Budget Build for learning

[TMoney4thewin]

Budget (including currency): $500 or less

Country: USA

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: word processing, dictation and surfing the web

Other details (existing parts lists, whether any peripherals are needed, what you're upgrading from, when you're going to buy, what resolution and refresh rate you want to play at, etc): 

 

I'm completely new to building a computer. I have no parts list as of yet. I've been watching Linus and he has a couple of $300 builds that look interesting. I want to build a budget computer just to see if I can. Once I successfully put together a budget computer I'll build a higher end computer for my professional needs. If I can build this computer I'll use it for web surfing and writing on Microsoft  word with Dragon Naturally speaking 13 premium

 

I need at least 

 

• CPU: 2.2 GHz Intel® dual core or equivalent AMD processor
• • Note: SSE2 instruction set required.

As well as 16 gigs of ram for Dragon 13 premium to run smoothly.

 

The main purpose of this build is just for me to go through the process of building a computer and seeing if it's something I can do. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

4 minutes ago, TMoney4thewin said:

 

The main purpose of this build is just for me to go through the process of building a computer and seeing if it's something I can do. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Its really not that hard, you can do it. I wouldn't both making a test pc. Just build the nice one first.

 

5 minutes ago, TMoney4thewin said:

'm completely new to building a computer. I have no parts list as of yet. I've been watching Linus and he has a couple of $300 builds that look interesting. I want to build a budget computer just to see if I can. Once I successfully put together a budget computer I'll build a higher end computer for my professional needs. If I can build this computer I'll use it for web surfing and writing on Microsoft  word with Dragon Naturally speaking 13 premium

 

300 bucks doesn't get you much, for that budget Id really try to get a used system.

[TMoney4thewin]

I appreciate it. I have cerebral palsy which which for me means my hands and brain don't always agree, and I don't have the best fine motor control. I've been working with computers my whole life and I just want to have a better understanding of how they work.

 

My whole life many well meaning people have been telling me there are certain things I "can't do" because of my disability. So I just want to try to build the thing on a small budget so if something happens and it doesn't work it won't bother me.

 

I realize it's easier just to buy the computer that has the specs I need. And I'm saving up for a midrange laptop in parallel. But I just want to see if I can put a computer together.  

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, TMoney4thewin said:

I appreciate it. I have cerebral palsy which which for me means my hands and brain don't always agree, and I don't have the best fine motor control. I've been working with computers my whole life and I just want to have a better understanding of how they work.

 

My whole life many well meaning people have been telling me there are certain things I "can't do" because of my disability. So I just want to try to build the thing on a small budget so if something happens and it doesn't work it won't bother me.

 

I realize it's easier just to buy the computer that has the specs I need. And I'm saving up for a midrange laptop in parallel. But I just want to see if I can put a computer together.  

So here are the parts for a basic cheap build Id pick.

 

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8xyYz7

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold G6400 4 GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.79 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: ASRock B560M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1200 Motherboard  ($74.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8 GB (1 x 8 GB) DDR4-2400 CL15 Memory  ($39.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: HP EX900 250 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($33.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Rosewill SRM-01B MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: EVGA BR 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 
Total: $291.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-09 13:30 EST-0500

 

Should be fine for web browsing and Dragon. Feel free to change some parts around as needed.

[TMoney4thewin]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

So here are the parts for a basic cheap build Id pick.

 

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8xyYz7

CPU: Intel Pentium Gold G6400 4 GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($64.79 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: ASRock B560M-HDV Micro ATX LGA1200 Motherboard  ($74.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8 GB (1 x 8 GB) DDR4-2400 CL15 Memory  ($39.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: HP EX900 250 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive  ($33.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Rosewill SRM-01B MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($27.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: EVGA BR 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($49.99 @ Amazon) 
Total: $291.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-09 13:30 EST-0500

 

Should be fine for web browsing and Dragon. Feel free to change some parts around as needed.

Thanks so much! I'll let you know how it goes

[Heliian]

Start with a build guide like pcpartpicker or Newegg or any of the other ones.  It will give you a rough idea of prices and what can be compatible.

[LightCrimson]

If you feel more confident at getting a system around 500$ and less, ready for upgrades too you can use this :
PCPartPicker Part List:

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i5-10400 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor	$164.99 @ Best Buy
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler	$29.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	ASRock B460 Phantom Gaming 4 ATX LGA1200 Motherboard	$92.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2400 CL16 Memory	$61.99 @ Corsair
Storage	Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive	$39.99 @ Samsung
Case	Metallic Gear Neo Silent ATX Mid Tower Case	$39.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply	EVGA BR 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply	$49.99 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$489.93
	Mail-in rebates	-$10.00
	Total	$479.93
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-09 13:53 EST-0500

 

You should be fine with the integrated graphics and the PSU should let you enough room to get a decent budget graphic card (1650, 1650super...) if you want to do more demanding tasks or gaming in the future, but of course when the prices will be back to normal. You can also try to search for the parts from this list manually by googling them, which i always do and make me save few bucks all the time. A gentleman up there put a good 300$ budget build already so here is the 500$'ish.

[dizmo]

If you can put together a LEGO set, you can build a computer, probably with greater ease; there really aren't that many parts involved.

There's no need to build something to see if you can before trying it with higher end kit.

