~750$ Desktop PC (Non-gaming)

radiowars · Apr 23, 2009

Hi guys,
I need a new computer to do (in order of most important to least)- Video and Photo Editing (Photoshop, Vegas etc), Web Browsing, Music Playing, Etc.
Parts not required- keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor.
Preferred Parts- Intel.... but can do AMD. Also, would like a GPU for photos etc.
Estimated buy date- 3 weeks.
Monitor Resolution- 1280x960.

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=9332011

There's my wishlist.

Concerns- PSU? Is that enough. I don't need a lot of power, but will that handle it?
Should I change the CPU to this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017. It's a bit more expensive, but has more cache.
CPU heatsink is used so that I can OC just a little. I don't need a lot, but 2.8 or 3.0GHz would be nice.
And lastly, does the case require anymore fans? I was recommended this case from a friend- he loves it, and I heard a lot of people on TH do too

.

Budget is 750$ W/ OS (Vista for now, maybe 7 when RC comes out.)

Oh, and is 640GB enough? A lot of high quality photos are going on this PC, so I need a lot of storage (1-2mbs per photo- SLR Camera).
Thanks guys, Tom's Hardware is the greatest. If you need any info, just ask.

ehanger · Apr 23, 2009

I wouldn't recommend getting that PSU from Thermaltake I suggest you get this PSU/case combo from antec: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

If you don't play any games you could save even more money by getting a $30 graphics card and also cheaper RAM. I would get this ram kit because you don't need 1066MHz unless you do more extreme overclocking.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227269

Also get a cheaper motherboard like this one (pretty much the same thing):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128372

plus that heatsync you listed is more expensive than it needs to be and isn't worth paying $70 for if all you are doing is a minor overclock.

Lastly I would get the either the Q8400 or the Q9400 over the Q8200 because not only is the 8200 already at a low clockspeed, it also has a very low multiplier which makes it difficult to overclock because you need a higher FSB to achieve the same frequency.

jjbtexas · Apr 23, 2009

yeah, the ram is way overkill, otherwise looks good to me

i don't have any experience with thermaltake PSU's at all but thermaltake is a good brand that i trust so you will probably be ok

jamoramaJAM · Apr 23, 2009

radiowars :

CPU- Up to a Q9xxx or the old Q6600, which has double the cache of your current. I'm not a big fan of Intel's budget Quad cores...
DVD Burner- Good
Heatsink- You don't need a 44 dollar Heatsink. IMO, getting a cheap heatsink would be just fine (My 4ghz e8400 is cooled by a 25 dollar Rosewill Heatsink just fine)
Ram- Overkill. Get a cheap 4gb ddr2 800 ram for ~40 dollars.
GPU- Get either a 9800gt, 9800gtx, 4830, 4850, or something in the 110 dollar budget range. There is no need to skimp out on the graphics.
HD- 640 will be just fine. You can add more disk space later, no need to stock up. You can store years of photos, anyways (Video really is the big file sizes)
Case- I have it, love it, just like your friend. BUT... for 750 dollars, I would try to go in the 50 dollar range to save some money... up to you though.
Motherboad- Great. Lots of Sata connections, pretty glad I got it =D
OS- Good.
Power- Look for a reliable 500w or better power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Property&N=2010320058&minPrice=55&maxPrice=75&OEMMark=1%2C0&Manufactory=1697%2C1516%2C1919%2C2031%2C1883%2C8348%2C1550%2C9830%2C1459&PropertyCodeValue=1314%3A14176%2C1314%3A14179%2C1314%3A14178%2C1314%3A14177&bop=And&CompareItemList=N82E16817341010%2CN82E16817341016%2CN82E16817151040%2CN82E16817151069%2CN82E16817104053%2CN82E16817341022

jamoramaJAM · Apr 23, 2009

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=Suggested&N=2000000343&StoreType=-1&CompareItemList=N82E16819115017%2cN82E16819115037%2cN82E16819115206%2cN82E16819115131&Description=19-115&bop=And

Taken your highest priority is Video and Photo Editing, I would go with one of the two quad cores I chose. The Q6600 is not 45nm, but has more cache, while the Q9400 is 45nm but less cache. Both are great choices.

gkay09 · Apr 23, 2009

gkay09 · Apr 23, 2009

CPU + Mobo - AMD alternative
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.182237

And you can do away with the graphics card as the on board graphics is very powerful...

