mini Itx budget build. need a second opinion on parts.

d00mdragon

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Feb 18, 2013
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10,540
Approximate Purchase Date: next 6 months
Budget Range: $500 to $660
System Usage: surfing the net, and some pdf design programs(nothing supper intense)
Are you buying a monitor:no
Do you need to buy OS: yes
Overclocking: no
SLI or Crossfire:no

here is the parts picker url
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2WAKJ

here are the parts
cpu:amd atholn x4 760k
mob:MSI FM2-A75IA-E53
mem:CORSAIR Vengeance 4GB
hardrive:Western Digital WD10EZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB
gpu:ASUS R7240-2GD3-L Radeon R7 240
case:Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced
case fan: COUGAR CF-V12HB Vortex
psu:COUGAR RSB400 400 Watt
5.25":ASUS 24X DVD
os:Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

Other thoughts:
I had also thought about running a amd a6-5400k trinity apu instead of a gpu and cpu. I am not sure which is the better option. I also looked putting in a crucial m500 120 gb ssd for faster boot up and other applications, but because of the price I took it out. This is what I came up with for a first time mini itx build so let me know what can be better optimized per the price.
 
Solution
You really don't need a discreet GPU for your intended use. I would suggest something like this for your budget and use.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($217.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($105.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts...
You really don't need a discreet GPU for your intended use. I would suggest something like this for your budget and use.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($217.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($105.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($76.50 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $646.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-20 02:13 EST-0500)
 
Solution

d00mdragon

Honorable
Feb 18, 2013
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10,540


ok so since the new 4670s have integrated gpu that should be able to handle everything.

I think I understand the extra ram( so the cpu can have more to work with especially since it has the integrated graphics?), but why have that speed of ram. It was always my understanding that 1600 pcs12800 with latency of 9 would be just as good or at least close, because as you go up in speed you also go up in latency. so 1600 pcs12800 is a decent all around ram. plus you can save some more money if you go with the 1600. so why go 2133?

also I was checking up on the gigabyte mob and I think it only supports ddr3 1600. I could be wrong but according to newegg only ddr3 1600 is supported.
 

d00mdragon

Honorable
Feb 18, 2013
49
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10,540


I know windows 8 is suppose to work better with the new haswell cpu's but I am not a fan and I don't think the person I am buying this for is a fan of 8 either. Is it really that much better to run 8 vs. 7?
 
That's up to you. I, personally, think it's a little silly to use such an old OS on a new build just because that's what you're used to. Windows 8.1 is a solid OS that really isn't that much different than Windows 7 when you configure it to boot straight to the desktop and use standard programs instead of the modern programs. You can also use programs like Start8 if you really can't deal with the start screen. I use Windows 8.1 on two computers and don't miss Windows 7 at all. Like I said, it's up to you...
 

d00mdragon

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Feb 18, 2013
49
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10,540


oh yeah they came out with the update for 8.
 

d00mdragon

Honorable
Feb 18, 2013
49
0
10,540
Here is what I am going to go with.

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87N-WIFI Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($110.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Cougar Vortex 60.4 CFM 120mm Fan ($12.50 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts Green 380W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $635.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-21 23:07 EST-0500)

Might not get the fan and save a few dollars.