• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Advice on 1st DIY build: performance desktop

E

effectsys

Junior Member
Please give suggested recipe for a desktop build:
1. I'll use the desktop for general business use, Access programming, Excel, Word processing. No gaming. Some dvd viewing (including blu ray). Some image editing and maybe sound editing (I own Propellerhead Reason & Record). My current desktop is a 2008 Dell Inspiron 530 & starting to have problems. I'd prefer rock-solid stability & reliability to cutting edge blazing speed. I'd like the ability to connect 4 1920x1080 24" monitors (of which I currently own 2). I spend a lot of time at my desktop & work best with lots of screen real estate. I recently installed an SSD in my old slow laptop and loved what it did to bootup time and general performance; so I'd like my build boot drive to be an SSD. I don't need gobs of disk storage, so 1T would probably be fine for a storage drive. My past experience is that I always end up upgrading RAM to the max, so I may as well start with the max.
2. Budget: $1500 (not including Windows 7 or more monitors)
3. USA
4. No brand preference: but want good long-term support from reliable companies.
5. No re-use of old parts.
7. I don't need to overclock, but an willing it there's an advantage.
8. 1920x1080 (for each of 4 monitors)
9. Build in next month.
 
Doesn't sound like you do anything demanding. First off, you will get by with a cheap graphics card, which means you don't need to spend much on the PSU or the case. There's no particular need for the motherboard to be fancy either. Reliability on its own doesn't really cost much, it's the features you pay for but you don't need anything high end in that regard.

I don't know anything about Access programming, so unless it's considerably more resource intensive than Excel or other office type use, you would not notice a difference between a $500 PC and a $1500 PC. Let's be generous and make it a $700 build with an Intel i5:

i5-3450 $190 [NCIX]
Asrock H77 Pro4-M $90 (DVI + HDMI + D-sub) [newegg]
PNY 2x4GB 1333MHz $39 [newegg]
XFX 5450 Fanless $35 ($20 AR) (DVI + HDMI + D-sub)
Crucial M4 128GB $115 [NCIX]
Seagate 1TB 7200RPM $90 [NCIX]
Asus DVD Burner $17 [newegg]
http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16811352011&user=u00000687Fractal Design Core 1000 $50 [newegg]
PCP&C MK III 400W $50 ($30 AR) [NCIX]

= $666 ($631 AR)

Or you can just get a Dell rig and enjoy the warranty and tech support.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for replying so promptly.
On my Dell machine, when I installed a graphics card, it disabled the MOBO graphics. Should I assume the MOBO you recommended won't do the same?

I had been thinking I should get a full size ATX to have enough room for two dual graphic cards.
 
effectsys said:
Thanks for replying so promptly.
On my Dell machine, when I installed a graphics card, it disabled the MOBO graphics. Should I assume the MOBO you recommended won't do the same?

I had been thinking I should get a full size ATX to have enough room for two dual graphic cards.
Click to expand...

That's not necessary. With the mobo and CPU that Lehtv's recommending, you can have the onboard and dedicated GPUs running at the same time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top