Is the intel i3-6100 a good option?

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

Hey, Im trying to go for a cheap office pc for my grandmother for her birthday, she will watch 1080p videos on it (maybe at 60fps) and do emails, etc. Here is my part list (https://au.pcpartpicker.com/user/HotChocoLahte/saved/#view=mdTZLk) Can anyone please improve it, make it cheaper, and suggest a cheaper cpu? Yes, I live in Australia, but I'm okay with buying from the US if needed. Thanks.

USAFRet · Feb 3, 2017

hotchocolahte :

For that use, that CPU is perfect.
You don't even need that extra cooler. The stock one is fine.

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

USAFRet :

hotchocolahte :

For that use, that CPU is perfect.
You don't even need that extra cooler. The stock one is fine.

Is there a cheaper one that does the same? Im trying not to spend much

Supahos · Feb 3, 2017

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($75.00 @ Centre Com)
Motherboard: Asus PRIME B250M-K Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($108.00 @ Shopping Express)
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($69.30 @ Newegg Australia)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra II 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($178.00 @ Shopping Express)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT BF ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.00 @ Mwave Australia)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($65.00 @ IJK)
Other: Silverstone TS06 ($25.00)
Total: $569.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-02-04 12:24 AEDT+1100

SSD over HDD basically same processor for cheaper.

photonboy · Feb 3, 2017

Maybe buy one from a local store?

What about the MONITOR, keyboard/mouse?

Keep in mind you also need a copy of Windows 10 Home 64-bit. I'll see if I can find AU pricing but I'd look for something with specs like:

i3-6xxx or i3-7xxx
6GB or more
Windows 10

Per your build:
a) That CPU cooler doesn't look any better than the one that comes with the CPU, and
b) A smaller SSD might be worth considering to make it snappier to use (even if you buy a slightly cheaper CPU it probably would be a better balance for office/net workloads)

spat55 · Feb 3, 2017

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($74.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock H110M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($75.00 @ Umart)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($79.00 @ Centre Com)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow UV400 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($64.00 @ Umart)
Case: Silverstone PS09B MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($45.00 @ Umart)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($65.00 @ IJK)
Total: $402.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-02-04 12:31 AEDT+1100

I'd say get this and if you need more than the 120GB on the SSD buy a cheap HDD or you might even have on laying around. I've put a mini-itx case in but if you want swap it for a ATX midi.

2C/2T for web surfing, text documents and watching movies will be plenty and the RAM is of decent speed.

photonboy · Feb 3, 2017

Supahos :

I wouldn't buy an SSD that large. I'd get a 256GB and buy an HDD later if needed, but I doubt his grandmother would need larger.

Also, still need a copy of Windows.

USAFRet · Feb 3, 2017

Yup. I was about to suggest that i3 might even be a bit overpowered.
The above G4650 + SSD is a better pile of parts.

GameableXP · Feb 3, 2017

Supahos :

good build, but you could get a smaller and cheaper case, like the 30 dollar rosewill one, because I don't think this person's grandma would want this big of a case haha. You could also switch the micro atx board with a mini itx and get an even smaller case.

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

Honestly, Im doing a minimum of 500gb, and an ssd of that size is too expensive.

spat55 · Feb 3, 2017

hotchocolahte :

Just buy the 120GB SSD for the OS like in my build then add a 1TB HDD for storage of photos/movies/games.

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

http://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i3-6100-vs-Intel-Pentium-G4560/3511vs3892 Is this correct? Because if its correct theres no point in getting the i3-6100

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

spat55 :

Why is that? Im not that good with pc building sorry ;p

spat55 · Feb 3, 2017

hotchocolahte :

Slam the OS onto the SSD which will increase boot up times and install programs onto that for increased speed then for all the data which doesn't need faster speeds you put onto the cheap HDD.

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

spat55 :

hotchocolahte :

Slam the OS onto the SSD which will increase boot up times and install programs onto that for increased speed then for all the data which doesn't need faster speeds you put onto the cheap HDD.

uhmm haha okay how do you exactly do that?

Supahos · Feb 3, 2017

My build with the 500gb SSD is still cheaper and faster. Don't get hung up on individual part prices

USAFRet · Feb 3, 2017

For the stated user and use case, you really want a single drive.
Much, much easier to manage.

An SSD is not critical, but if a 500GB can be squeezed in with a comparable CPU, then do that.

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

Does this mean somethings wrong? http://imgur.com/a/4LKyx

USAFRet · Feb 3, 2017

hotchocolahte :

No, that just means that the CPU only became available in early January.
So no price history before that.

photonboy · Feb 3, 2017

My build (including Windows and DVD burner): https://au.pcpartpicker.com/list/zx74Gf

I put in an SSHD after reading that you wanted at least 500GB.

CPU has a cooler.

An SSHD has 8GB of SSD memory. That may not sound like a lot, but it buffers BOOT files and frequently used files. It's in between an SSD and HDD in terms of performance. So it's going to bootup a bit faster, and launch some programs faster than an HDD (it takes several days to optimize as the firmware LEARNS the user habits).

(personally I'd still get a 256GB Sandisk and then add an HDD later if the space is needed. Addon HDD is also useful to BACKUP the C-drive in case of drive failure or data corruption but it obviously adds to the cost, though a USED HDD might be found cheaply and if it's a backup drive it's not that critical)

The REST of it is pretty self-explanatory. (but don't get a case with a side window, or blue TRIM unless your grandmother likes the bling bling)

I also tried to look online for pre-built computers but didn't know where to go in Australia. I found a few places but prices seemed high.

Other:
Windows 10 should download all the drivers you need. You will want to go to the Asus site for that exact board and get the FAN SOFTWARE (if it doesn't come on CD). Then setup an appropriate fan profile to minimize noise. The BIOS should have a fan profile by default but it's rarely optimal; usually noisier than needed.

If it gets HOT which I'm guessing it does you may want to get a different CPU cooler like the Cryorig H7 but that's more about NOISE reduction so you can always wait and see what the noise level is.

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

does this case (https://www.mwave.com.au/product/deepcool-tesseract-sw-mid-tower-case-black-blue-ab60191?gclid=CjwKEAiA8dDEBRDf19yI97eO0UsSJAAY_yCSCGUoo4A_ZsQQdnas7AaYieKS-QAUVxsHuPOdZT1LFhoC9Z3w_wcB) have an optical drive slot? do you need a specific optical drive size?

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

Ive gone with this (I will change it if the case has an optical drive slot) (http://imgur.com/a/s2TCA) and is this bad? (http://imgur.com/a/7DBK1) thanks

Supahos · Feb 3, 2017

Most likely the CPU won't work in a 1** series board

hotchocolahte · Feb 3, 2017

Thanks everyone for the help, I think I have on final question, what fans do I need and any suggestions for a cheap case with window and optical drive slot?

Is the intel i3-6100 a good option?

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