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Budget PC

Axebane
By Axebane
in New Builds and Planning
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Go to solution Solved by aflyinghotpocket,

If you are REALLY itching for a new system, try the Dell Outlet or Woot if you are short on cash. IMO, I would say that this is one of the worst times to be building a system, especially if you are on a budget. GPU and RAM princes are still high for my taste and it's honestly hard for me to give a recommendation off a $500 build. 

 

"Fun Budget" builds should honestly be put on hold until GPU/RAM prices go down. Not to long ago I could go to MicroCenter and purchase a complete system with a copy of Windows 10 for under ~$320 for any folks I knew who wanted a decent home PC for the Office. I had a build that I would use over and over that had a 64GB Boot SSD and a 1TB drive for their files. Yes, the system used Integrated graphics, but the $40 discount on CPU+MOBO combos was just to strong at MicroCenter. 

 

Honestly, My recommendation at this time, given that you will get a new laptop soon, would be to invest some of that $500 on a REALLY awesome SSD for the laptop or save your money for a future desktop when the prices settle down. It's all about wants vs. needs my friend. For example, right now I WANT a new laptop even though I know my Surface Pro 4 is perfectly fine and needs no upgrade. 

Posted

Hello there!

 

I have been thinking about trying to build a budget PC (~$500) from parts I find on Ebay/Craigslist.

If I did, I would only do it for fun, and to replace my 5 year old Dell inspiron as I take on more intense workloads with audio mixing.

Tbh, building a custom tower doesn't even make sense as I will be getting a new laptop for my master's degree anyway.

 

However, out of curiosity, can I get better specs than my current setup for $300-$500, and what is the best way to go about it?

Current specs: 

quad core intel i5 2nd gen cpu at 2.5GHz

intel integrated graphics 3000

6 gb ddr3 ram

500 gb 5400 rpm hard drive

18 in display

 

I would also need a monitor, keyboard, and a copy of windows

 

Thanks--

Axebane

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Why not save your cash and put towards your laptop and degree?

MSI MAG X670E TOMAHAWK WIFI Motherboard, AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D Desk-top Processor (12-core/24-thread, 140MB cache, up to 5.6 GHz max boost), CORSAIR VENGEANCE DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz CL30 AMD EXPO iCUE Compatible Computer Memory, Samsung 990 PRO NVMe M.2 SSD, 2 TB, PCIe 4.0, 7,450 MB/s read, 6,900 MB/s write, Internal SSD, 2 x Seagate BarraCuda 4 TB Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6 Gb/s 5400 RPM 256 MB Cache for Computer Desktop PC Laptop (ST4000DM004), MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 Power Supply Unit, UK Plug - 1000W, 80 Plus Gold Certified, Fully Modular ATX 3.0, PCIe 5.0 GPU, XILENCE XC982 LQ240PRO AIO COOLER, XFX Speedster MERC 310 AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB 1 x AOC CU34G2XE & 1 x Samsung U32J59XUQ 3840 x 2160 4K, 1 x Samsung Evo 970 Evo Plus NVME PCI-E 1TB, 1 x Samsung Evo 850 250GB, 1 X Sandisk Ultra II SSD 240GB + 2 X 4TB Seagate Barracuda SATA III,  MZHOU 7 Ports PCIe USB 3.0 Card,  2 x UGREEN Hard Drive Enclosure 3.5 inch External SATA Disk Caddy Reader USB 3.0 2.5 3.5 HDD SSD 16TB UASP Case Dock Station With 12V 2A Power Adapter For Windows with 6TB Seagate Barracuda SATA III, Fractal Design Pop XL Case + 4 Fractal Design 140mm Case Fans, Logitech MX Vertical & MX Ergo Trackball Mouse using same USB unifying device, Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard, Windows 11 Pro x64 Retail, 6TB Seagate USB 3.0 Backup Plus Hub, Blue Yeti Microphone, Logitech C922 Pro HD,  Logitech C920 Pro HD, Bit Defender Total Security 2021.

