Critique my budget build

2,289 Views | 21 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by erudite
Señor Chang
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AG
I'd like to keep the total cost below $750. I do a little gaming, but nothing serious. Is there anything that would be a better value than what I have selected?

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G - $145
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SXNDKNM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Mobo: Gigabyte B450 AORUS M - $85
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FWY246F/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Graphics: Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 - $89
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07646VQ6T/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

RAM: 32GB T-Force DDR4 - $99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SNB3V77/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=AWD7GDDT7Q2ZT&psc=1

SSD: Crucial BX500 1TB - $100
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YD579WM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Case: Cooler Master Q300L - $45
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0785GRMPG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_9?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

OS: Windows 10 Home - $86
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FDYW4XG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=AY14XU0LGZWKS&psc=1

Already have: power supply, monitor, keyboard & mouse, speakers
Sefton
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If only "a little gaming", why the graphics card? 3400G has integrated graphics.
Anyway, just quickly looking, I'd keep the graphics card but upgrade the processor to a Ryzen 5 3600 (twice the performance for $50 more), and instead of the Crucial SSD substitute an M.2 (1TB) stick, which you can find at pretty much the same price but a heck of a lot better performance.
TMoney2007
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Sefton said:

If only "a little gaming", why the graphics card? 3400G has integrated graphics.
Anyway, just quickly looking, I'd keep the graphics card but upgrade the processor to a Ryzen 5 3600 (twice the performance for $50 more), and instead of the Crucial SSD substitute an M.2 (1TB) stick, which you can find at pretty much the same price but a heck of a lot better performance.
I agree on this.

The super budget level of video cards are usually terrible deals. If you're going to get a video card at all, I would swing for a GTX 1050 TI or a GTX 1650 or something like that.
hph6203
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TMoney2007 said:

Sefton said:

If only "a little gaming", why the graphics card? 3400G has integrated graphics.
Anyway, just quickly looking, I'd keep the graphics card but upgrade the processor to a Ryzen 5 3600 (twice the performance for $50 more), and instead of the Crucial SSD substitute an M.2 (1TB) stick, which you can find at pretty much the same price but a heck of a lot better performance.
I agree on this.

The super budget level of video cards are usually terrible deals. If you're going to get a video card at all, I would swing for a GTX 1050 TI or a GTX 1650 or something like that.
Do this. Reduce the RAM if the cost is an issue. Would make it a ~$30 bump in price if you do. Add more RAM later if you need it.
Wildmen03
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While the jump from 1030 to 1060 is a sizable one, I played through Doom Eternal on a 1030. It's a perfectly fine card.
Not a Bot
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Timing for this build may not be great if you're looking for the best pricing. I would wait a month.

You can likely get some good deals on the Ryzen 3000 series as the new Ryzen 5000 models will be out in early November.

You may be able to score a good used graphics card as well once Nvidia gets the 3000 series supply chain moving. Have to think the secondary market is going to be full of deals. You may also be able to get a significantly discounted AMD current-gen graphics card when their new rDNA2 series launches not too long from now.
permabull
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I agree with other who are saying stay away from the 1030... its actually worse than the built in graphics on the chip you are going with:

Based on that video, I would give the built in graphics a chance before buying a dedicated GPU.

Do you happen to live near a microcenter? (Houston and Dallas have locations). They have the 3400G for $130 and B450 motherboards for $60 but you get a $20 discount for buying them together so that's only $170 for CPU/Mobo which is $60 less than what you have budgeted in your build.

Other than that I would spend $5 more to upgrade the SSD to a gen3 NVME like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089DNM8LR


FatZilla
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32gb ram is overkill, bump down to 16 and increase your cpu to the 3600.

Gfx, a 1060 is the minimum i would get with this rig if you get a dedicated card.
DallasTeleAg
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This.

For a "budget" build, is $750 the mark? I though $1K was the mark, or at least it was for me. Perhaps it was because I was looking for a gaming laptop and wouldn't want to go below $1K, as I think the return on investment from $750 to $1K is fairly substantial.
Señor Chang
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Thanks for all the recommendations. I live in San Antonio, so no Micro Center. Here's what I have changed to::

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 - $200
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07STGGQ18/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Mobo: Gigabyte B450 AORUS M - $85
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FWY246F/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Graphics: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1650S - $170
https://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-GeForce-Windforce-Graphics-Gv-N165SWF2OC-4GD/dp/B081R359ZM/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=gtx+1650s&qid=1603716437&s=electronics&sr=1-4

RAM: 32GB T-Force DDR4 - $99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SNB3V77/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=AWD7GDDT7Q2ZT&psc=1

SSD: Sabrent M.2 2280 SSD - $120
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZZYWTBP/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2ELBRY1PH9SPX&psc=1

Case: Cooler Master Q300L - $45
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0785GRMPG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_9?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

