Helping a friend on super budget non gaming rig, and update for my rig

[DazSH]

Budget Range: £400

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Surfing the net, watching movies, nero and not very important gaming

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, OS, Monitor, maybe not even gfx for now

Country: U.K

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU i5-2500k or AMD 6100

Overclocking: Not at all but maybe future

SLI or Crossfire: Not needed

Additional Comments: He only plays less graphic intensive games and mainly uses his computer for the internet and converting the odd movie . Im a old amd fan boy as i like budget saving but there flaws are swinging me towards intel but he doesnt game so might be better going the 6 core.


Also need advice on upgrade for my old system im looking at just replacing my cpu for now what chip would be best for me?

My spec basics

AMD Phenom x3 8450
Socket AM2+ 940
Asus M3N-H/HDMI 720a bios 2701
Corsair Dominator 4GB
Nvidia 8800 gt xxx edition

My specs are well dated but middle of this year im doing my own build and this one going to my parents so just need a cpu upgrade for now then save for my dream system maybe when the new range of cpus arrrive later this year thanks all.

 

[Outlander_04]

he sure doesnt need a 2500k for surfing the web


intel i3 2120
z68 chipset mb
2 x2 gig of 1600 MHz RAM running at 1.5 volts or less
400 watt psu

nothing more powerful than that is required

 

[Outlander_04]

Oh yeah, your computer ........

check the mb makers webpage and find the cpu compatibility list . I think you will find your choices are very limited

 

[DazSH]

Oh yeah, your computer ........

check the mb makers webpage and find the cpu compatibility list . I think you will find your choices are very limited

http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2Plus/M3NHHDMI/#CPUS

Which cpu would suit

 

[DazSH]

Phenom IIX4 980 says is compatible lol

 

[Tavo_Nova]

for you maybe a phenom II x4 960T is good, and for your friend i think a phenom II x6 1090T/1100T is great for him,
" mainly uses his computer for the internet and converting the odd movie "

or get him the fx 6100 bulldozer, it's good for what he can do with it, and probably if you needed a gpu some 5850 or so is great for it

 

[Outlander_04]

I would say dont bother with the most powerful CPU you can fit .

Instead either use an Athlon ll x3 or X4 . You will get a big boost in performance. Anything more than that is a waste for a few months usage , and the other components would limit performance anyway

 

[DazSH]

Thank think i will look for a phenom II x4 what's best bang for cash.

 

[serialkiller]

what games does ur friend plays and at what resolution

i am going to build ur friend with some asumption

1. Ur friend does oc and plays games like cod mw3 in less to mid detail at 1080p

intel i5 2500k
gskill ripjaws 2x4gb 1600mhz ddr3
cm hyper 212 cooler
asus p67/z68 comptible mobo
amd hd 6670 or 6750
wd carvier blue 500gb
cooler master haf 912
seasonic 520w 80+
asus dvd writer

2. Ur friend does play games like cod mw3 but dont oc

intel i5 2400
asus/gigabyte/msi/asus h61/67 compatible mobo
and every thing same as above

3. If ur friend plays games like nfs carbon and most wanted etc then

i3 2120
same as above mobo
amd hd 6450
gskill ripjaws 2x2 gb 1600 ddr3
seagate 500gb hdd
ocz,samsung,crutial,mushkin,kingston,intel 120gb ssd for os and programs
seasonic 420 w 80+
asus dvd writer
cm elite 430

4. Ur friend plays cs and net games then remove the graphic card from above build

for ur build

1 dont wanna change mobo then upgrade cpu to phenom ii x4 960t be

2. Can change system then

intel pentium g830
any compatible mobo
ur graphic and psu
2x2gb above mentioned ram

this is what u consider

 

[Phyrexiancure]

I would think the AMD A6 3500 would be a good solution for your friend. It'll offer a balance between the cpu and gpu for light gaming and regular tasks at $79.99 at newegg. The FM1 motherboards start at $55.


CPU - A6 3500 $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103951

Motherboard - ECS A55F-M3(1.0) $54.99 - $15 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135296

RAM - Team Elite 4GB (2 x 2GB) 19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313102

Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda ST320DM000 320GB $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148766

Optical Drive - Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner 17.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118067

Power Supply - Antec NEO ECO 400C 39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371029

Case - APEX SK-393-C Black Steel ATX Mid Tower 19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154109

This comes to about $ 313 before rebates taxes and shipping.

For your system I would either suggest an Intel I5 2500k or an AMD Phenom ii x4 960t . The 2500k is about $210 and the 960t costs $125. Both cpu's offer great bang for buck and can overlcock well. The 960t has a good chance to unlock at least one of its 5th and 6th disable cores and the 2500k has really high performance per core. Depends on your budget, but if you can afford the 2500k than that's going to give you more performance. Motherboard quality is also important for overclocking I would choose gigabyte if you buy a budget boards since they put higher quality components on their low costs boards compared to others.

 

[Tavo_Nova]

well for you. i do suggest the phenom II x4 960T.

based on what you wrote since gaming is the least important, or those APU 4 cores are great, even with it's on board 6600 series or something.

but for what you friend do.

based on this
Additional Comments: He only plays less graphic intensive games and mainly uses his computer for the internet and converting the odd movie . Im a old amd fan boy as i like budget saving but there flaws are swinging me towards intel but he doesnt game so might be better going the 6 core.

i also suggest going with the phenom II x6 1090T (there is the 1100T but i don't think it's worth it)

of course more performance comes with the intel like your friend should go with i7 2600K since he will get more performance for what else he is doing with this, but he can also go with an i5 2500k if money is a bit of a problem, but going with intel and if money is the problem i suggest to go with AMD

since this is not a 100% gaming build, based on what you said the i3 won't change much

 

[Phyrexiancure]

the 1090t and 1100t are hard to find and have inflated prices, I would skip them for gaming. The 960t would be a better choice since it is easy to get and relatively cheap. I wouldn't suggest his friend go with the i5/i7 especially the k series since they don't fit the budget. Unless video encoding is going to be the most valued metric they are not worth it in the person's case.

