Helping a friend build a new computer. $1000 buget w/ speakers and monitor.

[zander55]

Hello folks. As the title suggests, I'm helping my friend build new desktop. I've built two in the past nine years or so and this will be his first. However, I'm not totally up to date on the current hardware market so I'd appreciate some input. He picked out some stuff himself and I'd like some more knowledgeable people to comment.

As per Sticky:

1. This computer will be used for gaming, as well as engineering software like MATlab, solidworks, autoCAD.

2. Budget is around $1000, but not super strict. This needs to include at least the tower, a monitor, and speakers.

3. I'm in the USA.

4. He says he'd like an AMD, but I'm sure he can be talked into an Intel if the advantage is strong. He's an engineer after all.

5. I don't think anything's going to be recycled.

*

7. He might be interested in overclocking at some point in the future, but it's not a priority.

8. Also looking for a monitor.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
He'll probably order it in the next couple of weeks.

X. He needs a copy of windows, but might be able to obtain a free or discounted license. For convenience sake, let's split the difference and call windows $50.

On to the parts he's picked out:

Motherboard/CPU combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.910705

Video card: (I swear it says it's out of stock, but he said otherwise)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121633

Hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136697

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231428

I was also checking out newegg myself yesterday tried to pick out a power supply, I found these two:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151093
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341017

Any help would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post.

Edit: For convenience sake let's call it $800 for the tower.

 

[doesn't_compute]

That video card uses a PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot and that motherboard doesn't have one.

 

[krnmastersgt]

That's not an issue as a 7750 is nowhere close to maxing out the bandwidth of PCI-E 2.0, but that is a SERIOUS overkill board for the system you're putting together.

Overpaying a bit on the ram, but if he likes the looks then go for it? (His money, those do stay cooler but in a way where it doesn't really matter as he's not going to be die-hard overclocking with that system it seems).

For the PSUs, I'd recommend you grab the SeaSonic unit, arguably one of the best in the industry (other top rated PSUs end up coming out of their factories).

And I have no idea why that hard drive costs so much aside from its rather large cache.

I'll come up with a mock build but it's going to differ quite a lot just to warn you. Also you should have him pick out a monitor first, so I know whats left in the budget.

 

[lehtv]

That video card uses a PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot and that motherboard doesn't have one.

PCIe 3.0 devices are backwards compatible with PCIe 2.0 slots, and current gen graphics cards don't even saturate PCIe 2.0 bandwidth.

@zander55

I recommend against AMD. Bulldozer (= FX series) can only compete with Intel in heavily multithreaded work, and even then it consumes more power.

HD7750 is an OK graphics card, and depending on the relative importance of gaming vs. engineering software, it could be a good choice.

$110 for 500GB is very bad value for money, you can get 1TB for less.

Here's what I suggest, assuming work is a priority, gaming secondary:

CPU i5-3550 $210 (rough comparison vs 8120)
Mobo Asrock H77 Pro4/MVP $95
RAM PNY Optima 2x4GB 1333 $39 or 2x Samsung 4GB 1600 $48 (can OC up to 2133 @ ~1.5V)
GPU Sapphire 7770 $135 ($120 AR)
HDD Seagate 1TB $100 (1-yr warranty) or WD Black 1TB $120 (5-yr warranty)
SSD Mushkin Enhanced Chronos 120GB $90 or Crucial M4 128gb $125
PSU Seasonic M12II 520W $60
Case Antec One $50

= $779 to $843 without OS

Monitor Dell U2412HM 1080p IPS $250

If gaming is a priority, I'd recommend a less expensive TN panel monitor and a 7850 2GB $250. You can also buy a cheaper monitor if you just want to push the total price lower.

 

[mfenn]

PCIe 3.0 devices are backwards compatible with PCIe 2.0 slots, and current gen graphics cards don't even saturate PCIe 2.0 bandwidth.

@zander55

I recommend against AMD. Bulldozer (= FX series) can only compete with Intel in heavily multithreaded work, and even then it consumes more power.

