Review my build

[quick2822]

Hello,

As always, thanks to everyone who posts recommendations here. This forum is a great resource.

I'd love if someone with more know-how than me could look over this build and let me know if you see any issues/conflicts.

Essentially this will be a PC for the wife -- mainly for her to play the new SimCity and do your normal desktop based stuff. I'm still looking for an SSD, but my current interest is in the CPU/memory/mobo I selected.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ELFG

Thanks!

 

[g-unit1111]

What's your maximum budget? I think I would skip the SSD and go for a cheap mechanical HD, then upgrade the video card.

 

[michxymi]

If he doesn't play any demanding game he can go straight for an APU build along with SSD!

COUGAR Spike Black Steel / Plastic MicroATX Mini Tower Gaming Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811553011

CORSAIR CX430M 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139049&Tpk=corsair%20cx%20430m

AMD A10-5800K Trinity 3.8GHz (4.2GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 100W Quad-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7660D AD580KWOHJBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113280

ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M FM2 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157334

G.SKILL Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-1866C9D-8GAB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550

SanDisk Ultra Plus SDSSDHP-128G-G25 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) for Notebook
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171740

Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

SUM 484 $

 

[sharkbyte5150]

If this system was being used more as a gaming PC, I'd agree but for everyday usage with SOME gaming, I think an SSD is the better choice. The overall zip the SSD gives will appeal more to what she needs it for than a video card she won't even know is there.

Who needs more than a 7850 to play SIMS?
SIMS requirements show that she could just about play it with the integrated graphics on the i5.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Here's my tweaks to your build.

I went with a less expensive motherboard and PSU, added an SSD and HDD, and added a DVD drive:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.49 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.99 @ Compuvest)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Mac Mall)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($184.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $719.96
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-20 13:04 EST-0500)

 

[quick2822]

I'm looking to stay in the $600-$700 range for her. I'll probably go SSD for performance, since she is used to my PC.

 

[quick2822]

Here's my tweaks to your build.

I went with a less expensive motherboard and PSU, added an SSD and HDD, and added a DVD drive:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($87.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.49 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.99 @ Compuvest)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($99.99 @ Mac Mall)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($184.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($36.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $719.96
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-20 13:04 EST-0500)

Since I don't plan on OC'ing, is it still worth going Z77 over H77?

 

[g-unit1111]

I would not get a Trinity on a $700 budget. Even if you're not playing real demanding games, if you want to it's not the best CPU on the market. Get this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock Z75 Pro3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($79.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card ($184.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($65.17 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($21.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $723.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-20 13:22 EST-0500)

I didn't include an SSD because you can always add one later on.

 

[quick2822]

If this system was being used more as a gaming PC, I'd agree but for everyday usage with SOME gaming, I think an SSD is the better choice. The overall zip the SSD gives will appeal more to what she needs it for than a video card she won't even know is there.

Who needs more than a 7850 to play SIMS?
SIMS requirements show that she could just about play it with the integrated graphics on the i5.

Yes, while she'll play the new SimCity, she won't do much gaming beyond that.

 

[michxymi]

Yes, while she'll play the new SimCity, she won't do much gaming beyond that.

Then why not a less than 600$ Trinity build?

 

[quick2822]

Then why not a less than 600$ Trinity build?

I didn't rule that out, though I am partial to Intel. I felt that the $600-$700 range would give her PC a few more years before it became outdated, but admittedly, I haven't researched much in non-Intel builds.

 

[g-unit1111]

Then why not a less than 600$ Trinity build?

Do you work for AMD?

 

[michxymi]

Do you work for AMD?

Yep you found it!

No, I'm just suggesting what is the best for each situation. Search my profile and you'll find Intel builds too

And to cover the main subject. The above build I showed will last long enough for what you do. And that's with less than 500$. Also If in one or two years let's say you aren't satisfied you can just swap the APU to the newest (New APUs coming with +40% gpu perfomance if i remember what I've read) and have a brand new machine.

 

[sharkbyte5150]

I think OP should stick with his original list, but use the motherboard and power supply g-unit recommended.
I'd go with an SSD unless she'll be storing a lot of media files on the computer which could fill it up quickly.

 

[quick2822]

Best answer selected by quick2822.