New build, how little can I get away with spending?

[Woden]

As title really, I haven't had a working desktop for a couple of years, and my laptop is barely functional (it struggles with Netflix in SD, and the screen is failing). I have been using my phone and a gifted tablet for internet access. I just want something cheap I can use at my desk, that will let me get back into coding (just a hobby), I don't need windows (arch user) and won't use it for games. Already have a decent screen, keyboard and mouse. My son decided the top vent of my old PC was the best place to but his unused milkshake but I might be able to rescue the storage drive, but the SSD in there is shot along with everything else.

I tried just hooking the laptop up to the monitor but its frustratingly slow with Visual studio or the Jetbrains IDEs.

 

[Woden]

That's why I spent extra cash to chose a case with a cover for the top vent just in case something like that happens.

I reckon if you just want a system to run Linux there isn't any reason why you couldn't get an entry level amd system built for 250-300.

Or source the parts and build yourself.

My computer was about 6 years old we than my son at the time lol. Top vent wasn’t an issue when I built her.

I do prefer to build my own, maybe see what I can get 2nd hand.