Build recommendations: two setups (one under $450 and one under $750)

Hey there,

I'm currently hunting down some PC builds for a few friends. If anyone has the time or interest, I could really use some recommendations for two different setups.

a) A budget build under $450, shopping locally here in the US, either cash or financing.

- Since they're upgrading from an ancient dual-core system, anything modern is an improvement. The main tasks would be 2D AutoCAD work, photo editing, and general web browsing.

I’d love to squeeze in a small SSD along with a standard 1TB hard drive if we can make the math work. If not, please let me know what you think a realistic minimum price point looks like.

- I also need a recommendation for a "best buy" monitor around $75 (this isn't included in the $1000 PC budget)

Money is extremely tight here; personally, I'd spring for a better monitor, but these are the constraints I've been given.

b) A build up to $750, shopping locally in the US, financing only.

- This one is for RTS games (my friend's last rig was used for Command & Conquer Generals, so we're talking quite a few years ago 🙂) plus everyday stuff like surfing the web.
- It’ll be played on a 1080p TV for now.

Thanks a ton in advance for the help!

Best regards...

AMD Ryzen 3 2200G$264
ASUS Prime A320M-K motherboard$126
16GB (2x8) Patriot DDR4 3200MHz
Corsair Vengeance, PVS416G320C6K$168
EVGA 400W 80 PLUS power supply$111
250GB Kingston M.2 SSD, A2000$98
Western Digital 1TB 3.5" 7200rpm, 64MB, P300$97
Cooler Master Silencio midi tower case$68

Around $400 cash at Best Buy
Personally, I'd put in a little extra $167 for an AMD Ryzen 5 2400G CPU
As for a monitor, I'd just look for something used

For a friend looking to get into gaming...

This might still be relevant from a few weeks back... maybe go with a beefier GPU first, then upgrade to a better power supply from that same manufacturer later. Or just grab a classic hard drive for extra storage...

Intel Core i3-10100F CPU... $231
ASRock H410M-HVS motherboard... $156
2x8GB Corsair Vengeance 3200MHz $169
Kingston 500GB SSD, A2000...
M.2 2280, NVMe, PCIe 3.0... $163
NZXT H510... $93
EVGA 400W power supply... $111
KFA2 GTX1650 SUPER EX, 1-Click OC, 4GB $442

adm.hr

Alexander Moore67 put that together in the thread... $1333 Lately, I’ve been thinking about how to approach this... basically, you just pick your core components—CPU, motherboard, RAM—and that's the foundation. Everything else? Just mix and match based on what you want and what your budget allows...

Alexander Moore67 said:I'm looking at the Ryzen 3 2200G. $264
ASUS Prime A320M-K motherboard $126
Patriot DDR4 16GB (2x8) running at 3200MHz.
Corsair Vengeance, PVS416G320C6K $168
EVGA 400W $111
Kingston 250GB SSD, A2000, M.2 $98
Western Digital 1TB 3.5" 7200rpm, 64MB, P300. $97
Cooler Master Silencio Midi Tower Black case. $68

I saw a listing on Craigslist for about $2,800 cash.
If you ask me, I’d personally add... $167 Regarding the Ryzen 5 2400G CPU.
If I were picking out a monitor, I’d probably just look for something used.

Look, man, the Ryzen 5 2400G is just way too overpriced.😁 The processor is significantly weaker than the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G, which carries a much higher price tag. $433.

I've been looking through some listings for the Ryzen 5 2400G, trying to get a sense of what the current market looks like for that specific chip.

You really should just pick up a new A520 motherboard; the price difference isn't even that significant. $40 It’s really that simple. By default, any A520 motherboard on the market supports the Renoir PC.

To put it simply, you really can't go wrong with either of those motherboard combos paired with the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G.

I was looking around for an ASUS A520M S2H online today.

I was browsing through some listings for an ASUS A520M-H, looking at what's currently hitting the market.

It’s pretty fresh news that ASUS just dropped a new BIOS update for those older B450 motherboards, which means they already include support for the Renoir APU if you go ahead and run the update.

The AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G delivers an 18% boost in IPC while simultaneously cutting power consumption by 40 to 50W under full CPU load.

