Cheapest Workstation PC Upgrade

[mutedcurmudgeon]

Hi, I work on a high school robotics team and we use the adobe suite and other programs to make our media (ie. banners, photo editing, and video editing and rendering) and we are currently using 2 old members gaming PCs as our workstations.

Here are the Specs:

 

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @2.83GHz

RAM - 4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @400MHz

MOBO - ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5K-E (LGA775)

GPU - Nvidia GTX 480

 

We are looking to try and modernize a bit, but the thing is our team only has so much money so we can't really go all out. So the things we need are at least 8Gb of DDR3, an intel quad core processor (our team mentors don't want us buying AMD), and an ATX motherboard. As for the GPU we can leave it as is for now because we may be getting a quadro soon, but that isn't for sure so just dont worry about it.

But all in all, the question is, what is the best we can get for around $350.

 

Thanks for your help! 

[Gofspar]

 i5-4690K

and a AsRock Extreme4 Z97 and OC the shit out of it.

[mutedcurmudgeon]

 i5-4690K

and a AsRock Extreme4 Z97 and OC the shit out of it.

 

What about RAM though? It doesn't need to have anything super fancy, anything is better than the piece of crap we use now.

[kylerjobe]

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z87a <--Solid motherboard at unbeatable price. $80

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54440 <-- Quad core Intel i5 CPU. Not overclockable, but should do well. $170

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl10d16gbxl <-- A generous 16GB of very nice DDR3. $120

All of that would be $370. If you want to stay within your budget, just step down to 8GB of the same(or different doesnt matter) RAM and come in around $350 after tax.

[Jacky]

 i5-4690K

and a AsRock Extreme4 Z97 and OC the shit out of it.

 

for 350 dollars? idk where u are buying

[mutedcurmudgeon]

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-z87a <--Solid motherboard at unbeatable price. $80

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80646i54440 <-- Quad core Intel i5 CPU. Not overclockable, but should do well. $170

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f312800cl10d16gbxl <-- A generous 16GB of very nice DDR3. $120

All of that would be $370. If you want to stay within your budget, just step down to 8GB of the same(or different doesnt matter) RAM and come in around $350 after tax.

Cool! Thanks a lot!

[mutedcurmudgeon]

for 350 dollars? idk where u are buying

we would buy at micro center, there is one 30+ minutes from where we live.

[kylerjobe]

 i5-4690K

and a AsRock Extreme4 Z97 and OC the shit out of it.

 

 

 

What about RAM though? It doesn't need to have anything super fancy, anything is better than the piece of crap we use now.

 

The parts he listed will be over $300( 220 for cpu and at least 100 for mobo) without any RAM. See my post

 

EDIT: If you are buying at Microcenter, you might very well find a steal of a deal on the 4690k CPU. But if you don't need anythign fancy, you don't need to OC so don't bother with the "k" series CPUs.

[mutedcurmudgeon]

The parts he listed will be over $300( 220 for cpu and at least 100 for mobo) without any RAM. See my post

 

EDIT: If you are buying at Microcenter, you might very well find a steal of a deal on the 4690k CPU. But if you don't need anythign fancy, you don't need to OC so don't bother with the "k" series CPUs.

Yeah thats what I figured, I picked up my 4690k for $190 in november, best deal ever. but right now they're at $210 so I was looking at which of the non "k" series CPUs was the best for the price. Thanks for the clarification.

[Gofspar]

for 350 dollars? idk where u are buying

m8, PC part picker.

[Jacky]

m8, PC part picker.

he needs ram bro

[Gofspar]

he needs ram bro

m8, this thread is dead.