Comments on build for my Godmother!

[rogthewookiee]

Hi Everyone!

I've built more than a few computers (all for other people, it sucks). This computer is going to live in the house and be used for interneting, word processing and generally low profile stuff. The budget for everything is under $1000. The uATX format is not a requirement, but it is a major wish. Why put a giant heatsink in the build? The case looks like it has not so good airflow, and might as well get that with the CPU fan. The case can fit ATX boards, is their a better one? I was figuring that i'd cut out the need for a graphics card for cost, noise and heat reasons.

My Questions
*Should I go with the 2500K just because it is better.
*Should I go with an ATX board for better options, more reliability, more RAM slots, etc.
*Should I go with a modular power supply? The case probably will not be opened again once I set it up.

Thanks!

CPU
$195 i5-2400 3.1 GHz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074

MoBo
$89 ASUS P8H67 LX uATX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131713

RAM
$65 8Gb RAM 1600 CAS 9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131713

Case
$40 Coolermaster Elite 360 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119195

HD
$60 WD Caviar Black 500 Gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136795

Optical
$21 ASUS DVD burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

PSU
$60 Corsair Builder series 500w http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Monitor
$140 Acer 23" Monitor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009266

OS
$100 W7 Home http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Speakers
$29 Logitech S-220 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121014

CPU Cooler
$90 Noctua C14 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608020

[Coran Fixx]

No you don't need a modular power supply.
No you don't need a full atx board, if you are concerned about the memory slots you can get a matx with 4 dimm slots.
Actually an i3 would fit the bill nicely for the usage listed (unless you wake up with a horsehead in your bed, then I would stick a 2600k in the rig just to be safe!).

[JustAnEngineer]

CPU
$195 i5-2400 3.1 GHz quad-core w/ Intel 2000 graphics

$140 -15 combo Intel Core i3-2105 dual-core 3.1 GHz w/ Intel 3000 graphics should be adequate for the uses that you've described.
or $220 -15 combo Intel Core i5-2500K quad-core 3.3 GHz w/ Intel 3000 graphics would provide more than enough processing power.

MoBo
$89 +7½ shipping ASUS P8H67-M LX µATX

That motherboard lacks USB 3. Consider these, instead:
$100 Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3
or $122½ ASRock Z68 Pro3-M
or $117½ Gigabyte GA-H67MA-USB3-B3
or $122½ Asus P8H67-M Pro/CSM


On the subject of the Core i3-2105 being adequate, it seems likely that Llano could suffice, as well:
$140 AMD A8-3850 quad-core 2.9 GHz w/ Radeon HD6550D graphics
or $120 -15 combo AMD A6-3650 quad-core 2.6 GHz w/ Radeon HD6530D graphics

$100 Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H

Case
$40 +10 shipping Coolermaster Elite 360
PSU
$60 +3 shipping -20MIR Corsair Builder series 500w

Consider these:
$60 -13 code "EMCYTZT630" + $40 Antec Three Hundred + EA-380D power supply
or $90 Antec Three Hundred with Basiq BP-430 power supply
or $95 Antec NSK3480 with EA-380D power supply
The NSK3480 is a short micro-ATX tower.

HD
$60 WD Caviar Black 500 Gb

For the same price, you can get a drive that is bigger, better, faster, quieter, cooler and more energy-efficient:
$60 1 TB Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3

Did you consider an SSD?

Optical
$21 +5 shipping ASUS DVD burner

Have you considered Blu-ray for $60?

CPU Cooler
$90 Noctua C14

Have you considered less expensive options?
$40 Scythe SCRT-1000 Rasetsu
or $41 -20MIR Corsair CAFA70
or $25 CoolerMaster Hyper 212+

[TravelMug]

Just get a pre-made one from a b&m store or online from Dell. You will save yourself a ton of hassle and it will be cheaper as well.

[rogthewookiee]

TravelMug:
The premade computers are just not good! The low end Dell systems I priced out just were not attractive. A similar machine wasn't actually cheaper. I don't considering assembling a computer to be a hassle. Especially since I am going to be supporting this machine for the life of it not Dell, HP, etc.

Coran Fixx:
So you think an i3 would be fine also? Do you have any opinions about Lano?

JustanEngineer:
So you think an i3 would be good enough. I don't have any hands on experience with one. The last thing I want is to get a call about something "feeling slow!" With integrated graphics and the larger monitor Lano might be a better choice. I'm not sure how to make the call on that one, bench marks only say so much.

The motherboards listed are at least $25 more and have as similar number of reviews overall but less positive ones. Motherboards on newegg tend to have terrible reviews in general though.

Cool, yeah I'll go with the Tb. I did consider going with an SSD, but it would need to be a two drive system then. Talking them through managing the placement of files would be a little too complicated.

I had not bothered to look at Blu ray, wow they have come down in price. I don't really see them using it, but who knows what the future holds.

I had looked at other coolers yeah, but I was having a hard time picking one that I thought would fit in the smaller case for sure.


