New General Use Build

[rikishi19]

Hi

I am looking into building a new PC for my parents whose old DELL system is coming to the end of its life.

So far I have come up with the following:

CPU: AMD ATHLON II X2 255 http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=11596
Mobo: ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 AMD870 AM3 http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=12631
RAM: KINGSTON HYPERX 4GB (2X2GB) DDR3-1600 KIT CL9 http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=11848
PSU: SEASONIC M12II BRONZE 520W 80PLUS POWER SUPPLY http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=14915
Optical: LG CH10LS20 10X BLU-RAY COMBO http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=14286
OS: Windows 7-64

I will then re-use the following from the existing DELL PC:
HDDs: 1.Samsung HD16OJJ/P 160GB for system
2. Western Digital 1TB Caviar Green
GPU: ATI HD4300/4500 series
Monitor: Not sure what it is, but it doesn't need replacing


The only thing I am needing to add now is the case which I am totally unsure about.

Preferrably I'd want one from the site in the links above if anyone could suggest a good one from there. Note that I am in New Zealand if you're going to be recomending parts from other sites. I can always look around myself if a part from a US site, newegg for example, is suggested to make things easier for you guys, this is no problem.

Also any advice on the other parts would be great too if anyone feels I am going wrong somewhere. I'm pretty sure all parts are compatible, but I may have over looked something.

For your information, this PC will only be used as a general use/multimedia PC. No gaming at all.

Cheers

 

[ps3hacker12]

even this PSU would do fine:
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=12566

this ram is slightly better at the same price:
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=10052

for the needs listed (as long as USB3 is not needed) then this motherboard would do well also:
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=14168

if you dont need bluray than this would do the job too:
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=14418

im not very good with new zealand websites, but any case even a generic one will do for that setup, since high-end cooling will not be required for example this one:
http://www.zcom.co.nz/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=6449

i wouldnt use the PSU in that case, but just look for a case that will accommodate your mobo, for example if your mobo is mATX then look for a mATX case etc. the one you originally listed is ATX and the one i listed is ATX.

 

[rikishi19]

Thanks for your advice.

I came across this case which looks pretty good
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/gigabyte-gz-x7-black-atx-mid-tower-case-no-psu&ref=pricespy

 

[ps3hacker12]

Thanks for your advice.

I came across this case which looks pretty good
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/gigabyte-gz-x7-black-atx-mid-tower-case-no-psu&ref=pricespy

thats a great case, dont forget to get 2 120mm fans for that case.

 

[rikishi19]

Would it be worthwhile saving money on the memory and going for this
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/kingston-valueram-4gb-kit-ddr3-1333mhz-dimm-pc10600-desktop-ram
instead of this
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/kingston-hyper-x-4gb-1600mhz-ddr3-non-ecc-cl9-dimm-kit-2-xmp

and getting this motherboard
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=15115
instead of this one
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=12631

and upgrading the cpu to this
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=9100
instead of this
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=11596

With these changes I will be spending roughly $13ND more and getting a superior CPU whilst sacrificing USB3.0 and lower quality RAM (I'm not sure how much of a difference this downgrade in RAM will make if you can enlighten me if possible).


Which would be the better set-up, better CPU or better mobo and RAM?

Edit: In fact these two mobo's are even cheaper

http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/asrock-n68-s3-ucc-am3-matx-board-gf7025-nf630a
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/asus-m4n68t-m-v2-nforce-630a-geforce-7025-matx-socket-am3-ddr3-1800-raid-onboard-vga

Are they worth looking at over the previous ones?

 

[ps3hacker12]

Would it be worthwhile saving money on the memory and going for this
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/kingston-valueram-4gb-kit-ddr3-1333mhz-dimm-pc10600-desktop-ram
instead of this
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/kingston-hyper-x-4gb-1600mhz-ddr3-non-ecc-cl9-dimm-kit-2-xmp

and getting this motherboard
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=15115
instead of this one
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=12631

and upgrading the cpu to this
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=9100
instead of this
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?partid=11596

With these changes I will be spending roughly $13ND more and getting a superior CPU whilst sacrificing USB3.0 and lower quality RAM (I'm not sure how much of a difference this downgrade in RAM will make if you can enlighten me if possible).


Which would be the better set-up, better CPU or better mobo and RAM?

Edit: In fact these two mobo's are even cheaper

http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/asrock-n68-s3-ucc-am3-matx-board-gf7025-nf630a
http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/asus-m4n68t-m-v2-nforce-630a-geforce-7025-matx-socket-am3-ddr3-1800-raid-onboard-vga

Are they worth looking at over the previous ones?

i wouldn't reccommend the last two mobos in your edit, the gigabyte one will have slightly worse cooling, but that only really matters if your into OCing, otherwise mATX should be fine, as for the 1600vs1333 ram there isn't much difference, apart from ocing again (and the 1333 can be oced to 1600 like mine is , but this isn't garaunteed ) that CPU is much better.

the reason why i would choose that gigabyte over the cheaper ones is becuase the gigabyte one should give you an upgrade path in the future if you ever want to upgrade to the bulldozer series coming up, (whereas those cheaper ones wouldn't)