The 7nm Renoir CPU is a coveted monolithic design, which stands in stark contrast to those older 14nm Ryzen CPUs that essentially have nothing but mayonnaise or toothpaste sandwiched between the heat spreader and the silicon.☕

You’ve got your parts mixed up—it isn't an R5, it's a Ryzen 3 4350G, so the Integrated Graphics aren't nearly as good.

Alexander Moore67 said:You've got your wires crossed; that isn't an R5. No, it's the Ryzen 3 Pro 4350G. And besides, the integrated graphics aren't even that good.

I've run into a massive problem.😁 I can see how I might get mixed up myself; swapping a 5 for a 3 happens, and those little mistakes just slip in.

Having a slightly weaker GPU isn't really an issue because you have to look at the entire Renoir APU package as a whole. The performance-to-power ratio is excellent, which makes this a very efficient processor or APU.

They seem to have that in mind. 6GB GPU Comparing the performance of an 11CU GPU against the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G.

The Renoir CPU features integrated graphics that boast roughly 25% higher GPU IPC, paired with significantly higher clock speeds.☕

Wait, aren't both of those CPUs rated at 65W?
Shading Units
704 vs 384
TMUs
44 vs 24
Plus, you get a cheaper motherboard out of the deal.

Alexander Moore67 said:What are you talking about—both of these CPUs are rated at 65W.
Shading Units
704 versus 384.
TMUs
It’s essentially a choice between 44 and 24.
And if you want to go even cheaper on the motherboard, that's an option too.

I didn't even mention the TDP.😁 Honestly, you shouldn't even bother looking at that TDP because it's pretty much irrelevant.You only need to look at performance per person, because that’s really what matters—how much actual work a component gets done, whether it's the CPU or the GPU, relative to how much power it pulls to finish the job.

I’ve been looking over the specs on this setup, and honestly, it’s a pretty straightforward build for anyone just trying to get something up and running without spending a fortune. You’ve got the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G sitting in an ASUS Prime A320M-K, which is a solid enough pairing if you aren't planning on doing anything too crazy. It’s essentially a "plug and play" situation where the integrated graphics handle the heavy lifting for basic tasks, making it a decent little workstation for someone who doesn't need a dedicated GPU right away. The storage side of things is fine, using a Western Digital drive, and the cooling shouldn't be a major issue since you're running an EVGA 400W unit paired with a Cooler Master Silencio case. It’s a quiet, tidy little machine. If you're looking at performance benchmarks, like running Cinebench R20, you'll find that the Zen 2 Ryzen 3 Pro 4350G architecture—or even the slightly beefier Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G—holds its own quite well for daily productivity. It isn't going to break any world records, but it certainly won't struggle with standard American office workflows or light multitasking. It’s a practical, no-nonsense approach to building a PC. You aren't chasing bleeding-edge enthusiast speeds here; you're just building something reliable that works.

I wrote that I meant either the AMD Compute Units or the graphics cores.

One Compute Unit consists of 64 shading units.

The Ryzen 3 Pro 4350G features 6 cores, paired with integrated graphics running at a clock speed of 1700MHz.

The AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G features 7 compute units and an integrated graphics frequency of 1900MHz.

The Ryzen 7 Pro 4750G features 8 cores and an integrated graphics clock speed of 2100MHz.

The Ryzen 5 2400G features 11 compute units, with the integrated graphics running at a clock speed of 1250MHz.

The Ryzen 5 3400G features 11 compute units, with the integrated graphics running at a clock speed of 1400MHz.

The older Ryzen 5 2400G with its Vega 11 Integrated Graphics is actually slightly faster than the Renoir APU with 6 Compute Units. While the gap in GPU performance isn't massive, you have to keep in mind that the Renoir CPU side is significantly faster across the board. At the exact same price point, buying that old 14nm APU just doesn't make any sense. You shouldn't buy it unless you're looking to slap yourself in the face.

I just finished watching this video, and I have to say, it provides a pretty clear look at how these components actually perform under pressure. It’s one thing to read spec sheets, but seeing the benchmarks laid out like this gives you a much more grounded sense of what you're actually buying when you're putting together a build.

The Zen R5 2400G with its 11 compute units on a 14nm process is frankly overpriced, and honestly, the Zen+ R5 3400G at 12nm is the exact same story since we're just looking at outdated hardware at this point. If you actually care about performance per dollar, the Zen 2 Ryzen 3 Pro 4350G absolutely crushes both of them.

