Looking to build a cheap budget/performance computer

Jakub1 · Jul 2, 2014

So im looking to build my mom a cheap computer in the range of $200-maybe $500 and she told me she also wants that computer to be a performance computer and not a bad one. She obviously wont be playing games, instead she will be surfing the internet, using word etc. Because of this reason I want to stick to something towards the lower end of costs and not go up to $500 if I don't need to. I know that AMD is more for budget builds than intel or nvidia so should I stick to amd? I have never used anything amd so will it be the same as an intel cpu or nvidia GPU? Also, any suggestions on parts or any other advice will greatly be appreciated. Thank you.

EricMalcolm · Jul 2, 2014

Hello Jakub,

For what she will be using the PC for, you would be fine with sticking to the basics. AMD would be cheaper, I'd pair a quad-core with a mATX board, maybe 4GB to 8GB of RAM depending on your budget. If you're leaning Intel, an i3 should be fine, again 4GB to 8GB of RAM, on a bargain chipset.

The biggest boost that she would probably notice performance-wise, would be installing a SSD as your boot drive. Windows (or whatever OS you use) would boot up in a flash and operate very quickly.

Onus · Jul 2, 2014

Do fit a SSD into her build; 128GB should be sufficient. It will make the machine snappy.

Eduello · Jul 2, 2014

This would be a pretty good fit for her needs:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($44.99 @ Micro Center)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $515.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

As you can see there is no GPU since there really is no need for one. If it's too expensive, change the RAM to 4GB and the CPU to an i3.

EDIT: You could also make those changes and use the saved money for the SSD.

shortstuff_mt · Jul 2, 2014

This would make a nice little machine.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($73.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.98 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($42.99 @ Mwave)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $492.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Beezy · Jul 2, 2014

she doesnt even need more than 4 GB really

shortstuff_mt · Jul 2, 2014

Here's another version that traded the 8GB of RAM and 1TB drive for 4GB of RAM, an SSD, and a 320GB storage drive.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-H Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($42.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($59.99 @ Micro Center)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($33.49 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.98 @ OutletPC)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($42.99 @ Mwave)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($15.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $500.37
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Onus · Jul 2, 2014

^I'd swap out the i5 for a Pentium, and get the SSD. Also, getting only 4GB of RAM will save some money and not make a huge performance difference unless she wants to start using photoshop or other RAM-hungry application.
I've got 4GB at work, handling multiple Office applications, IE + Firefox, 2-3 remote sessions, layers of security, and even with a miserable E8200 for a CPU, it manages.

Onus · Jul 2, 2014

Shortstuff_MT's last build is good. She can always add another HDD later if she wants to store lots of pictures. Or, get her a 1TB external drive that can also back up her system.

Jakub1 · Jul 2, 2014

I doubt she will be downloading a lot, would just an ssd do? A tb harddrive is cheap but its not as good in performance as an ssd and id probably think 120 or 250gb would suffice

Onus · Jul 2, 2014

You might find a single 250GB-256GB SSD sufficient. In that case, I'd still get an external USB3.0 drive for backups if not additional storage.

Jakub1 · Jul 2, 2014

Backups isnt a problem in this case because I have a tb external hdd with plenty if room on it so i suppose if anything it can be shared. And as for the i5, are there many or any big differences between an i5 and i3, and maybe even pentium? I know the differences between i5 and i7 but i7s are on the pricy side so I dont think she will need an i7. Also she wont use photoshop or anything ram hungry so 4gb should do. For storage, it will probably just be photos and documents so I might just gor with a Samsung evo

Onus · Jul 2, 2014

For her uses, a Pentium would be good enough, but an i3 might be a little faster in some things. Let your budget decide. It can always be upgraded in a year or so if needed.

Jakub1 · Jul 2, 2014

Knowing my mom, she would rather add an extra $20 or so, even if that means going over the budget, to get durable pieces that wont need an upgrade for maybe two or three years. Maybe going for an i5 and sacrificing something else will be the way to go for something that will last and be very good in performance. Maybe even using Linux temporarily will be good enough for her

Onus · Jul 2, 2014

When going for durability / longevity, infrastructure components like the mobo and PSU should be the highest priority. Take a look again at shortstuff_mt's last build, with the Seasonic PSU and i3. Your mom does not need a stronger CPU for her uses. You might move up to a slightly nicer mobo; consider one of the Asus "CSM" models.

Jakub1 · Jul 2, 2014

His build is a very good build within budget, ill play with that one and see if it can someway improve to meet the needs. The mATX can even be swapped out for a normal one as long as the sockets match right? I prefer working with ATX size boards but if needed I can manage a mATX

shortstuff_mt · Jul 2, 2014

Yes, the motherboard could be swapped for an ATX motherboard, but you would also have to change the case. The case in my build will not support a full-size ATX motherboard. I went with the micro-ATX components just in case your mom is anything like mine. I built them a nice system in a full-size ATX case. They really like it, but her only concern is how big the case is. She would have liked a smaller case.

Jakub1 · Jul 2, 2014

Yeah a small, compact case is something she prefers over a big case. Probabaly a mid tower mATX case like the one you chose. Ill play around with the build and see what I can get, I already have a spare disc drive and windows 8(almost) ready to go so if needed i can add that money to a part

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