Advice o on components for a new computer.

[jlvanvleet]

I am looking to replace my current desktop by building a new one. This will be my first time building a pc and I am not sure which setup would work the best for me. I am not a gamer. I mostly use my computer for watching hulu, netflix and dvds. I multitask a lot between Firefox, Microsoft office and abode acrobat and illustrator. I also work a little in theming for android. I am planning to run Windows 7 and am tossing around the idea of installing Ubuntu. I was originally thinking about getting an intel core i7 3770 processor and an nvidia GeForce GTX 650Ti, but I am not sure if this would just be overkill for what I mainly do. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

 

[tenaciousk]

Yeah, for what you are doing, you would be wasting money with a i7, What is your full budget for the system?

 

[jlvanvleet]

under $1000

 

[tenaciousk]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($23.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.49 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $777.38
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 21:32 EST-0500)

 

[g-unit1111]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($199.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus 76.8 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($23.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($73.49 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($109.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout ATX Mid Tower Case ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 500W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus BW-12B1ST/BLK/G/AS Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $777.38
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 21:32 EST-0500)

You'd be wasting money even on an i5 for the OP's uses. You could get a system for less than $500 and be fine.

I'd do this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4 ATX FM2 Motherboard ($85.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.99 @ 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: $550.07
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-02-23 21:36 EST-0500)

 

[tenaciousk]

This is true, i wasnt really sure if you wanted to spend around a grand or so, i still went low to that price, my spec is just a decent all around computer you could even do decent gaming on. The a10 build would also most likely suit your needs.

 

[tenaciousk]

However, if you were going to spend 550, you could still get a decent build with a discrete graphics card. im not a huge fan of the Apu's because it makes you commit to buying that specific not really upgradable fm2 motherboard.

 

[g-unit1111]

However, if you were going to spend 550, you could still get a decent build with a discrete graphics card. im not a huge fan of the Apu's because it makes you commit to buying that specific not really upgradable fm2 motherboard.

FM2 motherboards are just as upgradable as anything else you can get. If you want to run a GPU later on it supports PCI 2.0 so you can add any GPU you want. You're not necessarily married to the iGPU by going with an A10.