Need Opinions Building Non-Gaming Computer

cwo021

Honorable
Feb 25, 2013
9
0
10,510
Hello everyone. I have built my own gaming computer before, but this time I'm building a non-gaming computer. I need some opinions since I'm still fairly new to this. One of my co-workers, he's about 50 years old, asked me to build him a computer and I gladly accepted. He provided me with these specifications:


  • 1TB Memory
    4GHz CPU
    Audio 5.1 (If possible, he says)
    Windows 7 OS

His budget: $1200

Needs: He says he'll be using it for Book keeping, Billing, Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop CS6. He wanted Adobe Photoshop CS6 to make logos for his company. He didn't specify any video editing software so I'm assuming he won't be using those Adobe programs. He'll also be watching videos, using a webcam, surfing the internet, which I conclude will be multiple tasks so I need a computer to handle that as well.

Additional comments
Firstly, I don't know for sure but I feel for his basic computer needs, 4GHz CPU 8 Core is overkill but of course thats what he wants, unless you believe that its also too much, then I can try to convince him otherwise with an alternate build. Secondly, I am not sure if I picked a "good enough" or "too good" graphics card for his needs, and I don't really think the 32GB RAM is necessary... and 16GB should be more then enough (right?). and lastly, I am not familiar with audio cards such as when or when not to include one, but since he specified 5.1, I added it.

I want to show him two different builds so that he has an option between choosing a computer built with his specifications, or a computer without his specifications but performs well for his needs. The cheaper the better.

Please let me know if I should consider changing any components.

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I have designed 3 builds.

1st Build: This build is basically me picking parts I feel compliment his specifications without thinking of the budget.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lSPs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lSPs/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lSPs/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($198.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.98 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($129.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($339.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7750 2GB Video Card ($95.38 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($17.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apevia X-DREAMER4-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VK248H-CSM 24.0" Monitor ($188.99 @ Amazon)
Other: CM Storm Devastator Keyboard & Mouse combo ($29.99)
Total: $1295.23

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2nd Build: This build I tried to maintain his specifications but I cut or changed the components I felt were unnecessary and jacked the price up.

-Removed CPU Cooler
-Went with 2x8 16GB


PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lTnW
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lTnW/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lTnW/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor ($198.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($129.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($152.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7750 2GB Video Card ($95.38 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($17.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apevia X-DREAMER4-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VK248H-CSM 24.0" Monitor ($188.99 @ Amazon)
Other: CM Storm Devastator Keyboard & Mouse combo ($29.99)
Total: $1078.25

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

3rd Build: This build I picked the desired parts I felt were enough to perform the tasks at hand, without his specifications.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lU11
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lU11/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2lU11/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.96 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($134.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($152.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7750 2GB Video Card ($95.38 @ Newegg)
Sound Card: Asus Xonar DG 24-bit 96 KHz Sound Card ($17.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Apevia X-DREAMER4-BL ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VK248H-CSM 24.0" Monitor ($188.99 @ Amazon)
Other: CM Storm Devastator Keyboard & Mouse combo ($29.99)
Total: $1101.24

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Thanks for any help, I hope to learn lots.
 
Solution
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2niWk
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2niWk/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2niWk/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($231.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.94 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($88.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.43 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card...

bodeen2012

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2013
631
0
19,160
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2niWk
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2niWk/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2niWk/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($231.98 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($33.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.94 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($88.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($63.43 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 7770 1GB Video Card ($94.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-118BB DVD/CD Drive ($23.97 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($88.98 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Acer UM.WV6AA.A02 (V226HQL Abmd) 60Hz 21.5" Monitor ($114.00 @ B&H)
Keyboard: KeyTronic E03601P2M Wired Standard Keyboard w/Optical Mouse ($18.46 @ Amazon)
Total: $1136.69
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-20 12:22 EST-0500)
 
Solution

Typolo

Honorable
Nov 18, 2013
198
0
10,710
Since the only relatively demanding application he would be using is Photoshop, I would say to get the fx 8320 or 6300. The extra physical cores would be beneficial compared to an i5. I say use the 8320. He will get the 8 cores at a better price then the 8350 which just has a slightly higher stock clock.

I say go with build 2 but replace the 8350 with the 8320, but add in the cooler master hyper 212 evo form build one. The stock fan and heatsink are not very good. Plus the lower temps will help the CPU last longer.