Budget desktop PC build (updates) - around $300 +/- $30

Hey everyone...

Before I get too deep into planning, the time has finally come to buy a new computer. I recently updated the power supply on my current machine with your help, but now some of the USB ports have died on me, the network card is being temperamental, and one of the external USB ports on my case (a generic tower) snapped off a while ago. Honestly, working on this thing has become so sluggish that by the time the system actually boots up, I have enough time to sit there and contemplate the struggles of existence... I know, I know, plenty of complaints, but I just wanted to give you an idea of who I am: a user who pushes their hardware to the absolute brink of usability... 😁

The rig is about 10 years old (some parts are older, though a few components like the DVD-RW and the aforementioned power supply were replaced recently).

Please suggest some components that should reasonably last me at least 5 to 7 years, ideally with some room for future upgrades (CPU, RAM, GPU, storage, etc.), ensuring the machine stays functional throughout that lifespan.

I don't need anything high-end; my workload consists of 2D AutoCAD, Photoshop, Microsoft Paint, Office documents, web browsing, VoIP, multimedia playback, light video conversion/editing, occasional SketchUp modeling, and very rare 3D rendering... (given all that, heavy multitasking is a constant factor).

I want the experience to be smooth and snappy during these tasks, but I also need the PC to run quietly.

One more requirement: the build needs to be energy-efficient. Since it will basically be running 24/7, I want to keep the power draw low for environmental and cost reasons.

My peripherals aren't completely dead yet, so I'll probably squeeze another year or two out of them—mostly a 19'' LCD VGA monitor, a wireless keyboard and mouse, a webcam, a scanner, and a printer. Though, I'll likely need to replace some of that soon...

I'd like the system to feature a reliable, fast SSD (for the OS, apps, cache, and about 30GB of active work files which I'll regularly back up and sync to two old SATA drives I currently own—a Toshiba 1TB and a Western Digital 320GB).

So, here is my list:
A case without a power supply (Mid-tower?),
An SSD (it feels pointless to go below 120 GB),
A motherboard (integrated graphics or discrete, your call),
A processor (plus a cooler),
Plenty of RAM,
A graphics card (if you think a dedicated one isn't necessary given my specs, then skip it)...

To summarize everything I've mentioned, I already have:
Peripherals,
A DVD-RW drive,
SATA HDDs (1TB + 320GB),
A 400W Power Supply Dell Latitude Series

I'm based in San Diego, so I've mostly been relying on local shops like Best Buy (even Oracle is gone from the neighborhood now 😢), so I'd only look toward online shopping if it makes a significant difference in value...

Now that I've rambled on like this, I'm sure I've missed something, so please feel free to fill in the gaps, correct me, or ask questions. 😉

Best,

Voyager 2 case (no PSU included)
Intel Core i3 6100 processor
ASUS H110M motherboard (LGA 1151, DDR4, USB 3.1, USB 2.0, SATA III, DVI, VGA, Audio, LAN)
Kingmax 8GB DDR4 2133 GLJG, KIN-8GB DDR4 2133
NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 120GB SSD

Total price: $696 CNN

The cooler comes with the processor, and the graphics are integrated. I guess it'll be enough for some light gaming on a 19" monitor.

Great... I'll need to dig through some similar options on Microsoft to see what my next move should be...
Think of this as an "upgrade path." Down the road, I can always bump up the Dell memory, grab a faster processor, or toss in a dedicated graphics card...

An Intel combo wouldn't meet the requirements, would it?

Nah, going with Intel means you actually have an upgrade path and better power efficiency

You can just order this online for delivery. No need to hit up a local store if it ends up being pricier at Microsoft

Regarding what crimsonstag84 said, you could easily throw in more Dell RAM, a new GPU, or even a better CPU—though honestly, that i3 is plenty beefy enough

I’d probably toss in another $67 for a 240GB SSD—you run a ton of programs and need the extra cache space, so it might actually be worth it.

That’s great info regarding energy efficiency and that decent processor! 😉
I've actually been thinking about grabbing a larger SSD myself... but then I end up blowing my budget... nothing crazy, but still, it pushes me over the limit (according to CNN)....

