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another "help me with my build thread" please

L

lockmac

Senior member
Hi guys. You guys have always been very helpful with great input in helping me choose parts for my build.

I have a new one for ya.

Anyways the situation is my mum wants me to build her a PC, and she says that her budget is about $2000 (Australian Dollars). Now she would really only use her computer for internet and word processing, but she really doesnt mind spending money on things (she wants the best even if she wont use it)

Now, with that, I can build a pretty good system!

Just needed some input on the motherboard and cpu and memory really;

For a motherboard, I really like ASUS and I want to build an Intel System.

Now the system doesnt have to have the best graphic card.

My questions- what are the best chipsets available and anyone know what are some really good Asus boards? And what memory or cpu should I couple this with? Is my decision to go with Intel good or should i go AMD?

Any suggestions please throw at me! As well as any options I might have (such as saving a bit of money for not much difference).

I know its a fairly open ended build but yeh what are some really good parts basically.

Thanks guys
 
If all she does is internet and word processing, ASUS makes some good integrated graphics boards. I don't recall the exact model(s) off the top of my head, but I'm sure someone can help you out with that.

In terms of processor, will she really know if she has the absolute best? There's a hefty price premium for having the best, but you can get things that are almost as good for significantly less money. For her needs, you could save even more than that and still give her a system that will seem very snappy.
 
OK thanks for the input. Should I get a board with DDR3?

In terms of motherboards, Ive spoken to her and told her you can get a motherboard for 100 or 400 and for her, have similar performance but she wants the 400 one haha.

So i was thinking of these boards... can someone please tell me the differences, recommendations etc etc...... and what memory and cpu should i couple this with? And 2GB of memory- would this be enough for the moment or should i get 4GB strait away?

http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...6_62&products_id=28167
http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...6_62&products_id=28292
http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...6_62&products_id=27241
http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...6_62&products_id=30670
http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...6_62&products_id=29265

Note: the last 3 are all the p5e3- i just dont know the difference between the Deluxe Wi-Fi and the Premium Wi-Fi. Also, the p5e3-deluxe (without wi-fi) is more money than the one with Wi-Fi??

Many thanks
 
She's overspending by literally $200-300 dollars with no performance gain to show for it. Just seems odd to me. Will she even know the difference?
 
Originally posted by: DSF
She's overspending by literally $200-300 dollars with no performance gain to show for it. Just seems odd to me. Will she even know the difference?
Click to expand...

Probably not, but i will.
Her intentions and reasoning arent in question here anyways.

 
Originally posted by: lockmac
Originally posted by: DSF
She's overspending by literally $200-300 dollars with no performance gain to show for it. Just seems odd to me. Will she even know the difference?
Click to expand...

Probably not, but i will.
Her intentions and reasoning arent in question here anyways.
Click to expand...
I'm not trying to be a hassle, it's just a very odd build.

You say the graphics needs are minimal, and yet the only reason to buy that $400 motherboard is to run two high-power graphics cards together.

Anyhow, so she wants that motherboard. Pair it with an E8400 and a PSU in the range of 300-400 Watts and you're good to go.
 
You can ask for help...but you have to realize that the help may be trying to stop you/your mom from wasting her money. If you don't like that help then you should just pick out whatever you want to do. I help people create builds which are suited to the person's needs, I don't help people needlessly spend their money.
 
Ok thanks for the input. Ive convinced her that she is wasting money on getting motherboards that are built for gamers. I have come up with the following system- still hi-spec in a way but not so much as before.

Any suggestions please...especially with the graphics card as it obviously doesnt need to be great, but their might be a better one out their for the same price roughly....

Intel Core 2 Duo e8400
Grahpics: http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...h=26&products_id=24959
Asus p5k-e wifi motherboard
http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...5_23&products_id=25249
Zalman 500W Heatpipe PSU (http://www.centrecom.com.au/ca...=74&products_id=30770)

Many thanks guys
 
Way more power than she needs. Without a gaming graphics card a 300-380W PSU would do the job easily.
 
yeh i thought it would be too much power but its not too much more than the cheaper ones so i think i will go with this one.

any other input on the other specs?

thanks for ya help so far
 
I suggest spending the remainder of the $2000 on the most expensive surround speakers you can get.(kidding, sort of).

A killer widescreen LCD could eat up that budget too, it would also not be overkill if you scaled down the other parts (budget wise) to make room for such a monitor. It makes more sense than a mobo with features she will never use. An attractive case would also be of value to her and maybe a card reader or docking station for her digital camera. Consider SELinux to keep her from crashing the OS every week or so with spyware.
 
get her dual 24in monitors + a G45/quad core/4gb ram. get her a 640gb hdd, and good speakers/mouse/keyboard.

aesthetics is probably all she'll care about. not like she'd notice the diff between 2gb and 4gb or dual/quad core...

oh and make sure the PC is quiet too!
 
Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
get her dual 24in monitors + a G45/quad core/4gb ram. get her a 640gb hdd, and good speakers/mouse/keyboard.

aesthetics is probably all she'll care about. not like she'd notice the diff between 2gb and 4gb or dual/quad core...

oh and make sure the PC is quiet too!
Click to expand...

Yeah I actually would focus on a "silent" system with a very nice monitor since you have money to burn.
 
yeh have done all that thanks guys. i ended up getting her an e8400, 4gb memory and a clear case with all coloured cable sleeving and this uv paint stuff she can draw all over the case with... she absolutely loves it!

just still deciding on the monitor... they wouldnt sell me the one that i wanted because they only had 4 and a new shipment is a month away.

god the hsf on the intel chips are a pain to put on... i loved the amd ones they were easy as pie.

any ideas from a backup point of view how i would set this thing up? it has 2 identical hdd's but i dont think i will raid them as she will probably download a virus one day and then it will copy to both ey........
 
Originally posted by: lockmac
yeh have done all that thanks guys. i ended up getting her an e8400, 4gb memory and a clear case with all coloured cable sleeving and this uv paint stuff she can draw all over the case with... she absolutely loves it!

just still deciding on the monitor... they wouldnt sell me the one that i wanted because they only had 4 and a new shipment is a month away.

god the hsf on the intel chips are a pain to put on... i loved the amd ones they were easy as pie.

any ideas from a backup point of view how i would set this thing up? it has 2 identical hdd's but i dont think i will raid them as she will probably download a virus one day and then it will copy to both ey........
Click to expand...

That's some strange business practices😕 I guess they don't like money

 
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