In serious need of help find a gaming desktop under $400

[Keltonkopp1992]

Have a very tight budget unfortunately, so I need the best of the best for what I can get for my $400 budget. It doesn't have to be able to handle anything like Skyrim and best graphics, or what not. Gaming isn't even a requirement. I do a lot of video editing and need something that can handle that. Again, the best for what I can get for $400 would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Calculagator]

For video editing on your budget, I would pick up a used z600 or z800 workstation.
http/www.ebay.com/itm/HP-800-Workstation-Xeon-X5667-3-07GHz-12GB-1-TB-Win-7-Pro-4517A-/311470096379?hash=item4885107ffb:g:hwYAAOSw14xWKQ2f
If you shop around, you can find some with 6 or 8 cores within your budget. Some even have pretty nice GPUs.

 

[okcnaline]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($99.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($30.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($36.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec VSK-4000 ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: XFX TS 550W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($52.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $399.88
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-26 23:46 EST-0500

 

[Keltonkopp1992]

I have found thus far that looks better than what I have been suggested and brand new (prefer nothing used or refurbished or have to build, am not capable of such things.)

http/www.amazon.com/dp/B014QVM2AY/ref=psdc_565098_t1_B010DODKSQ
http/www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Deskop-Core-Windows-90B700FNUS/dp/B014644FVA/ref=sr_1_14?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448596658&sr=1-14
http/www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i3847-1696BK-Desktop-Pentium/dp/B010DODKSQ/ref=sr_1_3?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448597794&sr=1-3&refinements=p_n_availability%3A1248800011%2Cp_6%3AATVPDKIKX0DER%2Cp_36%3A00000-39999%2Cp_computer_cpu_speed-bin%3A3+GHz+%26+Up

and this which a friend said is the best of the best - But is a Black Friday deal from the looks (am aiming to buy shortly before or right after Christmas)
http/flash.newegg.com/Product/N82E16883227510

 

[okcnaline]

HD4400 is worse than a GTX 750 Ti by a lot.

Or go old parts. Like this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 380X 4GB WINDFORCE 2X Video Card ($233.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Antec ASK4000E-U3 ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.85 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($32.99 @ NCIX US)
Other: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (Purchased)
Other: Intel DG33FB (Purchased For $55.00)
Other: Kingston (Purchased)
Total: $406.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-27 00:11 EST-0500

http/www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-DG33FB-LGA-775-Mobo-Intel-Q6600-2-40GHz-Quad-core-4GB-DDR2-/262138354283?hash=item3d08a9da6b:g:5~wAAOSwo0JWQmAy

 

[Keltonkopp1992]

No higher than $400 please!

 

[Calculagator]

I have found thus far that looks better than what I have been suggested and brand new (prefer nothing used or refurbished or have to build, am not capable of such things.)

http/www.amazon.com/dp/B014QVM2AY/ref=psdc_565098_t1_B010DODKSQ
http/www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Deskop-Core-Windows-90B700FNUS/dp/B014644FVA/ref=sr_1_14?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448596658&sr=1-14
http/www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-i3847-1696BK-Desktop-Pentium/dp/B010DODKSQ/ref=sr_1_3?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1448597794&sr=1-3&refinements=p_n_availability%3A1248800011%2Cp_6%3AATVPDKIKX0DER%2Cp_36%3A00000-39999%2Cp_computer_cpu_speed-bin%3A3+GHz+%26+Up

and this which a friend said is the best of the best - But is a Black Friday deal from the looks (am aiming to buy shortly before or right after Christmas)
http/flash.newegg.com/Product/N82E16883227510

None of these are "better" than what has been suggested. If you cannot build and won't buy used/refurbished you won't get the best deals.
For video editing, you want lots of cores and a GPU. Prebuilt systems in the <$400 range just aren't designed to handle that sort of workload. They don't typically have the sort of cooling and power supply that are necessary for stable operation.

 

[Keltonkopp1992]

If it helps to know, I have a 4-5 year old laptop that was literally $299 and can't BARELY run my video editing programs. I'm not looking for a beat desktop. Am just looking for the best I can literally get under my price range given. If it's improvable, even better. I have no issue eventually taking out and adding better parts which is why I rather a desktop. Gaming capabilities aren't even my concern, but being able to run Sony Vegas Pro and Adobe After Effects/Premiere I need something more powerful. If there was a away to attach what my information on my laptop to show, I would.

It is a HP Presario CQ56, and a piece of crap! LOL

 

[Keltonkopp1992]

To not confuse, I am able to run Sony Vegas Pro somewhat okay, but I'd like to be able to run in smoother! Also, possibly being able to run Adobe After Effects/Premiere without crazy freeze-ups would be nice! I'm just looking for the best I can get for at max $400.

 

[Calculagator]

There are a few decent black Friday deals around. Here's an i5 with 8gb of ram that fits your budget:
http/www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01682HUKQ?redirect=true&ref_=br_prlt_slcty_pdt-2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Personally, I would still buy used for video editing and get more cores, more RAM, a better GPU, and a better case/power for the same price. Some thing like this will work much better than what you have, however.

 

[okcnaline]

Intel Core i7-920, Intel DX58SO2, 6GB RAM
http/www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-DX58SO2-Desktop-Motherboard-Intel-Core-i7-920-Quad-Core-2-66Ghz-6GB-DDR3-/131660438732?hash=item1ea792dccc:g:nesAAOSw8-tWVMES

Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 6850
http/www.ebay.com/itm/Gigabyte-ATI-Radeon-HD-6850-GV-R685OC-1GD-1-GB-GDDR5-SDRAM-PCI-Express-x16-/181942808457?hash=item2a5ca2ef89:g:xQwAAOSwcBhWVn5C

WD10EZEX
http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

EVGA NEX750G
http/www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=97307&vpn=120-G1-0750-XR&manufacture=eVGA&promoid=1424

Antec P70
http/www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=105931&vpn=P70&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1428


Comes out to $347.47

 

[Keltonkopp1992]

There are a few decent black Friday deals around. Here's an i5 with 8gb of ram that fits your budget:
http/www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01682HUKQ?redirect=true&ref_=br_prlt_slcty_pdt-2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Personally, I would still buy used for video editing and get more cores, more RAM, a better GPU, and a better case/power for the same price. Some thing like this will work much better than what you have, however.

Showing for me at $599.99

 

[Keltonkopp1992]

Intel Core i7-920, Intel DX58SO2, 6GB RAM
http/www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-DX58SO2-Desktop-Motherboard-Intel-Core-i7-920-Quad-Core-2-66Ghz-6GB-DDR3-/131660438732?hash=item1ea792dccc:g:nesAAOSw8-tWVMES

Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 6850
http/www.ebay.com/itm/Gigabyte-ATI-Radeon-HD-6850-GV-R685OC-1GD-1-GB-GDDR5-SDRAM-PCI-Express-x16-/181942808457?hash=item2a5ca2ef89:g:xQwAAOSwcBhWVn5C

WD10EZEX
http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

EVGA NEX750G
http/www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=97307&vpn=120-G1-0750-XR&manufacture=eVGA&promoid=1424

Antec P70
http/www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=105931&vpn=P70&manufacture=Antec&promoid=1428


Comes out to $347.47

May definitely consider just buying parts. I have a few friends who would gladly build me a desktop.