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Started By
Message
Extreme budget build
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:11 am
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:11 am
I have a client who's looking to get a decent but cheap computer for his 14-year-old son. It would be simply a schoolwork computer that may end up being used for gaming later (but no graphics card at the moment). His budget is below $400 not including OS. I recommended he get a laptop, but he wants it to be stationary (I guess junior spends too much time on the internets).
He's purchased a few builds from me for his office. I consider him a good customer, so I'm going to do this build at cost.
Obviously, I don't need help with PSU, case, memory, etc... But I cannot remember the last time I had to go super cheap on a motherboard/CPU combo.
My initial instinct is to go with an A6-5400K APU and a $50-60 mobo with high reviews, but I have absolutely no hands-on experience with this chip. Processing power won't mean a whole lot to him, because even if they end up using it for gaming, I doubt they'll want anything more than a 7770 or 650ti, and there's no guarantee they'll ever do that. I'm just planning to make them a zippy little machine with an SSD boot drive.
I wanted some input from those with more experience in low-end/budget builds. Not exactly appropriate for the gaming board, but you guys know I'm not ignorant, and I didn't feel like sorting through OT garbage.
He's purchased a few builds from me for his office. I consider him a good customer, so I'm going to do this build at cost.
Obviously, I don't need help with PSU, case, memory, etc... But I cannot remember the last time I had to go super cheap on a motherboard/CPU combo.
My initial instinct is to go with an A6-5400K APU and a $50-60 mobo with high reviews, but I have absolutely no hands-on experience with this chip. Processing power won't mean a whole lot to him, because even if they end up using it for gaming, I doubt they'll want anything more than a 7770 or 650ti, and there's no guarantee they'll ever do that. I'm just planning to make them a zippy little machine with an SSD boot drive.
I wanted some input from those with more experience in low-end/budget builds. Not exactly appropriate for the gaming board, but you guys know I'm not ignorant, and I didn't feel like sorting through OT garbage.
4
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:16 am to ILikeLSUToo
newegg had\has some mobo ram combos you might want to look at
eta looks like the 8gb free deal is over
eta looks like the 8gb free deal is over
This post was edited on 1/4/13 at 10:19 am
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:19 am to ILikeLSUToo
FX-4100 / thread
MSI has a mATX board for like 39.99 and a FX-4100 should run you 99.99
I wouldn't get him an APU. I have 1 in my HTPC and installed an APU for in my Grandparents computer. They both hang up at times and both are solely on SSDs.
The FX4100 will last him 3-4yrs and with an upgrade to a GPU he will get use in gaming if decents to get into that.
MSI has a mATX board for like 39.99 and a FX-4100 should run you 99.99
I wouldn't get him an APU. I have 1 in my HTPC and installed an APU for in my Grandparents computer. They both hang up at times and both are solely on SSDs.
The FX4100 will last him 3-4yrs and with an upgrade to a GPU he will get use in gaming if decents to get into that.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:20 am to ILikeLSUToo
Man, TigerDirect had some great deals on some DIY kits during all of the sales. Too bad you missed them.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:24 am to LSU Coyote
I've seen so many mixed reviews about APUs. An FX chip was also in consideration, as well as an i3 (which are overpriced, but the client is used to intel).
I've seen some great combo deals come and go. Maybe some more will pop up around tax season. He may end up waiting on his tax refund before he pulls the trigger.
I've seen some great combo deals come and go. Maybe some more will pop up around tax season. He may end up waiting on his tax refund before he pulls the trigger.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:27 am to ILikeLSUToo
I love the concept of APUs and they aren't all that bad. Never the less when it comes to standard calculations they seem to lag up compared to my FX4100 on my server.
Another stupid thing about APUs is the lack of iTX MOBOs. Why the fckk would you put an APU on a full size ATX or mATX mobo. It is just silly...
Another stupid thing about APUs is the lack of iTX MOBOs. Why the fckk would you put an APU on a full size ATX or mATX mobo. It is just silly...
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:29 am to stout
www.anandtech.com/tag/guides
This has some really good builds on it to start from and expand with. There is one a little bit down called Fall Budget System Buyer's guide. They have an AMD and an intel build both for around $430, but that includes $90 for windows 7. It is also 4 months old, so you might go with the APU you picked out (on my phone so I can't really do the research).
This has some really good builds on it to start from and expand with. There is one a little bit down called Fall Budget System Buyer's guide. They have an AMD and an intel build both for around $430, but that includes $90 for windows 7. It is also 4 months old, so you might go with the APU you picked out (on my phone so I can't really do the research).
This post was edited on 1/4/13 at 10:30 am
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:31 am to LSU Coyote
There's exactly one iTX on newegg. An ASRock for $90.
And 4 of the 22 reviews say a VRM caught on fire.
And 4 of the 22 reviews say a VRM caught on fire.
This post was edited on 1/4/13 at 10:33 am
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:32 am to ILikeLSUToo
quote:
There's exactly one iTX on newegg. An ASRock for $90.
Have you read the comments on it?
Almost everyone is catching on fire. They are frickking hilarious.
ETA:
quote:
And 4 of the 22 reviews say a VRM caught on fire.
Guess you did..
How fckking nutts.. lmao.
This post was edited on 1/4/13 at 10:34 am
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:33 am to LSU Coyote
lol see my edit. I just noticed the reviews 
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:37 am to ILikeLSUToo
quote:
His budget is below $400 not including OS.
ouch. talk about no profit margin.
Count intel out on this one, no where near the performance for the price.
Id go
Mobo: MSI A55M-P33 $45
APU: AMD A4-3300 $40
or if you arent thinking about a profit and doing this more as a brother in law deal...
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-78LMT $55 after rebate
CPU: AMD FX-6100 $120
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:47 am to jcole4lsu
He's a good customer, so I'm doing this build at cost.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:49 am to jcole4lsu
TBH why the 6100? and they have cheaper AM3+ socket MOBOs out there.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:52 am to LSU Coyote
LINK
If you have a fan that would fit an AM3 socket you can get $20 off of that CPU I think. Ask Bruce. He just did it.
If you have a fan that would fit an AM3 socket you can get $20 off of that CPU I think. Ask Bruce. He just did it.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:57 am to stout
quote:
If you have a fan that would fit an AM3 socket you can get $20 off of that CPU I think. Ask Bruce. He just did it.
Just FYI if you didn't know AM3 an AM3+ heatsinks are compatible with each other.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 10:58 am to LSU Coyote
Yea I know. Just saying if you have a spare laying around or wanted an after market then you can order that CPU without the stock fan and save $$.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 11:15 am to LSU Coyote
quote:
TBH why the 6100? and they have cheaper AM3+ socket MOBOs out there.
Thats why i provided a low cost option that has a profit margin and a higher cost performance option.
That gigabyte board i linked is very highly rated. I have a cheaper MSI AM3+ mATX board (not the MSI board in the el cheapo link) that is actually in one of my build templates, but it isnt nearly as highly rated as the Gigabyte.
Posted on 1/4/13 at 11:16 am to jcole4lsu
of course another option is getting the AM3 athlon II x3 455 and unlocking the 4th core, turning it into a phenom II x4 b50. i think the athlon chip is about $60
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