Budget $500 - Build Advice

[Tyler1986]

I'm trying to throw together a $500-$550 build for my brother in law. Mainly plans to use it for office work, but wants to use photoshop as well, and values speed above all else.

Case $50
Rosewill DESTROYER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case w/ 3x 120mm Fans

Hard Drive $70
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

RAM $67
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333

Video Card $55 - $30 MIR = $25
Galaxy 21GGE8HX3AUM GeForce 210 1GB 64-bit DDR2l

Power Supply $30
Rosewill RV350 350W

Memory Reader $10
SABRENT 68-in-1 Internal Card Reader

Motherboard $80
MSI 880GM-E43 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU $160
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz

Grand Total of $522 - $30 MIR = $492

Also comes with a $10 Newegg gift card.

Don't need CD/DVD, mouse, speakers, keyboard, or monitor.

Was also thinking of an Intel build:

Motherboard $80 - $20 MIR = $60
ECS P55H-CM (V1.0) LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU $210
Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale 3.33GHz LGA 1156 87W Dual-Core Desktop Processor

CD/DVD $19
ASUS 24X Burner Black SATA Model

Grand Total: $536 - $20 MIR = $516

Also comes with Dirt 2 from the cpu purchase.

Had to add a CD/DVD drive because that mobo doesn't have an IDE port, and I dropped the GPU. I don't know if I'm understanding this right, but I gather you don't need a cheap video card with intel's i series, they can do some graphic processing themselves.

So how's she look?

 

[mdd1963]

Some of the newest SandyBridge cpus (socket1155) have integrated graphics...; the 'older' socket 1156 models do not...

 

[cmi86]

I like the AMD build alot, as far as the intel i would wait for sandy bridge, I have heard pretty good things.

 

[bs6749]

A couple of suggestions.

First, scrap the AMD Phenom X4 965 BE. Though it is a great processor, you can get a Phemnom X2 555 BE for ~$90 from Newegg and unlock it to an X4 965 easily.

I would go with this board since it has USB 3.0 and SATA 6GB/s and since speed is important: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131647

Scrap that video card, it won't do much. Even my 7600GT that is over 5 years old (model wise) will out-perform that one by leaps and bounds and mine can be had for $15-30 or so. I would recommend that you wait and look for better deals on video cards. I am expecting there to be some within the next week or so. Check www.fatwallet.com often for updates. There have been some great deals posted on there. I will do the same and recommend you one if I see a deal.

You also JUST missed some great PSU deals on Newegg.

 

[Tyler1986]

Thanks for the info. I know how to put together PC's fairly well, but knowing what parts go together best I'm not as strong, especially video cards.

 

[bs6749]

I knew it wouldn't be long...here is a good deal that I would take if I were you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161334

A very good card for $70 after rebate and I wouldn't hesitate to jump on this if I didn't already have one better.

You will need to get a better PSU, but this one will do:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

Only $40 after MIR but you must act today.

Your case is also now $70, so I recommend this one instead for $55:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-11-129-066-_-Product

Also must acto today on the case.

Your new total with better parts comes to $494 after rebates. Much better stuff and only $2 over what you had initially.

 

[maawdawg]

You don't want triple channel memory, AMD systems want dual channel 4GB (2x2 will be fine) and it should save you $25 or so. If you must have more ram find a 4GBx2 kit, I don't think it would be necessary though for light photoshop.

 

[bs6749]

Are you suggesting that DDR2 be run in a DDR3 board? You need DDR3 for that board.

 

[maawdawg]

Are you suggesting that DDR2 be run in a DDR3 board? You need DDR3 for that board.

No, that is not what I am suggesting. I am suggesting he buys a 2 stick RAM set like the board uses, not a triple channel (3 stick) set like he has listed in the OP. AMD boards like pairs of RAM. Dual Channel not Triple Channel. It has nothing to do with DDR2 or DDR3

Something like one of these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274

 

[obsidian86]

this it more power then anyone needs for photoshop

or you can just change to this combo and add an hdd

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.578093

 

[real world]

this it more power then anyone needs for photoshop

http://img.techpowerup.org/110105/super.png

or you can just change to this combo and add an hdd

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.578093

I like the first combo. I'd opt for the Radeon 5670 over the 430 Fermi though.

Does the OP need a OS? If so, that changes some things. Windows 7 will shave about $100 off the top of the budget.

Superbiz has the 500GB Samsung Spinpoint F3 at $49 right now.

Amazon sells the CoolerMaster elite 310 case for $39 delivered. Not a bad case for a budget build.

 

[bs6749]

Another good card:

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1063005/

I'd go with that brand over the one I listed previously. XFX cards have always been good for me. No experience with HIS.

 

[Tyler1986]

I went with the build in the pic and swapped out video cards. Dropped the cd/dvd since I have a spare and this mobo has an IDE port. $519 total with a $20 MIR. Thanks for the help guys.

And I should have mentioned, software is already covered.

Thanks a lot for the help.

 

[real world]

Good luck pal. I think you'll be happy with what you've chosen.