CPU (Should I go with the AMD A4 or AMD A6?)

[P1NKY]

I don't need a big budget because this is a computer for computer programming classes that I have in August.

If I want bigger and badder later on, which I won't because I have my badass gaming computer, I'll build it. $200 budget for APU,mobo, optical drive, and case. Basic web design if I even have to take the class and some very simple uninstalling and installing of different OS and intro to Linux and very simple javascript. I am in community college for another year so the classes aren't very in depth and advanced.

Microcenter is defiantly not close to me by a long shot so I will be buying from Newegg or Amazon if they have a better shipping option for me.

CIS 312 Management of Computer Information Systems (3 credit hours)
CIS 322 Professional Business Communications (3 credit hours)
CIS 332 Computer Networking (3 credit hours)
CIS 342 Systems Analysis and Design (3 credit hours)
CIS 352 Human Computer Interaction (3 credit hours)
CIS 362 Information Security (3 credit hours)
CIS 372 Information Technology Ethics (3 credit hours)
CIS 402 Computer Programming (3 credit hours)
CIS 412 Database Management Systems (3 credit hours)
CIS 422 Web Programming (3 credit hours)
CIS 432 Business Application Development (3 credit hours)
CIS 442 Information Systems Project Management (3 credit hours)
CIS 453 Information Systems Strategy (3 credit hours)
CIS 462 Applied Business Intelligence (3 credit hours)

That is all the classes I will have in a year when I transfer to uni.

For now I have

Introduction to Computer Science
C# Programming
Introduction to SQL
Networking Plus
Security Plus
Basic Web Design
Introduction to Linux/Unix

 

[strata8]

This, cheap dualcores are out of the question, he must raise his budget a little so to build a balanced computer that will last him a long time.

A little? I'm pretty sure the cheapest modern quad core you can get comes in at $150 for the CPU alone, unless you waited to get a woefully underpowered 2Ghz Kabini.

 

[Sleepingforest]

I'd say that an APU is unworthwhile unless you KNOW you'll be getting into OpenCL programming at some point in the near future. Otherwise, for just programming, go with the cheapest quadcore you can. A Phenom II X4 is $100, an AM3/AM3+ motherboard for it is $50, an optical drive is around $15, which leaves $35 for a cheap little case.

 

[P1NKY]

and what about a graphics card

 

[grimpr]

and what about a graphics card

Heres a build on NewEgg for 210$, you get a coupon too for Simcity Online, not a bad deal at all and pretty powerful for your needs, have fun.

 

[strata8]

Heres a build on NewEgg for 210$, you get a coupon too for Simcity Online, not a bad deal at all and pretty powerful for your needs, have fun.

That APU isn't a true quad core so I think the Phenom X4 build above might be better suited.

 

[Sleepingforest]

and what about a graphics card

You don't need one for programming. Get a chipset that integrates graphics:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $184.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-04 01:32 EDT-0400)

This also has the advantage of being only 87.6% of grimpr's build, which leaves you a bit more for RAM (much more important than the graphics for a school build).

 

[Vesku]

In this case I'd say Trinity FM2 is a decent choice, no need for an additional graphics card.

Phenom II x4 965 BE vs A8-5600K

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=676

 

[Sleepingforest]

In this case I'd say Trinity FM2 is a decent choice, no need for an additional graphics card.

Phenom II x4 965 BE vs A8-5600K

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=676

It's also $30 more since there's a promo up right now for the Phenom, so I'd say going with the Phenom makes more sense right now. In most other situations, I'd say go for it, but I doubt a college student would pass up saving $30.

 

[grimpr]

In this case I'd say Trinity FM2 is a decent choice, no need for an additional graphics card.

Phenom II x4 965 BE vs A8-5600K

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/102?vs=676

There's no contest between the 2, the APU is much much better and comes with all extensions including cryptography and the best dx11 igp on the block, makes a true balanced system.

 

[P1NKY]

How many for A6 or a8?

How many for Phenom II x4?

 

[frozentundra123456]

You don't need one for programming. Get a chipset that integrates graphics:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $184.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-04 01:32 EDT-0400)

This also has the advantage of being only 87.6% of grimpr's build, which leaves you a bit more for RAM (much more important than the graphics for a school build).

Not disagreeing with you, but just wondering, aren't chipset graphics much worse than even the lowliest Intel igp? Could be wrong, but I thought chipset graphics were really terrible except for the most low end applications. I suppose one could try it and add a discrete card later, although that would make an i3 or A10 probably cheaper in the end.

 

[grimpr]

You don't need one for programming. Get a chipset that integrates graphics:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $184.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-04 01:32 EDT-0400)

This also has the advantage of being only 87.6% of grimpr's build, which leaves you a bit more for RAM (much more important than the graphics for a school build).

Your build comes with the cheapest AMD chipset, absolute mediocre onboard graphics and no SATA 3 and USB 3.0, my build is perfectly balanced in all accords in the most modern APU platform complete with USB 3.0, SATA 3.0, the best dx11 processor graphics, all CPU isa extensions including AES cryptography and a free coupon for SimCity Online, all for 210$. You have to try harder to beat it.

