New boss, err, build...same as the old boss, err, build?

[JSgro]

Apologies to The Who on that thread title.

Hi guys,

You all helped me with a build for my wife about six months ago. Now I'm jealous of her system and want to build a similar rig for myself. My main concern, I guess, is if any of the components I used for her build have become obsolete or if there is something else that has come out that is noticeably better. Here's the info...


Approximate Purchase Date: Next couple of days.

Budget Range: $700-800 After Rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Internet, photo editing, office applications, CD-music burning, possibly some future video work...but only personal stuff (nothing high-end or professional in nature)

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: N/A

Additional Comments: None


BUILD LIST:


CPU: Intel Core i5-2300 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz (3.1GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52300 ($180)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076

MOBO: ASRock H67M-ITX LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard ($87)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157238

CASE: Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($56)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996770 ($40)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226095

SSD: Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2CCA 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) with Transfer Kit ($125)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148447

HD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($60)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

OPTICAL DRIVES: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Writer - Bulk - LightScribe Support - OEM (2 @ $21 = $42)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106333

PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ... ($45)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM ($100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986


Total: $735 (all prices after rebates/discounts)


*** NOTE ***

1) Wife's six-month old build included Crucial's last generation SSD drive which had a 1.8" form factor. Discontinued, this new version of the drive is 2.5". My question is: Do I still need to buy the Micro SATA to SATA with SATA Power Adapter Cable which had to be purchased for my wife's 1.8" SSD?

2) SSD used for Windows 7 64-bit OS and most-used programs. Data and less used programs will be put on the Samsung 1T HD.

3) Also, I realize that the Antec case might be overkill for the small mobo going into it. But I figure it will be the last case I'll have to buy since it can handle all future builds and upgrades.


Thanks in advance for all your help. Like last time, I'm looking forward to all the invaluable advice given by the Tom's Community for us newbie and wannabe builders.

John

 

[feartrich]

yes that is a good build...but i might be overkill for how you're going to use it

this might be a better option:
Part list permalink: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1JN5
Part price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1JN5/by_merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: Biostar H61MGC Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($56.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot G Series Sector 5 Edition 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Hard Drive: Samsung 470 Series 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($104.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Xion AXP970-001BK ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec 380W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($18.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $592.89

 

[samuelspark]

MiniITX is a TINY mobo. It's going to generate a lot of heat and leave extremely little room for upgrades. Here is a P67 mobo for about the same price but has 4 RAM slots. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157249

 

[JSgro]

MiniITX is a TINY mobo. It's going to generate a lot of heat and leave extremely little room for upgrades. Here is a P67 mobo for about the same price but has 4 RAM slots. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157249

Spark...

Looking at the features of both mobos, seems that your recommendation could be a better alternative to the ITX I was going to use. Looks like the only thing it doesn't have is the HDMI port...but since this will be my office computer, I can't see where I would need that anyway. And it should give me more room to mess around with these big fingers of mine. lol.

One more question, if you or anyone else might know: When I built my wife's system earlier this year, it included Crucial's last generation SSD drive which had a 1.8" form factor. They discontinued that, and this new version of the drive is 2.5". My question is: Do I still need to buy the Micro SATA to SATA with SATA Power Adapter Cable which had to be purchased for my wife's 1.8" SSD? Did I need that cable because of the mobo being an ITX?...or because the drive was 1.8" instead of 2.5"?

Thanks for the help!

John

 

[cutebeans]

Wow, that's pretty much overkill with what you want to do. I'd get a AMD llano build than that.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

If you're going thsi way, spend $10 extra bucks for the i5-2400.

the SATA III SSD you are looking at will use a regular SATA cable. Just be use to use a SATA 3 cable (white) rather than SATA 2 (red)

I'll also suggest the Micro-ATX AS Rock H61M/U3S3, which is $69.99

 

[JSgro]

If you're going thsi way, spend $10 extra bucks for the i5-2400.

the SATA III SSD you are looking at will use a regular SATA cable. Just be use to use a SATA 3 cable (white) rather than SATA 2 (red)

I'll also suggest the Micro-ATX AS Rock H61M/U3S3, which is $69.99

Thanks Screwy.

I really was confused on whether I still needed that Micro SATA cable with the 2.5" SSD. Glad to know I can skip it. (Appreciate the tip on using the white SATA 3 cable also.) I'm actually going to jump up to the 128G Crucial SSD. Tom's says it's the sweet spot in their SSD reviews. And now I see that my wife is deciding which programs (other than Windows 7/64-bit) to put on her 64G SSD and which to put on her hard drive. I just want to throw the 128G SSD in there and put my OS and ALL my programs on there...no decisions to make about what goes where.

I'm going to take your advice on moving up to the i5-2400, too. What's $10 for more horsepower, after all?

You and Sammy seem to agree on the micro-ATX ASRock mobo being the way to go...sounds like good advice to me.

Thanks again for all the help you guys have provided so far. It makes me feel more confident as I go ahead with this project.

John

 

[JSgro]

Wow, that's pretty much overkill with what you want to do. I'd get a AMD llano build than that.

Thanks for the advice, Cute and Feartrich.

I'm sure you're right. For most of what I do, this is probably more $$$ than I need to spend. I think the fact that I'm still working on a Dell Dimension 4550 from about 2003(!) is making me want to go overboard. lol.

But I also figure that if I decide to do more with this computer in the future, I'll have the overhead to do it. Plus, building it myself, I'll be more familiar with what I've got so that I can do some future upgrades if they're needed.

Honestly...although I loved building my wife's computer and the challenge of getting all that stuff put together and running...I'm not one to build a new rig with the latest gear every year or 18 months. This system will probably sit on my desk for at least five years...most likely even longer. So while I'm sure you're right that I'm spending more than I need to, amortizing the extra cost out over the next five-plus years will come to...what?...$5 per month or so?

That's my thought process on it, anyway. I do appreciate you taking the time to post your opinion about my situation. Thanks!

John