So I need some help finding a new PC. I’m open to the idea of building one myself as I’ve done it before. I’m on a tight $400 budget but I can bring that up to $500 after tax (10%).
My current rig is an ancient Dell Optiplex 7010 I beefed up with a RX 5500 XT and a 500W PSU. It also came with 16GB DDR3 1600mt RAM, 512GB SATA SSD, then I added a 500GB HDD from an old laptop. The CPU is an i7 3770, I’m hoping to go either AMD or i7 gen 8+ since I do a lot of CAD, making architectural drawings and structural designs, as well as something for gaming and “homework”, being a student and everything. My monitor is a GIGABYTE G27Q, which runs well and games like WoWs look great in 1440p, but my machine does lack some necessary CPU power so there’s a bottle neck problem going on.
If someone can help me find a prebuilt that I can transplant my SATA SSD (as a storage drive), GPU, and PSU if need be. If I need to take the ol’ DREMAL or a DeWALT drill to her I can wait until a break, or and empty weekend if I’m caught up on my 12 hours of homework, or not building stuff.
If someone could please give me a recommendation or a link or something, I would be eternally grateful
Ok, so this is gonna be a long reply…
so what you would be looking at with a prebuilt would be somthing “like” these. which are only examples because there are tons of these for sale on Newegg.
going this route gets you on to the latest AMD AM5 platform. This is a real entry level starting point for an AM5 build mind you. This is also highly upgradable for the future as your needs become more. you still need you storage drives and GPU. You may be able to use your PSU but I would strongly suggest a 650W PSU at a min. the 7600 dose come with a cooler and if not that case you will need a case. That Optiplex case will most likely not work.
If you go the prebuilt route know that they like your current PC are already obsolete. Building on AM5 you could just add a m.2 ssd or more RAM at any time. also just swap the CPU or GPU out as needed without having to scrap it and starting all over again in a year or two. AM5 is gonna be supported till at least 2027 and will be relevant long beyond that. Look at AM4 they just dropped new CPU’s for that recently.
Plus holiday sales will be coming soon. You might be able to get into AM5 for you $400-$500 range. You can also try open box options on Amazon. I saved like $100 on my motherboard that way. PC parts picker dose not show open box prices.
Wow, thank you so much! I appreciate it. I used to be super into PCs and such, but it sorta fell off because I got busy with school and stuff. I’ve built PCs before (OK, more like “cobbled”, I ain’t rich!), so it’s not a new concept. I’ve always preferred AMD over Intel, and I think I finally have an excuse to upgrade due to the softwares I use not getting any support with the closure of Windows 10. Do you think it would be worth going for a 7600X as that’s a little cheaper than the 7600? Or should I go with the 7600 in case my GPU has problems and I need to wait for a new one?
I mean if I could get a CPU like that in my budget… I’d be one happy man! I might have to jump on that now. Thanks for the recommendation I greatly appreciate it!
I recomended the 7600 because it comes with a cooler. The x version is a 105w CPU and will need to spend $30-$50 on an air cooler. was thinking of your budget.
Your GPU is going to be the weak link here. Your just gonna have to rock it until you can upgrade (I’ve been there). You would eventually probably be good with a 5060Ti or a 9060xt 16gig although the AMD would be the cheaper option.
I understand how you’re feeling right now I also had to do that for one of my classes but I’m sure some of the others know more on purchasing computer parts.
