PC Build under $750?

Hey there,

Could someone please throw some suggestions my way? I'm looking to put together a build for up to $1667 based on what this shop has in stock. And obviously, I won't be paying cash.

- Basically, I need this for work in graphic design/Adobe programs, so I'll need a solid processor, plenty of RAM, a decent drive, and enough storage space. Oh, and I'd really prefer it to be quiet. Honestly, I have no clue. Factor in the case too. I don't need a monitor; the one I have works perfectly, so no sense in replacing it.

I know nothing can be perfect within this budget, but I just want something decent that actually works without lagging. I can't deal with the slow piece of junk I'm using now—it barely even booted up this morning—and I'm officially done throwing money at repair shops.

Thanks in advance 😉 🙂

-NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1GB DDR5, D-SUB, DVI, HDMI 749,00
-500W Power Supply, Coolermaster B500, ATX v2.3, 120mm fan, PFC 349,00
-Coolermaster CM 692 II Advanced X2 Case, RC-692A-KKN5, MIDI, black, USB 3.0, no PSU included 729,00
-1000.0 GB Western Digital Blue Hard Drive, WD10EZEX, SATA3, 64MB cache, 7200rpm, desktop HDD 459,00
-PC-10600 Memory, 8 GB, Kingston HyperX Blu KHX13C9B1/8, DDR3 1333MHz 739,00
-Intel Core i7 8320 BOX, socket AM3+, 3.5GHz, 16MB cache, Eight Core 1329,00
-Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 CO Cooler, compatible with 775/1155/1156/754/939/AM2/AM2+/AM3 249,00
-ASRock 970 PRO3 R2.0 Motherboard, AMD 970/SB950, DDR3, audio, SATA, G-LAN, RAID, PCI-E, SLI, USB 3.0, ATX, socket AM3 / AM3+ 565,00
=$1724

So, here is the configuration I’d personally go with if I were in your shoes. I opted for the AMD setup because, frankly, this specific combo just appeals to me more—plus, it's significantly easier on the wallet. We rarely actually *need* to jump to Intel unless there's a very specific reason. Oh, and I threw in a decent CPU cooler right away; there's really no point in you having to crack open the case later on when your processor starts acting like it's trying to overheat your entire room. :P As for the chassis, I went with Coolermaster because they're my absolute favorite brand, and honestly, with the power supply, you can't go wrong. This particular case is definitely number one in my book.
The CPU and graphics card are plenty powerful enough to handle almost any major game out right now without breaking a sweat, and you shouldn't have any trouble running heavy-duty software from Adobe, like After Effects. For the motherboard, I just picked one of the eight standard options available... nothing too fancy. Now, if $50 is looking a bit too pricey for you, maybe grab a slightly cheaper processor, like an x6 or an x4. Also, I just realized I completely forgot to list a DVD drive in here! :| Anyway, enjoy.

So, looking at this Intel Core i5, it’s an LGA 1155 socket chip running at 3.10GHz with a 7MB cache, which makes it a quad-core setup. I guess it’s a pretty standard little processor for that specific generation, though whether it actually holds up for what you're trying to do today is probably more of a question than anything else. It's just a basic quad-core unit, really.
So, I was looking at this Kingston 8GB stick of PC12800 DDR3 memory—specifically that KVR16N11/8 model running at 1600MHz—and I've been thinking about it. It’s a pretty standard spec, I suppose. If you're just trying to patch together an older desktop or maybe breathing some life into a budget build, it might do the trick, though I guess whether it's actually worth the hassle depends entirely on what else you're running in the machine. It seems fine on paper, but then again, nothing is ever quite as simple as the specs suggest.
I’m looking at the specs for this ASUS Motherboard, which runs on an Intel B75 chipset. It uses DDR3 memory and comes with standard features like S-ATA, Gigabit LAN, and a PCI-E slot. For video output, you've got DVI and D-SUB options available. It's a mATX form factor designed for the LGA 1155 socket.
The LC POWER 3001B Executor is a MIDI-sized case in black that features USB 3.0 connectivity, though it doesn't come with a power supply included.
So, I was looking at this 120 GB Kingston SSDNow V300—specifically the SV300S37A/120G model with the SATA3 interface and MLC chips—which supposedly hits speeds up to 450/450 MB/s. I guess it’s an okay little drive if you just need something basic, though I suppose whether those advertised speeds actually hold up during sustained use is somewhat debatable. It might be fine for a simple boot drive or some light tasks, but I wouldn't go expecting anything groundbreaking.
So, I was looking at this Gainward GeForce GTX 650 graphics card. It’s got 1GB of DDR5 memory and comes equipped with a decent variety of outputs—DVI, miniHDMI, D-SUB, and HDTV. I guess it’s a fairly standard setup for its class, though whether that's enough for what you need really depends on how you plan to use it.
So, I was looking at this 1TB Western Digital Blue hard drive—the WD10EZEX model with the SATA3 interface, 64MB of cache, and that 7200 RPM spindle speed—which is pretty much the standard spec for a desktop drive these days. It seems like a decent enough option if you just need some basic bulk storage for a home PC, though I guess whether it's actually worth picking up depends on what you're planning to do with it. It’s probably fine for general files, but maybe not my first choice if you're looking for something more heavy-duty.
It’s a 460W unit, specifically the LC GP3 from LC POWER—the Silent Giant GREEN POWER LC6460GP3 V2.3 model—and it comes with a 140mm fan.
Samsung SH-S224DB DVD±RW drive, rated at 24x speed, finished in black, featuring a SATA interface, supports dual Layer and DVD-RAM, available in bulk.

