{"id":338,"date":"2013-05-02T02:38:16","date_gmt":"2013-05-02T02:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/?p=338"},"modified":"2014-08-27T16:03:30","modified_gmt":"2014-08-27T21:03:30","slug":"entry-level-desktop-pc-comparison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/entry-level-desktop-pc-comparison\/","title":{"rendered":"Entry Level Desktop PC Comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"#table_el_pc_comp\">click to go directly to comparison table<\/a> Loading <span id=\"count1\">&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n<!-- CAN NOT USE TinyMCE aka VISUAL TAB BECAUSE IT REMOVES STYLE TAGS SINCE 3.9 !!!! --><br \/>\n<!-- \/cygdrive\/c\/a_no_backup\/dl\/M_M\/usb_drive_copy\/tech\/blog\/post.html --><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/js\/entry_level_pc.js\" defer=\"defer\"><\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/js\/jquery\/jquery-1.10.0.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/js\/jquery\/jquery-ui-1.10.3\/ui\/jquery-ui.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<style><!--\n#page { max-width: 1200px; }\n#el_pc_comp tr td { text-align: center; }\n.row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header { background-color: #202020; }\n#el_pc_comp th { line-height: 1; }\n.hilit_bg { color: black; background-color: yellow; }\n.hilit { color: yellow; }\n.hilit_example_decision_table,\n.hedt\n        { color: #ff8000; }\n.none {}\n--><\/style>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\">@import url(https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/css\/pc_comp_lib.css);<\/style>\n<p>You can find PCs for as low as $299 and $399. These PCs use updated versions of old microprocessors, eg Pentium 4, or Centrino. Or they use laptop microprocessors&#8211;in a desktop. They&#8217;ll work just fine, but they&#8217;ll be noticeably slower.<\/p>\n<p>For a while&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Such PC&#8217;s i predict will usable for 2 years (it&#8217;s 2013 now, so til 2015). By 4 years (ie in 2017), i predict they will become unusably slow, taking 2-4 minutes to boot, with surfing the web requiring a significant wait (30-60 seconds) per page.<\/p>\n<p>OTOH, for about $500-$600 (or, $100-$200 more) you can get a 2G or even 3G Intel Core-i3, i5, or i7 processor or equivalent AMD processor. These CPUs should last 4-6 years (so until 2017-2019) and i would not expect to reach that grind-to-a-halt state until 6-8 years (2021).<\/p>\n<p>So that&#8217;s like 2x the life for 25% more cost.<\/p>\n<p>8\/25\/2014: i can find 4G i5&#8217;s for only as cheap as $750 at best.  Thus that&#8217;s now $250-$350 more.<\/p>\n<p>Example of processor variations from Intel<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intel Core i5-4430 &#8211; lower number, lower cost, lower perf<\/li>\n<li>Intel Core i5-4570 &#8211; lower number, lower cost, lower perf<\/li>\n<li>Intel Core i5-4670 &#8211; standard, neutral<\/li>\n<li>Intel Core i5-4670S &#8211; &#8216;S&#8217; means low power<\/li>\n<li>Intel Core i5-4670K &#8211; &#8216;K&#8217; stands for &#8220;unlocked&#8221; meaning hobbyists can &#8220;overclock&#8221; it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I don&#8217;t think the average user needs 2 of 5.25inch bays. All these low end PCs come with DVD-writers. Eventually, you are probably going to want a blu-ray reader, and\/or writer. But this will be a $50-$100 upgrade plus installation 2-4 years from now. If you want to watch blu-ray movies now, you&#8217;ll have to make that upgrade immediately after purchasing.<\/p>\n<p>USB 3.0 will be big soon. (update 2014: &#8220;soon&#8221; is now.) Almost all USB is 2.0 right now. USB 3.0 is available now and good to get now. There&#8217;s a faster version of 3.0 coming out very soon in 2013, but even today&#8217;s USB 3.0 is 10x USB 2.0.<\/p>\n<p>The 11 Places I shop:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>TigerDirect<\/li>\n<li>newegg<\/li>\n<li>Best Buy<\/li>\n<li>Staples<\/li>\n<li>CDW<\/li>\n<li>hp.com<\/li>\n<li>Walmart<\/li>\n<li>Costco<\/li>\n<li>OfficMax<\/li>\n<li>OfficeDepot<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">JR.com<\/li>\n<li>overstock.com<\/li>\n<li>Beach Audio<\/li>\n<li>b&amp;h photo video<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here are the choices available from different vendors in this price range for this performance. Note date of price check for each PC listed.<\/p>\n<p id=\"before_table\">Table Notes:<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"table_el_pc_comp\"><\/a><br \/>\nLoading <span id=\"count2\">&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"el_pc_comp\">\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"row_\">\n<th>hilit<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_\">\n<th>choice number<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_\">\n<th>as_of<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_2\">\n<th>price<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_2\">\n<th>shipping<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_3\">\n<th>product<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_4\">\n<th>vendor<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_5\">\n<th>OS (home\/pro 32\/64bit)<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>processor<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>chipset<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>Motherboard<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody class=\"memory_memory_memory_memory_memory_memory_memory_memory_\">\n<tr