Should i get a pc if im going to use it for 2 years

Dropment · Mar 11, 2017

2 more years until im going to college and I don't know if I should build a pc or not if im only going yo be using it for 2 years. Once college comes im buying a laptop but i have no clue if i need a pc then

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 11, 2017

When you say a pc, you mean a desktop, right? What are you planning to do with this desktop if you decide to get it? Gaming? Work? Internet browsing? Video editing?

Anyways, If I were you I'd get a good laptop like at least an i5(preferably an i7 4th gen minimum) 4th generation with a good video card onboard. That would serve you well both in the next couple of years and then afterwards at College.

eRook · Mar 11, 2017

So, I guess the question becomes, why not both? I mean, is there a school policy against bringing desktops to school? In your off time, you're going to want to game anyway, right? Laptops can be gaming laptops, but they'll never be gaming desktops. So as opposed to what Rafael says, I'd say go with a gaming desktop, and, assuming the laptop is going to be for projects and reports? Just get a burner laptop.

If you're planning on using it for bigger, school related things than reports, projects, and homework, ask yourself one question. Do I need it to be mobile? Because if the answer is no, use the desktop as a work computer too.

If you do need mobility? I guess go for the laptop, but just remember that an incredible desktop is never a bad thing to have around.

Dropment · Mar 11, 2017

the desktop would be for daily use and gaming for now but not sure what im going to be doing with it in college and i dont think im going to be doing huge projects because im going to med school

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 11, 2017

Dropment :

My dad has an i7 4th gen Laptop by Acer which has TWO gaming graphic cards onboard. It's a great laptop for whatever your needs, work, gaming, video editing etc. Get one of those and attach a good printer to it while you're in College in your dorm, then if you need to take it with you on a class, it'll be easy to carry and use then.

It's true that a gaming desktop will almost always be better than a gaming laptop, but not necessarily so. My dad's Acer proves it. If you can go with both, a desktop AND a good gaming laptop, go for both, if not, I'd rather get a good gaming laptop.

Dropment · Mar 11, 2017

for college i was thinking about getting an xps 13 but if buying a desktop now and use it for 2 years worth it

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 11, 2017

Dropment :

It may be worth it if you buy it cheap, maybe even used. I suppose, judging by your question that money is an issue for you. A mid-range desktop these days should be cheap and run most modern games with relative ease, with great graphics and fps.

If money is an issue for you, like I suspect, get yourself a cheap quad-core, like an AMD X4 or an i3 4th gen or even 5th or 6th gen and a good cheap card like the GTX 1050(about 105 USD in the US). What is your budget?

Dropment · Mar 12, 2017

my budget is around 500 dollars us

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 12, 2017

Dropment :

Are you a tech savvy guy or are you more like an average user?

If you're a techy guy you can use this site to pick your parts and put them together yourself according to your budget and compatibility between parts:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/

I wasn't able to register on the site, so maybe someone else will pick those parts for you, but I was able to pick the basic parts and it totaled just over 500 USD, I only left out the easy stuff like Mouse and keyboard.

Or you can simply buy used and you'll get an even better price.

Dropment · Mar 12, 2017

i use pcpartpicker the build i made was over 500 too

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 12, 2017

Dropment :

Then buy used, an AMD X4 processor plus a good 1GB GDDR5 video card from amd should do the job, it'll probably cost you no more than 400 USD, don't forget to get a good psu, at least a good 450W one.

Dropment · Mar 12, 2017

im an intel fan boy so what about the intel pentium g4620 with a 1050

PCnoobmuch · Mar 12, 2017

here is a $500 desktop

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/7KV3vV

should run all games

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 12, 2017

Dropment :

For a 2 year gaming pc it seems good enough, but it can cost up to 100 USD, you'll probably find it for under that, like 90 USD though. As for the 1050, you can hardly find better for less.

I have this build which is able to play games such as Crysis 2 and 3 at up to 90 FPS+ at 1600x900 High settings:

Processor: AMD FX 6300
RAM: 8GB DDR3 1333Mhz
HD: 1TB Seagate
Graphics card: GTX 460(quite dated but does the job, you can get it for about 40 USD tops probably)
PSU: Generic 500W(hasn't caused any problems so far but go for a known brand if you can)

shrapnel_indie · Mar 12, 2017

Rafael Mestdag :

Sadly,AMD regular desktop isn't out yet.so for best performance, Intel is it.

Now, as to going over budget. It's very easy to do, and it means you have to decide where you're going to cut corners, so to speak, to build the PC (Please choose wisely and don't cut too deeply into the PSU). Does it include monitor, keyboard, mouse (all which could be used in a dorm or residence hall or at home with a laptop,) OS and speakers/headphones? Those can eat up funds in a hurry too. You may want to consider, at least for some parts, used, but nothing more than say, 4 generations back on everything but a PSU and GPU, where two years old is probably the oldest you might wish to go.

Dropment · Mar 12, 2017

i have an old pc now but im not sure if i can upgrade it (family pc) i5 750 radeon hd 5700 series

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 12, 2017

shrapnel_indie :

Rafael Mestdag :

Sadly,AMD regular desktop isn't out yet.so for best performance, Intel is it.

Now, as to going over budget. It's very easy to do, and it means you have to decide where you're going to cut corners, so to speak, to build the PC (Please choose wisely and don't cut too deeply into the PSU). Does it include monitor, keyboard, mouse (all which could be used in a dorm or residence hall or at home with a laptop,) OS and speakers/headphones? Those can eat up funds in a hurry too. You may want to consider, at least for some parts, used, but nothing more than say, 4 generations back on everything but a PSU and GPU, where two years old is probably the oldest you might wish to go.

He'll be using the pc for only 2 years, I've had pc's that lasted over 4 years without more than a couple of replacements.
If you're so into intel get an i3 4th gen, itll be able to run most modern games out there with relative ease.

Dropment · Mar 12, 2017

and im not sure what todo with the pc after the 2 years

Rafael Mestdag · Mar 12, 2017

Dropment :

You can either sell it or give it to a friend or a relative. I wouldn't let it sit still gathering dust for nothing.

shrapnel_indie · Mar 12, 2017

For < $500... without monitor, keyboard, mouse, OS, and speakers/headphones: Brand New parts:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Pentium G4560 3.5GHz Dual-Core Processor ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI B250M BAZOOKA Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($80.14 @ Amazon)
Memory: Avexir Core Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($55.15 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.33 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1050 2GB Video Card ($107.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1100 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($32.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($48.89 @ Newegg)
Total: $434.48
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-03-12 15:08 EDT-0400

something to think on, at least... to include the missing parts would bump the price up.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($92.99 @ B&H)
Monitor: AOC E2260SWDN 21.5" 1920x1080 60Hz Monitor ($89.99 @ Directron)
Keyboard: Cooler Master Devastator II Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Headphones: Cyber Acoustics AC-202B Headset ($9.97 @ OutletPC)
Speakers: Logitech S120 2.3W 2ch Speakers ($11.98 @ NCIX US)
Total: $669.40
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-03-12 15:18 EDT-0400

(remove what you don't want/need here to drop the price.)

Should i get a pc if im going to use it for 2 years

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