650 non-gaming build

[mk-ultra]

Approximate Purchase Date: Monday-Wendsday

Budget Range: $650

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Runs quickly, will last a couple or more years (not so much for gaming)

Parts Not Required: asus directcu 6870, monitor, speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg

Country: US

Parts Preferences: No preference

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024 for now

Additional Comments: Just a family computer, nothing over 650

This is what I've put together in about 30 min, anything I could swap out for a better bang for my buck?

DVD Burner- ASUS 24X DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Case- HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition ATX Mid Tower - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096

HDD- Seagate Barracuda 500GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

PSU- Corsair 500W - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

Mouse/Keyboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823109235

CPU- AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996

CPU cooler- COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO (I know how much you guys love this cooler) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

MOBO- GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3 AM3+ - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128519

Windows 7- Windows 7

Thanks in advance!

 

[r0aringdrag0n]

CPU: Intel i5 2400 $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
This is a better performing CPU than the FX 4100, it'll last longer since it has stronger cores. This, unlike the FX, is NOT overclockable.

Graphics: HAVE $0

MoBo: ASRock H61M-VS $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241
This is a great budget board. It has all the features that you need and it is from a reliable company.

PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W $54
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034
This PSU is very reliable and is decently priced. It will be enough for your build and should even produce more power than it says it produces.

Case: NZXT GAMMA $40
http://www.amazon.com/GAMMA-Classic-Interior-Chassis-Black/dp/B002UDK9U6
This is a great case. It has lots of features for the price it is at. It will fit a long graphics card because it was designed for a gaming computer.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767
This is a cheap 500GB HDD made by seagate. It should suffice for your needs, if you wish to get a higher drive, then go for it, but HDD prices are through the roof.

RAM: Team Elite 8GB Desktop Memory Model TED38192M1333HC9DC $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313086
This is great RAM, it has high ratings. You will NOT need 8GB of RAM, but since 8GB is so cheap, might as well get it,

Heatsink+Fan: STOCK $0

DVD-ROM: LITE-ON DVD Burner $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
This is a great DVD writer, it has high ratings and is decently priced.

 

[somekidxd]

AMD x4 960t $125
GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-S2P AM3+ $60
LG 22x Dvd Drive $18
Kingston HyperX 1333 8GB 1.5V $40
Crucial M4 64GB $100
Hitachi 500GB 7200RPM $80
Cooler Master Elite 430 $50
Windows 7 OS $100
Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W $54

Total: $627

Put the programs and OS onto your SSD and itll be mad quick. Remember to plug the SSD into the SATA Raid 0.

 

[mk-ultra]

AMD x4 960t $125
GIGABYTE GA-78LMT-S2P AM3+ $60
LG 22x Dvd Drive $18
Kingston HyperX 1333 8GB 1.5V $40
Crucial M4 64GB $100
Hitachi 500GB 7200RPM $80
Cooler Master Elite 430 $50
Windows 7 OS $100
Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W $54

Total: $627

Put the programs and OS onto your SSD and itll be mad quick. Remember to plug the SSD into the SATA Raid 0.

I needed some extra money for the keyboard and mouse. I would rather have ram that ran at 1600 then at 1333.

 

[r0aringdrag0n]

I needed some extra money for the keyboard and mouse. I would rather have ram that ran at 1600 then at 1333.

You won't see a difference between 1600MHz RAM and 1333Mhz RAM, the performance increase is really negligible.

Also, if you went with my suggestion, the total cost would be $479 and it'll sport a better CPU than the Phenom II x4, but will NOT have an SSD. The SSD will give some performance increase but I believe the extra money on the CPU is well worth it.

 

[mk-ultra]

CPU: Intel i5 2400 $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
This is a better performing CPU than the FX 4100, it'll last longer since it has stronger cores. This, unlike the FX, is NOT overclockable.

Graphics: HAVE $0

MoBo: ASRock H61M-VS $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241
This is a great budget board. It has all the features that you need and it is from a reliable company.

PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W $54
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034
This PSU is very reliable and is decently priced. It will be enough for your build and should even produce more power than it says it produces.

Case: NZXT GAMMA $40
http://www.amazon.com/GAMMA-Classic-Interior-Chassis-Black/dp/B002UDK9U6
This is a great case. It has lots of features for the price it is at. It will fit a long graphics card because it was designed for a gaming computer.

HDD: Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767
This is a cheap 500GB HDD made by seagate. It should suffice for your needs, if you wish to get a higher drive, then go for it, but HDD prices are through the roof.

