Best VM build specs?

Alright folks, I could really use some guidance here. I'm looking to put together a custom PC build with a budget of roughly $1333 if we can make that work
. At this stage, a dedicated GPU isn't my top priority; I'll likely slap one in later on—maybe even just picking up something used to save a few bucks
. So, what am I actually planning to do with this machine?
Primarily, I need to be able to run at least two instances of macOS simultaneously via VirtualBox without the whole system grinding to a halt. Because of that, I'm assuming I'll need at least 16GB of RAM and a Ryzen processor with a decent core count. Of course, if we can squeeze in at least a 240GB SSD for the OS installation plus a 1TB hard drive for storage, that would be ideal.

One non-negotiable: the motherboard absolutely has to have an HDMI output
. My budget is somewhat flexible if things get pricey, but I was aiming for somewhere around $800-$333 and up
. Keep in mind, I fully intend to add a graphics card down the road, just in case I decide to blow off some steam with a game or two once it's all set up.

https://prnt.sc/um63sq

Here’s a quick list I cobbled together from the link since it's my local Best Buy and I could potentially head over there today to grab everything...

Though, I am a bit stumped by this Ryzen situation—apparently, it doesn't have an integrated GPU? Does that mean the whole thing just won't boot without a dedicated graphics card, or am I overthinking it?
By the way, I just remembered I have a brand new 240GB Patriot SSD lying around at home, so I might as well use that to save some cash.

Or should I just pivot to the Intel Core i5-9400? They don't carry it in this specific link, so I'd have to track it down at a Micro Center, where it's actually quite a bit cheaper if I pick up a RAM kit too.
DDR4 RAM, 16 GB, Corsair Vengeance RGB 2666MHz, 2x8GB kit
which are $253 in the link, though they have a higher MHz rating

There’s honestly no point in that setup you put together. That 3600XT is just an overpriced 3600 from $467, plus it doesn't even have integrated graphics.

Build a PC based on this instead; it actually comes with an iGPU.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-9400-Desktop-Processor/dp/B07H6S6ZBC

Timothy Kim60 said:What you put together doesn't make any sense. That 3600XT is basically just an overpriced 3600 from $467, plus it lacks integrated graphics.

Build a PC based on this instead; it actually has integrated graphics.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i5-9400-Desktop-Processor/dp/B07XJ8Z8YV

Thanks so much for the reply. I honestly cobbled this together at 4:00 AM without thinking twice, haha.
Does it make sense to just grab a standard 3600 without a GPU and pair it with some dirt-cheap placeholder card for maybe $50 just to get a display? I really don't feel like waiting until next week for a processor to arrive. Since they both have the same core count, I don't see a massive difference.

The integrated graphics on the 4750G are basically on par with a GTX 1050, so buying some cheap, low-end dedicated card—one that's actually weaker than what you already have built-in—is just a waste of money.

You could even squeeze an 8C/16T 4750G into this setup:

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G tray + Wraith Spire cooler, s. AM4
Asrock B450M-PRO4 F, µATX, AM4, 90-MXBAB0-A0UAYZ
DDR4 RAM 16GB (2x8) G.Skill 3000MHz AEGIS C16, F4-3000C16D-16GISB
Kingston SSD 480GB A400 2.5" SATA, SA400S37/480G
Zalman Z1 NEO Midi Tower Black
EVGA 500W 80 Plus, PPA5004901

Total: $1479 Best Buy (cash/transfer)

You might get closer to $4,000 if you swap in an extra 240GB SSD, though if you're planning on running a bunch of virtual machines, you'll run out of space pretty fast. This build handles light gaming just fine without any dedicated GPU, but add a decent card later and you've got a real machine.

Thomas Wells5 said:Thanks for the reply. I cobbled this together at 4 AM without really thinking it through lol.
Does it make sense to just grab a standard 3600 without a GPU and toss in some dirt-cheap $50 graphics card just to get a display? I honestly can't wait until next week for my processor to arrive, and since they both have the same core count, I don't see much difference.

Doesn't make sense. The 4650G is basically an identical twin to the 3600, just with an iGPU included. Just grab 2x8GB of 3000 or 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM. Ryzen loves higher frequencies.

Adam Moore3 said:The integrated graphics on the 4650G are basically on par with a GTX 1050, so buying some cheap, separate card that's actually weaker than what you already have built-in makes absolutely zero sense.

We could even squeeze an 8C/16T 4750G in here:

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G tray + Wraith Spire cooler, s. AM4
Asrock B450M-PRO4 F, µATX, AM4, 90-MXBAB0-A0UAYZ
DDR4 RAM 16GB (2x8) G.Skill 3000MHz AEGIS C16, F4-3000C16D-16GISB
Kingston SSD 480GB A400 2.5" SATA, SA400S37/480G
Zalman Z1 NEO Midi Tower Black
EVGA 500W 80 Plus power supply, PPA5004901

Total: $1479 Best Buy (cash/transfer)

You could probably get closer to $400 if you ditched the SSD for an extra 240GB one, but honestly, if you're planning on running multiple VMs, you're going to run out of storage space immediately. This setup handles gaming just fine without a dedicated GPU, and if you drop a real card in later, you've got a powerhouse.

That sounds interesting to me, though I might skip the SSD since I've already got my own 240GB Patriot drive sitting right here.

Look, I’m just telling you—you'll need at least ~40GB just for a barebones OS. You might find things getting pretty tight with 240GB if you're planning on running several dozen virtual machines.

I mean, I wouldn't suggest more than two at a time; we just need to make sure nothing gets stuck, and that should do the trick.