So yesterday my boss asked me to build him a PC for general home use. I said "OK, not a problem" except that now I've come to think about it I do have a bit of a problem. I've always built my own computers so have plenty of experience in putting them together but they have always been monster gaming rigs, not small low power home systems which means I don't really know what to look for or take into consideration. So here's my cry for some assistance.
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There a few things to keep in mind when suggesting systems though.
Firstly, small form factor is crucial. He has said that he would like something similar in size to his office PC (a Dell Optimax 780). I'm therefore thinking a mini-ITX board and case should be used.
Secondly, and possibly most awkwardly, my boss wants to have two monitors plugged in, except that these are old VGA monitors, so there needs to be a GPU with dual VGA adaptors.
Thirdly, and what is causing me the most concerns are PSU's. I really have no idea what kind of power consumption this type of machine would need or what to look for to fit in a mini-ITX case.
Forthly, usage will pretty much be limited to web browsing and office work.
Finally, he doesn't want something that after 2 years use will take 10 minutes to open a browser window or communicate with a printer.
With all this in mind I have looked at the following parts:
Intel Core i3-xxxxT - low power models
Mini-ITX motherboard
An SSD for OS and other key programs - currently thinking 120GB should suffice but smaller may be better.
An HDD for file storage - less than 500GB. He largly keeps important files backed up onto external drives.
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As per the asking for "New Build Help" sticky, here is the template and answers.
Approximate Purchase Date: Any time within the next month
Budget Range: approx. £400. Less would be preferable
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Internet surfing and general office usage
Are you buying a monitor: Probably not
Parts to Upgrade: (e.g.: CPU, mobo, RAM) **Include Power Supply Make & Model If Re-using**
Do you need to buy OS: Most likely yes (Windows 7 Home Premium) 64-bit
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: dabs.com, ebuyer.com or scan.co.uk
Location: Liverpool, UK
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: Unknown
Additional Comments: Needs to be a small form factor. No desktop towers need apply!
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Thanks in advance for any help!
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There a few things to keep in mind when suggesting systems though.
Firstly, small form factor is crucial. He has said that he would like something similar in size to his office PC (a Dell Optimax 780). I'm therefore thinking a mini-ITX board and case should be used.
Secondly, and possibly most awkwardly, my boss wants to have two monitors plugged in, except that these are old VGA monitors, so there needs to be a GPU with dual VGA adaptors.
Thirdly, and what is causing me the most concerns are PSU's. I really have no idea what kind of power consumption this type of machine would need or what to look for to fit in a mini-ITX case.
Forthly, usage will pretty much be limited to web browsing and office work.
Finally, he doesn't want something that after 2 years use will take 10 minutes to open a browser window or communicate with a printer.
With all this in mind I have looked at the following parts:
Intel Core i3-xxxxT - low power models
Mini-ITX motherboard
An SSD for OS and other key programs - currently thinking 120GB should suffice but smaller may be better.
An HDD for file storage - less than 500GB. He largly keeps important files backed up onto external drives.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As per the asking for "New Build Help" sticky, here is the template and answers.
Approximate Purchase Date: Any time within the next month
Budget Range: approx. £400. Less would be preferable
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Internet surfing and general office usage
Are you buying a monitor: Probably not
Parts to Upgrade: (e.g.: CPU, mobo, RAM) **Include Power Supply Make & Model If Re-using**
Do you need to buy OS: Most likely yes (Windows 7 Home Premium) 64-bit
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: dabs.com, ebuyer.com or scan.co.uk
Location: Liverpool, UK
Parts Preferences: None
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: Unknown
Additional Comments: Needs to be a small form factor. No desktop towers need apply!
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Thanks in advance for any help!