Need hardware recommendations for sub $500 setup

[NaturalViolence]

We'll see how long that PSU lasts. You must have done a partial upgrade since some parts are much newer than others.

phreakwars Wrote:What I'll more then likely do, is just go with a 64 gig SSD for the OS to boot off of and reuse the HDD.

There aren't many 64GB SSDs out there and they tend to be substantially slower than 128GB models yet only slightly cheaper. 120/128GB is pretty much the baseline for SSDs. $90 isn't bad.

phreakwars Wrote:The Pentium g3220 just seems a tad weak, I'll more then likely plan on an i5. As for going over budget, no big deal, I was planning on just building him a whole new setup and plunk down almost a grand, but thought... eh.. think I'll think this upgrade through a bit first.

Fair enough. Just don't bother with an i3 since they're barely faster than the pentiums.

phreakwars Wrote:She loves nothing better then tease him about how much faster her computer is then his.. She'll do things like say "LET'S SEE WHO BOOTS FIRST", then she'll push his power button and stretch out a bit, slowly walk to her room, then hit the power button on hers and scream "DONE"... OOHH he hates that!! So yeah, now it's HIS turn for the upgrade. He's been begging me for months!!

Oh god that's adorable. That almost makes me want to have kids.

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But then I think about the cost and maintenance! No equipment that I have ever owned is that hard or expensive to maintain. And I have some seriously crazy hobbies.