moded optiplex

[Myla]

Budget (including currency): 200

Country: murica

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: minecraft, paint 3d, canva, maybe some other older games. 

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): currently have a 200 gig ssd for it. 

basically, i will be getting an optiplex with a Core i3-4160, and updating it to a Intel Core i5-4590. if you are wondering why a core i5, it is because this cpu is a great i5 from what I read, and also has some good onboard graphics. that being said, should I try and find a lesser core i-7? it would be more expensive, and im worried that it would also be not as good, given id need to find one with probably less as good condition. also, when I open it up to replace some stuff, I will probably have to repace the ram, because I have a feeling it isnt dual channel. this is the link to the computer, Dell Optiplex 3020 Desktop Computer, Intel Core i3-4160, 8GB RAM, 500GB HD, DVD-RW, Windows 10, Black (Refurbished) - Walmart.com

here is the link to the cpu https://www.ebay.com/itm/154998194727?epid=22026981510&hash=item24169cc227%3Ag%3AxOAAAOSwmwFcXbHl&LH_BIN=1

and i will be getting some corsair thermal past. opinions?

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Id try buying from ebay, there seems to be optiplexes that are nearly half the cost of the walmark link. Id look at this guy https://www.ebay.com/itm/115363681203?hash=item1adc3613b3:g:0EYAAOSwSd5iauo-

 

The i3 vs i5 isn't a huge difference, adding a dgpu will procably make a much bigger difference here than the i5 upgrade. But since you can get a i5 optiplex for sub 100, id get thatl.

 

Also get a ssd, as it will make a massive performance difference.

 

Dual channel won't matter here, its only a few percent difference or less in most use cases, Id put that money towards a ssd or dgpu instead.

[Myla]

oh wow thats actually a really good deal, and it already has the cpu I need. I already got an ssd, so that frees me up to get a gpu. wow, thank you sm!

[Myla]

Update- i bought the 75 dollar one and DAMN

It has a gpu, not sure which one yet i don't have a monitor with me rn. 

Dual channel memory

A fair keyboard

A vga cable (not the best but better than nothing) 

And a dumb mouse. 

So all i need is a sata cable for the ssd i bought and I'm set.

[Vishera]

11 minutes ago, Myla said:

It has a gpu, not sure which one yet i don't have a monitor with me rn. 

 

It depends on what GPU is in there,it can be a very weak GPU that can't do much or it can be powerful enough to play minecraft.

13 minutes ago, Myla said:

Dual channel memory

 

How much RAM does it have?

13 minutes ago, Myla said:

Update- i bought the 75 dollar one and DAMN

Which one?

 

Also for the CPU i recommend going for the i7 - It still performs very well in modern games.

The i5 is too weak and outdated for modern games.

Also there are pretty good $100 GPUs for modern games like the HD 7970:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284823150230?hash=item4250c85e96:g:JHsAAOSwP7xicCP7

[Myla]

1. An AMD radon r7 200 series. about 100 dollars so. 

2. ram is 8 gigs.

3. i might get a replacement i7 now that i have a bunch of money left over

[VEXICUS]

48 minutes ago, Myla said:

1. An AMD radon r7 200 series. about 100 dollars so. 

2. ram is 8 gigs.

3. i might get a replacement i7 now that i have a bunch of money left over

My recommendation is to get one of the following CPUs

Xeon E3 1220 V3, Xeon E3 1226 V3, Xeon E3 1230 V3, Xeon E3 1231 V3, Xeon E3 1241 V3

 

They should cost you around the same as the i5 that you are planning to buy and this xeon will be one par with the i7.

 

[Myla]

3 minutes ago, VEXICUS said:

My recommendation is to get one of the following CPUs

Xeon E3 1220 V3, Xeon E3 1226 V3, Xeon E3 1230 V3, Xeon E3 1231 V3, Xeon E3 1241 V3

 

They should cost you around the same as the i5 that you are planning to buy and this xeon will be one par with the i7.

 

i already have the computer an IF i upgrade the cpu, i'll need to get something that would fit the computer. xeons dont use the same sockets as core-i right?

[VEXICUS]

42 minutes ago, Myla said:

i already have the computer an IF i upgrade the cpu, i'll need to get something that would fit the computer. xeons dont use the same sockets as core-i right?

Nope, the xeons i mentioned above fit the lga 1150 socket that your optiplex comes with and will work normally

[Myla]

41 minutes ago, VEXICUS said:

Nope, the xeons i mentioned above fit the lga 1150 socket that your optiplex comes with and will work normally

Oh cool!

[Myla]

42 minutes ago, VEXICUS said:

Nope, the xeons i mentioned above fit the lga 1150 socket that your optiplex comes with and will work normally

which one is the best or are they all comparable?

[VEXICUS]

7 minutes ago, Myla said:

which one is the best or are they all comparable?

All of them have 4c/8t

Clock speeds apart, all those xeons are comparable

[Vishera]

2 hours ago, Myla said:

1. An AMD radon r7 200 series. about 100 dollars so. 

Overpriced,and weaker than the HD 7970 i linked for the same price.

The HD 7970 is the same as the R9 280X.

 

A R9 280X i found on Ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234568198330

2 hours ago, Myla said:

2. ram is 8 gigs.

You can get by with 8GB if your OS won't eat a large chunk of it (Which Windows 10/11 does)

10 minutes ago, VEXICUS said:

All of them have 4c/8t

Some of them are 4C/4T....

10 minutes ago, VEXICUS said:

Clock speeds apart, all those xeons are comparable

Clock speeds are very important for performance!

 

I recommend one of these:

E3-1241 v3,i7 4770,i7 4770K,i7 4790,i7 4790K

[Myla]

im not going to upgrade it further other than maybe the cpu because i do pretty low demand stuff rn. if that were to  change i will upgrade, but unfortunatly i also need to save for a car sooo...