$400-$450 Dollars PC?

[RyanTH98]

Making a computer on a tight budget is a pretty tough challenge. I'm having a hard time trying to find parts INCLUDING OS to be under $400-$450.

 

If any of you guys could help out I would appreciate it. As far as I know the only requirements that my friend wants to have is 4GB Ram and 500GB HDD and a Quad core. I entrust the LTT members to help me accomplish this difficult task.

 

EDIT: Sorry forgot to include the uses. The uses are just web browsing.

[connorpiper]

I have to go, but I would suggest a Core i3 4150 because of its price and its 4 threads (As requested) 

[Clyne]

Uses?

Location?

Read before posting

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/

[Lotus]

Don't. Seriously. $300-350 sucks. You really want to spend $500 on the PC alone (without OS) or you're just throwing money down the drain. You get significantly worse price to performance in the sub $500 range, so not only are you getting less per your dollar, your spending less money, so you end up with just a shitty system. The minimum system I would deem "acceptable" (and even that is iffy given the shitty single threaded performance of the CPU) would be an X4 760k with R9 270. Anything lower than that and your price to performance is just so bad as to make it not worthwhile (yes, this includes the 750ti now that the R9 270 has dropped in price so much). You could swap out the X4 760k with a G3258, but then instead of shitty single threaded performance you have shitty multi-threaded performance. Really you want at least an i3, but that's a poor choice too considering you can get an i5 for only $30 more than an i3 (i5-4590 is only $160 right now from Micro Center if you pick it up in the store).

[Lotus]

Here, this is the absolute cheapest system I would ever recommend someone to go for. Yes you could save a bit of money on the CPU, but then you'd end up with either really shitty multi-threaded performance (which unfortunately this i3 only has kind of shitty multi-threaded performance), or really shitty single-threaded performance. I guess I might recommend that occasionally, but only under the idea that you'll upgrade from there down the road. It doesn't sound like that's the case with you. I still say ideally you'd go up to an h97 and i5 non-K build. Still, this is about $85 over budget because I did not include the OS.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($40.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($35.50 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card  ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $435.42
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-13 00:33 EST-0500

[RyanTH98]

Don't. Seriously. $300-350 sucks. You really want to spend $500 on the PC alone (without OS) or you're just throwing money down the drain. You get significantly worse price to performance in the sub $500 range, so not only are you getting less per your dollar, your spending less money, so you end up with just a shitty system. The minimum system I would deem "acceptable" (and even that is iffy given the shitty single threaded performance of the CPU) would be an X4 760k with R9 270. Anything lower than that and your price to performance is just so bad as to make it not worthwhile (yes, this includes the 750ti now that the R9 270 has dropped in price so much). You could swap out the X4 760k with a G3258, but then instead of shitty single threaded performance you have shitty multi-threaded performance. Really you want at least an i3, but that's a poor choice too considering you can get an i5 for only $30 more than an i3 (i5-4590 is only $160 right now from Micro Center if you pick it up in the store).

 

Yeah I told my friend that it's a very close cut. She assumes I can build one for that price point like a big manufacturer Lenovo,HP etc.....

[RyanTH98]

Uses?

Location?

Read before posting

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/3061-build-plan-thread-recommendations-please-read-before-posting/

Sorry I forgot to put it in, but I did now. The uses are just for web browsing.

[Lotus]

Big manufacturers don't bother including a dedicated GPU for that price, and get massive discounts on the OS due to volume.

 

edit: if this is just for web browsing, then you can just delete the R9 270 from that build and call it a day. It's only relevant for gaming. Web browsing is doable for your budget, but just keep in mind it won't be a gaming machine at all. Intel HD graphics that come integrated onto their CPUs can do youtube/netflix, but can NOT do games.

