Build a powerful desktop PC for less than Rs 27,000

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We kick-start our summer desktop PC-buying guide with building a basic yet powerful desktop. We could have started off with an ultra-low budget PC which would

We kick-start our summer desktop PC buying guide with building a basic yet powerful desktop. We could have started off with an ultra-low budget PC which would have been good enough for Internet surfing but why build an entire PC for that price, when a tablet or even your smartphone would suffice. If all you want to do is browse the Internet, then a tablet makes more sense. The PC we’ll be building today will cost you about the same as a Sony Xperia SP but only more powerful.

We’ve put together an Intel and an AMD rig so you can choose which platform you prefer. The AMD rig will give you better multimedia performance out-of-the-box due to the better GPU onboard. The Intel rig on the other hand will scale better in games once you add a graphics card. The rigs below don’t include the cost of the OS. If you don’t want to spend more money then any free Linux distro like Ubuntu will suffice. Windows will set you back quite a bit, whether it’s 7 or 8 but if you plan on turning this into a gaming rig in the future then it will be worth the investment.

CPU – AMD A4-5300 or Intel Pentium G630

The AMD A4-5300 APU is currently the most value-for-money offering at this price point. It’s a dual-core CPU running at 3.4GHz along with a Turbo frequency of 3.6GHz. The A4 APU prides itself by bundling along a very capable GPU which excels in graphics intensive applications and games. It’s also slightly cheaper. The Intel CPU may have the Pentium branding but it’s based on the Sandy Bridge architecture. The CPU is slightly faster when it comes to single-threaded as well as multi-threaded tasks and the memory performance is also slightly better.

Delivers strong multimedia capabilities

PSU – Corsair VS450
Corsair is one of the most trusted names when it comes to power supplies and the VS450 makes an excellent buy and fits our budget nicely. The PSU features a full powder-coated design along with sleeved cables for better cable management. The dedicated single +12V rail ensures optimal delivery of power and it also offers up to 85% efficiency and Active PFC.

Monitor – Dell IN2030M
Whether you’re going to be just watching movies or surfing the web, having a large monitor is never a bad thing. Dell has just the solution with the IN2030M. This budget monitor does not skimp on features as for the price, you get a 16:9 20-inch LED backlit panel, 1600 x 900 resolution and VGA and DVI connectors.

An excellent solution on a budget

Speaker - Logitech Z130
For sound, we've gone with the Logitech Z130 2.0 speaker system. It's advisable to stay away from budget 2.1 speaker systems in this price range since they won't perform as good as a 2.0 system, especially at high volumes.

Good audio quality for the price

Putting it together

AMD Platform
Components		Price (Rs.)
Processor	AMD A4-5300 (3.4GHz, dual-core)	3000
Motherboard	MSI FM2-A55M-E33	3600
RAM	G.Skill RipjawsX 2x 2GB (F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL)	2300
Hard drive	Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB	3200
Power Supply	Corsair VS450	2600
Cabinet	CoolerMaster Elite 310	2000
Monitor	Dell IN2030M	6600
Optical Drive	LG/Sony	950
Speakers	Logitech Z130	1000
Keyboard and mouse	Logitech MK200	900
TOTAL		26150

Intel Platform
Components		Price (Rs.)
Processor	Intel Pentium G630 (2.4GHz, dual-core)	3400
Motherboard	MSI B75MA-E33	3800
RAM	G.Skill RipjawsX 2x 2GB (F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL)	2300
Hard drive	Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB	3200
Power Supply	Corsair VS450	2600
Cabinet	CoolerMaster Elite 310	2000
Monitor	Dell IN2030M	6600
Optical Drive	LG/Sony	950
Speakers	Logitech Z130 (2.0)	1000
Keyboard and mouse	Logitech MK200	900
TOTAL		26750

Note: All prices mentioned above are an average taken from various online stores such as Flipkart, PrimeABGB, SMC International, The IT Wares and the IT Depot. Depending on your location and from where you’re ordering, you might get components for a little cheaper or even slightly more.

Now that we’ve got the budget rigs out of the way, it’s time to start putting together gaming rigs for various budgets, so hang tight, there’s lots more coming your way.