Intel Office PC with SSD for Under $350?

[Embattled]

Hey guys, I am building a simple office PC for my father as a xmas present. I'm trying to get it with a decent intel quad core and a SSD but at or under $350. This is my build so far, but I need a little bit of help reducing the cost a bit. Thanks and happy holidays! 

[Arty]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015ZGXGI6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015ZGXGI6&linkCode=as2&tag=o001b-20&linkId=P44FZXUV7I2GCDWZ

 saved ya 30$

[Amazingasian]

Hey guys, I am building a simple office PC for my father as a xmas present. I'm trying to get it with a decent intel quad core and a SSD but at or under $350. This is my build so far, but I need a little bit of help reducing the cost a bit. Thanks and happy holidays! 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ NCIX US) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($46.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($81.61 @ Amazon) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply  ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Total: $340.56

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:41 EST-0500

 

Merry Christmas!

[Embattled]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015ZGXGI6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015ZGXGI6&linkCode=as2&tag=o001b-20&linkId=P44FZXUV7I2GCDWZ

 saved ya 30$

Is the OEM different? I have never heard of Faspeed.

[zyntaxable]

Is it going to be for office use, as in word, powerpoint and stuff>?

[thatguyyouknow75]

no point in an aftermarket cooler with an i3, waste of money. 

[Embattled]

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ NCIX US) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($46.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($81.61 @ Amazon) 

Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($36.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply  ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Total: $340.56

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:41 EST-0500

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Sorry for double post but I heard that some H81 boards aren't compatible out of the box with Haswell refresh bc of BIOS not being updating after the release of refresh. Is this one of those boards or will it be compatible? 

[Embattled]

Is it going to be for office use, as in word, powerpoint and stuff>?

Yeah, sending in and out email, listening to BCC. He always has a ton of tabs open though. 

[Lotus]

Cheapest Intel Quad Core build (without cutting corners that would be stupid to cut):

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($164.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($50.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($30.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $381.83
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:44 EST-0500

 

Cheapest dual core with hyper threading (same caveat on "cheapest")

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($50.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($30.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $331.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:45 EST-0500

 

Note: desktop i3 CPUs are only dual cores, but have hyper threading so 2 threads can run simultaneously on the same core. It's not nearly the same as 4 real cores, but it's better than just 2 cores with 1 thread per core.

[zyntaxable]

So why don't you want to go with an amd apu? I think it would be a better choice, since it has way better integrated graphics

[Amazingasian]

Sorry for double post but I heard that some H81 boards aren't compatible out of the box with Haswell refresh bc of BIOS not being updating after the release of refresh. Is this one of those boards or will it be compatible? 

Some aren't but if MSI updated the BIOS at the factory then it will be fine.  Otherwise just change it to an H97 board.

[GalacticRuler]

Cheapest Intel Quad Core build (without cutting corners that would be stupid to cut):

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($164.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($50.88 @ OutletPC)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)

Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($30.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $381.83

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:44 EST-0500

 

Cheapest dual core with hyper threading (same caveat on "cheapest")

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.89 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($50.88 @ OutletPC)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)

Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($30.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $331.73

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:45 EST-0500

 

Note: desktop i3 CPUs are only dual cores, but have hyper threading so 2 threads can run simultaneously on the same core. It's not nearly the same as 4 real cores, but it's better than just 2 cores with 1 thread per core.

That 4460 build looks promising.

[Embattled]

Cheapest Intel Quad Core build (without cutting corners that would be stupid to cut):

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($164.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($50.88 @ OutletPC)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)

Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($30.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $381.83

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:44 EST-0500

 

Cheapest dual core with hyper threading (same caveat on "cheapest")

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.89 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($50.88 @ OutletPC)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Crucial BX200 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Amazon)

Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case  ($39.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($30.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $331.73

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:45 EST-0500

 

Note: desktop i3 CPUs are only dual cores, but have hyper threading so 2 threads can run simultaneously on the same core. It's not nearly the same as 4 real cores, but it's better than just 2 cores with 1 thread per core.

If I wanted to go a little cheaper and go with the i3 version, wouldn't a 4170 be more powerful for around the same price?