The Microsoft version:

LC POWER 7017B Case, MIDI - $265.00
240.0 GB KINGSTON UV400 SUV400S37/240G SSD - $540.00
Intel Core i3 6100 box, LGA 1151 - $1,006.05
ASROCK H110M-DGS Motherboard - $407.55
8 GB KINGSTON ValueRAM PC-17000 - $331.00
Total: $850 🤔 That's quite a bit more than what I saw on CNN.... once you account for a bigger SSD, we're talking an extra 200 bucks... whew...

I'm also a bit conflicted about using an ATX form factor motherboard; I suppose it's because I grew up with those high-end boards that offered all sorts of upgrade paths if you wanted them... but I see those are significantly more expensive now... sigh... Could I get a quick critique of this build? (Specifically the RAM, SSD, motherboard, and case—and by the way, can those USB 3.0 ports on the case actually be connected to that ASROCK board?)

It’s got a USB 3.0 header, so you can plug in the case ports

But if you're running a VGA monitor, you'll need a motherboard with a VGA port or at least a DVI-I output. This one only has DVI-D, which is why crimsonstag84 suggested that other board with the VGA output instead.

feraljackal21 from Microsoft:

Well... there’s a header for you! 😁

As far as the VGA-DVI situation goes, I shouldn't run into any issues since I still have that DVI-to-VGA adapter lying around... 😉

Thanks for that new Microsoft configuration... though, seriously, is it actually possible to find anything cheaper at Microsoft? I decided to stick with my current case just because of those two USB 3.0 ports and the SD card reader. Regarding the other components you listed (the motherboard and SSD)—do you honestly think they're an upgrade over what I originally picked out?

I’m just circling back to finding the absolute best bang-for-your-buck combo, based on the list crimsonstag84 posted... If I check CNN, I also have to factor in $13 shipping costs, whereas everything at Microsoft seems to be priced higher...
And I still need to convince the conservative side of my brain that the Voyager 2 is actually a decent case... 😁 It has two USB 3.0 ports, and since I'm a bit of an old-school enthusiast, I'm hoping that should suffice given how good the price is. 😉

It just hit me that I haven't even factored in the whole "two different DVI standards" drama yet... Does that mean my old monitor is useless if the motherboard only has a DVI output?
Even if I use an adapter...?
By the way, where did all the HDMI ports on motherboards disappear to lately? 😁 Or am I just looking at bottom-of-the-barrel budget boards?

The specs said it has DVI-D, which doesn't output an analog signal at all—so adapters are a total waste of time. You're going to need either a DVI-I port or a VGA (D-Sub) out.

Honestly, why there isn't any HDMI is a mystery. Maybe they saved $0.50 by skipping audio over HDMI and dodging those tiny licensing fees.

Whether it works out or not... I always find myself circling back to the build configuration suggested by crimsonstag84... 👍

The remaining variables are the case (which I'm sure will be recommended shortly) and a 240GB SSD.

Here is what CNN is currently offering:

Patriot SSD Spark R555/W500, 256GB - $514.51
Kingston UV400 240GB SSD - $515.00
Patriot SSD Blast R560/W530, 240GB - $515.51
NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 SATA III 240GB SSD - $518.54
SanDisk Z400s 256GB SSD - $526.36

The price gap isn't massive enough to be the sole deciding factor, so I would appreciate your input on which one to pull the trigger on. That cheapest option offers the best value per GB, though I suppose an extra 16GB isn't worth losing sleep over either.

I am also a bit perplexed by the motherboard listings on CNN... It seems like they have two different prices listed for the exact same model, unless I am mistaken? :

ASUS H110M - $414.04

ASUS H110M - $533.66

feraljackal21 said:That’s great info regarding energy efficiency and that decent processor! 😉
I've actually been thinking about grabbing a larger SSD myself... but then I end up blowing my budget... nothing crazy, but still, it pushes me over the limit (according to CNN)....

The Microsoft version:

LC POWER 7017B Case, MIDI - $265.00
240.0 GB KINGSTON UV400 SUV400S37/240G SSD - $540.00
Intel Core i3 6100 box, LGA 1151 - $1,006.05
ASROCK H110M-DGS Motherboard - $407.55
8 GB KINGSTON ValueRAM PC-17000 - $331.00
Total: $850 🤔 That's quite a bit more than what I saw on CNN.... once you account for a bigger SSD, we're talking an extra 200 bucks... whew...

