800 $ family PC

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Atsisedes

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Sep 22, 2010
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Hello, our family is going to buy a new PC and it is driving me nuts already. I've spent quite some time looking at parts, trying to buy only at one e-shop but as I'm new to this stuff, I'd like you to recommend me something for around 800 $.



Approximate Purchase Date: the closer the better (1-2 weeks)

Budget Range: 800$ (2100~ Litas)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: office work, programming, watching movies, gaming, surfing the Internet, etc.

Parts Not Required: monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, optical device, OS (I have Win 7 64-bit available)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: skytech.lt, itbank.lt (itbank.us for english version)

Country of Origin: Lithuania

Parts Preferences: None

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (not at this budget I guess)

Monitor Resolution: 1440x900 (our current Samsung LCD)

Additional Comments: It would be also nice to have more than 2 USB slots on the case and maybe a card reader. Both not necessary, though.
 
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Atsisedes

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Sep 22, 2010
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I'm not really a hardcore gamer. I just want to be able to run some newer games from time to time (like FIFA 2011). I don't think I need to be able to run everything at maximum settings, medium and a bit higher should be fine.

P.S. I've edited my main post - I don't need OS (I have Win 7 64-bit already).
 
dndhatcher

dndhatcher

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You are the second FIFA 2011 post Iv'e seen today. I looked up the specs and it wants a fairly decent graphics card (a GT 8800). The cheapest modern cards above that are the GTS 450 and 5750. Since the 5770 is almost the same price that means choosing a GTS 450 ($130) or 5770 ($140). The price/performance is almost the same. You might get away with an older 4850 or GT 250 if you can get those cheaper.
 
dndhatcher

dndhatcher

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Not sure if all the links are going to work. Kind of a primitive web site.

Processor Athlon II x3 445
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=ADX445WFGMBOX&lng=en&w=7&s=4179

Gigabyte 880 microATX motherboard
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=GA-880GM-D2H&lng=en&w=2&s=4704

<not liking the RAM choices all that much>
Kingston Value DDR3-1600 2x2GB kit.
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=KHX1600C9D3B1K2%2F4GX&lng=en&w=36&s=12934

<hating the case choices, until I finally got to the coolermaster options>
Coolermaster RC 370 case <might want to add a top exhaust fan>
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=RC-370-KKN1-GP&lng=en&w=2&s=4716

Antec BP550 PSU.
<cheapest reliable PSU I could find. If you want to go cheaper, the chieftec 450/500W models might have a PCIE connector for the GPU. Most of those cheap PSUs were scary.>
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=0761345-06550-4&lng=en&w=1&s=13619


Graphics Card Options:
5770
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=HD-577X-ZNFC&lng=en&w=7&s=18701

or

GTS 450
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=N450GTS+CYC+1GD5%2FOC&lng=en&w=1&s=44917


 
ouroboros

ouroboros

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Aug 25, 2007
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If you swap the Athlon for a Phenom 2 (dual core), you have the ability to unlock some additional cores with that motherboard. This would definitely add to the longevity of your computer.

$118 = Phenom 2 X2 3.1GHz Callisto
http://www.itbank.us/info.php?part_number=HDX550WFGMBOX&lng=en&w=35&s=44995

Will you be mirroring your HDDs? Considering that you've mentioned both office work and programming as uses for this new pc, you may want to consider a pair of drives and mirror them (RAID1). Personally, I've found that 2 500GB drives works for my living room music/gaming setup. My workstation consists of a pair of 250GB HDDs, about 40% full after almost 3 years.

The case seems solid enough, I've often used Coolermaster and never had a problem. You can purchase a card reader with USB ports and even Firewire to go in the 5.25" bay. You can also get a USB3 addon card for the PCIE slot on the motherboard. From what I see, the case only has a single 120mm fan, I'd look into adding an 80mm intake to the front and preferably a side vent as well.
 
Atotalnoob

Atotalnoob

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@Ouroboros, you have a 50% chance of unlocking, and you should consider the system non-unlockable until you can do it. Also this is a 800$ computer, two HDDs are BARELY going to fit, and will take to much of a budget. plus he doesn't need USB3... Only purpose for buying the new stuff is 1. you already picked out that mobo 2. you are going speedboost 3. you can afford it... The extra fans aren't needed, as this computer won't be overclocked, take your "gaming" mindset and change it to "what would mom use?" lol =p. Sorry for the flame.....


Ok now, down to business. DnD has a solid build, though the 5770 would be the way to go once the 60()o series comes out, it'll drop... I double checked the Nvidia site, and google a bit, and didn't find anyone saying nvidia is releasing soon, but don't think me to reliable =p...
 
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Atsisedes

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Sep 22, 2010
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I've looked into these and I like this setup so far (even cheaper than I'd expected). What HDD would you recommend? I don't need more than 500 GB I guess.
 
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Atsisedes

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Sep 22, 2010
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Thanks guys, found all the parts. Now someone had recommended some Samsung HDD. I haven't saved the link and the post is already gone, so what HDD should I go for?
 
ouroboros

ouroboros

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Actually, it wasn't a gaming mindset. While I do play games on my systems I was thinking more about the aspect of multicore and redundancy. If it were a gaming mindset, I probably would have gone with the black edition and mentioned striping the drives (not something I'd ever actually recommend). If the 2 hard drives fit within his budget, there's no reason NOT to mirror them, they'll definitely fit in the case and the motherboard has the capability. He mentioned USB ports, all I did was give him an option to bring a system with USB2 up to what will (soon enough) be current with a USB3 addon card. They're relatively cheap and backwards compatible, there's also the USB2 addon card option. As to the fan, they're cheap and good airflow helps to extend the longevity of any build. A single fan forcing negative pressure will suck in dust from any open nook and cranny in the case.

It's not about "what would mom use". He mentioned office work right before programming (hence the multicore mindset). In both cases, I'd much rather be able to rebuild my data overnight than lose it all because I hadn't backed up since Sunday night and it's Thurs when my system crashes. In my mind, that's the point of redundancy not gaming.

And yes, I'll agree that the 5770 would be the way to go. Especially once the 6000s come out, but I believe that's in late October here in the States. No idea when they'll be released over there. And now, back to my coffee :)

(Edited for spelling)
 
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Atsisedes

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Sep 22, 2010
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Hey, maybe you can get a bigger monitor if you get your parts cheaper, the 5770 is a bit overkill for your resolution.
Click to expand...

Ah, we can't afford that at the moment. I'll just have to hope my monitor wouldn't blow off I guess.
 
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Atsisedes

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Sep 22, 2010
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Hm, so is BP550 a better one in my case?
 
dndhatcher

dndhatcher

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Either PSU will work fine; they are basically equal. I would get the cheaper of the two myself. The Corsair is likely to be slightly higher quality (built with better parts) than the BP550.

My main point was to demonstrate there is only a 2 amp (24 watt) difference between two PSUs rated 150W apart. The wattage rating on PSUs doesnt mean as much as how the load is distributed.
 
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