Question about power supplies

Is a budget power supply, say an EVGA 500W basic unit, actually sufficient for a build running a Pentium G3258 paired with an aging HD 4350 graphics card?

I am under no illusions regarding performance; I have no intention of gaming on this machine, and I am fully aware that 500W is technically more than enough wattage for such low-draw components, but my concern is more fundamental: is there a genuine risk that this cheap power supply might simply explode in my face the moment I flip the switch? 😵

Perhaps someone could suggest a different option that remains relatively inexpensive but carries a bit more dignity?
Thanks

Just play it safe; your GPU is pulling about 20W and the processor is around 50W.

You don't even need to have an HD 4350 in there, since the integrated graphics on the Pentium might actually be slightly better. 😉

It’s not going to blow up in your face, but if you have about $10 extra, you could probably grab a slightly better Xilence RedWing or maybe an LC Power Office

Since I have already gone through the trouble of opening this thread, perhaps someone might be willing to lend me their expertise regarding this particular configuration?
I haven't actually pulled the trigger on a purchase yet, so I suppose that means the HD 4350 can be tossed straight into the trash, leaving me to rely solely on the integrated graphics. Is there any point in even considering it at this stage?

I have been contemplating the acquisition of a new monitor lately. I find myself staring at these various monitor listings once again, wondering if anyone actually takes the time to consider what they are truly purchasing, or if we are all just drifting through a sea of mediocre hardware without a second thought. Is it even possible to find value in this market anymore, or are we simply paying a premium for branding and shiny packaging? One looks at these offers and can't help but feel a sense of profound exhaustion; why does everything seem to be moving toward higher refresh rates and lower resolutions when the fundamental quality of the panels seems to be in a state of constant decline? It makes one question the very direction of consumer electronics. Does anyone else feel this creeping cynicism, or am I merely becoming more disillusioned with every click? Well, here we go again. Is there truly anything more tedious than staring at a blank screen, wondering if anyone is actually listening, or if we are all just shouting into an endless digital void? I suppose I should begin, though I find myself questioning the very necessity of starting this particular thread. What is there to say that hasn't been dissected, debated, and ultimately dismissed by the masses before? Nevertheless, let us proceed.

And what, then, does that leave me with for my own setup? I suppose I am left staring at a meager remainder of... $633

I had been nursing this particular vision for a build centered around the Pentium G3258, though I find myself wondering if my initial blueprint was perhaps more ambitious than my actual expertise warrants. Would it not be far more prudent to defer to those of you who possess a more refined understanding of these components? I would be most grateful if someone might deign to assemble a truly reliable configuration for me, as I am certain your collective wisdom will undoubtedly yield a superior result than anything I could devise on my own.

So, what does that actually imply? $633 If I were considering a machine that won't be used for gaming just yet—something intended primarily for programming, MATLAB, AutoCAD, and those other fundamental tasks—I would approach it with a certain level of caution. However, one must always account for the inevitable drift of necessity, does one not? There is, after all, the distinct possibility that in a year's time, I might find myself dropping a GTX 750 Ti into the chassis just to indulge in a bit of light gaming.

Perhaps we should consider the Celeron G1820 instead? It sits at nearly half the price point of its alternative, and when one truly weighs the performance delta, does it really seem like such a catastrophic downgrade?

And I continue to conduct my transactions right here in Chicago, strictly using cash.

Asus H110M-R/C/SI motherboard
MS VOYAGER 2 case, no PSU included
Zalman 400W PSU LX Series Retail, ZAL-ZM400-LX
Toshiba P300 1TB, 64MB, 7200rpm HDWD110UZSVA
8GB DDR4 2133MHz KIN Value RAM
Intel Celeron G3900 Desktop CPU (2.8GHz, 2MB, LGA1151) box

Total: $616 Centro

This monitor at $262 seems like a pretty solid deal.

crimsonstag84 said:Asus H110M-R/C/SI motherboard
MS VOYAGER 2 case without power supply
Zalman 400W PSU LX Series Retail, ZAL-ZM400-LX
Toshiba P300 1TB, 64MB, 7200rpm HDWD110UZSVA
8GB DDR4 2133MHz KIN Value RAM
Intel Desktop CPU Celeron G3900 (2.8GHz, 2MB, LGA1151) box

Total cost: $616 Centro

That monitor for $262 is quite a decent bargain, wouldn't you agree?

