Asus A8-500 w/Radeon HD 8350

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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
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10,510
I recently purchased and am awaiting delivery on an Asus Essentio Desktop. My question is, why does this system include a video card that's lower in quality than the built in APU? I'm quite confused!
 
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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
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10,510
I thought perhaps the Radeon HD 8350 graphics card might in some way give a boost to the AMD A8-5500 but if that's not the case, then I've been hoodwinked (by either Asus, Best Buy, or both.)

Thank you for your solution; I'm going to refuse the computer and purchase something a little better elsewhere. I think Newegg's HP ENVY A-10 6700 with Radeon HD 8670D graphics for $589 will suit my moderate needs.
 
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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
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I'm 61 years old and comfortable with technology. I built a computer once, long ago using AMD parts. My current machine, an Acer Aspire with Athlon 6400+ and onboard graphics I purchased six years ago no longer meets my needs so it's time to upgrade.

I use my machine for general purposes and light gaming. My applications would include Skype, YouTube, and the usual cast of characters. For gaming I enjoy SimCity 4 and Minecraft, both of which are a burden on my machine. I've no interest with fast-paced games, high resolutions, or anything extreme. I recently purchased a small camcorder so will post a little video for friends and family from time to time but that's not going to be a major thing.

Bottom line I guess is, something above average that will meet the above needs for years to come without being a power-hungry beast. I look at cost/benefit and practicality when I buy things. I don't mind paying extra for quality and am open to spending up to the $700s. (If pressed I could go higher but suspect I'd be running into the old diminishing returns quandary.)

Thank you :)
 
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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
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I would be pleased to own a medium-level gaming machine but having built a computer once, I'm not in any hurry to do that again (though from what I see on YouTube it appears the hardware makers have made it easier than it once was.) Or perhaps you're referring to yourself or your company to do the build? Or place an add at the local college for someone to build it? I'm a bit confused. One particular problem with building a machine myself is that I'd need to buy an OS and they aren't cheap! (This now leads me to another quandary... MS 7 or 8? Ouch! (I'm currently using Vista and I suppose I could just grit my teeth and learn 8, lol.)
 
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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
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10,510
Thank you. Go ahead and give it a shot, I'm at the point now - having delayed upgrading for so long - that I don't know what the heck I'm going to do. That said, I'd be less than honest if I said I was thrilled at the idea of building another computer because I most definitely do not want to go through the frustrations I had the first time around.
 
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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
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Being I've long been pleased with AMD products I'd like to stay with them. I don't want a cheap case - I consider that an important part of my system. Guessing a quality case and an operating system will set me back $250 with taxes and shipping, I guess I'd put about $500 or so into the components. I can go higher but again, I smell diminishing returns kicking in for my need level (both now and for the foreseeable future.)
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

Titan
Sep 6, 2012
34,175
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PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($117.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: HIS Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($134.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 400R ATX Mid Tower Case ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($86.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $699.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-16 01:20 EDT-0400)

Here is a VERY solid machine. Will easily play all modern games at a mix of medium and high. most games will run at high. all at 1080p. All of the parts are very high quality and the case especially is EXCELLENT. This will be a very nice mid/upper mid end gaming computer. It will serve you for many years.
 
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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
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Well, well, well... I finally did something after weeks of indecision. It seemed the more I analyzed these machines the more "over-programmed" my brain got; and then you topped it off with building one. It moved me to near paralysis until this evening I said to heck with it, I'm just going to buy one, and buy a good one.

I'd configured a machine at CyberPower, Inc. about eighty times already and I went through that again today but with consideration to your suggestions. The UPS man delivered my Best Buy computer today and I told him to take it back. Now it's going to take another three weeks before my new one arrives.... sigh. I'd always worried about cost, power usage, etc. but finally said: "screw it, just go ahead and get a good machine." And so I did. Hope I didn't make any blunders!

Base price before my upgrades: $730 (today was the last day of $100 off regular price.) Then I upgraded most everything in the package.

Case: Corsair Carbide Series 400R Mid Tower
CD/DVD: Double layer dual format blah blah blah.
CPU: AMD FX 8350 (will be overclocked.)
Fans: Maximum 120mm for case (blue fans... why I did that, who knows. Should I change 'em to black?)
Cooling: Asetek 510LC liquid cooling system 120mm radiator and fan.
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1866 (Corsair or major brand, hmm.)
Video: AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB
Flashmedia: Internal 12 in 1 read/write (whatever... comes w/basic)
HDD: 1TB SATA III 6GB/s 32MB cache 7200rpm. (Nothing special here.)
Keyboard and mouse: gaming stuff; basically free, don't really need.
MOBO: Crossfire X Gigabyte, GA-970A-DS3P
Anti-vibration fan mounts on all; 9 bucks, probably a waste but oh well.
Power: 600W Corsair CX600 80 Plus Bronze.
PCI Wireless card 150Mbps (my apt. is soon going wireless.)
Bunch of free games via the video card, mobo, etc. Ho hum.
Operating System! I went with Windows 7! (I use Vista now.)
3-year limited warranty, lifetime service.

Total.... $1013. No tax (thank goodness) but UPS Ground shipping is a whopping $75 (from California to the coast of North Carolina.) OUCH!

This really is overkill for my needs but I guess I can sleep well knowing I won't need upgrade any time soon, if ever (being I'm already quite old.)

And so it's done. What do ya think? (I know you're disappointed I didn't build one myself but I can live with the cost, and heck, I'm helping keep someone else employed, lol.) The biggest $ boost above the basic machine was the video card you selected but I know that's important so I went with it, thank you. :)

 
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K

Keoprasith

Honorable
Aug 22, 2013
8
0
10,510
If you want to spend $1000 then this would do quite good. If you don't need the os it takes The price down a little. This set up would max out games and will last longer.
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1EESB
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1EESB/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1EESB/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($194.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($99.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Amazon)
Case: BitFenix Shinobi ATX Mid Tower Case ($74.50 @ Outlet PC)
Power Supply: XFX 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $980.39
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-16 22:35 EDT-0400)
 
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Mencken_Fan

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Sep 15, 2013
9
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10,510
I had to edit my list 'cause I missed two things. It should be complete now. The water cooling comes with the basic cost; it's one of the few things I didn't pay to upgrade.

Of course I could build it cheaper but that's not the point. I'm in my early 60s, I built a computer once about a decade ago so I've "been there and done that" -- I really don't have a great interest in doing it again (and yes, I'm aware it's easier now.)

"tiny voices" was kind enough to chat with me and help me get through a long period of indecision on what to do (on upgrading my decrepit old machine.) As I said up above, I'm not a heavy computer user/gamer (we're talking Minecraft and such.) So for my needs, it's overkill - though of course could be more practical down the road, always a consideration.)

Great site y'all have here, a pleasure to chat and learn, thank you.

Tim in Wilmington, NC
 
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tiny voices

tiny voices

Titan
Sep 6, 2012
34,175
5
99,965


Looks great. A bit overpriced as all prebuilts are, but it will be awesome. Glad to see that you got a quality PSU in there. Many prebuits skimp here. This will be a very good system for your needs and you should be very happy with it.
 
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