class=\"row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header\">\n<th>memory<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>memory pre nstalled<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>max memory<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>mem type, speed<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>mem slots total<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody class=\"disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_disk_\">\n<tr class=\"row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header\">\n<th>disk<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>disk size<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>disk rpm<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>disk SATA speed (II 3Gb\/s, III 6Gb\/s<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>disk SSD<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>disk 3.25 bays total<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>disk 2.5 bays total<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody class=\"optical_optical_optical_optical_optical_optical_optical_optical_optical_optical_optical_\">\n<tr class=\"row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header\">\n<th>optical drive \/ 5.25 bays<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>optical drive (blu-ray rd\/wr? \/ dvd-wr?)<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>5.25 bays total<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody class=\"usb_3_0___usb_3_0___usb_3_0___usb_3_0___usb_3_0___usb_3_0___usb_3_0___usb_3_0___\">\n<tr class=\"row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header\">\n<th>usb 3.0<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>usb 3.0 &#8211; front<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>usb 3.0 &#8211; rear<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>usb 3.0 &#8211; top<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody class=\"usb_2_0___usb_2_0___usb_2_0___usb_2_0___usb_2_0___usb_2_0___usb_2_0___usb_2_0___\">\n<tr class=\"row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header\">\n<th>usb 2.0<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>usb 2.0 &#8211; front<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>usb 2.0 &#8211; rear<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>usb 2.0 &#8211; top<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody class=\"ports_slots_net_power_ports_slots_net_power_ports_slots_net_power_ports_slots_net_power_\">\n<tr class=\"row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header_row_header\">\n<th>ports slots net power<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>hdmi<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>dvi<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>pci slots<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>sata ports<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>Ethernet RJ45 100Mbps or Gigabit 1000Mbps<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>power supply<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>Warranty<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row_row_row_row_row_row_row_\">\n<th>Small Form Factor (SFF)?<\/th>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Loading <span id=\"count3\">&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>Notes<\/h1>\n<ul id=\"tbl_notes\"><\/ul>\n<h1>Processor<\/h1>\n<p>The difference between 3rd Generation and 2nd Generation intel processors is not that great:<br \/>\nEG,<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Feature<\/th>\n<th>2nd Generation<\/th>\n<th>3rd Generation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Graphics<\/th>\n<td>HD 2000<\/td>\n<td>HD 2500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Graphics<\/th>\n<td>&#8211;<\/td>\n<td>HD 4000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Mem Speed<\/th>\n<td>1333MHz<\/td>\n<td>1600MHz 20% faster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h1>Office Depot &amp; Office Max &amp; Staples<\/h1>\n<p>Office Depot had nothing &lt;$600 with intel processor.<\/p>\n<p>Office Max had a p7-1410 and p7-1510 both have H61 chipset.<\/p>\n<p>Staples lowest price intel was envy h8-1430 $799<\/p>\n<p>10\/24\/2013: newegg didnt have any non-small-form-factor (SFF) hp pc&#8217;s. They had very few, but did have 400 or so refurbished hp pc&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p>10\/25\/2013: OfficeMax only 2 refurbished PCs with windows 7 according to their search<\/p>\n<p>10\/28\/2013: completed search for win7 32bit on TigerDirect, newegg, best buy (with marketplace), walmart, staples:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Windows 7 Professional (17) (DONE)<\/li>\n<li>Genuine Windows 7 Professional Upgradable to Genuine Windows 8 Pro (15) (DONE)<\/li>\n<li>Genuine Windows 7 Professional Upgradable to Genuine Windows 8 Pro (English) (1) (DONE &#8211; was an AiO)<\/li>\n<li>Windows 7 Professional (121) (abort-have to click on every one to see os version, too inefficient)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>office max, office depot, beachaudio (could not search) or is it beach camera? jr.com, next bhphotovideo.com?