HD7750 is an OK graphics card, and depending on the relative importance of gaming vs. engineering software, it could be a good choice.

$110 for 500GB is very bad value for money, you can get 1TB for less.

Here's what I suggest, assuming work is a priority, gaming secondary:

CPU i5-3550 $210 (rough comparison vs 8120)
Mobo Asrock H77 Pro4/MVP $95
RAM PNY Optima 2x4GB 1333 $39 or 2x Samsung 4GB 1600 $48 (can OC up to 2133 @ ~1.5V)
GPU Sapphire 7770 $135 ($120 AR)
HDD Seagate 1TB $100 (1-yr warranty) or WD Black 1TB $120 (5-yr warranty)
SSD Mushkin Enhanced Chronos 120GB $90 or Crucial M4 128gb $125
PSU Seasonic M12II 520W $60
Case Antec One $50

= $779 to $843 without OS

Monitor Dell U2412HM 1080p IPS $250

If gaming is a priority, I'd recommend a less expensive TN panel monitor and a 7850 2GB $250. You can also buy a cheaper monitor if you just want to push the total price lower.

:thumbsup: Very nice build, much better than the one in the OP.

 

[zander55]

PCIe 3.0 devices are backwards compatible with PCIe 2.0 slots, and current gen graphics cards don't even saturate PCIe 2.0 bandwidth.

@zander55

I recommend against AMD. Bulldozer (= FX series) can only compete with Intel in heavily multithreaded work, and even then it consumes more power.

HD7750 is an OK graphics card, and depending on the relative importance of gaming vs. engineering software, it could be a good choice.

$110 for 500GB is very bad value for money, you can get 1TB for less.

Here's what I suggest, assuming work is a priority, gaming secondary:

CPU i5-3550 $210 (rough comparison vs 8120)
Mobo Asrock H77 Pro4/MVP $95
RAM PNY Optima 2x4GB 1333 $39 or 2x Samsung 4GB 1600 $48 (can OC up to 2133 @ ~1.5V)
GPU Sapphire 7770 $135 ($120 AR)
HDD Seagate 1TB $100 (1-yr warranty) or WD Black 1TB $120 (5-yr warranty)
SSD Mushkin Enhanced Chronos 120GB $90 or Crucial M4 128gb $125
PSU Seasonic M12II 520W $60
Case Antec One $50

= $779 to $843 without OS

Monitor Dell U2412HM 1080p IPS $250

If gaming is a priority, I'd recommend a less expensive TN panel monitor and a 7850 2GB $250. You can also buy a cheaper monitor if you just want to push the total price lower.

I have a couple of questions about that motherboard. It lists a X16 PCIe 3.0 slot and a PCIe 2.0 slot, but the 2.0 says X16 (@X4). Does it have the full 16 lanes or just 4? If it's only four, will it be suitable for crossfire if he upgrades in the future? Also, I can't seem to figure out how many fan headers it has. My own computer only has two, which I find irritating.

Thanks for the help, by the way.

 

[lehtv]

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=H77%20Pro4/MVP&cat=Specifications

The PCIe 2.0 slot is only x4. You can run Crossfire on it but the x4 bandwidth will bottleneck the second GPU. However you're better off upgrading to a faster single GPU anyway rather than going CF.

The mobo has two chassis fan headers, and the Antec One case comes with two fans. Further fans can be connected by splitting a fan header into two with a cable, by connecting to the PSU directly, or by using a third party fan controller.

 

[zander55]

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=H77%20Pro4/MVP&cat=Specifications

The PCIe 2.0 slot is only x4. You can run Crossfire on it but the x4 bandwidth will bottleneck the second GPU. However you're better off upgrading to a faster single GPU anyway rather than going CF.

The mobo has two chassis fan headers, and the Antec One case comes with two fans. Further fans can be connected by splitting a fan header into two with a cable, by connecting to the PSU directly, or by using a third party fan controller.

Thank you, lehtv, this has been very helpful.

 

[bononos]

What sort of speakers would be bang/buck for the OP? I'm assuming you'd recommend some sort of $30 speakers.