That looks excellent, thank you very much indeed.

But if I might add just one more thing—would it be feasible to fit all of this into this specific case

https://www.centro.com/naviatec-itx-case-nvt-z1.aspx

Portability is a rather significant concern of mine, though I have no intention of settling for a laptop. Are there any other small form factor cases out there? Honestly, I would be willing to pay a premium for an even smaller footprint, assuming the one I linked isn't up to the task.

That works too, though you're missing the front USB3 port. But since it's such a compact build, I guess it shouldn't be much of an issue.

EDIT: By the way, that’s sitting at about $607 right now... if you don't really need massive storage, maybe ditch the 1TB HDD for a 240GB SSD? It'll definitely speed things up (+$50):

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-BX500-SATA-SSD-240GB/dp/B073DB6V5K

crimsonstag84 As if I haven't heard this all before, says Raymond Hernandez10:
That works too, I suppose, though you’ll find yourself lacking a front-facing USB3 port. But then again, considering how incredibly compact this setup is, does such a minor inconvenience truly even matter?

EDIT: By the way, this is all currently being discussed. $607If you find that your current storage requirements aren't actually demanding massive amounts of space, why bother clinging to that 1TB HDD? It might be worth considering swapping it out for a 240GB SSD instead; wouldn't you agree that the boost in overall system responsiveness would make your daily workflow significantly more fluid?$50):

Is there anything more profoundly exhausting than the endless cycle of hardware obsolescence? I find myself staring at this listing for a 240GB SP550 SSD, wondering if we have truly reached the zenith of consumer electronics, or if we are simply spinning our wheels in a digital void. One must ask oneself: does one actually require such capacity in an era where our data footprints expand like a slow-moving glacier? It sits there, poised on the screen—a modest offering of storage that promises a certain level of utility, yet feels almost quaint when weighed against the voracious appetites of modern software. Is it a sensible acquisition for the pragmatic user, or merely another minor transaction in the grand, entropic scheme of technological advancement? One can only ponder the necessity of such things while waiting for the inevitable march of progress to render them obsolete once again.

I have certainly decided that I shall be acquiring it, without question; however, regarding the matter of the chassis—everything we have examined thus far seems to lack any integrated fans, which leads me to wonder: would it be considered a wise or prudent decision to perhaps install two of them myself? Is there anything more profoundly exhausting than the modern pursuit of "value" in computing hardware? One spends hours scouring the digital aisles, hoping to find that perfect intersection of utility and cost, only to be met with the realization that most contemporary chassis are little more than overpriced tin cans designed to fail just as the warranty expires. I found myself staring at this particular LC Power Office case today, and I couldn't help but wonder: where does the soul of PC building go when we settle for such uninspired, utilitarian shells? It is a stark, functional object, devoid of any aesthetic flourish, much like the gray cubicles one finds in mid-sized Midwestern corporate offices. It serves its purpose, I suppose—housing components, providing a semblance of structure—but does it inspire? Does it make one feel like an architect of silicon and steel, or merely a clerk assembling a filing cabinet? We chase these meager savings, yet we often forget that the vessel matters just as much as the engine within. Is efficiency truly worth the sacrifice of character?

You could, though I'm honestly not sure how many or what size will actually fit; the specs don't really say, from what I can see. Maybe you could just check with the retailer while you're at it?

crimsonstag84 said:That works too, though you won't have a front-facing USB3.0 port. Given how compact the thing is, I don't see it being a dealbreaker.

EDIT: By the way, regarding $607... if you aren't desperate for massive storage, ditch the 1TB HDD and swap in a 240GB SSD instead. It’ll give your workflow a noticeable boost (+$50):

https://www.newegg.com/p/ssd-240gb

It actually does have front USB ports—they aren't 3.0, but there are two of them. We just finished building a rig in this specific case last week. For anyone else looking to buy, just know it accommodates a decent micro-ATX motherboard, so you aren't stuck with ITX. It also fits a standard ATX power supply. We ran an A8 7600 combo in it and everything was perfectly fine.

One more thing. It isn't exactly "small." It's quite 🙂. Saving space might be a questionable benefit here since the shape is so boxy; it won't fit into those standard PC slots on most desks. It sits better next to a monitor. Honestly, you shouldn't hide it away because it looks great—it gives off the impression of a much higher-end chassis than it actually is.