Rate my build

Hey. Local shop offered me this build as their "standard" option. Curious what tier this actually falls into:

ASRock H6 1M-DGS MOTHERBOARD (S1155) $133
Intel Pentium G2030 PROCESSOR $183
500GB WD5000AAKX DISK $153
4GB 1333MHz Transcend DDR3 MEMORY $124
LG DVD RW 22X SATA OPTICAL DRIVE $51
Linkworld 321 420W CASE $97

Anyway, looking at roughly $733 for it. Cash.

Wait, what kind of power supply is actually in there? Is this meant to be a pre-built setup?

Look, the computer being offered isn't a bad choice if you just want to browse the web, watch YouTube videos, or handle everyday tasks—it's fine for basic productivity. But honestly, don't even think about gaming on a rig like this... especially if all you have to work with is $733. If you're looking for something just for regular daily use (like I mentioned), then it’s a decent enough way to put together a solid machine for that price point.

1 x INTEL Core i3-4130 (3.40GHz,512KB,3MB,54 W,1150) Box, INTEL HD Graphics 4400
1 x Memory Device KINGSTON ValueRAM DDR3 SDRAM Non-ECC (4GB,1600MHz(PC3-12800),Single Rank,Unbuffered) CL11
1 x Toshiba 500GB,7200rpm, 32MB
1 x Chicony Active 350W, 1x120
1 x Zalman ZM-T4, USB3.0, micro atx
1 x Asrock s1150 H81M-DGS

Total: $746 Futura-IT.com - free assembly and shipping

You could probably grab a used coffee maker for $17, which would basically offset the cost of this complex build of yours. 🙂

Larry Ortiz5 said:What about the power supply? Like, what model is it? This is a pre-built, right?

Look, this machine isn't bad if you just want to browse the web or watch YouTube. It's fine for basic tasks. But forget about gaming on this setup... especially if you're stuck with just $733. If you just need it for everyday work—like I mentioned—you can definitely build a decent computer for that kind of money.

Fine, I don't know the power supply specs yet. I'll ask next time. Regardless, I don't need a gaming rig (I don't play games). I just need it for standard work, watching videos, and browsing. For graphics, I might occasionally run things like Google Earth or Street View—that counts as graphics, right? Would this configuration be okay for that?

Since you're suggesting it, why don't you build me a "decent" one? For this price, or maybe slightly more—if I go a little over my budget, it won't kill me.

crimsonstag84 said:One Intel Core i3-4130 (3.40GHz, 512KB, 3MB, 54W, 1150) Box, paired with Intel HD Graphics 4400 1.
One stick of Kingston ValueRAM DDR3 SDRAM. It’s a 4GB module, 1600MHz (PC3-12800), single rank, unbuffered, with CL11 latency. Simple enough.
One Toshiba 500GB hard drive. 7200rpm. 32MB cache.
One Chicony Active 350W unit, plus one 120mm fan.
Zalman ZM-T4. USB 3.0. Micro ATX.
One Asrock s1150 H81M-DGS.

Total: $746 Futura-IT. If you want free assembly and delivery, this is the spot.

You can pick up a used coffee maker for... $17Look, this wipes out the whole thread with that overly complicated configuration of yours. 🙂

Look, I respect the input, but since the price range is basically the same, I have to ask: why would this build be better than the one they pitched me at the local shop in Savannah (or maybe E-disk)? A little clarification wouldn't hurt. Honestly, I don't care which way I spend my $300 or whatever; I just need to know exactly what I'm paying for.

So, where exactly is Futura-IT located?

In Chicago, you can get free assembly and delivery on orders over $667 (you can even pay cash on delivery) — just order online, via phone, or by email if you prefer.

To answer your question: if you have the cash, go with what crimsonstag84 suggested. You'll get a significantly more powerful PC—better processor, higher quality power supply, and a sturdier case. If you visit a site like Futura-IT or an electronics retailer, and look at the components individually rather than as a bundle, you'll see it's actually much cheaper.

For example, check out the price for a 500GB hard drive here:

And for 1000 GB:

Timothy Kim60 said:In Chicago, you get free assembly and delivery on orders over $667 (you can even pay cash on delivery) — just order online, via phone, or email if that's your thing.

To answer your question: if you have the cash, grab the build from crimsonstag84. It’s a significantly better machine (better processor, higher quality power supply and case). Go to a site like Futura-IT or adm.hr — look at the components one by one compared to what was suggested to you. You'll see it's much cheaper.

For example, check the price of a 500GB hard drive here:

Or 1000 GB:

You mention a better power supply, but I didn't even say what kind of power supply was being offered to me. You mentioned a faster processor and a better case. You aren't mentioning the motherboard or the RAM?

I'm not arguing that individual parts are cheaper than they are here in Savannah. Chicago is always cheaper across the board. That's just how it is.

hollowmarlin19, don't even bother asking about the power supply—it doesn't really matter at this stage. Honestly, just grab your components from crimsonstag84 and you'll have peace of mind for much longer...

A8 x4 5500, Socket FM2, 3200 MHz clock speed
ASRock FM2A75M-HD motherboard
MS Industrial MS FSP350-60APN 85+ 80 PLUS BRONZE DESIGN power supply
Toshiba DT01ACA050 HDD (3.5", 500GB, 32MB, SATA III-600)
Zalman ZM-T4 micro tower case
Kingston 4GB 1600MHz DDR3L Non-ECC CL11 DIMM 1.35V,
LITE ON ODD IHAS122-14 DVD Super Multi, SATA, Black, Bulk

$740 including shipping
diskont24.com

I guess you end up with a quad-core processor that might be useful if you find yourself doing a bit more multitasking, plus there's a decent integrated graphics chip that could handle some light gaming if necessary, a reliable power supply, and the motherboard should support the next generation of processors too.

hollowmarlin19 said:You mention a higher-quality power supply, but did I even suggest what kind of PSU was being offered to me? You mentioned a faster processor and a better case, but you didn't say anything about the motherboard or the memory.

To be clear, I'm not arguing that buying parts individually is cheaper than getting them here in Savannah; Chicago is always cheaper across the board, that's just how it works.

The memory and the motherboard are also better. The motherboard uses a newer socket and supports USB 3.0.

You can tell what the power supply is just by looking at the case (if it comes as a combo case + PSU, then it's that Linkworld 420W unit—basically "junkware"—but it would technically keep your configuration running).

Linkworld 321 case420W

Look, it's your money. For what you need, that PC will be fine; I'm simply pointing out that you could get more bang for your buck. You might even find a better deal at a big retailer like Best Buy (whether in the city or the suburbs), though they can be pretty pricey too.

You might actually find that Halek’s suggestion is your best bet here. Since you aren't picking up a dedicated GPU, going with Intel just makes more sense. Honestly, even compared to those options you recommended from Savannah, any of these would be a step up.
In fact, you could probably get even better value for that same budget through this link:

Alright, alright, thanks for the offers. I've got a few to look over now. Honestly, I'm not obsessing over the exact dollar amount; it's all about the value proposition—quality versus price. As it stands, the offer sent to me here in Savannah has been labeled the absolute worst on this forum, which pretty much means you guys successfully talked me out of taking it. I'm not looking to rush into anything, even if I am that kind of guy. I’ll print out these quotes, take some time to weigh them properly, and then make my move. Living in Savannah just means everything costs more than it should elsewhere, and that's a real pain in the ass.