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Help with $700 PC build

PhatS7

New member
Joined
Feb 18, 2021
Messages
1
Hi guys,
The last time I built a cpu was back in 2008. Im just diving into this realm of custom cpu builds and my brain is fried and would appreciate your help. I live in Toronto Canada and my budget for the PC is 700. I am a teacher and I primarley need it to run multiple screens with multiple programs opened and running simultaneous for teaching my students. Gaming is not a priorty as of yet (would buy a better GPU later on) and I am not overclocking anything. Also when you list parts please drop some nuggets on that specific part so I can learn and get upto speed with where we are at as of today. Also my current build from 2008 is based on a LGA 775 platform. That being said can I re-use my power supply or case or anything?. Appreciate you guys for taking the time to chime in. Also I have no preference when it comes to brands as all my friends have built comes with different companies including asrock when it first came out and sounded super scetchy bc it was so cheap and there all still alive today 13 years later.
 
Last edited:

vulcan500rider

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
589
Location
Regina, SK
Hi guys,
The last time I built a cpu was back in 2008. Im just diving into this realm of custom cpu builds and my brain is fried and would appreciate your help. I live in Toronto Canada and my budget for the PC is 700. I am a teacher and I primarley need it to run multiple screens with multiple programs opened and running simultaneous for teaching my students. Gaming is not a priorty as of yet (would buy a better GPU later on) and I am not overclocking anything. Also when you list parts please drop some nuggets on that specific part so I can learn and get upto speed with where we are at as of today. Also my current build from 2008 is based on a LGA 775 platform. That being said can I re-use my power supply or case or anything?. Appreciate you guys for taking the time to chime in. Also I have no preference when it comes to brands as all my friends have built comes with different companies including asrock when it first came out and sounded super scetchy bc it was so cheap and there all still alive today 13 years later.
Welcome, PhatS7:

I just went through a similar upgrade a couple of months ago, coming from an i5 2500k. My thread on the topic may be helpful.

The short version is that the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a great buy, and you'll probably want either a B450 or B550 motherboard to go with it. I actually went with ASRock--though I felt the same way when I putting together my i5 build; they've proven themselves and have some good value buys. The B550 will let you upgrade more easily, and the B450 tends to be cheaper.

You're also going to want to upgrade to a solid state drive of some kind (they also come in a new format that can be used with most B450/B550 boards), as that will be a huge improvement.

Again, maybe take a flip through the thread I linked; it's a pretty good starting point.
 

moocow

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Joined
Aug 8, 2011
Messages
3,663
Location
Vancouver, BC
With a budget of $700, I think Intel may be better route since it got GPU onboard and most motherboard will support at least 2 monitors. I never tried myself so you may need a bit more research. My specs is a bit on the low end with only 500GB drive and i5-10400 but only $500. You can reuse the case and may be the PSU. I would just buy Windows 10 key online from a decent key seller (need recommendation here).

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-10400 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($208.00 @ Vuugo)
Motherboard: ASRock H410M-HDV/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($113.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Western Digital SN750 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $491.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-02-18 20:38 EST-0500


AMD build here but no onboard GPU:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor ($269.00 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: MSI B450M PRO-M2 MAX Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($94.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Western Digital SN750 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $533.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-02-18 20:44 EST-0500
 

moocow

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 8, 2011
Messages
3,663
Location
Vancouver, BC
Taking a look at CL Toronto, a $600 machine is actually a 3rd or 4th gen Intel machine. It makes no sense to pay that kind of money for a used machine especially when a new one is cheaper and run circles around it. Both of the machines below come with outdated GPU that is nothing but a brick when it comes to gaming. OP need to toss that in the recycling bin anyway.



After re-reading the first post, I say an Intel i5 build is probably best way to go since whatever GPU he/she is using now is probably too old and won't boot with UEFI motherboard. At a bare minimum, i7-3770 with 16GB of RAM (used) and 500GB of SATA SSD (new) and it shouldn't cost more than $200 total.
 

rjbarker

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Joined
Feb 19, 2008
Messages
7,248
Location
Courtenay, B.C
With a budget of $700, I think Intel may be better route since it got GPU onboard and most motherboard will support at least 2 monitors. I never tried myself so you may need a bit more research. My specs is a bit on the low end with only 500GB drive and i5-10400 but only $500. You can reuse the case and may be the PSU. I would just buy Windows 10 key online from a decent key seller (need recommendation here).

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-10400 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($208.00 @ Vuugo)
Motherboard: ASRock H410M-HDV/M.2 Micro ATX LGA1200 Motherboard ($113.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Western Digital SN750 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $491.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-02-18 20:38 EST-0500


AMD build here but no onboard GPU:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor ($269.00 @ Canada Computers)
Motherboard: MSI B450M PRO-M2 MAX Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($94.75 @ Vuugo)
Memory: G.Skill Aegis 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($89.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Western Digital SN750 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Canada Computers)
Total: $533.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-02-18 20:44 EST-0500

Agreed ..Intel w onboard GPU is goping to save a few hundred buck for sure.,
 

moocow

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 8, 2011
Messages
3,663
Location
Vancouver, BC
I would still advise you to consider the assembly with Ryzen, since there the graphics core will be brighter!

Brighter? Don't really understand what you meant by that. OP could go with a Ryzen 3400G but that thing is only 4 core / 8 threads vs i5-10400 6 core / 12 threads. I can't find any direct comparison / benchmark between these 2 CPU but it sounds like the 3400G's onboard GPU may be better for low quality gaming compare to the i5 onboard GPU. Just not sure if it's worth the extra $150.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G 3.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($349.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Motherboard: Asus TUF B450M-PLUS GAMING Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($98.50 @ Vuugo)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($94.99 @ Canada Computers)
Storage: Western Digital SN750 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($84.99 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $628.47
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-02-26 12:39 EST-0500
 

MARSTG

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2011
Messages
5,062
Location
Montreal
As gaming is not your priority I would say that a used workstation would suit you just fine. A 4th gen core i7-4770 8 GB RAM 500GB HDD DELL Optiplex with 3 integrated display outputs will run you down around 350 cad. Upgrade the ram to 16 GB with a 2x4 GB set of under 50 cad, and get a good new 500 GB SSD like Crucial mx500 for another 70-80 cad. Need more displays ? A low profile Quadro K1200 has 4 mini Display Ports so you could drive an additional 4 monitors and in 700 cad you have a teaching power house. What you need is a stable and proven workstation not an untested machine just for the sake of having everything new. Note : OEM RAM is recommended for corporate machines.
 

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