Budget PC General suggestions

[Spork829]

My sister's laptop is just not up to par for anything but schoolwork for her, and is generally frustratingly slow for her. She wants a new laptop, but I've convinced her I can build her a desktop for the same price that would perform way better and she can keep using her current laptop just for school. The laptop she was looking at was $450 (and we can't really go above that), so I made this: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gRgBf

 

So, can anyone edit this or build something better for the same price? She will do LITERALLY no gaming or anything GPU intensive so a graphics card is not necessary. Also, recommendations for a good Micro-ATX case? She doesn't have a whole ton of room. Thanks. 

[Starelementpoke]

1 minute ago, Spork829 said:

My sister's laptop is just not up to par for anything but schoolwork for her, and is generally frustratingly slow for her. She wants a new laptop, but I've convinced her I can build her a desktop for the same price that would perform way better and she can keep using her current laptop just for school. The laptop she was looking at was $450 (and we can't really go above that), so I made this: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gRgBf

 

So, can anyone edit this or build something better for the same price? She will do LITERALLY no gaming or anything GPU intensive so a graphics card is not necessary. Also, recommendations for a good Micro-ATX case? She doesn't have a whole ton of room. Thanks. 

Problem, the 860k doesn´t have an IGPU.

[Spork829]

Just now, Starelementpoke said:

Problem, the 860k doesn´t have an IGPU.

Oh, that is indeed a thing. What would you replace that with? FX series?

[Starelementpoke]

Just now, Spork829 said:

Oh, that is indeed a thing. What would you replace that with? FX series?

FX series doesn´t have an IGPU either.

[Spork829]

1 minute ago, Starelementpoke said:

FX series doesn´t have an IGPU either.

Wow alright, I feel like you should be proposing things here, I know like nothing about AMD XD. So A series then, or one of the others and a low end GPU?

[Moonzy]

to be honest, some people are just better off with laptops

 

dont force your sister to get a desktop if she likes the portability and doesnt require much performance from it

[Spork829]

Just now, Moonzy said:

to be honest, some people are just better off with laptops

 

dont force your sister to get a desktop if she likes the portability and doesnt require much performance from it

She's considering it and she brought it up first actually, but she might still end up with a laptop. I'm not forcing her into anything, this is more theoretical for if she goes with a desktop.

[Moonzy]

Just now, Spork829 said:

She's considering it and she brought it up first actually, but she might still end up with a laptop. I'm not forcing her into anything, this is more theoretical for if she goes with a desktop.

`-` well

7 minutes ago, Spork829 said:

I've convinced her

if she's doing schoolwork on the laptop and frequently travels to school with it, it might be wiser to pick a laptop since file transfering to and fro can be tedious

and she still have to deal with a sht laptop while she's at school

[Spork829]

1 minute ago, Moonzy said:

`-` well

if she's doing schoolwork on the laptop and frequently travels to school with it, it might be wiser to pick a laptop since file transfering to and fro can be tedious

and she still have to deal with a sht laptop while she's at school

Pretty much all of her schoolwork is online through Google Drive (she's in middle school) and the school provides Chromebooks for every student so if her current laptop becomes unbearable even for just web she can use one of those. And I convinced her it's an option, not the right option

[LewisBloom]

If using it as a workstation like this then a Win10 laptop with the whole skydrive and windows account fully enabled will enable her to potentially have her work right there on whatever she uses be it her laptop or a desktop and maybe even school PC's depending on the school IT policy.

 

 

[Moonzy]

3 minutes ago, Spork829 said:

Pretty much all of her schoolwork is online through Google Drive (she's in middle school) and the school provides Chromebooks for every student so if her current laptop becomes unbearable even for just web she can use one of those. And I convinced her it's an option, not the right option

mm k, just want you to make sure you are making the right decision

 

for your needs, i suggest getting an i3 6100?

pretty basic build

Spoiler

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gzPj8d
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/gzPj8d/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($54.99 @ Micro Center) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($38.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($84.88 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic ECO 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply 
Total: $325.84
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-20 19:11 EDT-0400

edit: ah crap, psu price not listed, lemme edit it

[Spork829]

1 minute ago, LewisBloom said:

If using it as a workstation like this then a Win10 laptop with the whole skydrive and windows account fully enabled will enable her to potentially have her work right there on whatever she uses be it her laptop or a desktop and maybe even school PC's depending on the school IT policy.

 

 

Yep, and currently everything's online over Google Drive anyways. I'm in high school and I still have no trouble using my laptop just at school and my desktop at home.

[Spork829]

1 minute ago, Moonzy said:

for your needs, i suggest getting an i3 6100?

pretty basic build

I'll try that out, thanks!

[LewisBloom]

If she uses google and your place is GAFE enabled like my old school workplace then maybe a chrome book is the cheap quick alternative?