$1690

Ryan Hayes82 said:Intel Core i5 3350 p box Processor, LGA 1155, 3.10GHz, 7MB cache, QuadCore
PC-12800 Memory, 8 GB, KINGSTON, KVR16N11/8, DDR3 1600MHz
ASUS Motherboard, Intel B75, DDR3, audio, S-ATA, G-LAN, PCI-E, DVI, D-SUB, mATX, LGA 1155
LC POWER 3001B Executor Case, MIDI, black, USB 3.0, no PSU
120.0 GB KINGSTON SSDNow V300, SV300S37A/120G, SATA3, MLC-Chip, up to 450/450 MB/s
PCI-E GAINWARD GeForce GTX 650 Graphics Card, 1GB DDR5, DVI, miniHDMI, D-SUB, HDTV
1000.0 GB WESTERN DIGITAL Blue Hard Drive, WD10EZEX, SATA3, 64MB cache, 7200rpm, desktop
460W Power Supply, LC GP3 LC6460GP3 V2.3, 140mm fan
SAMSUNG SH-S224DB DVD±RW, 24x, black, SATA, dual Layer, DVD-RAM, bulk

$1690

Cheap-o power supply, cheap-o case. Truly a "dream team" combination right there. Honestly, I have no idea what you think you're getting into here. If I were in your shoes ten years ago, I would have invested in a decent case—one actually worth the money—rather than this budget junk. You’d be better off putting that saved cash toward actual quality components. Just wait, you'll see how much of a disaster that LC GP3 power supply turns out to be.

Hey, maybe chill out with the mindless comments on these threads because you clearly haven't got a clue what you're talking about. The LC GP3 is actually a solid power supply—it sits right up there with the Corsair Cx or an XFX 450 w. Honestly, if you hadn't used one yourself, just do a quick Google search and you'll see it's legit; it's just hard for trolls like you to wrap your head around that 😉

lonepilot51 said:Cheap power supply, cheap case. It’s a decent combo, I guess. Honestly, I don't know what you're getting into here; if I were you ten years ago, I would have bought a proper case worth the money instead of this junk. You probably could've saved that cash for better components. That LG power supply is total garbage—you'll see.

Your power supply is actually way worse. That Coolermaster B-series is meant for basic office builds or low-end rigs; the capacitors and build quality just aren't there...

lonepilot51 said:Honestly, this setup is just junk—both the power supply and the case. It’s a pretty terrible combination, if you ask me. I really can't wrap my head around what you're trying to achieve here; looking back ten years ago, if I were in your shoes, I would have invested in a proper, high-quality case instead of settling for this cheap stuff—I probably would've put that saved cash toward better internal components instead! And that LG power supply? Total garbage, just wait and see how quickly it fails you.

☕

Thanks a ton, guys 😍, definitely picking up a few of these things next week.

Just as long as nothing is total junk 🤣

Amy Vaughn12 and Fl@tron put together a solid build for you; that SSD is going to be a game-changer (make sure to install Windows and all your main programs directly onto it)

As for the case, you can browse through the options on your own—just ensure you pick one that doesn't come with a built-in power supply since you're buying yours separately, and double-check that it's actually in stock.

http://www.amazon.com/?option=katList&..._pdv&sort_ord=

Honestly, we could probably shave some money off this build—if you're just messing around with 2D graphics, I really don't see why anyone would need a dedicated GPU:

Corsair RM Series 399.00
Corsair RM Series, 460 W 389.00
ECS B85H3-M4 469.00
Intel i5 4430 1,519.00
G.SKILL Ripjaws F3-12800CL8D-8GBRM, 1600 MHz, 2x4 Gb 599.00
Samsung 870 EVO, 120 Gb 719.00
WD Blue WD10EZEX, 1000 Gb 459.00
Samsung SH-S224BB 120.00

$1558