$400-$500 New-Build? (Mainly school & Watching videos)

juniiflow · May 28, 2013

Approximate Purchase Date: Today or Tomorrow ( as fast as possible.)

Are you buying a monitor: No

Do you need to buy OS: No

This is going to sound lazy of me,
but all i want is a built withing the prince range of the tittle, i also want the parts from http://www.microcenter.com/

That's really it, all i will be doing in the computer, it's maybe some Gifs on Photoshop and mostly school work, not really much of a gamer. i also watch lots of movies and shows.

Processor/GPU brand does't matter, as long as i can play 1080p, or at least minimun 720p videos in the computer.

I was going to buy one of this laptops:

http://www.microcenter.com/product/413144/Inspiron_15_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Obsidian_Black

http://www.microcenter.com/product/407111/G580_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Dark_Brown_IMR

but my mom, gave me the choice to built a new pc, i barely lack knowledge on how to start a PC, or were to get the parts i need for it for a low price. all i know it's that my mom can buy them at microcenter, since is cheap and close from home.

If you want me to add any information. just tell me, i would be happy to do it.

I did this in kind of a rush, so sorry if there is lack of information as to what i want.

tassietim · May 28, 2013

any low budget non gaming system, best bet go amd , will have no hassle playing video at 1080 good all round system with no need to spend money on the graphics card as AMD apus have a nice onboard graphics built in , more usable in gaming then intels options
an A10 or A6 cpu , 4gigs ram , about 450watt+ PSU
an 120 gb ssd for system boot drive and 1 x1 tb hdd for storage

juniiflow · May 28, 2013

I guess i will go with one of the laptops, since not many people are giving me options, but thanks for trying.
@Tassietim just by looking at the items, it looks like it will be over my prince range.

thdarkshadow · May 28, 2013

Go with an amd apu laptop Imo. Then you still get the portability if you want to. If not get an a8 or a10 apu and build a pc with that

mattius92 · May 28, 2013

Hey man, I got you, just hold a second and I will give you a build that you could probably work with.

mattius92 · May 28, 2013

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Thermaltake VM30001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $462.91
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

You don't need any AMD, this Core i3 has lots of power for what you need, probably twice as powerful as some AMD laptop APU, plus with HD 4000 graphics, you will have half decent graphics for what you need. All under $500. You will be able to watch 1080p videos, no problem.

juniiflow · May 28, 2013

mattius92 :

thanks since everything was on another website kind of reserach or look for some of the pieces myself.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/227058/TR2_430W_Watt_ATX_Power_Supply
http://www.microcenter.com/product/387411/AV-GP_500GB_Intellipower_SATA_60Gb-s_35_Internal_A-V_Hard_Drive_WD5000AUDX
http://www.microcenter.com/product/413822/VM30001W2Z_V4_BLACK-R
http://www.microcenter.com/product/398006/Core_i3_3225_33GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor
http://www.microcenter.com/product/266816/2GB_DDR2-667_(PC-5300)_CL5_Dual_Channel_Desktop_Memory_Kit_(Two_1GB_Memory_Modules)
http://www.microcenter.com/product/402675/H77M_Socket_1155_H77_mATX_Intel_Motherboard

That entirely is 357.94, don't know how much with Taxes or Feed, but i don't think it will pass $400
so i was wondering, what can i add or replace?

Also while i was looking for the processor, this built came up:
http://www.microcenter.com/product/406594/B358_Desktop_Computer
wondering if it's a good one or not.

mattius92 · May 28, 2013

The build you compiled looks pretty good aside from a few things. First the memory you chose, is DDR2, and it needs to be DDR3. Also I reconnmend at least 2x2GB configuration for 4GB of total system memory. 2x1GB (2GB) will work if you are going to be over budget, but 2x2GB will be a little bit better for a modern PC. Make sure to get a pair of memory and not a single stick, a single stick wont run as fast as a pair.

Also you will need an Operation System, either Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 8 64-bit, its up to you which OS you want. With the OS your total will go up to around 457.94.