 

Second PC (Cyclops) - MSI 990FXA Gaming, AMD FX 8370 4Ghz, Corsair 16GB Vengeance Red 9-9-9-24 1600Mhz, Arctic Cooling Freezer 13, Asus Strix 1050TI 4GB, 1 X Acer 27" Full HD Monitor, 1 X Sandisk Ultra II SSD 240GB, 1 x Samsung Evo 850 250GB, 2 X Seagate Barracuda 2TB, 1 X WD Black 2TB, 1 x ASUS 16x DVDRW, X-Case Eagle III Case, 3 X Corsair AF 120 Case Fans, EVGA 850 G2 80+ Gold + PSU, Logitech MX Master Mouse, Corsair K30 Keyboard, Logitech C920 Webcam, R0DE NT1-A Microphone, Scarlet 212 Audio Interface (Revision 2), Windows 10 Pro X64 Retail, Bit Defender Total Security 2021, 2TB Seagate Expansion USB Hard Drive.

 

Third PC (Old Trustie) - Acer Aspire M3400, OEM Mainboard, AMD FX Athlon II X3 425 2.7Ghz, 16GB Corsair Value 1600Mhz Ram, OEM CPU Cooler, AMD R7 260 2GB GPU, 1 X Acer 27" Full HD Monitor, 1 X Sandisk Ultra II SSD 240GB, 2TB Samsung SATA III, 1 X OEM 16X DVDRW, 1 X Acer OEM Case, 1 X Corsair AF120 Case Can, Corsair CX500 Bronze+ CPU, Logitech MX Master Mouse, Corsair K30 Keyboard, Windows 10 Home X64 OEM, Logitech C920 Webcam, Bit Defender Total Security 2021.

 

Printers Include - Canon MG5750, Canon, IP8750,  Canon Pixma Mega tank G5050 & 2 X Samsung Xpress C410W.

 

1 X Zexrow Xbox360 Wired Game Controller.

 

TP Link Archer AX6000 Cable Router Wifi6 with a Virgin Media Hub 4.0 in Modem only mode running 1GB Fibre internet.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21+ 256GB Mobile Phone.

 

Internet Speed.....

https://www.speedtest.net/result/9935039193

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add a SSD, new PSU new monitor and get a used 770 or a 780. do check that your PC uses normal power connectors before starting this

Good luck, Have fun, Build PC, and have a Wii and PS2 as your only consoles.

NightHawk 3.0: R7 5700x @, B550A vision D, H105, 2x32gb Oloy 3600, Asrock RX9070xt Steel Legends, Corsair RM750X, 500gb 850 evo, 2tb rocket and 5tb Toshiba x300, 3x 6TB WD Black W10 all in a Obsidian 750D airflow.
GF PC: (NightHawk 2.0): R7 2700x, B450m vision D, 4x8gb Geli 2933, Sapphire RX 6700XT  Nitro+, CX650M RGB, Obsidian 350D

Skunkworks: R5 3500U, 16gb, 500gb 860 evo, Vega 8. HP probook G455R G6 Ubuntu 20. LTS

Condor (MC server): 6600K, z170m plus, 16gb corsair vengeance LPX, samsung 750 evo, EVGA BR 450.

Spirt  (NAS) ASUS Z9PR-D12, 2x E5 2620V2, 8x4gb, 24 3tb HDD. F80 800gb cache, trueNAS, 2x12disk raid Z3 stripped

HP probook 445R G6 review

 

"Stupidity is like trying to find a limit of a constant. You are never truly smart in something, just less stupid."

Camera Gear: X-S10, 16-80 F4, 35mm F1.4, Helios 44

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I ended up paying about that for my current PC. Also through Craigslist and Reddit finds.

Welcome to the forum!

CPU: Ryzen 9 5900 Cooler: EVGA CLC280 Motherboard: Gigabyte B550i Pro AX RAM: Kingston Hyper X 32GB 3200mhz

Storage: WD 750 SE 500GB, WD 730 SE 1TB GPU: Gigabyte GTX 1050 PSU: Corsair SF750 Case: Streacom DA2

Monitor: LG 27GL83B Mouse: Razer Basilisk V2 Keyboard: G.Skill KM780 Cherry MX Red Speakers: Mackie CR5BT

 

MiniPC - Sold for $100 Profit

Spoiler

CPU: Intel i3 4160 Cooler: Integrated Motherboard: Integrated

RAM: G.Skill RipJaws 16GB DDR3 Storage: Transcend MSA370 128GB GPU: Intel 4400 Graphics

