New PC configuration advice

[sirjoe25]

Approximate Purchase Date: within 2 weeks

Budget Range: 1200-1500
System Usage from Most to Least Important: General usage, will use Windows and Linux. No gaming necessary.

Parts Not Required: everything

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon...

Country: US

Parts Preferences:

Overclocking: not sure

SLI or Crossfire: not sure


Additional Comments: This will basically be a home pc used for everything but games. I will also use it for computer science courses (writing code). I would like something fast . Any dummy-proof ideas or suggestions appreciated. thanks.

 

[manofchalk]

So essentially a Home Theater and Productivity machine, you can spend way less than what you'v budgeted. I'l assume you wont overclock.

CPU: i5-3550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116505

RAM: G.Skill 8GB 1600Mhz. Probably more RAM than you need, but its so cheap nowadays and kind of future proofs it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Motherboard: AsRock H77 Pro4-M.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157301

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

SSD:
Crucial M4 128GB. Install the OS and any programs to this. The computer will boot and any programs on it will start much faster.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

PSU: Corsair Builder Series 600W. This is probably a bit overkill, but will let you drop in a GPU if you decide to later.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

Case: This is largely personal, pick out of the ones I suggest based on which one looks better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146067 This one doesn't have USB3 front ports, just so you know.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139008

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM. You can only use the product key once.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Total: $867 assuming the most expensive case.

 

[sirjoe25]

this sounds like it would fit my needs perfectly. I don't do any gaming, but I could add a GPU later if needed. Thank you.