CPU+MOBO+RAM+HDD+PSU<$300 for low duty Photo Editing

[p1tin]

I request your input on getting a good build for purpose mentioned below:

1. What is the purpose of the computer? What all applications and games are you going to run?

Ans:Purpose of this Assembly is as follows with first being top priority and last being low priority:
a.Mainly it is for very minimal, photo editing, photo collage work in Adobe Photoshop; NOT for heavy duty rendering etc.
b.camtasia studio - creating small Audio,Video clips.
c.other purpose include using it for internet browsing, downloading, Microsoft office, watching HD movies, songs etc;

2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.
Ans: $250-$320 (Rs.18000-Rs.20000)

3. Planning to overclock?
Ans: No

4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans: Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit

5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Ans: 500GB will be sufficient; If price difference is not much, 1TB is also fine.

6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention which screen size and resolution do you want. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, again mention the size and resolution of monitor you have.
Ans: No

7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans: Already have a CRT monitor, KB, Mouse,Cabinet/Case.Just want to upgrade CPU+MOBO+RAM+HDD+PSU

8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans: 5th May 2014.

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans: I am the one to assemble this System; have done many before;

10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans: Bangalore. India; Local buying or online

11. Any other information?
Ans: a. Confused on AMD or Intel --> Based on other's feedback I see AMD processors are good for low-duty Graphics related work.
b. Do you think I should sell of existing 17" CRT Monitor and get a 22inch Dell monitor?
c. A durable system which will not need constant tinkering and troubleshooting such as mobo display problem
( I had bad experience with some lowend/lowpriced GB,ASUS mobos. I want to assemble a rocksolid system)
d. Will 4GB be enough for the above mentioned purpose or better to have 8GB?
e. Is it better to get a GPU?

 

[Ken g6]

a. Confused on AMD/Intel? So am I. AMD could be good, but mobo quality varies a lot more than Intel. Since I don't know which AMD mobos are good, I'll give you an Intel build.
b. Is the CRT working for you? Is the Dell an IPS? (If not, don't get it for this kind of work.) Do you have the money after this build?
c. See (a).
d. I'd recommend 8GB, especially since you can't afford an SSD.
e. Probably not worth the price. An AMD APU might be good, though.

Parts I'd recommend for both AMD/Intel:

PSU: Antec 300W: Rs. 2050 Basically you want the cheapest Antec, Corsair, or Seasonic you can find.
RAM: 2x4GB DDR3: Rs. 5200 (Any 8GB 1.5V RAM.)
HDD : WD Caviar Blue 500GB: Rs. 3076 (Any 7200RPM drive)

Since it's almost a month until you buy, I've left general directions for each part.

Now the trick: How to fit an Intel build into the rest of your budget. (Since, again, I'm not familiar with AMD mobos.) Turns out India has older hardware significantly cheaper than newer hardware. (Here in the USA that doesn't seem to happen for Intel.)

CPU: i3-2120: Rs. 6525
Mobo: Gigabyte H61M: Rs. 2919

Total: Rs. 19770

 

[VirtualLarry]

Would an AM1 5350 Kabini quad-core fit the bill?

 

[p1tin]

Thanks for your reply! I am doing this assembly for my cousin.
the Current CRT monitor is good and in working condition. However, I recommended that she dispose it off if she can afford to spend money and buy a monitor, this one: http://www.flipkart.com/dell-s2240l-21-5-inch-led-backlit-lcd-monitor/p/itmdf4zvqauzt2z4
What do you think about this monitor/display?

I had been a fan of AMD, for its bang for the buck ( price-performance ratio). However, anything is fine as long as it serves the purpose within the budget.

Also, I was considering the PSU Corsair CX430v2. what you all say about this?
Just want a nice quiet PSU.

about Mobo: I want a one which will be future proof ( at least for next 3-4 years).
What I mean by Future proof:
a. Rugged / Durable -- Once the PC is assembled We do not want to have problems in it and keep troubleshooting it. So an Mobo with all SolidState Capacitors would be fine.
b. USB 3 Support
c. Minimum of 32GB Support for RAM - for future upgrade.
d. Should support SSD - for future upgrade.

Please provide your input.

 

[Ken g6]

Dell, IPS, that'll do - if she can afford to spend the money.

Corsair CX430v2 is a good PSU. Can you fit it in your budget?

Re: Your "future proof" criteria: Nice if you can afford it. But any mobo with SATA supports SSDs. Those with SATA3 just make them a little faster.

 

[p1tin]

Okay,thanks.
I have been discussing with my other friends and got that there is this PSU: Seasonic SS400BT costing Rs.2500.
However, CX430V2 costs Rs.3300 , here.
Which one to go with? Seasonic seem to be quieter.

I need your input this also:

About the Mobo: If the budget is increased to $450(Rs.25k-26K), would you recommend going for a dedicated Graphics Card with a Mobo which do not have iGPU? If yes, please provide good Graphics Card model & Mobo (without iGPU) within the Budget.
About the Harddisk: I am going to buy a Hitachi 500GB this time [ Reason: I have been using a 160GB harddisk from Hitachi from year 2006 and it is still working rock solid. it is a Laptop harddisk encased in a Transcend Casing. It amazes me and also I had many seagate & WD HDDs in these years which I had to replace during warranty. Also the Benchmark/Reliability/Failure rate study/test result from DataCenters show Hitachi>WD>Seagate. Seagate is the worst. Study done with more than 10,000 Harddisks over a period of years.]

 

[p1tin]

There are two Builds and I need help in deciding:

Build 1- Intel based:
I54430-Rs.12000
Gigabyte B85M-D3H-Rs.6000
Kingston HyperX DDR3 -1 x 8 GB-1600Mhz- Rs.5300
Hitachi 500GB- Rs.3300
Seasonic Eco Series SS400BT 400W - Rs.2500
Total Price: Rs.29100

Build 2-AMD based:
FX4300- Rs.6000
Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3- Rs.4000
Kingston HyperX DDR3 -1 x 8 GB-1600Mhz - Rs.5300
Hitachi 500GB- Rs.3300
Seasonic Eco Series SS400BT 400W- Rs.2500
Total Price: Rs.21100

Among these two Builds, if the AMD Build will be enough to acheive the purpose, I am not interested in spending extra Rs.8000 on Intel Build.
so, Please let me know if AMD Build will be enough?

If AMD, What other modification would you recommend to enhance it little bit?

 

[Ken g6]

I think that AMD build could work. The mobo has integrated graphics, which do not appear to be worse than Intel's. Also, Seasonic = :awe:

Small changes you could make:

1. Get 2 4GB sticks, not 1 8GB. With integrated graphics you need all the memory bandwidth you can get, and DDR3 is designed to work in pairs. Two sticks of either 1600 or that cheap 1333 I linked in my earlier post would be better than one stick of 1600.

2. FX-6300 > FX-4300.

 

[mfenn]

I think that AMD build could work. The mobo has integrated graphics, which do not appear to be worse than Intel's.

The 760G integrated graphics are much worse than the Haswell IGP. It honestly doesn't matter for the stated uses though.

 

[p1tin]

mfenn,

What would be your recommendation?

 

[mfenn]

mfenn,

What would be your recommendation?

Ken's build except with the Seasonic 400W. It's less expensive than either of yours and faster than the AMD by a large margin.