Hello,
So my former computer - a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop I've had for years - just conked out. I'm in a position where I either buy a pre-made and possibly even refurbished piece of fecal matter, or finally build my first PC, which I would much rather do. I'm looking for some help in deciding what to purchase, if anybody would be so kind as to lend me a hand.
I have [drumroll] $300. I've been grinding on a laptop for years; I would like to make at least a moderate jump up from what I've grown used to, and hopefully I will be able to. I'd also like to upgrade to Windows 7, but that's $100 in the wrong direction. That's one of the reasons why I've been looking at refurbished PCs, but I do have copies of Windows XP and Vista I could use if I can't meet my goal throwing out only $200, which will probably be better in the long run. Again, I'm just trying to get the most out of what I have. I can hold out on upgrading from a console to a PC for gaming later on. Right now, I just want to play some low-end indie games and play videos smoothly.
So I guess I'm looking for feedback on what I should do, and for help finding parts. Any help is greatly appreciated.
See [url=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1210284]this[/url] thread. Do you have a monitor?
My advice. Get $500. Then you can build something crappy that at least has reusable parts for upgrading.
You'll be barely able to make a decent build with $300.
Your best bet is going with Zephyrs' advice, save some more money up. It'll set you off on a shorter upgrade path than with spending $300 now.
Thanks for the quick responses, sorry I couldn't reciprocate them.
[QUOTE=Zephyrs;37848883]See [url=http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1210284]this[/url] thread. Do you have a monitor?
My advice. Get $500. Then you can build something crappy that at least has reusable parts for upgrading.[/QUOTE]
I have a monitor and a mouse. The only thing I lack apart from the computer itself is a keyboard, but I'm thinking I could score a decent one from one of my friends.
I've been thinking this over all day, and have arrived at the conclusion that the most I'm willing to pay is right around $350. I'd like to go over, and I do have more money, but it cuts into my funds for a car (which I will be needing soon enough). I also understand that it would be more sensible to hold off so I can get better parts and easily upgrade, but right now I'm in a position where I don't have my own computer to use, and with school allocating most of my time, the earliest I'll have the money is by the holidays. And again, I honestly won't be doing much on it; meager browsing, playing very few low-end games such as Blockland, and watching videos - all of which my Inspiron could handle reasonably well.
Now, I did look that link over, and am intrigued by QuikKill's suggested build:
[QUOTE=QuikKill;37558190]Something like this would be good:
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244]Spinpoint 320gb[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130641]MSI A55 Mobo[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102988]Sapphire 6670[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148537]2gb Crucial[/url]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1053401]3870k + DVD[/url]
That's about 300, go pick a cheap case.[/QUOTE]This seems to be along the lines of what I'm looking for. Could someone check to see if there are any fatal flaws or if I could get any better parts for what I have? I can find a case, but I'd need a fitting PSU as well.
Thanks again.
That suggestion has a APU and a GPU. Waste of money.
Secondly, an i3-3220 will piss on anything that processor is capable of doing. Even when overclocking the 3870k it will lose. The socket for that processor is end of life, so that is the best processor you will be able to get without upgrading your motherboard, while the 3220 uses the LGA 1155 socket which has half a million upgrade options.
Hell, the IGPU on the i3-3225 isn't amazing, but it is 15 dollars more than the 3220, and is strong enough that you could probably entirely forgo a discreet GPU for the time being, while still providing a very good entry level processor for your system.
Ditch the CPU for an Intel Core i3-3220, and hold off on the GPU? Sounds like a plan.
Updated list:
[QUOTE]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152244]Spinpoint 320gb[/url] $60
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130641]MSI A55 Mobo[/url] $50
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148537]2gb Crucial[/url] $10 1.5V
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116775"]Intel Core i3-3220[/URL] $130 55W
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204]ASUS 24X DVD Burner[/url] $20
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352009]Fractal Core 100 Case[/url] $35+3
??? PSU
Total: ~ $350
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102988]Sapphire 6670[/url] $65+7
[/QUOTE]
I still need a PSU, and am not entirely sure how to select a decent one. I do know that I would like it to be able to handle the GPU if I do choose to purchase it later, though.
