Intel general use build for £300

[battousaik]

Hi,

I'm looking to replace my 8 year old PC with something I can watch 1080p films without stuttering and performance in surfing the internet, listing to music, etc. I've made a list of the kind of components I'm considering but they're not anything final.

Approximate Purchase Date: Next Week

Budget Range: £300

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Watching movies and general use.

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, Graphic card, hard drive

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon.co.uk, overclockers.co.uk

Country: England

Parts Preferences:
Prefer it to be an Intel based build and I already have an nVidia 430GT graphics card.
CPU: Intel Core i3 560
Motherboard: Asus P8Z68-V LX
PSU: OCZ-ZS550W-UK 550W
RAM: G-Skill 8GB Ripjaws DDR3 1333
Casee: Xigamatek CPC-T45UB-U01 Asgard Chassis
Optical Drive: Any blue-ray drive

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024

Additional Comments: None

Thanks.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

the i3 560 is not compatable with the P68 board.

the P68 board has no video output, though you do have the 430.

a 1280x1024 monitor is not 1080p (thats 1920x1080)

my suggestion:

i3-2120
H61 motherboard
a new 1920x1080 monitor
Corsair 430W PSU
keep the ram, HDD, and case

 

[battousaik]

Thanks for clarifying the compatibility issue, is i3 2120T the same as i3 2120? I forgot to mention I'll be using my TV for movies which is 1080p. Also is the P8H61-M LE board appropriate for this system? This is what I've got so far.


CPU: Intel Core i3-2120
Motherboard: Asus P8H61-M LE/USB3 Intel H61
Optical Drive: LG CH10LS28 BD-ROM
RAM: G.Skill RipJawsX 8GB (2x4GB) 1333MHz
PSU: Corsair CX430W
Case: BitFenix Shinobi "Core"

 

[Cold_War]

Thanks for clarifying the compatibility issue, is i3 2120T the same as i3 2120? I forgot to mention I'll be using my TV for movies which is 1080p. Also is the P8H61-M LE board appropriate for this system? This is what I've got so far.


CPU: Intel Core i3-2120
Motherboard: Asus P8H61-M LE/USB3 Intel H61
Optical Drive: LG CH10LS28 BD-ROM
RAM: G.Skill RipJawsX 8GB (2x4GB) 1333MHz
PSU: Corsair CX430W
Case: BitFenix Shinobi "Core"

Everything should be fine but I would consider:
1: Changing the case to an NZXT Source 220, the case is a lot better, looks good and is around the same price (I think a bit cheaper) than the Bitfenix Shinobi.
2: Saw a deal on Overclockers, spend £15 more and you can get an Asus with a Z68 chipset, it supports CrossfireX and usually costs a lot more.

 

[Cold_War]

The i3 2120 also performs better than the 2120T, as it has a slower clock rate but the 2120T is made as it uses less electricity.

 

[battousaik]

The i3 2120 also performs better than the 2120T, as it has a slower clock rate but the 2120T is made as it uses less electricity.

Thanks for the info and suggestion on the case, looks like a better choice. I'm probably not going to use SLI/crossfire so I want to keep the price as close to £300 as possible and definitely not go over £350.