Budget Developer Machine Help

davestar_delux · 20 Dec 2017 at 20:06

Hello,

I am looking for a new PC for everyday use and also my work which involves running a lot of virtual machines. I need this ASAP.

However, I would eventually when I have more cash - upgrade and play some games as well (I doubt I will ever be good at the latest FPS so I guess I wont ever need to be cutting edge?).

With that in mind I was thinking of going for an Intel CPU as it has inbuilt graphics and have a stock cooler I believe?

So I need a case, PSU, Motherboard, CPU, RAM. I am planning on using an existing HDD I have, as well as keyboard and mouse.

I budgeted about 240 GBP for those components but I didn't have a clue what case to buy so hadn't budgeted that in.

I would be grateful for any pointers, I will admit I'm fairly clueless and trying to pick up what is what as quick as I can.

ExRayTed · 21 Dec 2017 at 07:10

As far as I know running virtual machines requires lots of RAM and I'd start with 16gb as a minimum really. With the current cost of memory you could easily drop most of the budget there.

How many VMs does this need to run?

DragonQ · 21 Dec 2017 at 08:35

The only way you'll get close to that budget for such a machine is buying used. As ExRayTed said, 16 GiB of RAM will use up most of that budget by itself.

davestar_delux · 21 Dec 2017 at 10:06

Thanks for the replies.

Only about 2 VMs at once most of the time. But they will have a lot of heavy tools on them like Wireshark and IDA running for long periods of time.

Could someone spec me a build from OCUK to give me a more realistic idea of what my budget ought to be?

David Bisset · 21 Dec 2017 at 10:09

When you say lots of VMs - how many at once, are they doing lots each etc? I happily run a bunch of VMs (2 to 6) on a 2c/4t i3 but they are each doing fairly little. If they were working harder I'd consider a better processor.

As others have said, RAM may be an issue and used is likely to be the only way to go.

Edit: was writing this when you posted ^^ not just asking for the same info again

ExRayTed · 21 Dec 2017 at 17:34

Well this is the cheapest I'd go really. I'd really want a 6 core i5 8400 instead though, simply for the extra cores. Add a decent PSU from Seasonic or Superflower and it'll take the cost to well over £400 though

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Gigabyte Z370P D3 Intel Core Z370 (Socket 1151) DDR4 ATX Motherboard= £119.99
1 x Intel Core i3-8100 3.6GHz (Coffee Lake) Socket LGA1151 Processor - Retail= £109.99
1 x Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-19200C16 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (CMK16GX4M2A24= £149.99

Total: £390.47 (includes shipping: £10.50)

davestar_delux · 22 Dec 2017 at 15:40

Hi thanks ExRayTed that is great. Does OCUK do a case and PSU that will fit that?

Also if I decided to update the CPU to the i5 8400 (perhaps at a later date), would it plug in to that same motherboard?

ExRayTed · 22 Dec 2017 at 19:35

An i5 8400 would be a straight swap into that board with no issues.

Here's a case and PSU. Superflower is a top-tier manufacturer but the case is obviously a budget case, albeit a fairly good one. Swap it out for a better looking one if you like.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Super Flower Platinum King 450W 80 Plus Platinum Power Supply - Black= £64.99
1 x Raijintek Arcadia Mid Tower USB 3.0 Case - Black= £29.99

Total: £106.68 (includes shipping: £11.70)