Looking for some office desktops. 200-400 range, lower is better

sheath · May 28, 2016

My friends dad wants 4-5 new desktops for his office. Just the towers. Need some help finding some in the 200-400 range if possible. The lower the better.

Want:
-Quad core of 2.0GHz+
-8GB+ RAM
-500GB+ HDD
-Ability to run 2 VGA or DVI monitors.
-DvD drive or the ability to add one

I can build them for him as well if a parts list can be put together. I have never put together a low end PC like this parts wise.

Thanks

BadActor · May 28, 2016

These motherboards have one VGA and one DVI-D, don't know if that would work for you or not.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI MSI H110M Pro-VD Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($47.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($31.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($47.49 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($33.69 @ Directron)
Total: $376.12
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-28 13:30 EDT-0400

Guest · May 28, 2016

I chose a ECO-series motherboard for these builds. They are built for businesses & saving energy. They have VGA, HDMI, and DVI-D ports.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 2.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI MSI H110M ECO Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($62.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($26.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($42.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: EVGA 400W ATX Power Supply ($24.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $391.72
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-28 13:29 EDT-0400

sheath · May 29, 2016

Thanks for the help so far. Both are great suggestions.

ScrewySqrl · May 29, 2016

heres a 'low as you can go' type of build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($71.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Biostar Biostar A58MD Ver. 6.x Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($44.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($14.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($23.13 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-05 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($28.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($31.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $216.06
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-29 11:57 EDT-0400

the A8 is adequate for office needs. The single 4GB RAM stick and 320 GB HDD are also just enough flr basic business use. Fine for web browsing, work processing and basic spreadsheets (though a 100,000 cell sheet will suffer). Motherboard has dvi and vga ports. the FBM case is designed as a not-flashy business case. Power supply is simple and reliable for years of operation, and its just over $200

sheath · May 29, 2016

It looks like i would need to add a graphics card to that as well though, is that correct?

BadActor · May 29, 2016

These all have built in graphics.

USAFRet · May 29, 2016

Where are on the planet are you located?

If in the US, 5 systems from Dell outlet will work.

At that price point, why bother building? It won't be any better than what you might buy.

BadActor · May 29, 2016

^ True. And you would be basically be getting the OS for free. The other downside is that if you build them, you'll become "Tech Support."

turkey3_scratch · May 29, 2016

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($64.88 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H110M ECO Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($69.07 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($35.07 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($52.23 @ OutletPC)
Case: Rosewill FBM-05 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($31.88 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Fractal Design Integra M 450W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($49.48 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($15.27 @ OutletPC)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-14 DVD/CD Writer ($15.27 @ OutletPC)
Total With 10% Tax: $333.15
Total Without Tax: $303.20
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-29 19:39 EDT-0400

I think a Pentium is perfectly fine. The motherboard has the proper video ports. Two DVD drives to assist with any multitasking. Semimodular, good quality power supply for an office rig.

USAFRet · May 29, 2016

turkey3_scratch :

2 x DVD drives? Why?

turkey3_scratch · May 29, 2016

USAFRet :

You never know when the time will come where it could come in handy. Since a DVD drive was one of the requested features, it sounds like these businessmen will make some use of CDs or DVDs. Having the ability to use two at once could help, especially with how dirt cheap the drives are anyway.

USAFRet · May 29, 2016

turkey3_scratch :

On one of these systems, maybe.
Remember...we are speccing out 5 office desktops.

Of the once a year potential for a direct DVD-DVD copy...one system equipped thusly would work.
The office does not need 10 DVD drives among 5 employees.

sheath · May 30, 2016

On the dell outlets, i couldnt find the GFX specs to see if they are dual monitor support like is needed.

sheath · May 30, 2016

ScrewySqrl :

heres a 'low as you can go' type of build:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($71.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Biostar Biostar A58MD Ver. 6.x Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($44.98 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($14.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($23.13 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill FBM-05 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($28.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($31.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $216.06
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-29 11:57 EDT-0400

the A8 is adequate for office needs. The single 4GB RAM stick and 320 GB HDD are also just enough flr basic business use. Fine for web browsing, work processing and basic spreadsheets (though a 100,000 cell sheet will suffer). Motherboard has dvi and vga ports. the FBM case is designed as a not-flashy business case. Power supply is simple and reliable for years of operation, and its just over $200

Would that CPU's built in graphics work that MOBO's video outputs? Trying to figure out if its needs a separate card or not in that build.

madmatt30 · May 30, 2016

Based on the 7600 build but with a better choice of mb , the Asus has VGA,dvi & hdmi.
I'd go with 8gb ram from the off.
The case below has front usb 3 ports , the other build doesn't (this may be useful to you or not but its $1 cheaper anyway)

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD A8-7600 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($71.98 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Asus A68HM-Plus Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard ($52.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($29.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($35.15 @ Amazon)
Case: Rosewill SRM-01 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($31.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $250.09
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-05-30 03:14 EDT-0400

madmatt30 · May 30, 2016

Regarding your question on video outputs .
The apu's can drive 2x digital input monitors OR 1x digital + 1 x analog.

What they can't do is drive 2 x analog monitors (I believe the Intel igp has exactly the same restrictions as do a fair few discrete gpu's too)

The dvi on most of the fm2+ boards will be digital only if the board also has a VGA output.

sheath · May 30, 2016

madmatt30 :

Would running a DVI to VGA adapter work in this situation? I think some of their monitors are dual VGA dependent but will check with them. Also, thanks for the build above.

sheath · Jun 1, 2016

Anyone know the answer to the question above?

madmatt30 · Jun 1, 2016

Pretty certain they can only drive 1 analog screen mate so I would say no.
I have an inkling that the Intel igp's are exactly the same - someone else will have to confirm on tgst front though.

Looking for some office desktops. 200-400 range, lower is better

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