Generally speaking, those older 14nm or 12nm models just can't compete on a per-watt performance basis when you stack them up against the 7nm Renoir APU series. They didn't include the Ryzen 5 2400G in this specific power consumption test, but if they had, the entire system would have likely pulled around 125W. Keep in mind that this figure represents the total draw for the whole setup, or rather, what was measured during the Cinebench R20 CPU rendering test. Since the TDP for every model shown in the photo is rated at 65W, those official TDP labels aren't really worth much in this context.

The latest Cinebench R20 multi-core benchmarks have finally dropped, and if you're looking at how these chips stack up in heavy workloads, there’s plenty to unpack here. It’s one thing to look at single-core speeds, but the real story is always in the multi-core performance when you actually put a load on the system. Looking through the data, you can see exactly where the value proposition lies for different builds. It isn't just about raw numbers; it's about seeing which architectures actually hold their own when things get intense. For anyone planning a build or upgrading an existing setup, these results provide a pretty clear roadmap of what to expect from the current generation of processors.



Bottom line, picking up the Ryzen 3 Pro 4350G Renoir combo really is the smartest move for anyone looking to get the most bang for their buck. $433.

If you're looking to save some cash, there are plenty of budget-friendly options available right here. Ryzen 5 3350G I'm ready to get to work. Just send over the content you need me to overhaul. $333It’s a solid, budget-friendly B450 motherboard that actually delivers.

I’ve been looking into the AMD Athlon 3000G, and honestly, it’s a decent little chip if you aren't expecting much from it. It’s fine for basic tasks, but don't go thinking it's going to handle heavy lifting. For anyone just trying to get a simple system up and running without breaking the bank, it does the job adequately enough.

The package doesn't include a CPU cooler, but that's expected since this is an OEM tray version. A decent cooler isn't exactly a huge investment anyway; you could just grab an EVGA Power Supply unit or, if you want something significantly better, go with the Arctic Freezer 7 for just a little bit more.☕

If you're looking at the specs for the AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3350G, you're essentially looking at a solid, dependable workhorse designed for those who need reliable performance without a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles. It’s built for efficiency and stability, making it an ideal choice for office environments or home setups where you want things to just work every single time you hit the power button.

It’s a 12nm Zen+ Ryzen 5 3350G featuring 10 compute units and an integrated graphics frequency of 1300MHz, which essentially makes it the more budget-friendly sibling to the R5 3400G.

https://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=lc-cc-95

https://www.nabava.net/search.php?q=ARCTIC+Freezer+7+X

"If you're looking to save some cash, there's an option right here: a Ryzen 5 3350G paired with a $333+ decent, budget-friendly B450 motherboard."
There’s no such thing as a good yet cheap B450.

Andrew Miller102, honestly, quad-cores for $433? Even if they had some incredible APU built-in, they aren't worth that kind of cash anymore, not even exceeding $333. Those were the glory days. Now, Intel is selling 4c8t chips for just over $600 (though without integrated graphics), so this just doesn't make sense—especially since AMD itself was moving the R5 4650G (a 6c12t APU with even better Integrated Graphics) for around 1450-$500 before these unfortunate shortages hit...

It turns out that for $433, you can grab a faster CPU (Intel Core i3-10100F) and pair it with a dedicated GPU for under $433. And with the leftover $200, you could pick up a used GPU that’s actually decent—I mean, you can find an RX 570 4GB for maybe 500-$200. AMD really needs to recalibrate the pricing on these APUs

Timothy Kim60 said:Andrew Miller102, honestly, those quad-core chips just aren't cutting it anymore. $433Even if they were some kind of high-end APU, it wouldn't matter because, since SMT isn't worth nearly as much money as it used to be, the value just isn't there anymore.Not even then. $333Those were the glory days, honestly. Even now, Intel is still pushing 4-core/8-thread chips for around $600—and that’s without any integrated graphics, which just doesn't make sense. It's especially ridiculous when you consider that AMD was selling the Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G, a 6-core/12-thread APU with even better integrated graphics, for about $1,450.$500Well, before these unfortunate shortages hit...