I have to confess that this project is also a bit of a trojan horse for a build for myself! Though i'm holding out for the SB-E and new AMD gpus, but i'm still on a C2D so i've been being patient.

[JustAnEngineer]

The motherboards listed are at least $25 more and have as similar number of reviews overall but less positive ones. Motherboards on newegg tend to have terrible reviews in general though.

If you're not absolutely strapped for cash, don't buy a new motherboard without SATA III and USB 3. I also suggest getting a motherboard with four DIMM slots, even if you start out with only two 4 GiB DIMMs installed. There are sixteen micro-ATX LGA-1155 motherboards listed at Newegg that meet these criteria. The cheapest one is only $80. Newegg has just dropped the price of the Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 to $100. That's just $3½ more than the USB3-lacking H67 motherboard that you had selected.

I had looked at other coolers yeah, but I was having a hard time picking one that I thought would fit in the smaller case for sure.

Flip-mode said that the Scythe SCRT-1000 worked in the Antec NSK3480 for his build:
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=76958

[BloodSoul]

I'm not trying to be rude, but I feel this build has a very mixed vibe... I have never in my life heard of anyone putting a $90 heat sink in a $40 case for example... and then in the same post discuss how they are hesitant to pay $25 more for USB3 and SATA 3...

Here are my suggestions:
Make some cutbacks, just because you have $1000 to work with doesn't mean you should use it

Processor: Go with Llano, although you can add a video card down the line, llano will provide more than enough graphic/cpu horsepower for anyone doing general tasks.
Motherboard: Find something from Asus or Gigabyte that is llano compatible and has USB3 and SATA3... not having either of those is a huge buzzkill
Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231311 8gb for $45 from a reputable brand, tis awesome
Case: My favorite case to use for builds at this level is the Antec 300, it is an amazing find for it's price.
HD: Caviar blue or black, whatever size you will be fine (just make sure you are not getting killed price/GB)
Optical: the one you chose is fine
PSU: It is a lot easier to make a build look more professional with a modular/high-efficiency PSU... I personally would recommend splurging here for http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817151093, although there are other good modular PSU's at a lower pricepoint (this one is just a baller)
Monitor: Fine
OS: Fine
Speakers: Fine
CPU Cooler: Is that a great cooler? Absolutely! Is that overkill? YOU BET!
Grab http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835103065, it won't look quite as cool, but it will run just as cool and save you a good chunk of change.


It should be noted I just built a system for my mother's birthday for $250...
(3.3GHz Phenom II x4, 4gb ddr1333, coolermaster PSU/case combo, multi-card reader, asus mATX mobo, a dvd drive, and a whole lot of love... friend from Microsoft hooked me up with licensing for the build since it was a gift too haha)

[Coran Fixx]

If your intention is to build a machine for internet, wordprocessing and other low power tasks an i3 will perform admirably. Try to pick up a combo deal with an H67 or Z68 motherboard (You should be able to get one for around $210) and you'll be set.

Would stick with quality brands for PSU and get what ever is the best deal when you order. Seasonic, Antec, OCZ, and my favorite Corsair. A quality 380watt antec for example, will have no problems running this rig.

My HTPC is a i3-2100 with a MSI H61 mb, 4gb ram, stock heatsink in an antec minuet case with no case fans running off an antec 350 watt power supply. Has been running for several months on win7 without a hiccup.

[JustAnEngineer]

Haha no offense taken, but to be completely fair I was worried about the quality of the more expensive motherboards given their rating! Llano and the i3 appear to be evenly priced. I recall one of those Techreport comics about the comparisons between the two being quite funny.

OK, lets see if this is a more cohesive system!

CPU Llano $140
MoBo Gigabyte $122
RAM G Skill 8gb 1333 $55
HD Spinpoint 1TB $60
PSU Antec 300 with 430w
Or maybe this PSU and the empty Antec 300

Same monitor, speaker, optical, and OS. The total is $758 with shipping.

This SSD? $863 with shipping
or this SSD? total $973 with shipping.
The SSD would need to be big enough to house most of the stuff they want. I'm not sure that a 64 Gb one would work, but maybe?

Well, this is why I came here to ask for help! It is aways a pleasure working with the Techreport community, thanks!

[JustAnEngineer]

CPU Llano A8-3850 $140
MoBo Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H $123 -15 combo
PSU Antec 300 with 430w $90

That's an ATX motherboard and case. I thought that you were interested in micro-ATX like the $100 Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H and the $96 Antec NSK3480?

RAM G Skill 8 GiB PC3-10600 $55 -10 code "EMCKCHB22"
HD Spinpoint F3 1.0 TB $60
Same monitor, speaker, optical, and OS. The total is $758 with shipping.

This SSD? 0.06 TB Crucial M4 $105
or this SSD? 0.13 TB Crucial M4 $215
The SSD would need to be big enough to house most of the stuff they want. I'm not sure that a 64 GB one would work, but maybe?

How about the $200 0.12 TB Corsair Force 3 or the $140 0.10 TB Kingston SSDNow V+100?