[Clyne]

Sorry I forgot to put it in, but I did now. The uses are just for web browsing.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.97 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($40.00 @ Amazon) 

Memory: Crucial 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($33.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Western Digital RE3 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($43.49 @ Amazon) 

Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case  ($21.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ Newegg) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($89.98 @ OutletPC) 

Total: $369.41

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-13 00:43 EST-0500

[Lotus]

If you only need the most basic system, refer to my first build and remove the R9 270 from it. It'll still work for gaming if you just throw it back in should you desire. If, however, you want a build that is overkill for just browsing but instead is more situated for really anything (again, except gaming) and can be a great gaming rig if you just throw in a dedicated GPU down the road, refer to this one:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($159.99 @ Micro Center)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($67.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($35.50 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Rosewill 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $378.43
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-13 00:44 EST-0500

[aidenrelkoff]

You can thank me later

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TxYDmG

Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/TxYDmG/by_merchant/

 

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($54.98 @ OutletPC) 

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($64.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($43.98 @ NCIX US) 

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC) 

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 750 1GB Video Card  ($100.98 @ Newegg) 

Case: Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($37.99 @ Micro Center) 

Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2 500W ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $377.88

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-13 00:47 EST-0500

[aidenrelkoff]

If you only need the most basic system, refer to my first build and remove the R9 270 from it. It'll still work for gaming if you just throw it back in should you desire. If, however, you want a build that is overkill for just browsing but instead is more situated for really anything (again, except gaming) and can be a great gaming rig if you just throw in a dedicated GPU down the road, refer to this one:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($159.99 @ Micro Center)

Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($67.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($35.50 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC)

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: Rosewill 450W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $378.43

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-13 00:44 EST-0500

mine is still cheaper  and it has a GPU 

[Lotus]

mine is still cheaper  and it has a GPU 

1) if you're going with a pentium, at least go for the G3258. It's basically a 4.5+ GHz pentium due to the unlocked multiplier.

2) For non-gaming, you don't need a GPU. Integrated Intel graphics are fine. That i5 build is way, WAY more powerful than yours in the relevant areas, and a way better starting point for a gaming rig if he wants to go that direction later.

[aidenrelkoff]

1) if you're going with a pentium, at least go for the G3258. It's basically a 4.5+ GHz pentium due to the unlocked multiplier.

2) For non-gaming, you don't need a GPU. Integrated Intel graphics are fine. That i5 build is way, WAY more powerful than yours in the relevant areas, and a way better starting point for a gaming rig if he wants to go that direction later.

dude. its IN HIS PRICE RANGE, AND IT HAS A GPU... saying he could get a better cpu is like saying he could get a i7 4770k. he "could" but if he did that would be $80 of his budget....... sure an i5 is great. does he want to game? hows the intel HD 4200 graphics worken out for yeah?

[PhantomDragon]

dude. its IN HIS PRICE RANGE, AND IT HAS A GPU

But you forgot to include OS oh nos

[IMPERIUS]

Here, this is the absolute cheapest system I would ever recommend someone to go for. Yes you could save a bit of money on the CPU, but then you'd end up with either really shitty multi-threaded performance (which unfortunately this i3 only has kind of shitty multi-threaded performance), or really shitty single-threaded performance. I guess I might recommend that occasionally, but only under the idea that you'll upgrade from there down the road. It doesn't sound like that's the case with you. I still say ideally you'd go up to an h97 and i5 non-K build. Still, this is about $85 over budget because I did not include the OS.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.97 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: ASRock H81 Pro BTC ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($40.00 @ Amazon)

Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($35.50 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.98 @ OutletPC)

Video Card: Asus Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card  ($129.99 @ Newegg)

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center)

Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ Newegg)

Total: $435.42

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-13 00:33 EST-0500

 

No need to use such parts for web browsing.

I recommend you the g3258 cpu and the gtx 750. This will be enough for web browsing and some casual gaming on med/low setting at 1080/720p with 30-60 fps, it all depends on the game. And for the rest of the parts, choose a cheap mobo and a big enough hdd for your needs (750gb enough?)