Desktop Deals Master Thread

[Chuchum Ainer]

Helping a friend choose a desktop. Budget is up to $1k, but doesn.t really need to be.

First choice was this all in one at $1
https://www.costco.com/lenovo-ideacentre-27%22-all-in-one-touchscreen-desktop---13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13620h---1080p---windows-11.product.4000177356.html
Seems decent, though the 1080p resolution at 27 inches is a minus. and the whole AIO minus. The 300nits i think is fine on larger screens.

$600 for this one https://www.costco.com/hp-23.8%22-all-in-one-touchscreen-desktop---amd-ryzen-5-7520u---1080p---windows-11.product.4000179145.html weaker processor and less ram, but touchscreen

or can go with the pavilion, which is back to $370
https://www.costco.com/hp-pavilion-desktop---amd-ryzen-5-5600g---windows-11.product.100941375.html much weaker cpu and even less ram, but I don't thin he needs more. ram can be upgraded later. buy two $140 screens, and total is $650

Anyone have better ideas?

also re: mac, is this https://www.costco.com/mac-mini-%e2%80%93-apple-m2-chip-8-core-cpu%2c-10-core-gpu-%e2%80%93-8gb-memory-%e2%80%93-256gb-ssd-%e2%80%93--silver.product.100943144.html for $580 good? or bad because of m2 with 8gb?

[HudZ]

Helping a friend choose a desktop. Budget is up to $1k, but doesn.t really need to be.

First choice was this all in one at $1

For this price, grab it. I would even tell you to buy 2.

[yfr bachur]

For this price, grab it. I would even tell you to buy 2.

I'm in for a bakers dozen at that price

[mevinyavin]

Without clicking the links - no time - just a few comments on each selection below:

Helping a friend choose a desktop. Budget is up to $1k, but doesn.t really need to be.

First choice was this all in one at $1
https://www.costco.com/lenovo-ideacentre-27%22-all-in-one-touchscreen-desktop---13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13620h---1080p---windows-11.product.4000177356.html
Seems decent, though the 1080p resolution at 27 inches is a minus. and the whole AIO minus. The 300nits i think is fine on larger screens.
A $700 laptop in a 27" screen

$600 for this one https://www.costco.com/hp-23.8%22-all-in-one-touchscreen-desktop---amd-ryzen-5-7520u---1080p---windows-11.product.4000179145.html weaker processor and less ram, but touchscreen
A $300 laptop without touch, maybe $400 with but you can do better than that $400 laptop with better specs, in a 22" screen

or can go with the pavilion, which is back to $370
https://www.costco.com/hp-pavilion-desktop---amd-ryzen-5-5600g---windows-11.product.100941375.html much weaker cpu and even less ram, but I don't thin he needs more. ram can be upgraded later. buy two $140 screens, and total is $650
5600G has a good reputation, particularly regarding the integrated graphics. Seems a good price. Also a better CPU than anything listed above (though maybe the first one is close).
Anyone have better ideas?

also re: mac, is this https://www.costco.com/mac-mini-%e2%80%93-apple-m2-chip-8-core-cpu%2c-10-core-gpu-%e2%80%93-8gb-memory-%e2%80%93-256gb-ssd-%e2%80%93--silver.product.100943144.html for $580 good? or bad because of m2 with 8gb? Wasting your money. Go higher in specs or don't go Mac - either 16GB RAM or 512GB SSD will solve the problem with these specs.

[mevinyavin]

A few comments ...

The i7 is marginally better than the 5600G, but not $600 better.
Note: benchmarks aren't everything. https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/5283vs4325/Intel-i7-13620H-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-5600G

[Chuchum Ainer]

The i7 is marginally better than the 5600G, but not $600 better.
Note: benchmarks aren't everything. https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/5283vs4325/Intel-i7-13620H-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-5600G

It's not $600 more because you need to deduct the cost of a 27" monitor, but I hear you


https://www.costco.com/dell-xps-tower---13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13700---windows-11-home.product.4000178575.html
How's this for $700? The port selection for running dual monitor seems a bit low
I'd steer him to the inspiron small desktop, but they aren't on sale.

