Build for music & on line movies

[mdestoguy]

I am building a PC, not my 1st, but haven’t built one in a couple of years,
Usage, this PC will be attached to my TV & surround sound setup.
Music – copying records to CD & MP3. watching movies online, (Netflix)
Playing basic on line games with my daughter (10) like Pirates of the Caribbean Online.
This might be a H.T.P.C but i prefer the practicality of a mid tower PC.

I intend to build a serious gaming PC later this year
I am an experienced builder. I would appreciate your opinion & recommendations

Specs, budget about $1,000
ASUS P8Z68-V LX LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0
Intel Pentium 2.6GHz G620 Sandy Bridge LGA 1155 65W Dual core
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3 x2
ASUS GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3
Antec BP550 Plus 550W
Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA 6.0Gb/s
CD/DVD Burner SATA
PCI IDE ATA HDD controller for old ATA HDD ( temporary)
All in a mid tower case.

Ill be running Windows 7.

Might over clock later but will get a better cooler 1st.
Thank you!

 

[wasupmike]

unfortunately you can't overclock the new Pentiums...

2 things:
since you can't OC lower level CPU's from Intel... and this system will be for HTPC use - save money and don't bother with the Z68 board and get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131724
- ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX: $70

or if you want to get fancy:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131783
- ASUS P8H67-V (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0: $105

second - you won't need so much power - get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033
- Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W: $45

 

[g-unit1111]

unfortunately you can't overclock the new Pentiums...

2 things:
since you can't OC lower level CPU's from Intel... and this system will be for HTPC use - save money and don't bother with the Z68 board and get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131724
- ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX: $70

or if you want to get fancy:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131783
- ASUS P8H67-V (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0: $105

second - you won't need so much power - get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033
- Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W: $45

Really? I'd suggest a Llano before going with H61, I know that it's an AMD CPU but it's perfect for this type of build. Overclocking isn't needed if it's a media only PC.

I wouldn't get that PSU either - I know it's Antec but I recently heard that their lower end PSUs are made by HEC/Compucase (a junk manufacturer), although I'm not sure how credible my source is on that.

Try this setup:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Corsair CX430 - $44.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H - $99.99 ($10.00 MIR)
CPU: 2.9GHz AMD A8-3650 - $129.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333Mhz 1.5V - $44.99
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB - $84.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99

$485.89 - $40.00 MIR = $445.89

 

[wasupmike]

Really? I'd suggest a Llano before going with H61, I know that it's an AMD CPU but it's perfect for this type of build. Overclocking isn't needed if it's a media only PC.

I wouldn't get that PSU either - I know it's Antec but I recently heard that their lower end PSUs are made by HEC/Compucase (a junk manufacturer), although I'm not sure how credible my source is on that.

Try this setup:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Corsair CX430 - $44.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H - $99.99 ($10.00 MIR)
CPU: 2.9GHz AMD A8-3650 - $129.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333Mhz 1.5V - $44.99
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB - $84.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99

$485.89 - $40.00 MIR = $445.89

ya, he could go with Llano if he wanted to... wouldn't make an overall difference though, either setup... whatever the OP prefers **(Intel - better CPU / AMD - better GPU, if you don't get a discrete video card - go Llano... if you do - go Intel Pentium)**

i wouldn't recommend regular Western Digital HD's - although ALL HD manufacturers these days don't make reliable products anymore - your best bet would be to stick with Samsung or Seagate (stay the most away from Hitachi)

i've built a couple of systems with that Corsair CX430 - it's loud, and one of their worst models... and would never build a system with it again (it 'hums' even when PC is not on). and why 430W? (to OP - no need to go over 400w for sure)

and definitely no need for 8GB of RAM - stick with your original 4GB - you'll have a nice balanced HTPC

 

[mdestoguy]

Thank you!

I like your suggestion of
ASUS P8H67-V (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0: $105

with this CPU.

Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core $128
i like the Antec PSU aswell,

unfortunately you can't overclock the new Pentiums...

2 things:
since you can't OC lower level CPU's from Intel... and this system will be for HTPC use - save money and don't bother with the Z68 board and get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131724
- ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX: $70

or if you want to get fancy:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131783
- ASUS P8H67-V (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0: $105

second - you won't need so much power - get something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033
- Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W: $45

 

[mdestoguy]

Thank you for your recommendations.

CM HAF 912 looks like a great case.

I told my daughter she can help pick out the case. but its on the short list.

Really? I'd suggest a Llano before going with H61, I know that it's an AMD CPU but it's perfect for this type of build. Overclocking isn't needed if it's a media only PC.

I wouldn't get that PSU either - I know it's Antec but I recently heard that their lower end PSUs are made by HEC/Compucase (a junk manufacturer), although I'm not sure how credible my source is on that.

Try this setup:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Corsair CX430 - $44.99 ($20.00 MIR)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H - $99.99 ($10.00 MIR)
CPU: 2.9GHz AMD A8-3650 - $129.99
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 8GB 1333Mhz 1.5V - $44.99
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB - $84.99
Optical: Lite On DVD Burner - $17.99

$485.89 - $40.00 MIR = $445.89

 

[mdestoguy]

Thanks again!
here the 1st revision.

PSU - Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D 380W 80 PLUS BRONZE $40
MB - ASUS P8H67-V (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 $105
CPU - Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 65W Dual-Core $130
Mem - G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) $50
Vid - ASUS ENGT430/DI/1GD3(LP) GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 $60
HDD - Seagate Barracuda Green 1.5TB 5900 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s $110
Optical - ?
Case ?
Total $500

 

[wasupmike]

looks good... again, you'll never need the 8gb of memory... but it is so cheap these days.. enjoy..!

 

[mdestoguy]

Best answer selected by mdestoguy.