 

[Torn Mind]

You don't need one for programming. Get a chipset that integrates graphics:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone PS08B (Black) MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($34.90 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS95 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $184.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-04 01:32 EDT-0400)

This also has the advantage of being only 87.6% of grimpr's build, which leaves you a bit more for RAM (much more important than the graphics for a school build).

The 965 is not supported on that motherboard. 125 watts TDP is too much for it and hence it is not on Gigabyte's official CPU Support List.

http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=4311

 

[Vesku]

While the Phenom II has had quite a run, I'd relegate it to upgrading existing AM3 systems. A FM2 system has more life in it.

 

[Torn Mind]

Warmonger/grimpr's build does not have USB 3.0 or SATA III because the A55 chipset does not natively support either nor are there any 3rd party chips extant.

 

[Sleepingforest]

Well if you all insist on the APU which blows his budget for similar CPU performance...

Listen, if he doesn't game, doesn't need the graphics, and probably won't even need AES cryptography (seriously? This is considered a major pro), why does he need an APU? The TDP and USB3.0 issues are easily addressed by getting a slightly better mobo (still under budget!).

Sure, grimpr's build is a bit more balanced. But the OP doesn't need that balance. He needs CPU, and not GPU (in fact, he probably shouldn't get a GPU capable of gaming well; the temptation is too strong to slack off as a student :awe. And as a college student, I don't know how much he can go over budget.

 

[grimpr]

Warmonger/grimpr's build does not have USB 3.0 or SATA III because the A55 chipset does not natively support either nor are there any 3rd party chips extant.

You should take a closer look to the NewEgg build picture i posted.

 

[Torn Mind]

You should take a closer look to the NewEgg build picture i posted.

Somehow I missed that post. W/e. My mistake.

 

[P1NKY]

Maybe I want to watch YouTube, check emails, use the internet. It is like cheap home computer with school in mind.

And I would have to agree, aren't mobo graphics cruddy?

 

[Cerb]

Not disagreeing with you, but just wondering, aren't chipset graphics much worse than even the lowliest Intel igp? Could be wrong, but I thought chipset graphics were really terrible except for the most low end applications. I suppose one could try it and add a discrete card later, although that would make an i3 or A10 probably cheaper in the end.

The OP has exactly the needs of those lowest end applications. The most demanding things the IGP are to be asked of should be video playback, aero glass, and maybe X through Virtualbox. Intel's could even suck for some of that, until SB, but AMD's chipsets have been fine for such uses for quite some time.

Anyway:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...=Combo.1306723

That's gimpr's mobo+CPU, but with an additional $10 off from using a combo, making it a more ideal fit.

For Linux--and maybe 32-bit XP--the best thing to do, if possible, will be to learn to use VirtualBox. It has a learning curve, including getting the guest additions installed in distros where they don't have their own packages, but it will save a ton of time, compared to installing different physical OSes. Generally, you want to use bridged networking, and ICH for storage.

 

[grimpr]

Maybe I want to watch YouTube, check emails, use the internet. It is like cheap home computer with school in mind.

And I would have to agree, aren't mobo graphics cruddy?

Well its more than that, its a perfectly capable budget gaming pc & workstation at the 200$ price range, if you want to go 30 to 50$ cheaper you will loose a lot of the extras that are worth it in my opinion, like usb 3.0, the sata 3.0 ports that are really useful with an modern SSD, the DX11 graphics of the APU which is compatible with many apps with OpenCL acceleration like PowerDirector, Photoshop and many others and last and not least, the games that can be played anytime from you, your friends or your girlfriend.

 

[Torn Mind]

Well if you all insist on the APU which blows his budget for similar CPU performance...

Listen, if he doesn't game, doesn't need the graphics, and probably won't even need AES cryptography (seriously? This is considered a major pro), why does he need an APU? The TDP and USB3.0 issues are easily addressed by getting a slightly better mobo (still under budget!).

Sure, grimpr's build is a bit more balanced. But the OP doesn't need that balance. He needs CPU, and not GPU (in fact, he probably shouldn't get a GPU capable of gaming well; the temptation is too strong to slack off as a student :awe. And as a college student, I don't know how much he can go over budget.

I'm not necessarily supporting his build, just saying you needed to pick out a different board. Personally, I do not trust third party chips as much compared to native support.

As far as I'm concerned, both processors are nearly identical and hence will not be much different for a beginner just starting out in programming and taking courses that might not have much programming at all. Most of his bloody time will spent typing out syntax and digging around for methods and of course, struggle with the intuitiveness of "object-oriented programming".

For databases, it's going to be about databases in general and learning SQL Server syntax, along with possibly trying to write OOL scripts in C++, Java, or something of the like.

For web, he'll probably be learning about HTML and Javascript, maybe ASP.NET or something.

If anything, an SSD would help him out a bit to reduce compliation time. My brief time with trying to program simple shit is that even a dual core Optiplex 745 is fast enough to compile the little scripts. Most a person's is going to be spent reading and figuring out stuff.

 

[P1NKY]

AMD A4-3300 $39.99
MSI A55M $47.99
Rosewill FBM-01 $29.55
Samsung SH-224BB $14.99

$132.52

or

AMD A6 3670k $79.99
MSI A55M $47.99
Rosewill FBM-01 $29.55
Samsung SH-224BB $14.99

$172.52

 

[grimpr]

Heres an Intel dualcore build with an SSD at 210$, a great internet/school build.