New Build - Will be used for CS Activities at Uni, light photo editing and very light gaming

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Jason Ronald

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Apr 1, 2013
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Hey all,
Here is my part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/zLMRD3
I will be doing CS (computer science) at Uni so this build will be running multiple programs, as well as a little of photo editing and very light gaming (browser based and WOT) and also watching vids. Is this going to run things fine? I don't think the GPU will run WOT very well, but that's fine as I hardly ever game. The SSD is for booting, and I don't think I will OC (maybe in the future). I am trying to keep this as cheap as possible, as I am on a budget of around 600.
Thanks!
 
Solution
sadams04
Look toward an Intel setup... The onboard graphics will do as good (better) than the GT 610. Look for an upgrade there down the road.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT BF...
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azaran

azaran

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Feb 17, 2010
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Depending on what you're doing in CS you may want to consider doubling up on the RAM. If you do anything involving VM's your going to want the extra RAM badly. It'll do the trick for casual photo editing. Your at that in between point of being between min and recommended specs with your video card for WOT but thats to be expected. The PSU is a bit on the dodgy side of the units out there but I get that your on a budget.

Upped your price by $40 because of the RAM, but found a better quality PSU for about the same price.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tQT8f7
 
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Victorion

Victorion

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Nov 9, 2015
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I made a suggestion for you at similar price point.

The benefit from below build, is that you get a modern skylake build with a really fast processor. This will benefit you hugely in school related work and also the upgrade path is much less painless. You can add components to this build without having to throw stuff out.

Notice there is an SSHD drive instead of SSD + HDD. The hybrid drive (SSHD) will give you lots of storage while still giving you SSD performance for most used programs.

The i5-6600 cpu includes integrated HD 530 graphics that is actually performs better than the videocard you picked. HD 530 will even player newer Tripple A games in low to medium settings. And will have absolutely no sweat with WOT or browserbased games at all.
Also included a 500 Watt PSU from Antec - that ensures you have enough power, if you decide to add a crafty videocard like GTX 970 or even better in the future.

In the future. You can add a better videocard, more rams and another ssd drive - then you have a beast of pc.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($55.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($36.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive ($69.89 @ OutletPC)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS/I Snow Edition (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($27.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 500W ATX Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.88 @ OutletPC)
Monitor: Asus VH238H 23.0" Monitor ($104.39 @ Newegg)
Total: $630.11
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-07 09:53 EST-0500

NB. no need for optical drive. Windows can be installed through USB i.e. and today it´s quite uncommon to be using CD/DVD - at least as a necessity.
 
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sadams04

sadams04

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Nov 23, 2010
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Look toward an Intel setup... The onboard graphics will do as good (better) than the GT 610. Look for an upgrade there down the road.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($174.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97 Anniversary ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($71.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT BF ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: LG 23MP57HQ-P 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($117.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $672.76


The AMD setup doesn't really save you much and you will need to overclock the FX 6300 to try to keep up with the Intel i5. It also has little upgrade potential.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($98.89 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 54.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($18.73 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($74.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($40.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 730 1GB Video Card ($49.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Deepcool TESSERACT BF ATX Mid Tower Case ($38.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 450W ATX Power Supply ($32.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($15.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Monitor: LG 23MP57HQ-P 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($117.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $674.38
 
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Solution
azaran

azaran

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Feb 17, 2010
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Normally I'd suggest going with an Intel system as well, however with your budget my concern is the requirements for the CS software you may be using, I'd email your professors and ask what software you're likely to expect to see in the first year or two of your time there. If the software relies heavily on multithreading, an i5 setup may not be the best way to go, even if it does normally out perform the FX-6300. You'll also know what the RAM requirements are, which may require moving behind the 8GB everyone is suggesting.

Also in regards to the PSU's suggest, I'd avoid the Antecs that have been suggested. Spend the extra $20 on a good PSU, it feeds the rest of your computer. A good PSU can make or break a computer.
 
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Victorion

Victorion

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Nov 9, 2015
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Antec overall makes great PSU, and the basiq unit I suggested has great voltage stability, low ripple and noise levels and protections that work - it´s a great budget PSU that delivers the promised watts - plus some.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/antec-basiq-bp500u-power-supply-review/10/
 
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