Need help! want to build a solid mini tower

[bryguy_07]

Hello!

I tried raising this question before but didn't get a response, maybe I wasn't clear enough. I tried researching other threads but I feel I am too much of a novice to try to piece together a suitable (and compatible) system for me. I am hoping that this is a relatively easy topic for someone to respond to.

Approximate Purchase Date: ASAP

Budget Range: $500 Before Rebates; Before Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Digital Photo Editing, surfing the internet, gaming

Are you buying a monitor: No, don’t need mouse, keyboard etc either…

Parts to Upgrade: All except CPU

Do you need to buy OS: No


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: most familiar with newegg, open to other suggestions.

Location: Albany, NY

Parts Preferences: AMD CPU (already have), G.Skill Ripjaws

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Your Monitor Resolution: 1440x900

Additional Comments: Need this to fit in a mini tower. Want at least 8gb RAM. Want SSD hard drive (minimum 100GB). Need Optical Drive.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: Wife is really getting into Digital Photography, looking to maybe start as a little side business. Want a computer that will breeze through Lightroom 3 and will last for quite a few years. I am more of a console gamer, but if this could play Diablo III (on at least medium to high settings) that would be a nice bonus.

Include a list of any parts you have already selected with descriptively labeled links for parts.



AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

 

[idroid]

Hmmmm can't you stretch your budget a little more?? if this is going to be for money-making purposes then you should consider the purchase of this PC as an investment, get at least the following parts.

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Silverline 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($38.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB Video Card ($189.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 360 ATX Mini Tower Case ($38.86 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $737.80

 

[fpoon]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-880GM-USB3 Micro ATX AM3 Motherboard ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($44.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($46.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Enermax 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $495.91
(Prices include shipping and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-09-11 20:37 EDT-0400)

Exactly what you wanted, mini tower case, SSD, 8GB RAM and an AM3 board that supports your CPU.

 

[bryguy_07]

Thanks idroid, as I mentioned I'm kind of "stuck" with the CPU (long story!) so I wanted to build around it.

It looks like fpoon delivered the best build for the money so far, I really appreciate everyone's help!

I guess my biggest concern is making sure everything will fit in the mini tower, looks like this will work out just fine

 

[Smeg45]

Drop the mini tower. The Phenom runs hot - its either 125w or 140w compared with 77w of the latest Intel parts. For hours long rendering you don't want to stuff your parts in a tiny hot case .

 

[bryguy_07]

Best answer selected by bryguy_07.