I'd advise 4GB of ram at a minimum. Perhaps a different hard drive. That mother board is the wrong socket.
I still say you should consider going with the 3225. It may be all you need, allowing you to entirely forgo a GPU. What games are you running?
[QUOTE=Zephyrs;37860998]I'd advise 4GB of ram at a minimum. Perhaps a different hard drive. That mother board is the wrong socket.
I still say you should consider going with the 3225. It may be all you need, allowing you to entirely forgo a GPU. What games are you running?[/QUOTE]Totally ignored the socket on the mobo. Whoops. Found what appears to be a [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138332"]suitable replacement[/URL], along with another [URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231423"]2GBs of RAM[/URL]. Looking for a hard drive.
About the CPU: I frequent a game called "Blockland". The basic system requirements are:
[QUOTE]800mhz cpu, 512mb ram, 32mb openGL compatible video card, lastest drivers for your video card[/QUOTE]
Also, a recent update to the game does not support integrated Intel graphics.
As far as I can tell, my best bet is to go with the 3220 and the 6670.
Still looking for a PSU too. Not sure what kind of output I should be looking at.
[QUOTE=Endify;37864084]Also, a recent update to the game does not support integrated Intel graphics[/QUOTE]
30 seconds on google says to just disable shaders, and that this isn't unique to intel IGPUs. Seriously think you will be fine with the 4000 IGPU, which would be the 3225 processor.
As for the motherboard and PSU I have no comment. I'm out of my league when it comes to extremely discount budget boards.
As for the PSU, without a GPU your total system draw is going to be around 100 watts. Those ivy brige i3s pull next to nothing. Get a 350-400 watt if you want to put a GPU in, but for your usage needs I still say it's not needed.
I would still recommend the APU, but as for the Trinity FM2 socket coming out tomorrow (the iGPU performance is above the GT 440 and should be around the HD 6670 according to the benchmarks).
If OP is gaming in a lot of different games with varying requirements, Intel i3 CPU + Dedicated graphic card (such as a GT 640/AMD HD7750) is still a better choice.
I see now that the 3225 is the way to go.
I think I'm getting there:
[QUOTE]
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231421"]G.SKILL Value Series 4GB RAM[/URL]
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769"]Western Digital 500Gb SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive[/URL]
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352009&Tpk=fractal%201000"]Fractal Design Core 1000 Micro ATX Computer Case[/URL]
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138332&Tpk=biostar%20h61mgc"]BIOSTAR H61MGC Mobo[/URL]
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116774"]Intel Core i3-3225[/URL]
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204"]ASUS 24X DVD Burner[/URL]
[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182021"]Rosewill RD400-2-DB 400W[/URL]
[/QUOTE]
Total price was about $360, but the motherboard just went on sale and I get $10 off if I get the 3225 and that DVD burner in a combo. Cool.
Main concerns:
- Not sure if the RAM is compatible, I'm pretty sure it is with the mobo but idk if the CPU is a factor
- I do want to get the 400W supply just in case I eventually do want to get that GPU, it's a relatively cheap mistake if I don't; will the extra wattage affect the parts negatively?
- I'm assuming a "20+4 pin" is the same as a 24 pin when it comes to the PSU. Call me out if I'm wrong.
Wait, trinity came out today. They are pretty cheap and have good gpu performence. The 3225 is the hd4000 gpu.
[url]http://www.anandtech.com/show/6332/amd-trinity-a10-5800k-a8-5600k-review-part-1/4[/url]
[editline]3rd October 2012[/editline]
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1076922]A10 5800k + Asrock A75 FM2[/url] ~180
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233202]Corsair XMS3 2x4gb[/url] ~40
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026]Corsair CX430[/url] ~45
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352009]Fractal Design Core 1000[/url] ~35
[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289]Lite-on DVD Burner[/url] ~18
~320, just add a hdd.
The A10-5800K is definitevely a much better choice for OP. The iGPU completely rapes the intel's offerings
Yes, if you have the extra cash, get a a85x motherboard.
I'm inclined to agree.
If you want upgrade paths open, stick with the intel build, but if you don't plan on upgrading much anytime soon, the AMD system will be quite adequate for your needs.
Either system will work, but AMD is probably giving you more immediate bang for your buck.
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