Building a little budget desktop for my mom

[Delayio]

I'm looking to get her something that will fit her needs, use quality parts but also remain affordable. All she wants out of it is to be able to browse the internet, use microsoft word and photoshop. I'm looking for ways I can maybe cut back on spending, say if I'm going too overboard for her simple requirements. I've never actually tried to put together a low level PC (compared to a gaming rig) so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/TWZJy4

[mimizukari]

photoshop is just as extensive as gaming when it comes down to rendering 'n all, you want 16GB RAM, an SSD for quicker loading and a CPU with at least 3.5-4 GHz. Basically a gaming PC but without the GPU.

(just checked the list and that's way under-spec for a heavy photoshop user.)

[Delayio]

Originally posted by Kurumi Tokisaki:

photoshop is just as extensive as gaming when it comes down to rendering 'n all, you want 16GB RAM, an SSD for quicker loading and a CPU with at least 3.5-4 GHz. Basically a gaming PC but without the GPU.

(just checked the list and that's way under-spec for a heavy photoshop user.)

All she's doing in photoshop is resizing pictures for the most part (she builds newspapers on it) but I was wondering if 8 was enough. Thanks for the input I'm for sure gonna go back over and tweak it some. I know for sure it will be better than her current situation because her computer her work provided is some junk mac notebook and it has 4 gigs.

[_I_]

get openoffice (free) and show her how to do sheets and presentations in it

for the budget build, pick an i3 and board with 16g of ram (since its cheap)
about $350 for full build
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/M2bL9N

or find an old office pc with an i5 or i7 and away you go for $100-150

usb sicks are cheap, show her to save stuff to them instead and give away vs burning cd/dvds
10pk 32g usb3.0 flash drives $40
https://www.amazon.com/USB3-0-Memory-JBOS-Swivel-Storage/dp/B07QQ2M2CJ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa

[xSOSxHawkens]

Yeh, for the type of photoshop you are talking you wont need a high end rig.

16GB ram, and an older i5/i7 or newer i3/i5/r3/r5 would be great. No need for a modern i7/r7 or higher really.

[ugafan]

If I were you I would wait for some Black Friday deals on a pre-built or laptop.

And I would strongly recommend an SSD.

[Electric Cupcake]

♥♥♥♥ photoshop. Use gimp.

Get a Pinebook.

[mimizukari]

Originally posted by ZootsIdenticalTwinSisterDingo:

♥♥♥♥ photoshop. Use gimp.

Get a Pinebook.

Photoshop is still the best at doing what it's good at... though newspaper clippings you could definitely do in a different software just to resize/collage stuff.

[Magma Dragoon]

He says she makes newspapers, that sounds more like she is an editor, in which case GIMP is not acceptable because it lacks a CMYK color mode. Anyway, SSD makes everything better.

[Set-115689]

An i3-10100 any better. It uses a LGA1200 socket vs the 1151 socket and is 4 cores 8 threads for $5 more.

[A&A]

Ryzen 5 2600, Ryzen 5 2600X Tray, Ryzen 5 3500X, yes these CPU are more expensive but AM4 motherboards are cheaper for the same money in Bulgarian

[Magma Dragoon]

Originally posted by ⚒A&A✠(✠Ghost✠Warrior✠):

Ryzen 5 2600, Ryzen 5 2600X Tray, Ryzen 5 3500X, yes these CPU are more expensive but AM4 motherboards are cheaper for the same money in Bulgarian

No igpu though, and Photoshop doesn't scale with more threads afaik

[A&A]

and what of this I mention for the same money can be taken more meybe i 3 10100 have GPU huh? Then take Ryzen 5 3200G with GPU - Cheaper but you have Vega 8 which videocard is not so bad but 3.6 to 4 GHz 4 cores L2:2 MB cashe

[[N]ebsun]

Raspberry pi. use MS online and gimp for image work.
$10 or $14