Discrete Video Card Needed?

[Slide83]

I'm building a new PC for web browsing, re-encoding movies for my daughter's ipad, watching movies (1980x1080) & very light gaming.

I've already bought the following:

Processor: I5-3570k
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA z77m-d3h
Ram: 16 GB DDR3 1600
Hard Drive: Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB
Power Supply: Corsair 430W PS
Case: Thermaltake V3
Optical Drive: Lite-On Blu-Ray/DVD

My question is, would there be any benefit to getting a discrete gpu? I'm just concerned with super smooth web scrolling, video streaming and maybe some very light gaming for my daughter. Would the HD 4000 on my processor be all I need?

Thanks!

[OlafSicky]

its' all that you need save the money save power.

[snoylekim]

Yes , you'll be fine with the HD 4000 ..and if daughter gets more into gaming , you can add on a 7770 to support her advance into that .. If the gaming stays very light, more than adequate ..

[mfenn]

I'm assuming that "light gaming" means web based games (flash and javascript). In that case, no you don't need a discrete GPU.

[Zap]

Originally Posted by mfenn

I'm assuming that "light gaming" means web based games (flash and javascript).

Can the OP name the actual games?

Besides gaming (depending on actual games), everything else would be just fine on HD 4000.

[Sleepingforest]

The only thing I can think of is that 16GB if RAM may be a bit much; 8GB is enough for those tasks.

[T_Yamamoto]

Motherboard probably has more features than what's needed.
B75 based or whatever is cheap.

Doubt you'll over clock, so you can get a 3450.

No need for 16gbs of ram. Downgrade to 8

[Insert_Nickname]

Originally Posted by snoylekim

Yes , you'll be fine with the HD 4000

The HD2500/3000/4000 also has the added advantage of Quicksync, for video encoding to the Ipad.

[infoiltrator]

You should be fine.
If you like watch for a used video card in marketplace or on sale.
I expect you will eventually need to add an HDD.
Collecting is likely.

[VirtualLarry]

Originally Posted by T_Yamamoto

Doubt you'll over clock, so you can get a 3450.

But the "K" models have the better IGP out of the desktop chips.

[Insert_Nickname]

Originally Posted by VirtualLarry

But the "K" models have the better IGP out of the desktop chips.

The alternative is a 3475S, but it only comes in tray and can be difficult to get...

[Charlie98]

When I first built my current desktop, I was running the HD3000 IGP on my 2500K and playing Modern Warfare 1 and 2... it did it pretty well if not spectacularly, you should be fine with the HD4000 graphics.

My HTPC is running a G620 with HD1000 graphics, and it streams pretty well (although I expect a visit from the Brown Truck today with a new GPU for it.) At lower resolutions HD1000 would be fine, so the HD4000 is a no-brainer.

[Insert_Nickname]

Originally Posted by Charlie98

At lower resolutions HD1000 would be fine, so the HD4000 is a no-brainer.

That's a negative. Even overclocked to 1500MHz with DDR3-1066 7-7-7-20 timings, it completely fails to produce playable frame-rates in any halfway modern game. But its perfectly capable of flashgames.