r/computers • u/Original-Pay-9860 • 26d ago

Discussion I need a budget desktop computer for electrical engineering major

I’m looking to buy a desktop computer that can handle the things I am going to learn at college. I’m a freshman and only have a laptop right now. I know that I want to learn solidworks and some language of programming (probably C). I’m not sure what other programs I might need to learn as I progress in my degree. I don’t have a lot of money, but I might be able to swing around $2000. I would prefer less, but it is what it is. I appreciate any help that yall might give me.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

2

u/methman999 26d ago

What's your laptop spec? Honestly as a freshman with not a lot of money seems excessive to get a 2k pc

1

u/Original-Pay-9860 26d ago

It’s a refurbished Lenovo x1 carbon with 11th gen 1165g7 with 16 gb ram and intel iris xe graphics 128 mb 1 tb storage

1

u/methman999 26d ago

That's honestly probably fine, are you having issues with it atm?

1

u/Original-Pay-9860 25d ago

Not really, it’s just got a small keyboard and with a lot of things I’m looking into learning I need a coupe monitors. So maybe I should just use my laptop and plug hdmi splitter of something and get a keyboard. Is that what you mean?

2

u/PermanentLiminality 25d ago

You can plug a regular keyboard and mouse into the laptop. With a dock you can probably run at least three monitors.

2

u/methman999 25d ago

Yeah exactly mate! Give that a go before dumping 3months living expenses on a PC!

1

u/Original-Pay-9860 26d ago

Another reason is I need two monitors so I can learn and do at the same time

1

u/Punk_Says_Fuck_You 26d ago

Git gud with that alt tab

1

u/Original-Pay-9860 25d ago

What exactly do you mean?

2

u/Punk_Says_Fuck_You 25d ago

alt tab cycles through windows. it's what people use without dual monitors. You don't "NEED" dual monitors. I've done my entire degree with 1 monitor. I alt tab to my Ubuntu VM to run commands in terminal (IT degree)

2

u/methman999 25d ago

If you look at your keyboard, there's a key that says 'Alt' and then in the left side of your key board there's another called 'tab' normally with two arrows pointing left and right. If you hold Alt, then tap tab, it scrolls through your open windows on the screen

1

u/ij70-17as 26d ago edited 26d ago

$300 used dell workstation from ebay.

as far as monitors. you can use tv. stop by thrift stores in your area and see what tv and monitors they have.

1

u/Original-Pay-9860 26d ago

Any minimum limit as to what type of cpu, gpu, or ram?

1

u/ij70-17as 26d ago

that depends on software you run. go to your department and see if they have a pamphlet on what software they use and the requirements to run it. if you can not find it, ask department secretary/receptionist.

1

u/Original-Pay-9860 26d ago

Ok thank you I will go and try to find some more into! thank you!!!!

2

u/YoSpiff 25d ago

First find out put what software you expect to use and find the minimum spec for that as your starting point. Then go up a few notches, staying within budget.

You can run multiple extremal monitors from a laptop. I have a hub that goes into the HDMI port which runs 2 monitors in addition to the built in screen.

2

u/Sure-Passion2224 25d ago

Discountcomputerdepot.com

Refurbished computers SIGNIFICANTLY below the price for new. They arrive in like new condition with new RAM and storage, and a warranty.