PSU: Integrated Case: Shuttle XPC Slim

Monitor: LG 29WK500 Mouse: G.Skill MX780 Keyboard: G.Skill KM780 Cherry MX Red

 

Budget Rig 1 - Sold For $750 Profit

Spoiler

CPU: Intel i5 7600k Cooler: CryOrig H7 Motherboard: MSI Z270 M5

RAM: Crucial LPX 16GB DDR4 Storage: Intel S3510 800GB GPU: Nvidia GTX 980

PSU: Corsair CX650M Case: EVGA DG73

Monitor: LG 29WK500 Mouse: G.Skill MX780 Keyboard: G.Skill KM780 Cherry MX Red

 

OG Gaming Rig - Gone

Spoiler

 

CPU: Intel i5 4690k Cooler: Corsair H100i V2 Motherboard: MSI Z97i AC ITX

RAM: Crucial Ballistix 16GB DDR3 Storage: Kingston Fury 240GB GPU: Asus Strix GTX 970

PSU: Thermaltake TR2 Case: Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX

Monitor: Dell P2214H x2 Mouse: Logitech MX Master Keyboard: G.Skill KM780 Cherry MX Red

 

 

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If you're buying a laptop for your grad degree then just wait.

 

Intel is about to announce 45w 8th gen mobile CPUs which are bringing a 68% performance improvement. What this means for you is that you'll be able to buy an old 7th gen thin and light gaming notebook (i.e. XPS 15, razor blade, ect) for a fraction of price. 

 

Sit on that money for a couple more months.

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  • Solution

If you are REALLY itching for a new system, try the Dell Outlet or Woot if you are short on cash. IMO, I would say that this is one of the worst times to be building a system, especially if you are on a budget. GPU and RAM princes are still high for my taste and it's honestly hard for me to give a recommendation off a $500 build. 

 

"Fun Budget" builds should honestly be put on hold until GPU/RAM prices go down. Not to long ago I could go to MicroCenter and purchase a complete system with a copy of Windows 10 for under ~$320 for any folks I knew who wanted a decent home PC for the Office. I had a build that I would use over and over that had a 64GB Boot SSD and a 1TB drive for their files. Yes, the system used Integrated graphics, but the $40 discount on CPU+MOBO combos was just to strong at MicroCenter. 

 

Honestly, My recommendation at this time, given that you will get a new laptop soon, would be to invest some of that $500 on a REALLY awesome SSD for the laptop or save your money for a future desktop when the prices settle down. It's all about wants vs. needs my friend. For example, right now I WANT a new laptop even though I know my Surface Pro 4 is perfectly fine and needs no upgrade. 

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15 hours ago, Axebane said:

Hello there!

 

I have been thinking about trying to build a budget PC (~$500) from parts I find on Ebay/Craigslist.

If I did, I would only do it for fun, and to replace my 5 year old Dell inspiron as I take on more intense workloads with audio mixing.

Tbh, building a custom tower doesn't even make sense as I will be getting a new laptop for my master's degree anyway.

 

However, out of curiosity, can I get better specs than my current setup for $300-$500, and what is the best way to go about it?

Current specs: 

quad core intel i5 2nd gen cpu at 2.5GHz

intel integrated graphics 3000

6 gb ddr3 ram

500 gb 5400 rpm hard drive

18 in display

 

I would also need a monitor, keyboard, and a copy of windows

 

Thanks--

Axebane

I would rather suggest u to upgrade ur PC...or save cash ND put towards ur college ND degree...

 

Just add in a 240gb SSD...ND an old used GPU like GTX 770 or 960 or 970....ND u'll hv a good 1080p gaming system...

SSD TIER LIST

 

 

CPU - Ryzen 7 3700X

Mobo - ASRock X470 Taichi

Memory - G.Skill Trident Z RGB (8x2 3200MHz) 

Storage - Sabrent Rocket 1TB - Seagate Barracuda 2TB - WD Black 1TB

GPU - MSI GeForce GTX 980Ti LIGHTNING

Case - Fractal Design Meshify C

PSU - Super Flower Leadex II Gold 650W

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