I'm also a bit conflicted about using an ATX form factor motherboard; I suppose it's because I grew up with those high-end boards that offered all sorts of upgrade paths if you wanted them... but I see those are significantly more expensive now... sigh... Could I get a quick critique of this build? (Specifically the RAM, SSD, motherboard, and case—and by the way, can those USB 3.0 ports on the case actually be connected to that ASROCK board?)

If you grab one 8GB stick of Dell RAM, you'll still have a spare slot left for another one just like it. Most modern boards come with the network and audio stuff built right in anyway, so there’s really no reason to go hunting for those old ATX setups anymore. You won't even need to bother with dual graphics cards or extra expansion cards...

Regarding HDMI, you're basically looking at super budget motherboards; since the 1151 socket is still relatively recent, those boards are still a bit pricey, I guess.

As far as the motherboard goes, they look identical to me. It’s probably just some weird pricing quirk, like one went through a different supplier or something. I guess.

Alright, thanks!

I'm still weighing my options on the SSD... should I just grab the cheapest one available since there's really no point overthinking it given what I need to do, or is there some reason to get fancy?🙂

edit: regarding the motherboards—I just noticed in the Microsoft link that one is labeled msi-h110m (more expensive) while the other is just h110... now I'm stuck. Looking at the MSI website, I can't see any actual difference between them...

Alright... here is what I am planning to send over to the shop for a quote...

1) Micro Center - ASUS H110M - 414.04
2) Processor - Intel Core i3 6100 box - 950.91
3) SSD - NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 240GB - 532.59
4) RAM - Kingmax 1x8GB DDR4 2133 GLJG - 289.06
5) Case - Voyager 2 case without power supply - 125.00
6) Shipping - 40.00
TOTAL: $784

I went with that specific SSD because it comes with the longest warranty (5 years); it’s only about 15 bucks more than the cheapest option which only offers a 3-year warranty.

Does anyone happen to know if CNN handles custom configurations? In this instance, it would be ideal if they could pre-install the processor and cooler onto the motherboard for me.

So, there it is. Please, once more, let me know if this looks alright to you all...

Samsung 870 EVO drives always come with a 3-year warranty, so this has to be a mistake.

I'm not entirely sure, but I doubt Best Buy would build a PC for free while only providing half the components—honestly, maybe only Future US does something like that. You could probably ask, though.

crimsonstag84, you're absolutely spot on... 👍

So, there isn't really any meaningful performance gap in this price bracket, other than the storage capacity differences—you've got the SanDisk Ultra 256GB versus those Radeon or Kingston options.🤔

I just got word that they're actually willing to assemble my motherboard, processor, and cooler for free! Honestly, hats off to them! 👍

I don't think there’s much difference with the Western Digital drives, though I guess you might want to steer clear of Patriot Memory since they were kind of flaky a few months back. You probably wouldn't even notice the speed gap anyway.

Thanks!

I mean, with "Blast" right there in the name... it probably won't last all that long anyway... 😁

Luckily (if you can call it that), I went with the AMD option... configuration is officially ordered, thanks again everyone!

crimsonstag84 said:Voyager 2 case (no PSU included)
Intel Core i3 6100 processor
ASUS H110M motherboard (LGA 1151, DDR4, USB 3.1, USB 2.0, SATA III, DVI, VGA, Audio, LAN)
Kingmax 8GB DDR4 2133 GLJG, KIN-8GB DDR4 2133
NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 120GB SSD

Total price: $696 CNN

The cooler comes with the processor, and the graphics are integrated. I guess it'll be enough for some light gaming on a 19" monitor.

I won't start a whole new thread just for this, but I'm honestly looking for something similar. My only issue is I need a power supply too, so if anyone has any recommendations on what to pick up, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

Let’s look at a Hexa 400. Sure, you could run a build like that with the cheapest power supply on the market, but it’s much smarter to invest in something high-quality. It gives you peace of mind and leaves the door open if you decide to upgrade your GPU later.