RAM: Team Elite 8GB Desktop Memory Model TED38192M1333HC9DC $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313086
This is great RAM, it has high ratings. You will NOT need 8GB of RAM, but since 8GB is so cheap, might as well get it,

Heatsink+Fan: STOCK $0

DVD-ROM: LITE-ON DVD Burner $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
This is a great DVD writer, it has high ratings and is decently priced.

I made a few changes, they are the following -

Intel Core i5-2400,

and

ASRock P67 PRO3 (B3) LGA 1155 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.791361.13-157-230

Do you guys think that motherboard is a good choice?

Overall with everything I want/need the price will be $668 a little over 650 but worth it for the better cpu.

 

[r0aringdrag0n]

I made a few changes, they are the following -

Intel Core i5-2400,

and

ASRock P67 PRO3 (B3) LGA 1155 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.791361.13-157-230

Do you guys think that motherboard is a good choice?

Overall with everything I want/need the price will be $668 a little over 650 but worth it for the better cpu.

That's a perfectly good and reliable motherboard. You're all set, you can click buy button and make the people at Newegg happy :lol:

 

[mk-ultra]

One last thing, I can get the i5-2500k at my local microcenter for $180. 10 dollars cheaper then the i5-2400 on newegg. Can the 500W psu be able to run that CPU and my 6870?

Currently, I have the same psu running an athlon ii x4 640 with my 6870 with no problem. Would it work the same way with the i5-2500k?

Since I'm strapped for cash right now, will the stock heatsink be good enough to run the i5-2500k without any overclocking until I can afford to buy one?

 

[r0aringdrag0n]

One last thing, I can get the i5-2500k at my local microcenter for $180. 10 dollars cheaper then the i5-2400 on newegg. Can the 500W psu be able to run that CPU and my 6870?

Currently, I have the same psu running an athlon ii x4 640 with my 6870 with no problem. Would it work the same way with the i5-2500k?

Since I'm strapped for cash right now, will the stock heatsink be good enough to run the i5-2500k without any overclocking until I can afford to buy one?

Yes a 500W, as long as it actually outputs 500W, will be able to support the i5 2500k. Infact, you can even OC the CPU and the PSU will be fine. The i5 2500k and the i5 2400 has the same TDP, which is 95W. Also, the stock fan is more than capable of keeping the i5 cool. I don't know where you live, but if it is relatively cold (I live in NY), then temperatures with the stock fan would probably be around 35C. My CPU maxes out at 35C with the stock fan, therefore, you'll probably be able to OC the CPu to around 3.7GHz without an aftermarket heatsink and fan

 

[mk-ultra]

Yes a 500W, as long as it actually outputs 500W, will be able to support the i5 2500k. Infact, you can even OC the CPU and the PSU will be fine. The i5 2500k and the i5 2400 has the same TDP, which is 95W. Also, the stock fan is more than capable of keeping the i5 cool. I don't know where you live, but if it is relatively cold (I live in NY), then temperatures with the stock fan would probably be around 35C. My CPU maxes out at 35C with the stock fan, therefore, you'll probably be able to OC the CPu to around 3.7GHz without an aftermarket heatsink and fan

The psu in both the computers is the same 500W Corsair psu. Alright, sounds great! I live in Virginia, the gaming computer is in the basement. It stays relatively cool down here, the temps with my computer are all below 33C for the CPU.

My only concern with the whole build is the motherboard. In both of my builds I didn't have the opportunity to buy one of the more higher class motherboards, so I want to be sure that this ASRock motherboard is worth the money.

 

[r0aringdrag0n]

The psu in both the computers is the same 500W Corsair psu. Alright, sounds great! I live in Virginia, the gaming computer is in the basement. It stays relatively cool down here, the temps with my computer are all below 33C for the CPU.

My only concern with the whole build is the motherboard. In both of my builds I didn't have the opportunity to buy one of the more higher class motherboards, so I want to be sure that this ASRock motherboard is worth the money.

You really aren't going "high class" until you reach this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128495

 

[mk-ultra]

You really aren't going "high class" until you reach this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128495

Oh, I think you might have misunderstood me. I understand that the ASRock is no where near the higher end of the motherboard scale; rather, it's one of the more inexpensive ones. I just wanted to be sure that the board itself is going to last and not die on me.

 

[r0aringdrag0n]

Oh, I think you might have misunderstood me. I understand that the ASRock is no where near the higher end of the motherboard scale; rather, it's one of the more inexpensive ones. I just wanted to be sure that the board itself is going to last and not die on me.

No, it shouldn't, ASRock is a very reliable company...it's part of ASUS I think.

 

[mk-ultra]

No, it shouldn't, ASRock is a very reliable company...it's part of ASUS I think.

It is! Alright, Well thanks for all the help! Hope you have a great week.

 

[mk-ultra]

Best answer selected by mk-ultra.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey