Budget build; please help

[sigmanova]

Hi everyone; I'm back to build a new computer for my brother-in-law for his birthday. I humbly request the assistance of the experts on this board towards helping me put this together. You guys were great when I built my first computer back in December 2010.

So here goes:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Internet (facebook, online banking), basic bookkeeping, spreadsheets, maybe a movie or two.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

$600, maybe up to $700 maximum. I'd like to include keyboard, mouse, and flat-panel monitor.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Intel, Samsung (for their hard drives!), ASUS, Antec, Corsair

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

N/A; using all new parts.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Pure clock speeds; will not overclock at all.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

Probably no gaming with this; but 1920x1080 would be nice.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

In the next few weeks once AT signs off on the build.

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

Please critique and help with the configuration. I have alot of respect for your guys' (and gals) opinions.


UPDATE with Desi's suggestions:

Intel Core i3-2100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

g. skill 4GB (2x 2gb in dual channel) DDR3 ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253

Antec 300 case with 430W PSU as suggested by Desi below

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065

Samsung 1TB F3 hard drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Lite-On DVD-Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Thanks for the feedback, Desi. I am still researching motherboards but will take those Intel H67's into account.

Thank you!

 

[DesiPower]

There is a Antec 300 with a PSU at newegg for $90, that will same you few bucks.
For mobo I would go with any Intel H67

Rest everything looks good! good luck!

 

[philosofool]

This looks like the ASUS board for you: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131713

I didn't do a tally to see where you are budget-wise, but have you considered a system with an SSD for the OS and programs and a HDD for user files?

Given the usage scenario you've described, it looks like a 60GB SSD "boot drive" and a 500GB "user profile" drive should probably work. This will add about $100 to the total cost. My personal opinion is that it would be worth it to get a cheaper processor, possibly AMD, and an SSD, rather than sticking with the conventional HDD.

 

[wuliheron]

Building a multimedia PC in that price range is questionable. The parts might be more reliable and durable and you can possibly use some of them in a future build, but a prebuilt comes with a warranty. Just a thought.

 

[sigmanova]

philo, no need for SSD as it's only going to be used for internet (facebook, online banking, news sites, etc.) and a few movies here and there. doubtful it will be used for gaming. i think the samsung f3 will work.

the budget is around $650 after figuring in a new monitor, keyboard, and mouse...not sure where else i can cut but i think it's a solid system.

 

[DominionSeraph]

$350 off Vostros over $900 with coupon code LRKR20M9TJ8VLM.

Configure a Vostro 460 this way: (edit: the second configuration may be better)

i5 2500
4GB RAM
320GB HDD
Ultrasharp U2211H monitor.

$559

Edit: You could also bump it up to a larger monitor instead of dumping the money into the computer with Dell's expensive upgrades.

i5 2500
2GB RAM
320GB HDD
U2311H 23"W Monitor

That comes to exactly $899, which is the coupon's limit. (so $549)

Then pick up a 4GB or 8GB (2x4GB) kit from Newegg. (8GB is now $45 so why not?)

I'd jump on this.
Seriously.
i5 quad with a damn IPS monitor for $550?

 

[rockyjohn]

Yes the monitor is great. I have had another Dell 21.5 inch monitor (2209W) with eIPS for 2 years now. Bought in on sale for $220. It renders very nicely - even from the side.

 

[philosofool]

philo, no need for SSD as it's only going to be used for internet (facebook, online banking, news sites, etc.) and a few movies here and there. doubtful it will be used for gaming. i think the samsung f3 will work.

the budget is around $650 after figuring in a new monitor, keyboard, and mouse...not sure where else i can cut but i think it's a solid system.

That's cool. Sounds likeyou are closing in on your budget. The value of an SSD really comes about in everyday productivity stuff (not gaming), if I have understood reviews correctly. You know how your computer takes two minutes to finish all the start up tasks when you log in to windows? How Firefox takes eight seconds to load? Stuff like disappears with an SSD.

 

[mfenn]

UPDATE with Desi's suggestions:

Intel Core i3-2100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115078

g. skill 4GB (2x 2gb in dual channel) DDR3 ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231253

Antec 300 case with 430W PSU as suggested by Desi below

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129065

Samsung 1TB F3 hard drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152185

Lite-On DVD-Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106335

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

Thanks for the feedback, Desi. I am still researching motherboards but will take those Intel H67's into account.

Thank you!

This looks fine, maybe do the combo with the i3 2100 and GA-H67M-D2 for $200.

THAT BEING SAID, Dominion's second Dell deal is smokin'.

 

[sigmanova]

yeah that 2nd dell deal looks good; might end up jumping on that.

thank you to everyone who has given their input!

 

[sigmanova]

went for the Vostro 460 deal for $591 + tax. i got everything Dominion suggested and added the wireless card (i'm lazy ).

thank you again to everyone, especially dominionseraph for that deal!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Glad to hear that

 

[mfenn]

went for the Vostro 460 deal for $591 + tax. i got everything Dominion suggested and added the wireless card (i'm lazy ).

thank you again to everyone, especially dominionseraph for that deal!

Sounds good! You got a heck of a deal.