[Moonzy]

1 minute ago, Spork829 said:

I'll try that out, thanks!

here, i edited it

Spoiler

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pbygdC
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pbygdC/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($54.99 @ Micro Center) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($38.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.77 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($53.98 @ Newegg) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)  ($85.49 @ OutletPC) 
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($29.89 @ OutletPC) 
Total: $459.09
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-20 19:14 EDT-0400

you can get windows license from cheaper sources like G2A, Kinguin or subreddit microsoftsoftwareswap

[Spork829]

1 minute ago, LewisBloom said:

If she uses google and your place is GAFE enabled like my old school workplace then maybe a chrome book is the cheap quick alternative?

This is meant to last a while though, she's going to need more flexibility, upgradeability and power than a chromebook I'm thinking. 

[Spork829]

1 minute ago, Moonzy said:

here, i edited it

  Reveal hidden contents

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pbygdC
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pbygdC/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($54.99 @ Micro Center) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($38.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.77 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($53.98 @ Newegg) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)  ($85.49 @ OutletPC) 
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($29.89 @ OutletPC) 
Total: $459.09
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-20 19:14 EDT-0400

you can get windows license from cheaper sources like G2A, Kinguin or subreddit microsoftsoftwareswap

That's a good point as well

[diapersarefullofshit]

1) You can get an AMD8350+16gb mem+mobo+cpucooler or similar value 2nd hand for under 200 dollars. The gpu is your own choice (new or 2nd hand), but most of the time you can find good 2nd hand deals. Buy the case+psu new. This pc will look and feel as a new pc.

2) If you absolutely want to buy everything new the G4400 processor+1 stick of 8GB memory on a budget mobo should be your pick (cpu has internal gpu)! It is on the 1151 socket so you can upgrade it later if need be.

[Squish4058]

If your going to want integrated graphics I have always just stuck to intel i series as im fairly sure they all have them

[Spork829]

1 minute ago, kris2340k said:

If your going to want integrated graphics I have always just stuck to intel i series as im fairly sure they all have them

Yep, considering the i3 6100 that Moonzy recommended

[Spork829]

2 minutes ago, kris2340k said:

If your going to want integrated graphics I have always just stuck to intel i series as im fairly sure they all have them

 

2 minutes ago, diapersarefullofshit said:

1) You can get an AMD8350+16gb mem+mobo+cpucooler or similar value 2nd hand for under 200 dollars. The gpu is your own choice (new or 2nd hand), but most of the time you can find good 2nd hand deals. Buy the case+psu new. This pc will look and feel if it is a new pc.

2) If you absolutely want to buy everything new the G4400 processor+1 stick of 8GB memory on a budget mobo should be your pick (cpu has internal gpu)! It is on the 1151 socket so you can upgrade it later if need be.

 

4 minutes ago, Moonzy said:

here, i edited it

  Reveal hidden contents

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pbygdC
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pbygdC/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($111.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($54.99 @ Micro Center) 
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($38.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($48.77 @ OutletPC) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($34.99 @ Micro Center) 
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($53.98 @ Newegg) 
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit)  ($85.49 @ OutletPC) 
Wireless Network Adapter: Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter  ($29.89 @ OutletPC) 
Total: $459.09
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-20 19:14 EDT-0400

you can get windows license from cheaper sources like G2A, Kinguin or subreddit microsoftsoftwareswap

 

5 minutes ago, LewisBloom said:

If she uses google and your place is GAFE enabled like my old school workplace then maybe a chrome book is the cheap quick alternative?

(Quoted everyone here so you all see this) What about a Micro-ATX case? Best suggestions?

[Moonzy]

Just now, Spork829 said:

(Quoted everyone here so you all see this) What about a Micro-ATX case? Best suggestions?

the opne in my build is pretty decent

[diapersarefullofshit]

11 minutes ago, Spork829 said:

 

 

 

(Quoted everyone here so you all see this) What about a Micro-ATX case? Best suggestions?

Whatever she actually does not hate to look at and fits the budget, most money should go into parts imho.

 

- One of the better value-for-money cases is the coolermaster silencio, but it is quite plain like most cases.

- Bitfenix Neos (with dustfilters no window) comes in different colours, i.e. white+purple (could be a good fit for girlpowa!)  https://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/chassis/neos/

 

[Spork829]

Here's the updated link for specs, anything else I should consider that may be better? I'll work on finding a case next. 

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/w6KX99

[Spork829]

6 hours ago, diapersarefullofshit said:

Whatever she actually does not hate to look at and fits the budget, most money should go into parts imho.

 

- One of the better value-for-money cases is the coolermaster silencio, but it is quite plain like most cases.

- Bitfenix Neos (with dustfilters no window) comes in different colours, i.e. white+purple (could be a good fit for girlpowa!)  https://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/chassis/neos/

 

 

6 hours ago, Moonzy said:

the opne in my build is pretty decent

Looks like (though partpicker doesn't say so) the i3 6100 isn't compatible with DDR3 RAM. Would this be better, or should I go with an older non-skylake Intel chip?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/LYgnsY