New Computer for Family

[LSPrometheus]

After 8 or so years of service, my family's shared computer has finaly died. RIP in peace. My mother has been looking around for a replacement. She is pretty dead set on getting a $400 to $500 laptop but I'm trying to convince her that a desktop would be cheaper, more powerful, and more practical for their purposes (the computer would remain at the same desk for its lifetime). I told her I could build a desktop in that pricerange if she paid for the parts. I did my research and would like to do a mini-itx build in the coolermaster elite130 with an AMD APU because my brother will most likely be doing some gaming. Since I am a Intel CPU and nvidia GPU fanatic, I know basicly nothing about AMD CPUs/APUs. So I need some help picking out an APU that will work best for them (4+ cores preferably, decent gaming performance (20-30 fps on minecraft/borderlands2/gta4/other old games), cheap). Also I know its a huge help to have fast RAM with an APU and I'm not exactly sure what that means (higher clock speed, lower latency, something else, combination of all three?). I have some left over ram I won in a contest.

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=99169&vpn=AX3U1600W4G9-DMV&manufacture=AData%20Technology

I was wondering if this would do.

Any help would be greatly apreciated.

[arronleeds]

something like an amd a10-7850k will do just nicely

[79 Potatoes]

After 8 or so years of service, my family's shared computer has finaly died. RIP in peace. My mother has been looking around for a replacement. She is pretty dead set on getting a $400 to $500 laptop but I'm trying to convince her that a desktop would be cheaper, more powerful, and more practical for their purposes (the computer would remain at the same desk for its lifetime). I told her I could build a desktop in that pricerange if she paid for the parts. I did my research and would like to do a mini-itx build in the coolermaster elite130 with an AMD APU because my brother will most likely be doing some gaming. Since I am a Intel CPU and nvidia GPU fanatic, I know basicly nothing about AMD CPUs/APUs. So I need some help picking out an APU that will work best for them (4+ cores preferably, decent gaming performance (20-30 fps on minecraft/borderlands2/gta4/other old games), cheap). Also I know its a huge help to have fast RAM with an APU and I'm not exactly sure what that means (higher clock speed, lower latency, something else, combination of all three?). I have some left over ram I won in a contest.

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=99169&vpn=AX3U1600W4G9-DMV&manufacture=AData%20Technology

I was wondering if this would do.

Any help would be greatly apreciated.

Do you need OS? are you going to reuse monitor, kb and/or mouse?

[LSPrometheus]

Do you need OS? are you going to reuse monitor, kb and/or mouse?

I'm reusing an old OS. Monitor will remain the same for now (720p I believe). keyboard will remain the same. And I plan on letting them use my old mouse.

[79 Potatoes]

I'm reusing an old OS. Monitor will remain the same for now (720p I believe). keyboard will remain the same. And I plan on letting them use my old mouse.

New HDD I presume.

Or you prefer SSD + the old HDD for storage (if it's something with decent capacity like 320 GB or more)?

[LSPrometheus]

New HDD I presume.

Or you prefer SSD + the old HDD for storage (if it's something with decent capacity like 320 GB or more)?

Since I just upgraded my laptop to a 250 gb ssd, I will be using the old hdd as the secondary storage and will be adding either a 120 gb or 250 ssd to the family puter.

[79 Potatoes]

Since I just upgraded my laptop to a 250 gb ssd, I will be using the old hdd as the secondary storage and will be adding either a 120 gb or 250 ssd to the family puter.

OK, I come with 2 Options, both with a little description/presentation

Because of what I read I assume budget must be <500 $

 

A slim PC will take less space, will look neat and will be easier to carry. The only drawback is cable management.

It's a solid case but you might  have noticed that I put a PSU, well, the bundled PSU isn't precisely a good one. Even though it's made by HEC, it isn't a good Idea to use low cost PSUs. The case has the basic capabilities: 1x5,25" bay and 2x3,5" (one of them can be external if needed)

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($42.89 @ OutletPC) 

Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($44.99 @ Micro Center) 

Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($148.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: HEC 7K09BBA30FNRX HTPC Case w/300W Power Supply  ($56.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: SeaSonic 300W 80+ Bronze Certified TFX Power Supply  ($36.44 @ Amazon) 

Total: $441.29

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-17 13:44 EDT-0400

 

 

Not much to say, the one you described. If the case is too long you can take a CM 110 Elit, though you'll lose a 5.25" bay

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($110.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: Asus H81I-PLUS Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($76.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($44.99 @ Micro Center) 

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card  ($129.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case  ($42.70 @ Mwave) 

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Total: $450.65

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-17 13:47 EDT-0400PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

 

 

IKR both might be an overkill, but just in case someone starts doing something powerful It will take it and your brother wont complain

On a note about BL2, I've seen it running witha r7 250 pretty bad, but I can't confirm you if that's the factor as IDK if it eats CPU.

Anyway, if this is too expensive just tell me a new price target

 

And @LSPrometheus don't forget to follow your threads, this way you'll receive updates, people won't have to quote the OP and you won't have to look back everytime

[LSPrometheus]

 

OK, I come with 2 Options, both with a little description/presentation

Because of what I read I assume budget must be <500 $

Thank you for your time and hard work. But I am looking for something cheaper than $400ish. I went on PC part picker and build a pc based on the AMD A10 that arronleeds had suggested, minus the parts I already have, and it came out under $300 I think thats the route I will be going.

As for subscibing to my own post, I am currently at work and check in to LTT forums whenever I am not busy, so sorry for the late reply.

[Starelementpoke]

Thank you for your time and hard work. But I am looking for something cheaper than $400ish. I went on PC part picker and build a pc based on the AMD A10 that arronleeds had suggested, minus the parts I already have, and it came out under $300 I think thats the route I will be going.

As for subscibing to my own post, I am currently at work and check in to LTT forums whenever I am not busy, so sorry for the late reply.

You can find the 860k from AMD and just pair it with a 730 thats got gddr5. Should work fine.