 

[DazSH]

the 1090t and 1100t are hard to find and have inflated prices, I would skip them for gaming. The 960t would be a better choice since it is easy to get and relatively cheap. I wouldn't suggest his friend go with the i5/i7 especially the k series since they don't fit the budget. Unless video encoding is going to be the most valued metric they are not worth it in the person's case.

So what is your recommendation ?

 

[DazSH]

a6 seem a litle slow but like graphiocs on board, he wants 2500k but i think hes budget wont get its potential need a middle ground whats best bang for buck for him ? also he wants 3d video at a later date so that might change a few opinions.

For me im looking for a 960t but in uk £100 area whats a little cheaper that is good choice for me? £100 is little to much away from my future full build... thx all

 

[Tavo_Nova]

he can always go with fx 4100 and an fx 6100 for his friend, they are cheap too and should be easier to find or both of you and your friend go with 6100

really if your going for i5 2500K or the 95 2400 you would need a lot of extra budget for it, as it would be useless if you can't ride it out in it's great performance, it's the same as buying a ferrari but the place where you live at only has 1 way road with 24/7 traffic..

suggestion would be amd bulldozer fx-6100 for your friend and you or for you get the amd bulldozer fx 4100

 

[DazSH]

he can always go with fx 4100 and an fx 6100 for his friend, they are cheap too and should be easier to find or both of you and your friend go with 6100

really if your going for i5 2500K or the 95 2400 you would need a lot of extra budget for it, as it would be useless if you can't ride it out in it's great performance, it's the same as buying a ferrari but the place where you live at only has 1 way road with 24/7 traffic..

suggestion would be amd bulldozer fx-6100 for your friend and you or for you get the amd bulldozer fx 4100

the 6100 wouldnt go in my board i dont thnk thanks though

 

[Phyrexiancure]

read my first post, i suggest a 960t your motherboard supports it if you don't want to by a new motherboard yet. Or go with the i5 2500k if you have a larger bugget. Both are good chips but your choice will depend on your budget.

 

[DazSH]

read my first post, i suggest a 960t your motherboard supports it if you don't want to by a new motherboard yet. Or go with the i5 2500k if you have a larger bugget. Both are good chips but your choice will depend on your budget.

yeah 960t sound awesome cant believe my board can take it lol

 

[Phyrexiancure]

a6 seem a litle slow but like graphiocs on board, he wants 2500k but i think hes budget wont get its potential need a middle ground whats best bang for buck for him ? also he wants 3d video at a later date so that might change a few opinions.

For me im looking for a 960t but in uk £100 area whats a little cheaper that is good choice for me? £100 is little to much away from my future full build... thx all

If he doesn't care much about graphics then a 1155 Pentium would be a better choice for the CPU side. You'll spend the same based on neweggs prices since motherboards are also around $50. If what you mean by 3d video is a graphics cards than both will allow you to upgrade your graphics but the intel platform would have better upgrade path.

 

[Tavo_Nova]

if you look at the 6th post i do suggest phenom II x4 960T it supports your mobo

"for you maybe a phenom II x4 960T is good, and for your friend i think a phenom II x6 1090T/1100T is great for him,
" mainly uses his computer for the internet and converting the odd movie " "

but if your friend can grab any phenomII x6 1090t/1100t he should take some bait as it should help him out with what he do but a x4 960T is what both you 2 really need and worth it IMO

for 100euro it's bit tad expensive since if your not going with the phenomII x4 960T, and still look for great performance, then you should switch out to 1155 i3 2100 intel, of course you would need a new mobo and os for this which should cost more but anything beloe phenom Ii x4 960T is not really worth it, but there are those amd phenom II x2/x3 which should be cheap. and cal also play some light games too, and do some work stuff. this is also a cheaper way than the i3 2100 since you won't be needing to buy a new mobo and the likes

 

[DazSH]

if you look at the 6th post i do suggest phenom II x4 960T it supports your mobo

"for you maybe a phenom II x4 960T is good, and for your friend i think a phenom II x6 1090T/1100T is great for him,
" mainly uses his computer for the internet and converting the odd movie " "

but if your friend can grab any phenomII x6 1090t/1100t he should take some bait as it should help him out with what he do but a x4 960T is what both you 2 really need and worth it IMO

for 100euro it's bit tad expensive since if your not going with the phenomII x4 960T, and still look for great performance, then you should switch out to 1155 i3 2100 intel, of course you would need a new mobo and os for this which should cost more but anything beloe phenom Ii x4 960T is not really worth it, but there are those amd phenom II x2/x3 which should be cheap. and cal also play some light games too, and do some work stuff. this is also a cheaper way than the i3 2100 since you won't be needing to buy a new mobo and the likes

Thx want 960t now lol

 

[DazSH]

going with 2120 and h67 board they say they can handle 1333mhz not 1600mhz though is that right?

 

[Phyrexiancure]

there is little difference between 1333 and 1600 so it'd be ok.