<\/p>\n<h1>Example Decision : 2014-05-27:<\/h1>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>e1z75ut<\/td>\n<td>HP ProDesk   <span class=\"none\">600<\/span> G1<\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Core-i<span class=\"none\">5<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"none\">4570<\/span><\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Q85<\/td>\n<td>w8<span class=\"none\">  <\/span> alt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>f4j95ut<\/td>\n<td>HP ProDesk   <span class=\"none\">600<\/span> G1<\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Core-i<span class=\"none\">5<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"none\">4570<\/span><\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Q85<\/td>\n<td>w8<span class=\"hedt\">.1<\/span> alt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>f4j92ut<\/td>\n<td>HP ProDesk   <span class=\"none\">600<\/span> G1<\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Core-i<span class=\"none\">5<\/span>&#8211;<span class=\"hedt\">4670<\/span><\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Q85<\/td>\n<td>w8<span class=\"hedt\">.1<\/span> alt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>f4k88ut<\/td>\n<td>HP ProDesk   <span class=\"none\">600<\/span> G1<\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Core-i<span class=\"hedt\">3<\/span> <span class=\"none\">    <\/span><\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Q85<\/td>\n<td>w8<span class=\"hedt\">.1<\/span> alt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>e1z94ut<\/td>\n<td>HP EliteDesk <span class=\"hedt\">800<\/span> G1<\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Core-i<span class=\"none\">5<\/span> <span class=\"none\">    <\/span><\/td>\n<td class=\"hedt\">Q87<\/td>\n<td>w8<span class=\"none\">? <\/span> alt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>e1z89ut<\/td>\n<td>HP EliteDesk <span class=\"hedt\">800<\/span> G1<\/td>\n<td class=\"none\">Core-i<span class=\"hedt\">7<\/span> <span class=\"none\">    <\/span><\/td>\n<td class=\"hedt\">Q87<\/td>\n<td>w8<span class=\"none\">? <\/span> alt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h1>Example Decision : 2013-12-10:<\/h1>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">core i5<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>C6Z98UT TigerDirect <\/td>\n<td>$714.55 = $699.99 + Ground (2 to 6 days) [$14.56]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>C6Z98UT TigerDirect <\/td>\n<td>$730.94 = $699.99 + Second Day (2 days) [$30.95]<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>C6Z98UT best Buy    <\/td>\n<td>$722.30 = $722.30 + free shipping 6-9 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>C6Z98UT CDW         <\/td>\n<td>$753.00 = $729.99 + UPS Ground 2-3 business days $23.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP D8C53UT Desktop PC, Core i7-3570 (really i5) Stpales <\/td>\n<td>$692.07 = $728.49 &#8211; $36.42 free shipping<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP\u00ae D8C57UT 6300 i5-3470 Staples      <\/td>\n<td>out of stock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP\u00ae D8C57UT 6300 i5-3470 newegg       <\/td>\n<td>discontinued out of stock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP\u00ae D8C57UT 6300 i5-3470 jr           <\/td>\n<td>out of stock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP\u00ae D8C57UT 6300 i5-3470 overstock.com<\/td>\n<td>$???.?? = $739.18 + ????  $??.?? BUT OUT OF STOCK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP\u00ae D8C57UT 6300 i5-3470 office depot <\/td>\n<td>$???.?? = $658.90 + ????  $??.?? BUT OUT OF STOCK<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP\u00ae D8C57UT 6300 i5-3470 beach audio  <\/td>\n<td>out of stock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HP\u00ae D8C57UT 6300 i5-3470 CDW          <\/td>\n<td>$700.00 = $676.99 + UPS Ground 2-3 business days about $23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">core i3<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D8C62UT Staples     <\/td>\n<td>$639.99 = $639.99 + free shipping 3 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D8C62UT Office Depot<\/td>\n<td>$645.95 = $645.95 + free 3-5 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D8C62UT CDW         <\/td>\n<td>$671.24 = $649.99 + UPS Ground 2-3 business days $21.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D8C62UT <\/td>\n<td>$ = $ + <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D8C62UT <\/td>\n<td>$ = $ + <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D8C62UT <\/td>\n<td>$ = $ + <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>D8C62UT <\/td>\n<td>$ = $ + <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Loading <span id=\"count4\">&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- bottom script invocation --><br \/>\n<!-- bottom script invocation --><br \/>\n<!-- bottom script invocation --><br \/>\n<!-- cant have the angle brackets in script tags at the end --><br \/>\n<!-- it totally hoses the wordpress converter script \/ html parser --><br \/>\n<!-- script type=\"text\/javascript\" \/* run_it(); *\/  \/* is in entry_level_pc.js *\/   \/script --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>click to go directly to comparison table Loading &#8230; You can find PCs for as low as $299 and $399. These PCs use updated versions of old microprocessors, eg Pentium 4, or Centrino. Or they use laptop microprocessors&#8211;in a desktop. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/entry-level-desktop-pc-comparison\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11,9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=338"}],"version-history":[{"count":114,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":406,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/338\/revisions\/406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryminds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}