1st PC Build ($600 budget)

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AbuBatata

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Jul 31, 2013
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10,510
Approximate Purchase Date: September 1st, 2013.

Budget Range: $550 to $625 after Rebates and Shipping.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: HD Video, Programming, and highly likely AutoCAD-like programs.

Are you buying a monitor: Yes. (Not included in the budget)
Asus VH238H Black 23" Full HD HDMI LED Backlight LCD Monitor w/Speakers

Parts to Upgrade: No old parts.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, microcenter.com, amazon.com, frys.com

Location: Katy, TX, USA.

Parts Preferences: Intel, Corsair, G. Skill, Fractal Design, Asus, Sandisk, and Crucial.

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: This computer will be geared towards Home Office. List of software I will very likely use: OneNote, Scribus, and Word. Software I might use later on: AutoCAD and PhotoShop. I don't plan on using more than the onboard graphics.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Looking for a more efficient computer for a reasonable price that I can use as a Home Office Computer.
 
Solution
Maxime506
If u just plan on using onboard GPU, A10-6800K is the best choice for ya. Its IGP may be the fastest in the market and can help a lot on rendering software like Photoshop. Plus, 2133MT/s RAM helps u boost the GPU performance.

A10-6800K may produce more heat than other CPUs. Therefore I put a 3rd-party cooler for it. If u plan to overclock, u may need a better CPU cooler like Cooler Master 212 EVO or more.



PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1mOIK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1mOIK/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1mOIK/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU...
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Maxime506

Maxime506

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Apr 22, 2013
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If u just plan on using onboard GPU, A10-6800K is the best choice for ya. Its IGP may be the fastest in the market and can help a lot on rendering software like Photoshop. Plus, 2133MT/s RAM helps u boost the GPU performance.

A10-6800K may produce more heat than other CPUs. Therefore I put a 3rd-party cooler for it. If u plan to overclock, u may need a better CPU cooler like Cooler Master 212 EVO or more.



PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1mOIK
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1mOIK/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1mOIK/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A10-6800K 4.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A85XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($64.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.99 @ Geeks.com)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS/I Snow Edition (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($31.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.94 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.73 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $505.60
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-07-31 18:49 EDT-0400)
 
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G

Guest

Guest

Thanks very much for this information. I tried building an intel build before and every time the price tag would reach about 680ish. I have a few questions about the build though since I've read some stuff recently that I'm not so sure about.
How good is a A10 vs. for example core i5 ivy bridge?
Is Gigabyte a reliable motherboard brand?
Do I really need a aftermarket CPU Cooler if I'm not overclocking?
Will a semi-modular PS make a major difference in the build?
Is Windows 8.1 going to be worth it, will it be more "usable" then Windows 8?
I'm welcoming any other recommendations, information, or tips for this build.
 
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Maxime506

Maxime506

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Apr 22, 2013
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A10, if for CPU power, is weaker than i5, but its iGPU, HD 8670D, is much stronger than Intel's HD 4000 series iGPU. So if u want to use some rendering software like Photoshop AMD has more advantage by its GPU performance.

Gigabyte, along w/ ASUS are considered to be very reliable mobo and gfx brand.

It's recommend that A10-6800K pair w/ a 3rd party CPU. Capitalists are stingy so don't count on its own stock cooler, plus A10 has a very powerful iGPU slightly below HD 7730 so the whole APU would produce more heat than other CPUs.

Semi-modular PSU sustains more heat than non-modular one. Of course full modular PSUs are the best but for this rig the 500W is overkill, so no need for full modular.

I don't think Windows 8.1 won't make much a difference except probably the return of the start button.

If u prefer Intel so much, go with a i5-3570 CPU w/ a B75 mobo, but the GPU performance may be weak without a discrete gfx.
 
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Guest

Guest


Thanks so much for the reply.
Is AutoCAD a "graphics-hungry" program? I'm not worried about Photoshop, because it won't be the main use for the computer (more of a side thing for web design etc.).
Is Intel HD 4600 decent?
Lastly, if I did go with Intel i5-4570, what graphics card if any should I go with?
 
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Maxime506

Maxime506

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Apr 22, 2013
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HD 4600 looks decent but only intel irs 5200/5100 GPU (on i7 moblie CPUs) on par w/ HD 8670D and compared w/ A10-6800K u may have spent 200 more bucks on that. (Even HD 4600 is good enough u may have spend $150 more on the rig)

And HD 8670D will handle AutoCAD well. CPU and GPU integration and general-purpose calculation are the trend. Seems nowadays AMD is leading on this trend while Intel highlight its CPU process power. It's hard to tell in the future, 'cause AMD will launch its new-gen APU w/ HD 7750/7770 graphic core while Intel will launch 14nm CPUs.
 
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AbuBatata

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Jul 31, 2013
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10,510


Thanks so much for your answers and so far I have most of the build except for the graphics card chosen. I'd like to ask about the graphics use of drafting autoCAD software? I know I'll be mostly focused on drafting pipes and machinery. I'm not sure which software from AutoDesk I'd be using and how power hungry the graphics for the specific program(s)? I've been looking at some graphics cards and I'd like to know if this one is good enough: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130827 .

 
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Maxime506

Maxime506

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Apr 22, 2013
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GTX 650 is a gaming card over a designer gfx, so never go for it. If u really need graphic card u should go for designer card like AMD firepro series or Nvidia Quadro series but these cards will cost u a great fortune. So I recommend to stay w/ APU and no need for another GPU.
 
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