Guest · Apr 23, 2009

I have the ASUS P5Q SE\R with a E7200 running at 1600fsb 3.8ghz vcore 1.29 31c idle and 53c full load. I have the ANTEC 1200 and the Vendetta 2 Cpu cooler. You can get the mobo for 130$ and the CPU for 130$ both in canadian $. The CPU cooler around 40$ I believe. Then in 2 years time you can swap in the most powerful quad core 775 socket you can find and get another 2 years out of your rig. For the memory I bought ballistix tracer ddr2 800mhz 2x2gb for around 70$ canadian. You can tighten the timings to 4 12 12 12 by increasing the voltage to 2.0 v OR you can increase the speed to 1066mhz by increasing the voltage to 2.0v. I haven't tried higher but it seems there is still a bit of room. Later on in a few years you can add 2 more sticks to get 8gb.

radiowars · Apr 23, 2009

The person I'm building this for suddenly decided they want an Intel CPU

\) so, unfortunately AMD is now not an option. I would prefer it because I could save some money and get a similar rig, but he's too stubborn lol. Gkay09, I like your setup, so I'll probably just chose everything from that. I originally had the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, but bumped it out to save 50$. Now I decided with a lower multipler, and stock clocks it wasn't worth it for the 8200.
I just noticed that the wishlist was a bit off, because I wanted the Cavier Black originally in there! Thanks for that catch Gkay ;D.

Thanks for everyone's help (will be keeping CPU cooler, mainly because I hate stock coolers).

radiowars · Apr 23, 2009

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3LR LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard -
Save Cancel $84.99 $84.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
Save Cancel $79.99 -$5.00 Instant $74.99
HIS Hightech H465FS512P Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
Mail in Rebate

Update27-136-152 LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model
Save Cancel $24.99 $24.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

. .
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail

.
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

Update19-115-017 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail

New rig, comes to about ~750 without rebates (to pay for shipping).
Had to drop the faster CPU to save $

gkay09 · Apr 24, 2009

hey save some money going with the intel Q8400...it would perform similar to te Q6600 and is a 45nm part and is basically a Q9400 with 4MB cache instead of 6MB...Get which ever is cheaper...

batuchka · Apr 24, 2009

This config less that GTX260 since u not gaming hehe. IGP GF8300 is CUDA supported already

radiowars · Apr 24, 2009

gkay09 :

WOW, just looked at that CPU. It's perfect for what he wants to do, and @ 180$ it looks perfectly reasonable. Thank you! :hello:

gkay09 · Apr 24, 2009

Glad it helped...

shortstuff_mt · Apr 24, 2009

The Xigmatek cooler gkay09 suggested above is nice, but it doesn't include the back plate. This one comes with the back plate:

XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029 $39.99

You could also buy the back plate separately:

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019 $8.49

radiowars · Apr 29, 2009

shortstuff_mt :

Oh, thank you. Does this backplate support LGA 1336 and LGA 775?
I'm looking to build a nice i7 920 gaming build after I finish my friend's. Thanks

shortstuff_mt · Apr 29, 2009

Yes, it comes with 2 different backplates. One for LGA 775 and one for LGA 1336.

radiowars · Apr 29, 2009

shortstuff_mt :

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=10569992
There's my new build. Trying to keep it as close as possible to 700-725$, so the rebates push it in that area.
My only concern is- Should I add more fans? Will 2 do it, I want to OC the CPU to ~3.0GHz but the system should never go under full load (most likely).
Should I add another fan? (Already included one in the Wishlist, so 3 total).

gkay09 · Apr 30, 2009

Combo deal with the OS and HDD will save you $20...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.186064

~750$ Desktop PC (Non-gaming)

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