It looks like it turns out that... $433 If you pick up a faster CPU like the Intel Core i3-10100F along with a dedicated GPU, you could hit that target price point. $433Buying a used GPU for that kind of money is a bit of a gamble. $200 What else can be picked up for around $500 if I want to stay quiet about it? An RX 570 4GB could probably fetch a decent chunk of that.$200). AMD really needs to recalibrate the pricing on those APUs.

Prices are exactly what they are.😁 Whether you're looking at CPU or GPU hardware, it’s essentially the same story. I’m just commenting on what's actually available on the market right now. Honestly, there is zero sense in buying some outdated 14/12nm APU when you could spend that same amount of cash on something significantly better. $433.

If you're looking to pick up a budget PC—meaning something without a dedicated graphics card where you just want decent integrated graphics for some light gaming—Intel doesn't really have anything to offer in that department.You could certainly consider that a solid purchase, picking up an Intel Core i3-10100 for that price. $317The integrated graphics on this thing barely manage to keep pace with the AMD Athlon 3000G.

I've been looking at the specs for that AMD Athlon 3000G setup, and honestly, it’s a pretty straightforward little machine for what it is. If you're just looking to get some basic tasks done without breaking the bank, it does the job adequately enough. It isn't going to win any awards for raw power, but for a budget build, it's a solid starting point.

It seems AMD is logically prioritizing the more profitable CPU and GPU segments right now. At this stage, a dedicated AMD Desktop CPU or GPU has clearly taken a backseat. They’ve diverted most of that 7nm production capacity toward Renoir Mobile PCs instead. Essentially, they're focusing on Renoir Mobile PC first, and whatever scraps are left over end up in those Desktop OEM builds.

Is it even possible to buy this? AMD Athlon 3000GRight now, you can't find it anywhere, not even here in the States. If anyone is actually selling one, Americans are asking around $100 to $120 for it. I picked up my unit for an Athlon User at... $133I picked this up back in March, and honestly, it was the perfect low-cost entry point into the AM4 platform—exactly what you need when you just want something functional while waiting for a planned upgrade down the road. These days, AMD doesn't really offer that kind of budget-friendly APU gateway on AM4 anymore; everywhere you look, there’s just a shortage, so if you find one, grab it before it's gone.

I am one thousand percent certain that I’m going with the Ryzen 3 4350G, as that has been my planned upgrade from the very beginning. I don't really have any need for additional CPU power at this stage; I'm just looking to build a typical low-power HTPC connected to a 4K TV. While I could go out and pick up the Ryzen 3 4350G right this second, I think I'll wait a bit longer to see how the market develops and hopefully catch a better price.

Given how dead the market is right now, I could probably offload my AMD Athlon 3000G without any real hassle for... $150If anyone thinks that's too much or just unrealistic, they should go find an Athlon User somewhere else who's willing to take less cash.🙂

Andrew Miller102 said:You could consider that a solid purchase—the Intel Core i3-10100 would be a great choice for... $317The integrated graphics barely even keep pace with the AMD Athlon 3000G.

We aren't even talking about any i3 for this. $317Actually, you can grab an Intel Core i3-10100F for just over $100.

I am looking for price comparisons and availability for the Intel Core i3-10100F.

So, it stays over. $200 Regarding the GPU (for those specific ones)... $433)

Bryan Taylor6 said:Building a gaming rig for a buddy...

This might still be relevant since we talked about it a few weeks ago. Maybe go for a beefier GPU first, then grab a more powerful power supply from that same manufacturer... or just stick to a classic hard drive for extra storage.

Intel i3-10100f 693... solid choice. $231
ASRock H410M-HVS motherboard... $156
2x8GB Patriot Viper Steel 3200MHz $169
Kingston 500GB SSD, A2000...
M.2 2280, NVMe, PCIe 3.0... $163
Zalman S4 Midi Tower window Black 279... $93
Fortron 400 w Hexa 80 PLUS power supply... $111
KFA2 GTX1650 SUPER EX, 1-Click OC, 4GB $442

adm.hr

Bryan Taylor6 put that whole build together in the previous thread... $1333 Lately, I’ve been thinking about setting a baseline... CPU, motherboard, RAM—that’s the core. Everything else you just mix and match based on what you want and what your budget allows...

Correction...
The ASRock board doesn't have an M.2 slot for an SSD. I'll have to grab a different H410 motherboard that actually has one...

Let's talk about this Gigabyte H410M H...