 

For something just to putz around on the internet, it's not really worth paying for individual parts; an old prebuilt Dell will always be a better value.

[TMoney4thewin]

23 minutes ago, dizmo said:

If you can put together a LEGO set, you can build a computer, probably with greater ease; there really aren't that many parts involved.

There's no need to build something to see if you can before trying it with higher end kit.

 

For something just to putz around on the internet, it's not really worth paying for individual parts; an old prebuilt Dell will always be a better value.

I can build a lego set.  thanks!

[TMoney4thewin]

30 minutes ago, LightCrimson said:

If you feel more confident at getting a system around 500$ and less, ready for upgrades too you can use this :
PCPartPicker Part List:

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i5-10400 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor	$164.99 @ Best Buy
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler	$29.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	ASRock B460 Phantom Gaming 4 ATX LGA1200 Motherboard	$92.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2400 CL16 Memory	$61.99 @ Corsair
Storage	Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive	$39.99 @ Samsung
Case	Metallic Gear Neo Silent ATX Mid Tower Case	$39.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply	EVGA BR 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply	$49.99 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$489.93
	Mail-in rebates	-$10.00
	Total	$479.93
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-09 13:53 EST-0500

 

You should be fine with the integrated graphics and the PSU should let you enough room to get a decent budget graphic card (1650, 1650super...) if you want to do more demanding tasks or gaming in the future, but of course when the prices will be back to normal. You can also try to search for the parts from this list manually by googling them, which i always do and make me save few bucks all the time. A gentleman up there put a good 300$ budget build already so here is the 500$'ish.

Thanks so much. I'm just learning and figuring stuff out. But this build looks great! Thanks for putting it together.

[CT854]

37 minutes ago, LightCrimson said:

If you feel more confident at getting a system around 500$ and less, ready for upgrades too you can use this :
PCPartPicker Part List:

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i5-10400 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor	$164.99 @ Best Buy
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler	$29.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	ASRock B460 Phantom Gaming 4 ATX LGA1200 Motherboard	$92.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2400 CL16 Memory	$61.99 @ Corsair
Storage	Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive	$39.99 @ Samsung
Case	Metallic Gear Neo Silent ATX Mid Tower Case	$39.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply	EVGA BR 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply	$49.99 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$489.93
	Mail-in rebates	-$10.00
	Total	$479.93
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-09 13:53 EST-0500

 

You should be fine with the integrated graphics and the PSU should let you enough room to get a decent budget graphic card (1650, 1650super...) if you want to do more demanding tasks or gaming in the future, but of course when the prices will be back to normal. You can also try to search for the parts from this list manually by googling them, which i always do and make me save few bucks all the time. A gentleman up there put a good 300$ budget build already so here is the 500$'ish.

 

I like this build for the simple reason that, pedagogically speaking, this goes into pretty much every single step you would need to build a higher end PC save for the GPU (which is a simple plug and play with a bit of cable management), especially with the exercise of the aftermarket CPU fan.

 

However, if I had to nitpick, I would just swap the semimodular power supply for a fully modular one just as an exercise in cable management. But that's my personal preference.

[TMoney4thewin]

44 minutes ago, LightCrimson said:

If you feel more confident at getting a system around 500$ and less, ready for upgrades too you can use this :
PCPartPicker Part List:

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	Intel Core i5-10400 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor	$164.99 @ Best Buy
CPU Cooler	Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler	$29.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	ASRock B460 Phantom Gaming 4 ATX LGA1200 Motherboard	$92.99 @ Newegg
Memory	Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2400 CL16 Memory	$61.99 @ Corsair
Storage	Samsung 860 Evo 250 GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive	$39.99 @ Samsung
Case	Metallic Gear Neo Silent ATX Mid Tower Case	$39.99 @ Newegg
Power Supply	EVGA BR 600 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply	$49.99 @ Amazon
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$489.93
	Mail-in rebates	-$10.00
	Total	$479.93
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-03-09 13:53 EST-0500

 

You should be fine with the integrated graphics and the PSU should let you enough room to get a decent budget graphic card (1650, 1650super...) if you want to do more demanding tasks or gaming in the future, but of course when the prices will be back to normal. You can also try to search for the parts from this list manually by googling them, which i always do and make me save few bucks all the time. A gentleman up there put a good 300$ budget build already so here is the 500$'ish.

Thanks for this! I don't do any gaming. This machine will be for writing fiction. My higher end machine will need to run adobe inDesign for print layout stuff. But that's for later. This is exciting!

[TMoney4thewin]

6 minutes ago, CT854 said:

 

I like this build for the simple reason that, pedagogically speaking, this goes into pretty much every single step you would need to build a higher end PC save for the GPU (which is a simple plug and play with a bit of cable management), especially with the exercise of the aftermarket CPU fan.

 

However, if I had to nitpick, I would just swap the semimodular power supply for a fully modular one just as an exercise in cable management. But that's my personal preference.

Thanks. I'm glad I posted here. I was a bit worried about it but everyone has been great. I'm going to take a couple days to think about it and I'll update this thread with my progress and if I run into any problems. Thanks.

[TMoney4thewin]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice. A lot is going on for me right now but I will post on this thread updates as I get the thing built. Thanks for your help!