Cheap-o build for my 8 year old son

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The Q6660 Inside


I don't mind spending a bit more if It's gonna be worthwhile, I just don't wanna go wayy over budget (like 500-600), I am a very firm believer in you get what you pay for. So I'd like to build something thats - 1 upgradable (for his later years), 2...
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Sakkura

Sakkura

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Aug 22, 2011
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A GTX 560 Ti would work fine with the board. But the power supply is crap, and particularly with a 560 Ti it could easily cause problems.

The GT 620 is kinda pointless. Might as well just spend that money on a better APU then. Or an Athlon if you use the 560 Ti.
 
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lt13kformula

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Mar 4, 2013
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http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Angildert/saved/2rP6

Updated List

Total: $319.21
CPU AMD A4-3300 2.5GHz Dual-Core Combo or $39.99
Motherboard Asus F1A55-M LE R2.0 Micro ATX FM1 Combo or $35.66
Memory Kingston Predator Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 $58.61
Storage Toshiba Product Series:DT01ACA 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM $39.99
Case Rosewill FB-03 ATX Mid Tower $19.99
Power Supply Cooler Master 500W ATX12V $29.99
Optical Drive LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer $15.00
Operating System Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (32-bit) $94.98
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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My parts list for $306:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1H9dY

I was looking at the X3-450 CPU so you could use your GTX560Ti graphics card, but then I'd have to spend more on a power supply so I decided to go with a half-decent APU (an APU combines the CPU and the GPU).

FYI, you had chosen an APU which has graphics as well as a graphics card.

Other:
1) The Antec VP-450 has great reviews. I bought one after doing research.
2) Make sure the CASE has USB3 (not USB2) front panel if the motherboard does. So either BOTH USB2 or both USB3.

3) I chose different RAM. The APU works best with high-speed RAM (uses some for Video I believe). However the 1866MHz I chose probably works better due to its lower latency of 9 than the 11 of the 2133MHz you chose.

I didn't see any obvious issues other than no mention of WINDOWS but you didn't have it in your build. If you want to use all that RAM you require 64-bit Windows (not 32-bit).

If you need to buy Windows then get:
1) Windows 8 64-bit OEM, and
2) Start8 from Stardock (so you can bypass the new interface, but still access it if you wish. $5)

**I'll repeat as the above guy listed 8GB and 32-bit Windows. You MUST get 64-bit Windows or else you are limited to under 4GB of RAM (including VIDEO RAM).

Alternate free OS:
Ubuntu 64-bit. It's a bit problematic for gaming, but it's free.
 
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lt13kformula

Honorable
Mar 4, 2013
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So this build will cut out the graphics card all together? I would like to keep it upgradable so as he gets older we can switch things in and out. Never know what the next gen holds.

Plus I already own the GTX 660 so it wont cost me anything there, so if I have to spend a lil more on a power supply that'll be ok, I just really don't want to spend more than $300 - $350 (incluig os) for this thing on get go, it's going to be his chistmas present. and I would like to buy him a few more things not just blow his piece of the xmas budget on one thing. lol.
 
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popatim

popatim

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Moderator
Dec 2, 2009
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980
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If you are sticking in a gpu then do no get the apu. They trade a weaker cpu for a stronger built in gpu.
I think you had the $65 a6 so I would just upgrade to the athlon2 750k for $15 more
It uses the same socket so that motherbd is fine but if you want to overclock you will need something other than the stock cooler.

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/amd-cpu-ad750kwohjbox


You can drop from 8gb to 4gb to make up some of the $$$
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-memory-ble2kit2g3d1869de1tx0

win8.1 comes out in a few days (free upgrade for win8 owners) so theres no need for that extra software. Even with 4gb get win8-64bit.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
21,567
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You can't build this for that price.
Windows will cost you almost $100 alone. You'll need to spend at least $60 likely for a Power Supply that supports the GTX660 (I believe it requires 2x6-pin connectors?).

If you want a half decent CPU then I advise the X3-450 and compatible motherboard as I mentioned but you'll be about $300 before adding Windows.

With 4GB of RAM and careful choosing you may get to around $400. (Don't forget that REBATES can be a hassle so avoid if possible.)
 
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lt13kformula

Honorable
Mar 4, 2013
25
0
10,530
You can't build this for that price.
Windows will cost you almost $100 alone. You'll need to spend at least $60 likely for a Power Supply that supports the GTX660 (I believe it requires 2x6-pin connectors?).

If you want a half decent CPU then I advise the X3-450 and compatible motherboard as I mentioned but you'll be about $300 before adding Windows.

With 4GB of RAM and careful choosing you may get to around $400. (Don't forget that REBATES can be a hassle so avoid if possible.)[/quotemsg]

I don't mind spending a bit more if It's gonna be worthwhile, I just don't wanna go wayy over budget (like 500-600), I am a very firm believer in you get what you pay for. So I'd like to build something thats - 1 upgradable (for his later years), 2 Going to last 3 will play the games he wants to play (minecraft, bioshock, scribblenaughts) basically a steambox.

Also I know NOTHING about AMD stuff, i always have intel / nvidea products, and honestly i only buy them because they're more expensive, sounds stupid but again "get what you pay for", Id rather spend more up front then end up spending double in the long run because I didn't get what I wanted to begin with. so that said, does AMD processor work ok with nvidea cards.
 
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The Q6660 Inside

The Q6660 Inside

Honorable
Jan 25, 2013
1,889
5
12,160


I don't mind spending a bit more if It's gonna be worthwhile, I just don't wanna go wayy over budget (like 500-600), I am a very firm believer in you get what you pay for. So I'd like to build something thats - 1 upgradable (for his later years), 2 Going to last 3 will play the games he wants to play (minecraft, bioshock, scribblenaughts) basically a steambox.

Also I know NOTHING about AMD stuff, i always have intel / nvidea products, and honestly i only buy them because they're more expensive, sounds stupid but again "get what you pay for", Id rather spend more up front then end up spending double in the long run because I didn't get what I wanted to begin with. so that said, does AMD processor work ok with nvidea cards. [/quotemsg]

I would suggest you just save up a tiny bit more and get this.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($80.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($69.97 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Other: GTX 560ti (Purchased)
Total: $363.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-09-27 21:18 EDT-0400)
 
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