[mevinyavin]

It's not $600 more because you need to deduct the cost of a 27" monitor, but I hear you

https://www.costco.com/dell-xps-tower---13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13700---windows-11-home.product.4000178575.html
How's this for $700? The port selection for running dual monitor seems a bit low
I'd steer him to the inspiron small desktop, but they aren't on sale.

Of course.
Why are we spending this much, though? Is there some use case that warrants i7-level power?

[Chuchum Ainer]

Of course.
Why are we spending this much, though? Is there some use case that warrants i7-level power?

No
 Just a guy who wants to buy good quality and have it last a long time without breaking down randomly.

[mevinyavin]

No
 Just a guy who wants to buy good quality and have it last a long time without breaking down randomly.

For this, i5 level is enough, and has always been enough since the i5 existed. (Ex. an i5-2600K system would be just fine today, albeit with a RAM upgrade, and if not for TPM requirements could run W11.)
Note: statement applies to DESKTOPS.

[Chuchum Ainer]

For this, i5 level is enough, and has always been enough since the i5 existed. (Ex. an i5-2600K system would be just fine today, albeit with a RAM upgrade, and if not for TPM requirements could run W11.)
Note: statement applies to DESKTOPS.

Have a link to an available model?

I agree, any desktop chip in a full size case will be strong enough for many years. Challenge is finding a desktop for a decent price, with enough ram and built well

[mevinyavin]

Have a link to an available model?

I agree, any desktop chip in a full size case will be strong enough for many years. Challenge is finding a desktop for a decent price, with enough ram and built well

Not much time now, maybe in the afternoon by me if I won't be sleeping (don't fast well). But I found this
https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/ConfigureView?langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&catEntryId=3074457345620235323&urlLangId=&quantity=1&color=mica%20silver

$530 gets Ryzen 5 5600G, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD, plus RX 6400 graphics. (Further future proofing - a 6500XT is great value for $60 more because it has 8GB VRAM.)

[Chuchum Ainer]

Not much time now, maybe in the afternoon by me if I won't be sleeping (don't fast well). But I found this
https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/ConfigureView?langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&catEntryId=3074457345620235323&urlLangId=&quantity=1&color=mica%20silver

$530 gets Ryzen 5 5600G, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD, plus RX 6400 graphics. (Further future proofing - a 6500XT is great value for $60 more because it has 8GB VRAM.)

Looks good, but is it missing hdmi or display port? One usb c won't cut it, need to set a dual monitor display easily.

[mevinyavin]

Looks good, but is it missing hdmi or display port? One usb c won't cut it, need to set a dual monitor display easily.

1 5GBPs C, 2 10GBPS A, 2 5GBPS A, 4 2.0 A, 1 RJ45, 1 HDMI 2.1, various audio. Don't forget to add WF6 ($9) if you plan to use wireless internet.

[Chuchum Ainer]

hm, I guess one monitor using the HDMI, and one using the usb c with a hub or dongle? Storage is also on the small side.

https://www.microcenter.com/product/663720/lenovo-ideacentre-5-17acn7-gaming-pc?sku=546911 Was looking at this too, looks like it's worth the $130 more. And has multiple displayports

Looking also at the small Inspiron. $600, minus 10% email. And amex 10% and portals. Processor seems to be much better than the 5600g, but no graphics card.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/inspiron-small-desktop/spd/inspiron-3020-small-desktop/useishbts3020gcrd

[mevinyavin]

hm, I guess one monitor using the HDMI, and one using the usb c with a hub or dongle? Storage is also on the small side.

https://www.microcenter.com/product/663720/lenovo-ideacentre-5-17acn7-gaming-pc?sku=546911 Was looking at this too, looks like it's worth the $130 more. And has multiple displayports

Looking also at the small Inspiron. $600, minus 10% email. And amex 10% and portals. Processor seems to be much better than the 5600g, but no graphics card.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/inspiron-small-desktop/spd/inspiron-3020-small-desktop/useishbts3020gcrd

First is wild overkill but you do you.
The second is more like the same. The graphics was never necessary, just a nice bonus.