That pre-built PC isnt bad for the price, it has the i3 I suggested in it, plus 4GB of RAM. The only downfall of a pre-built system is they tend to use cheap OEM parts, however for what you are planning to do, this is a possible consideration. I prefer to build my own PCs, but if you think it will be easier to get a pre-built one, then that is a decent buy in my opinion.

juniiflow · May 28, 2013

mattius92 :

http://www.microcenter.com/product/360143/Vengeance_Series_4GB_DDR3-1600_(PC3-12800)_CL9_Dual_Channel_Desktop_Memory_Kit_(Two_2GB_Memory_Modules)

364.92
Still some money to waste something on?
is there anything worth it?

mattius92 · May 28, 2013

http://www.microcenter.com/product/361170/Windows_7_Home_Premium_SP1_64-bit_OEM

You need an OS, a PC is useless without an OS. So luckily you have some room left in your budget so with that you will only be at $464

mattius92 · May 28, 2013

Memory looks good though.

juniiflow · May 29, 2013

mattius92 :

my cousin said he was going to put in the money for the OS
so i still don't know what else to waste the other money on.

mattius92 · May 29, 2013

I have two things, first off here is a more reliable and better quality Power Supply: CX 430 80+ Bronze Certified

A faster and larger Hard Drive, the one you originally had, was a power saving model that isn't as fast. Here is the Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB

juniiflow · May 30, 2013

mattius92 :

Added:

http://www.microcenter.com/product/399979/Builder_Series_CX430_430_Watt_ATX_12V_Power_Supply
http://www.microcenter.com/product/347355/WD_Black_1TB_7,200_RPM_SATA_60Gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_WDBAAZ0010HNC
http://www.microcenter.com/product/360143/Vengeance_Series_4GB_DDR3-1600_
http://www.microcenter.com/product/413822/VM30001W2Z_V4_BLACK-R
http://www.microcenter.com/product/398006/Core_i3_3225_33GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor
http://www.microcenter.com/product/402675/H77M_Socket_1155_H77_mATX_Intel_Motherboard

409.94
anything else i can upgrade/add?
by the way how many cores does the processor you told me to buy has?

mattius92 · May 30, 2013

That i3 is a hyper-threaded dual-core. Because its hyper-threaded it will act as a quad-core with most applications. It will be more then enough power for what you are trying to get out of it.

assasin32 · May 30, 2013

mattius92 :

Don't confuse that with it being close to a real quad core in performance, off hand you might be a 20% performance increase in some programs though I would have to double check that number but it sounds about right off the top of my head.

juniiflow · May 30, 2013

assasin32 :

Thanks both.
but is there anything i should waste those 100 dollars on?
anything worth it?

by the way, i just realized it was on the System section, sorry i tough i put this thread on the "build" section.

mattius92 · May 30, 2013

If you really want to spend $100, bump up to a i5-3570, which is a true quad-core.

juniiflow · May 30, 2013

mattius92 :

i think this are the only i5 avaible on microcenter at the moment
http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=4294966995&D=core_i5&ekw=i5&rd=1

witch one can i get, or you suggest i get?

mattius92 · May 30, 2013

i5-3570, its has the HD 4000 graphics that you will want.

juniiflow · May 30, 2013

mattius92 :

http://www.microcenter.com/product/399979/Builder_Series_CX430_430_Watt_ATX_12V_Power_Supply
http://www.microcenter.com/product/347355/WD_Black_1TB_7,200_RPM_SATA_60Gb-s_35_Internal_Hard_Drive_WDBAAZ0010HNC
http://www.microcenter.com/product/360143/Vengeance_Series_4GB_DDR3-1600_
http://www.microcenter.com/product/413822/VM30001W2Z_V4_BLACK-R
http://www.microcenter.com/product/388577/Core_i5_3570K_34GHz_LGA_1155_Processor
http://www.microcenter.com/product/402675/H77M_Socket_1155_H77_mATX_Intel_Motherboard
459.92

i think i have it all, question is the motherboard compatible with the processor i am buying?

mattius92 · May 30, 2013

Yes, but with a 3570k, it is recommended to get a Z77 motherboard.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/387629/Z77_Pro4-M_1155_mATX_Intel_Motherboard

juniiflow · Jun 10, 2013

So i just bought the parts
do any of you have a tutorial on how to install it?

$400-$500 New-Build? (Mainly school & Watching videos)

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