AMD build advice.

Hello, Im building a new system for my mum and would appreciate some advice on the parts i have chosen. This will not be used for gaming but for general purposes. With a very small amount of hd video editing. Here are the parts.

AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition, Callisto, Dual Core, S AM3, 3.2GHz,

Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) microATX DDR3 Motherboard

4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS3 Classic, DDR3 PC3-10666 (1333)

Samsung SH-S223L/BEBE 22x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, x12 RAM SATA L/scribe

CIT MTX001B, Black, mini-ITX Case with 300W PSU

1TB Samsung HD103SI EcoGreen F2, SATA 3Gb/s, 32MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ

The only suggestion I would make is to change the hard drive. Any Green label drive does not have good performance. They are ok as secondary drive. Get a drive that has 7200rpm., preferably WD Black.

Another suggestion is to partition the drive. A small partition (100-150GB) for OS and apps, and the rest for personal stuff (doc, photos, videos). That way if windows crap out and need reinstall, the personal files are safe. Better yet is to have 2 hard drives: a small one and a big one.

Also don't forget to create an image of the system after OS, apps, and drivers are installed. If OS fails all you need to do is to restore the image and don't need to reinstall apps and drivers.

you going with the on-board video or thinking of gfx card.?

didn't I help you with a Dell upgrade sometime back.?

ok thanks, what you think of the case that comes with its own psu 300 watt?

I usually do not like psu that come with, they seem to be just a throw in and I can't trust that.
is this what your talking about:
http://www.aone.co.uk/ProdInfo.ASP?ProductID=2640

if not going with a dedicated gfx then why not try it out but if going to get a gfx then I'd at least verify how good that psu is..

and no problem I'm glad the Dell is running good.

Ok cool. As for the thread i didnt realise you have to close them. i will do now.

I am also doing my own build which i told you about a few months ago, which i put off to see what sandy bridge was about. I feel quite glad i waited. Im gonna go with the 2500k, what do you think.

That looks a very solid build. Im gonna go SB, i can get the unlocked 2500k for 170£ and a decent mobo for 100£ roughly the same price as the 1090t build i was going to do. And from what i have read it will blow that away. The reviews say 5ghz on air is attainable. plus i can then use the card i seem to have become obsessed with. The 460 plus i can add another later.

Yeah well thats the plan i hope it works lol. Im not usually one for getting the tech as it comes out. But i come help to feel this is affordable and very good. It seems the only way for me to go but maybe im missing something.

Also i highly rate your advice, so was hoping you could help me with monitor choice. I want 23 - 24 inch 1080p and have seen a few. Should i worry to much about response times. I want a samsung and some are 8 5 or 2 ms im not sure how much i should worry about this.

im not sure whether to get 120hz or not. Im going into a shop to try out 3d vision this week. If its a 120 hz monitor then i will spend 300£ if just a normal 1080p will spend up to 200£

Lol thats what im hoping, i think 3d is something to have. Even though i have not experienced it.

For video editing more cores will pay off. I'd look at a 4 core Athlon over the 2 core Phenom. Probably the same price too.

dan2222 - I realized the better processor for mum is an athlon II x3 440 (3.0GHz)..
with that chip you will have a little future proofing and multi-tasking abilities..

Oh sorry i just see what you mean, get the x3 instead.

Wow very hard to find, but found one for 70£ will try to get this if you say is better. Thanks.

Lol, that you was and you was right so i trust your expertise.

That im not sure, i just picked it cause it looks cute and will take up minimal space. I had to convince her to stop buying a new laptop for 400£ every two years. So im trying to make it as unintrusive as possible.

Thats a bit too expensive, Thats 80£ the other is 28£. I need as cheap as poss.

Ok i just realised that the cpu is a athlon and not a phenom. If thats the case i could afford a AMD Athlon II X4 640, Propus, Quad Core, S AM3, 3GHz, 2MB Total Cache, HT 2000MHz, 95W, Retail, What do you think. 78£. Only 8£ pounds more.

Lol, then for 8£ pounds more i get the quad, as long as you say the athlon x4 is better than the phenom x2 for her needs.

Cool thats decided, thanks for help once again. Now im gonna get some sleep, its 2am here. Will speak to you soon i hope. Take care and thanks.

Lol good old dogs. Speak soon.

already been decided..

How

Will run one gigabyte 460 soc for now and another at some point. Not sure about matx or atx as i dont know the difference, is it size. If so i will buy whats the best if it gives an advantage. As for budget i dont want to save money at the expense of performance but dont want to pay loads extra just for minimal gain. If that makes sense.

for this i5-SB build, what all do you need, case too or just motherboard and RAM.?