Good all around future proof build

[shaw24]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2 months

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: general use, internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: monitor, keyboard/mouse, speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: none

OVERCLOCKING: No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: not sure

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: this will be for a friend of mine - he wants a fast, future-proof computer. Doesn't plan on playing games. Budget is $700-800 but if we can widdle that down that would be great.

Here's what I have picked out so far. He was about to spend $800 for a Dell.



Case and PSU Combo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345155&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID= $115

MoBo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397 $90

CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808 $160

Memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID= $105

HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID= $90

LG Optical Drive SATA - $25

Windows 7 OEM - $100

Total: $685

 

[MadAdmiral]

What exactly is he using it for? If we know that, we can provide much better advice. If he doesn't play any games, you could easily go with an i3-530/H55 build and have the ability to use 1080p with integrate graphics.

Here's some changes:

HDD: Seagate 7200.12 1 TB $90. Saves you the shipping cost. It's just as fast.
[strike]CPU/Mobo: X4 955 and Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 $228 after rebate. A more future proof board with USB 3/SATA III support.[/strike] Thought you had a GPU up there.
Case/PSU: Antec 300 Illusion and Neo Eco 520W $120. Smaller PSU, but good enough to handle non-gaming, non-Crossfire builds. You'll need to find a power cord, but you can get them really cheap.

 

[tecmo34]

Here is a RAM that is faster and lower voltage requirements for a little less... G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 Cas7

Since the build isn't for gaming or using a dedicated GPU, I would drop down to the Antec EA-430D combo... http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.345155

You could look at this combo for SATA 6 Gb/s and USB 3.0 support and come in a little cheaper... AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE and GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3

 

[shaw24]

He will just use it for general use, internet, his wife is a teacher so word and email, all that good stuff. No games or video editing. Uploading pictures and music storage I'm sure.

He doesn't want to buy another computer for a long time so he wants it to be fast.

I picked that Mobo b/c it has integrated graphics. I had that case/psu combo picked out but I have a bad case of the "it's only $10 more" syndrome.

 

[shaw24]

OK i changed some stuff that you guys recommended and took it from $710 to $685. Not bad!

 

[tecmo34]

but I have a bad case of the "it's only $10 more" syndrome.

I understand what you mean... there have been a few times I wish I spend the extra $10 to $20 on a component to keep from limiting myself on what can be done with the build, without buying different components.

 

[shaw24]

Tecmo I just noticed that the RAM you had picked out is 1333 mhz compared to the 1600 mhz that I originally picked out - but the timings on yours were lower and its CL7 compared to CL8 that mine is. Is higher mHz better or lower Cas latency?

 

[MadAdmiral]

Lower CAS is better. 1333 mhz/CL 7 is the sweet spot right now, but if you bought higher speed RAM, it's possible to run them at the slower speed and tighter timings.

 

[tecmo34]

Lower Cas is more important than Mhz.

 

[jbranum]

Nevermind. Re-read tecmo and madadmiral's posts and realized they weren't advocating what I thought they were.

I went with some a.data because I've had success with them before and the price was right. It was 1600 @ 9-9-9-24 timings, but like Admiral said, you can lower that to 1333 and tighten the timings down for more performance. But, after reading what it's for, I doubt any of that matters to you.

 

[shaw24]

Good info...so which one is better?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

 

[shaw24]

Nevermind. Re-read tecmo and madadmiral's posts and realized they weren't advocating what I thought they were.

I went with some a.data because I've had success with them before and the price was right. It was 1600 @ 9-9-9-24 timings, but like Admiral said, you can lower that to 1333 and tighten the timings down for more performance. But, after reading what it's for, I doubt any of that matters to you.

Well it matters to me for my own build I'm building my own PC at the moment and I am getting ready to order my memory ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID= ) so I want to make sure I get the right stuff.

 

[MadAdmiral]

The blue ones. They're 1600 mhz and CL 7 for only $5 more.