The computer industry is ever-evolving, but one thing that has stayed almost constant over the years is the increased price premium on products over their previous generations.
For a lot of people, their computer activities involve working with Microsoft Office suites or Google suites, freelancing and watching media content. This article explores the best budget options for an average consumer engaged in the activities mentioned prior.
What to buy?
Processor: The most common misconception about computer processors is that the lower-end processors won’t perform well.
The contemporary ‘lower-end’ processors are more than capable of multitasking. The best budget option in this category is the Intel Core-i3 10100, retailing at just 11 thousand BDT.
This processor already has built-in graphics and it is enough for non-gamers, although, paired with a graphics card like the GTX 1660 Super, any modern AAA game can be smoothly played in 1080p with this processor.
Motherboard: Inexpensive processors do not need expensive motherboards. Rather, customers should get a motherboard that offers practical features like NVME SSD slots and adequate heat-solution within BDT 8-9 thousands. The MSI H510M PRO is a well-balanced option.
RAM: For light professional applications, 8 GB of RAM will handle multitasking just fine. Heavy applications and Games generally benefit from having extra RAMs. And RAMs can always be upgraded later.
Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200 MHz at 3550 BDT is a very reliable choice, although this particular Intel processor will only support up to 2666MHz bus speed.
Storage: SSDs provide a very smooth user experience as they are significantly faster than Hard Drives. It is always recommended to buy SSD as the primary storage. Corsair Force MP510 240GB NVME SSD, retailing at 5000 BDT will give the best read/write speed in this budget.
Power Supply: Using a 450/500 Watt power supply in a modest setup is enough. And it is very important to check the efficiency (suppose 80 per cent) and whether the power supply is at least ‘Bronze Certified’ or not. A good choice would be Corsair CV 450 80 per cent efficient bronze certified power supply.
Casing: Expensive casing is not needed in a budget computer setup. Deepcool MATREXX 30 Mini Tower Case, retailing at BDT 2500 is a reliable choice, although it is recommended to buy 1 or 2 extra casing fans, which might cost BDT 500 each. Maintaining good airflow is a must for PC’s health.
Monitor: Buying a colour accurate monitor is a must. LG 22MK600M monitor is retailing at BDT 15 thousand and according to LG’s website, the monitor has a 72 per cent NTSC colour gamut and a 1000:1 contrast ratio, which makes it a very colour accurate display.
What to avoid?
A seller will always try to convince a customer to buy expensive products regardless of the customer’s needs. So it is very common for people to fall into the seller's trap to sell them pricey products that they don’t need.
Heavy applications users or high-resolution gamers are more likely to know better about their computer requirements, but for an average customer, buying a computer can be confusing and misleading.
It is always recommended for a buyer to assess their specific needs and do a bit of research before they decide to invest in a computer.
