Why do I need a dedicated video card
Why do I need a dedicated video card
No, the built-in GPU on the i5 is sufficient for media consumption.
You're considering the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I with the Intel Core i5 9600K and 16GB RAM. That setup should be compatible with the motherboard and processor you mentioned.
These are excessive for casual movie watching or gaming in immersive environments.
I’d choose the Athlon 200GE for now, as it’s a safer option in case they plan to upgrade their system later.
They seem unfamiliar with computer topics, or they assume you’re expecting a gaming experience.
I'm not a gamer, and besides YouTube and Netflix, I mainly use it for Samsung QLED Q60 TVs. The motherboard, CPU, and RAM will cost about $800 AUD. A GPU will add roughly $550 AUD, but you'll still need to buy the board, CPU, and RAM separately. It doesn't seem very cost-effective. I have a large video library (~25TB) in MKV format on my NAS, which is why I connect the PC to my home theater system. The only native software that handles MKV well is Twonky, though it's sometimes unstable and doesn't update the list consistently.
I recommend a recent Ryzen CPU with an integrated GPU. A suitable motherboard and RAM would pair well, as the built-in GPU uses modern decoding technology. This setup allows 1080p and even 4K to be rendered directly via hardware, significantly boosting performance. Edit: A possible option exists, though it may cost a bit more than needed. It offers future upgrades if you plan to play games later. For video tasks, it should remain functional for over ten years. PCPartPicker lists this as an example. It might be slightly pricier than essentials, but there’s room to upgrade later. If you only need it for videos, it could last a decade or more. Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts – total around $399.15. This was generated by PCPartPicker on 2020-02-03 15:42 AEDT. (Note: PSU spec wasn’t verified; further research may be required.) Also, I missed checking the motherboard compatibility for 4K at 60Hz. There are likely alternatives that support it.