$49.99 @ B&H
Power Supply	Thermaltake Smart BX1 RGB 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply	$68.41 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$394.19
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-07-17 22:38 EDT-0400

Is this good? Also, The CPU you recommended had some compatibility issues so I had to change it. I have no experience with Ryzen, is the cpu I selected good?

[Chris Pratt]

18 minutes ago, NLamki said:

I Know I don't need 32 but I'd like to have 32. I'm not that tight on money so I'll try to add some RGB components. But thank you for the recommendation, I appreciate it!.

You don't need it as in you could have every Office app open and a few hundred tabs in your browser and still not break 16GB. Having more RAM than you actually need is just a waste. It does absolutely nothing for you.

[NLamki]

5 minutes ago, Chris Pratt said:

You don't need it as in you could have every Office app open and a few hundred tabs in your browser and still not break 16GB. Having more RAM than you actually need is just a waste. It does absolutely nothing for you.

I'm currently using my gaming laptop, it has 24gb of RAM. But because of Windows, I only get to experience 12GB. So I'd like to have 16GB or more.

[RAM555789]

1 hour ago, NLamki said:

The CPU you recommended had some compatibility issues

It says it will, but as long as the motherboard was made after Ryzen 3 came out it should have an up to date BIOS. If you are unsure you could always ask the seller or request a short term loan boot kit (free of charge as long as conditions like valid warranty are meet). https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/pa-100

1 hour ago, NLamki said:

it has 24gb of RAM. But because of Windows, I only get to experience 12GB

Something doesn't sound right, windows shouldn't be using 12GB, or is Windows only reporting 12GB of RAM total? 

[NLamki]

3 hours ago, RAM555789 said:

It says it will, but as long as the motherboard was made after Ryzen 3 came out it should have an up to date BIOS. If you are unsure you could always ask the seller or request a short term loan boot kit (free of charge as long as conditions like valid warranty are meet). https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/pa-100

Something doesn't sound right, windows shouldn't be using 12GB, or is Windows only reporting 12GB of RAM total? 

https://imgur.com/a/kPJHe0o Its not using 12 rn but usually its on 12 with only chrome open (5 tabs are open though).

Also, I doubt AMD would do that, I live in the middle east so shipping is usually expensive.

[dizmo]

 

13 hours ago, NLamki said:

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (14nm) 3.1 GHz Quad-Core Processor	$94.82 @ Amazon
Motherboard	Gigabyte B450M DS3H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard	$72.99 @ Best Buy
Memory	Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory	$57.99 @ Amazon
Storage	Silicon Power A55 512 GB 2.5" Solid State Drive	$49.99 @ Amazon
Case	Cougar MX330 ATX Mid Tower Case	$49.99 @ B&H
Power Supply	Thermaltake Smart BX1 RGB 550 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply	$68.41 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	$394.19
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-07-17 22:38 EDT-0400

Is this good? Also, The CPU you recommended had some compatibility issues so I had to change it. I have no experience with Ryzen, is the cpu I selected good?

Not sure how you plan to use that, there's no GPU.

You're also using a pretty old processor.

13 hours ago, Chris Pratt said:

You don't need it as in you could have every Office app open and a few hundred tabs in your browser and still not break 16GB. Having more RAM than you actually need is just a waste. It does absolutely nothing for you.

That's not true. Depending on what you have open in the tabs you can quickly run out of memory. As someone who often has 50 - 100 tabs open, you will run out of RAM.

9 hours ago, NLamki said:

https://imgur.com/a/kPJHe0o Its not using 12 rn but usually its on 12 with only chrome open (5 tabs are open though).

Also, I doubt AMD would do that, I live in the middle east so shipping is usually expensive.

If you don't live in the US, then you really need to mention where you live when you post.

US pricing has no relevance to you, so any build that people come up with won't make sense with your local pricing.

[RAM555789]

4 hours ago, dizmo said:

US pricing has no relevance to you

Depends on the part of the middle east. Dubai and Baghdad are defiantly large enough that it makes sense for companies like Amazon to setup shop, and places like Kuwait have such a high U.S. presence due to troops being stationed there that there should be some decent options for both PC and console gaming.

[dizmo]

9 minutes ago, RAM555789 said:

Depends on the part of the middle east. Dubai and Baghdad are defiantly large enough that it makes sense for companies like Amazon to setup shop, and places like Kuwait have such a high U.S. presence due to troops being stationed there that there should be some decent options for both PC and console gaming.

Not really. Just because a US company sets up shop there doesn't at all mean that they use the same pricing. They don't. They still have different logistics costs, duties, taxes, etc etc. So sure, you might have more availability, but as I said the pricing structure is entirely different and US pricing has no relevance to him.

[NLamki]

9 hours ago, RAM555789 said:

Depends on the part of the middle east. Dubai and Baghdad are defiantly large enough that it makes sense for companies like Amazon to setup shop, and places like Kuwait have such a high U.S. presence due to troops being stationed there that there should be some decent options for both PC and console gaming.

I can visit Dubai a few times a year but the problem is that the parts are over priced due to the economy level.