OS: Windows 10 Home - $86
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FDYW4XG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=AY14XU0LGZWKS&psc=1
permabull
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I'd say ditch the dedicated gpu and go back down the apu processor (3400g). That will save you over $200 (~25%) and get you up and running. If you decide later you want to get into gaming vega 11 can't handle you can buy a used graphics card that is better than the 1650S for $200. I just think that gives you the most flexibility and the opportunity to save some money on something you might not need.
TMoney2007
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Wildmen03 said:

While the jump from 1030 to 1060 is a sizable one, I played through Doom Eternal on a 1030. It's a perfectly fine card.
It's not that it isn't technically a video card,... It's just a bad deal because it costs almost as much as a bunch of cards that are much more capable.
Wildmen03
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TMoney2007 said:

Wildmen03 said:

While the jump from 1030 to 1060 is a sizable one, I played through Doom Eternal on a 1030. It's a perfectly fine card.
It's not that it isn't technically a video card,... It's just a bad deal because it costs almost as much as a bunch of cards that are much more capable.
I paid $60 for my 1030 from EVGA that I put into my budget build. I agree there are better cards out there, but I'm saying it's not a terrible card.
FatZilla
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Still dont think 32gb ram is needed. Cut to 16gb to lower your costs. Also, search pcpartpicker to find compatible items as prices as well, Amazon is rarely the best place and price. Newegg or another pc site usually wins out easily.

https://pcpartpicker.com/
aggiebq03+
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For sure take the pcpartpicker.com advice given above. Setting up your desired specs with a parametric (fancy for smart) filter is easy, and then wait for the upcoming Black Friday sales. Will be substantial savings to be had in a couple more weeks. If you have some parts already (you mentioned power supply) input those also in the build to check compatibility of everything.

Saved several hundred on my build a few years ago doing the above. Got great deals on RAM and M.2 SSD specifically, and decent deals of few dollars off on some other items.
jbryan10
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The Intel i5-9400F would also be a great budget option since the preference is a dedicated GPU. Core speed is a little slower, but gaming performance is about equivalent to the Ryzen 5 3600 due to lower memory latency for a significantly lower cost. Pair that with a B365 motherboard and the cost savings allows for a GTX 1660 Super.

Alternatively, the i5-9600K is the same price as the Ryzen 5 3600 with far superior gaming performance and allows overclocking. The i5-10400 is between the 9400 and 9600 performance- and cost-wise, but opens you up to the newest intel socket for future upgrades.

I also agree on dropping down to 16GB RAM.
FatZilla
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jbryan10 said:

The Intel i5-9400F would also be a great budget option since the preference is a dedicated GPU. Core speed is a little slower, but gaming performance is about equivalent to the Ryzen 5 3600 due to lower memory latency for a significantly lower cost. Pair that with a B365 motherboard and the cost savings allows for a GTX 1660.

I also agree on dropping down to 16GB RAM.


I would stay away from intel just due to futureproofing. With zen 3 on 7nm now, intel is hard pressed to get something lower than 14nm soon and having outdated sockets means your mobo will be worthless by next year. Zen 3 boards will be viable for years imo.
jbryan10
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I don't disagree, but the i5-10400 (which I added in an edit after you started responding) gets you to the latest socket.

With all that said, AMD's Zen 3 processors start coming out next month and appear to be a real game changer.
Señor Chang
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Any good deals on CPUs/Motherboards? I was waiting until Black Friday/Cyber Monday, but I didn't see any good deals. Looks like New Egg is sold out of all of their AMD chips (only have ones sold by third parties).
jbryan10
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Microcenter still has some good deals going, but they're also very low on stock (and you have to pick up in store)
erudite
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FatZilla said:

jbryan10 said:

The Intel i5-9400F would also be a great budget option since the preference is a dedicated GPU. Core speed is a little slower, but gaming performance is about equivalent to the Ryzen 5 3600 due to lower memory latency for a significantly lower cost. Pair that with a B365 motherboard and the cost savings allows for a GTX 1660.

I also agree on dropping down to 16GB RAM.


I would stay away from intel just due to futureproofing. With zen 3 on 7nm now, intel is hard pressed to get something lower than 14nm soon and having outdated sockets means your mobo will be worthless by next year. Zen 3 boards will be viable for years imo.
Socket Am4 support (for Zen) was slated to end 2020!!


I think 8gb is okay if your just doing browsing/ office work. I don't see op saying they crunch compiles or do work with rendering. XMP may not work (It 99% should but double check, Zen 1 had memory issues).
lb3
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erudite said:

I think 8gb is okay if your just doing browsing/ office work. I don't see op saying they crunch compiles or do work with rendering. XMP may not work (It 99% should but double check, Zen 1 had memory issues).
I have a leaky version of Firefox and undoubtedly some bloat ware on my 10 year old PC, but I routinely Max out 8gb of memory with a spreadsheet and a dozen+ browser tabs open.

Luckily my Ryzen 5900 arrived yesterday.
erudite
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To be fair, I run it on a gentoo system with as little software as possible. The most bloat I have is the web browers/libreoffice.
I don't reach 8gb unless I'm compiling. I also don't use a Desktop Environment so....
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