[Lotus]

If I wanted to go a little cheaper and go with the i3 version, wouldn't a 4170 be more powerful for around the same price?

If you can find one yes, but currently I'm not seeing any available listings for it on PCPartPicker. I looked for it first though as it's slightly (0.1 GHz) faster.

[jimakos234]

Hey guys, I am building a simple office PC for my father as a xmas present. I'm trying to get it with a decent intel quad core and a SSD but at or under $350. This is my build so far, but I need a little bit of help reducing the cost a bit. Thanks and happy holidays! 

 

you can even add an aftermarket cpu cooler for  more silence

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ NCIX US)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($46.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Patriot Blast 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($67.99 @ Newegg)

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply  ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Total: $319.94

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:52 EST-0500

[GalacticRuler]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD A10-7800 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($128.98 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: Asus A68HM-K Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($32.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($28.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($27.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $306.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:53 EST-0500

[Embattled]

you can even add an aftermarket cpu cooler for  more silence

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ NCIX US)

Motherboard: MSI H81M-E34 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($46.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Patriot Blast 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($67.99 @ Newegg)

Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply  ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Total: $319.94

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:52 EST-0500

Nice I think Im going to go with something like this. My only issue is that wouldn't it fall into the same non compatible BIOS trap? 

[jimakos234]

Nice I think Im going to go with something like this. My only issue is that wouldn't it fall into the same non compatible BIOS trap? 

that depends on the mobo

if it is brand new straight from the factory, you wont have any problems

otherwise, if it was sitting on a shop shelf for some time, it might not work without a bios update.

if you want to be sure, just take the cheapest h97 mobo (asrock h97 anniversary)

[Embattled]

that depends on the mobo

if it is brand new straight from the factory, you wont have any problems

otherwise, if it was sitting on a shop shelf for some time, it might not work without a bios update.

if you want to be sure, just take the cheapest h97 mobo (asrock h97 anniversary)

Ok thanks! Will do if I go with that kind of build.

 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD A10-7800 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($128.98 @ Newegg) 

Motherboard: Asus A68HM-K Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($32.98 @ Newegg) 

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($69.99 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($28.99 @ NCIX US) 

Power Supply: EVGA 600B 600W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($27.99 @ NCIX US) 

Total: $306.93

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 14:53 EST-0500

 

Would this outperform the 4160/4170 in office type applications? I'm not going for gaming/graphical prowess here. 

[GalacticRuler]

Ok thanks! Will do if I go with that kind of build.

 

Would this outperform the 4160/4170 in office type applications? I'm not going for gaming/graphical prowess here. 

It depends on how multithreaded the applications are, and how many applications will be used at once.

[Embattled]

It depends on how multithreaded the applications are, and how many applications will be used at once.

Lets say around 4 mozilla tabs open with one streaming video, heavy outlook use, and using a photo viewer to look at incoming digital faxes all at once. Which one do you think would stack up better in that case? 

[Djole123]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66Ghz Quad-Core OEM/Tray Processor ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)

CPU Cooler: Masscool 8WT15-38 42.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($6.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G41MT-S2PT Micro ATX LGA775 Motherboard ($76.97 @ Newegg)

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($81.61 @ Amazon)

Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($30.99 @ NCIX US)

Total: $358.52

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-12-24 15:15 EST-0500his is the cheapest Intel Quad Core

[GalacticRuler]

Lets say around 4 mozilla tabs open with one streaming video, heavy outlook use, and using a photo viewer to look at incoming digital faxes all at once. Which one do you think would stack up better in that case? 

Probably the A10. If he has many applications open at once, the additional two cores will be effective.

 

He'll also be able to play Minecraft at max settings as a bonus

[jimakos234]

Ok thanks! Will do if I go with that kind of build.

 

Would this outperform the 4160/4170 in office type applications? I'm not going for gaming/graphical prowess here. 

meh most office apps/browsers are not optimized for multi-core cpus

 

It depends on how multithreaded the applications are, and how many applications will be used at once.

[Embattled]

Probably the A10. If he has many applications open at once, the additional two cores will be effective.

 

He'll also be able to play Minecraft at max settings as a bonus

Ok, I will consider it! Thanks!