$500 MS Office / Work Build

gnomicidal

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Jul 27, 2010
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Approximate Purchase Date: Immediately

Budget Range: I'd like the midpoint to be around $500.00 but can go more for reasonable improvements.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Minor video editing (Flip video etc), MS Office 2010, web surfing and email

Parts Not Required: KB/M, Monitor, Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg / Amazon Prime

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: I would prefer to use Intel/Nvidia if possible. All other parts up for grabs.

Overclocking: No.

SLI or Crossfire: No.


Additional Comments: Needs to be smaller to fit into PC desk (Micro ATX should do the trick I believe), needs to be fast with MS Office tasks and minor (I mean very minor) video editing for work related therapy sessions.


Here is what I threw together. Any improvements or cutting of the fat is much appreciated as I'm trying to spend the money where it's truly important. Couldn't decide on a video card for this sort of a machine, so any decision on that front would be better than where I am.

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

LIAN LI PC-A05NB Black Aluminum ATX Mini Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112218

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

2X - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

ASRock H61M-VS LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241

Intel Core i5-2300 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz (3.1GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076



Thanks!
 
You could actually go for a smaller case (look for MicroATX cases). Other than that, your computer will work very well for what you're doing; obviously, word processing isn't that strenuous.

You could probably save some money by getting an AMD Athlon II X2 to X4, since AMD is cheaper than Intel, and you're not doing anything very strenuous with the system. Get a newer motherboard that supports DDR3 RAM and you'd save a lot compared to the Intel system.
 
+1 on considering an AMD build. Also, no need for a video card.... Build-in video for both Intel and AMD builds will be perfectly fine for the work you are expecting. If you were gaming that would be a different story. Just "office type stuff" will be fine with onboard running dual monitors.
 
OP I like your build. But you could save in spots, such as the power supply.
25$ AR: Great solid PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033&Tpk=380%20antec
40$: Solid HDD 500gb as well
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395&cm_re=seagate_500gb-_-22-148-395-_-Product

I suggest 4gb, that's the standard as of now. This kit would be a good choice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279&cm_re=4gb_ddr3-_-20-161-279-_-Product

As for builds, I have a 288$ build in my siggy for the most basic needs (labeled as 300$)

As others have touched on, an AMD build would fit your basic usage perfectly. Specially the Regors or the Rana's.
 

gnomicidal

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Ok I've put together this AMD system combining a bunch of your guys answers.

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Rosewill R363-M-BK Black Ultra High Gloss Finished MicroATX Computer Case with 400W ATX 2.2 12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147099

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

ASUS M4A88T-M LE AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131673

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

WINTEC AMPX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 3AXH1333C9WS4GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161279

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

Missing anything crucial, any further suggestions? You guys have helped out a ton so far!
 
A) Just a heads up that that case comes with a PSU, but I would recommend replacing it with that Antec anyway. Just wanted to bring that to your attention.

B) I'd get one of these CPUs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911&cm_re=amd_athlon-_-19-103-911-_-Product
It's more along the lines of what you need; the Phenom II is complete overkill.

C) Patriot's RAM is better and slightly cheaper than Wintec's (its a pretty crappy OEM brand): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220537

D) $4 more expensive hard drive, but better quality/longer life IMO (not a big fan of Seagate): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769&cm_re=WD_Caviar_Blue-_-22-136-769-_-Product
 
^ Wintec's ram is actually not a crappy OEM brand. It's a pretty decent ram kit, plus it has heatsink on it. Granted not the best, but better than average and it's only a few bucks more.

@boiler, that HDD is using SATA III the 88T-M Doesn't support SATA III.

OP Change your mobo to this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130295
It's cheaper for the same things basically.

Oh and +1 about boiler, change the CPU.
 


Completely looked over that. It was the cheapest 500GB Caviar Blue listed, so I just assumed that it was a standard SATA II drive ;)

It should be backwards compatible though, right?
 

gnomicidal

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Ok aggregated responses again and here is what I came up with:

Rosewill R363-M-BK Black Ultra High Gloss Finished MicroATX Computer Case with 400W ATX 2.2 12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147099

But will replace the PSU with:
Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Changed Mobo to:
MSI 880GM-E41 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130295

Paired with this suggested processor:
AMD Athlon II X3 455 Rana 3.3GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX455WFGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103911

Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model PSD34G1333K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220537

And decided to stick with this HDD. Have this in my system and like it:

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181



Any compatibility issues or anything I am missing? Any more suggestions? This should all run Office 2010 and like Smart phone/ Flip camera video editing fast?