Budget build for my uncle

BigBurn

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Jan 24, 2008
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Hi,

so my uncle wants a new computer for his office. His budget would be around 650$ (cad) after taxes. He usually buys his computer from Delll/acer/whatever and asked me if i could build him somthing cheaper/better than http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10100118&catid=. That price segment isn't really my cup of tea so I was wondering if you guys could check the build i was thinking.

Case: Thermaltake Wing RS 100 Piano
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14660AC4135

PSU: Antec EarthWatts 380w
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=1037134599F

Motherboard: ASUS M3A78-EM
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10530BD1650

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850E
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10360BD7350

Monitor: Acer X223WBD
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10140MN9722

DVD writer: Samsung SH-S223F
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14040DR9951

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14120DR9680

RAM: G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD0292

Other infos: My uncle won't play games and won't multi task alot. I am planning to install vista 64bits.

Total: 626,78$

Thanks for your time.

edit: changed PSU
 

groo

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Feb 3, 2008
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I'd get a slim microATX case, maybe a cube like the Antec NSK 1380

the Antec Cases that come with PSUs are usually pretty good, and often 80plus efficient models.

Don't forget the OS.

a cordless mouse is nice. a corless keyboard is alos nice, but not as much of a benifit.

I think I'd stear clear of a phenom for him. the 45watt CPU you picked out looks like a better bet to me.
 
I looked a bit at newegg.ca to see if I could do better, but I can't really.

My only other suggestion would be to look at cheaper boards with separate graphics cards... but I don't see anything right off.

Looks like directcanada beats newegg badly right now.
 

BigBurn

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@ roadrunner
Newegg.ca isn't a good canadian shop, Directcanada has lower prices and offer free shipping for orders of 300$ + and 100lbs -.
Newegg.com and Newegg.ca are different worlds XD. Thanks for at least reading :p

@groo
That case is nice, but i want to keep the price down the most i can. But since you mentionned Antec, think the Antec EarthWatts 380w could handle that computer?

OS is already avaible and he doesn't need to buy another copy.


And i never used G.Skill memory before, those sticks should be able to run on that board right?


 

BigBurn

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@ Proximon
Thanks for the other case idea, if DirectCanada get it in store before I buy ill ask my uncle which one he prefers.
 

groo

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I think your proposed system will draw less than 100 watts. so 380 is more than enough. any higher rating will just have the PSU running further and further from its peak efficiency zone. the one your trying to beat has a 300 watt PSU, but its probably not an 80plus rated PSU.
the 780g is a pretty efficent chipset, and it includes top of the line on board graphics, the equivilant to the add on card in the prebuilt system. adding vid card would just add unneeded expense and power draw for someone like your uncle.
If your uncle has a desk with a built in spot for an ATX tower than the case doesn't matter all that much, but if it'll go on his desk, I'd think he'd want the smallest and sleakest thing he could get, maybe even one of the shuttle systems.
your best bet is to ask him what case he wants.