Is this overkill for a general purpose build?

[paperfist]

Intel Core i3-540 Clarkdale 3.06GHz $140

ZOTAC H55ITX-A-E LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboard $135

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) $110

Acer P235Hbmid Black 23" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD $200

ARK PI-01 (UV coating) Black Mini-ITX Tower Case 300W Power Supply $40

HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA $54

Microsoft Black PS/2 Wired KB & Mouse $35

LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Writer LightScribe Support $32

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders $100

Total = $845

The system is for a first time computer user who's primary focus is web browsing, email and light office applications. It's a possibility he may game on it, but I don't know to what degree.

The monitor has speakers built in and yes I know they suck 🙂

The case/psu I know aren't the greatest, but I haven't found a suitable replacement in that price range yet, I may have to drop down on the processor. Overall I'd like to drop the price by $100, but I don't see where that's going to happen without comprising on quality.

Thanks for any input 😉

 

[AndroidVageta]

Yeah, for $800 to basically just surf the net and stuff, way overkill.

Get a dual core AMD, and compatible motherboard...thatll shave $100-$150 off the price. Also, look at checking out the For Sale & Trade here on the forums...usually some pretty fast stuff for a lot cheaper than retail.

 

[jaydee]

Is mini-ITX needed/preferred? You can probably save about $40 by going microATX for the motherboard. I'd also say Samsung F3 500GB for ~$53 at zipzoomfly.

I'd also advise for a better case/psu for $20-30 more. Antec 200 is something like $20+$14 shipping at newegg with a promo code, and then $40 for a Corsair 400W.

 

[AndroidVageta]

Actually heres a list that Ive made for you:

Foxconn A74MX-K AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $50

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ - $56

OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 - $100

Seagate 160GB SATA3 - $40

The throw in the case you have selected...operating system...keyboard and mouse (you can get cheaper).

As far as the monitor goes, look into getting something cheaper like a Hanns-G 20' for like $120 or so...get a cheapass pair of speakers for like $6 thatll sound better than the ones built into the monitor you have chosen...

Compared to the CPU/MOBO/RAM and hard drive yours is like almost $500...what I have selected which will honestly work just as well is like $250...plus with a cheaper monitor around $120 thats another $80...I mean, thats like $330 off right there...

Hope this helps!

 

[Axon]

That i3 certainly is overkill, though you will have a nice computer if you ever decide to do a little more with it.

I'd go above an AMD 64 personally - you can just grab this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103681 Only $10 more or so. New 45nm fab is a little better, unless that 64 is 45nm? Not sure. Anyway, the 250 benches a little better, and in general is a baller chip - I have people who rave about its gaming ability at 1680.

Vageta's build is perfect otherwise.

 

[paperfist]

Actually heres a list that Ive made for you:

Foxconn A74MX-K AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - $50

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ - $56

OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 - $100

Seagate 160GB SATA3 - $40

The throw in the case you have selected...operating system...keyboard and mouse (you can get cheaper).

As far as the monitor goes, look into getting something cheaper like a Hanns-G 20' for like $120 or so...get a cheapass pair of speakers for like $6 thatll sound better than the ones built into the monitor you have chosen...

Compared to the CPU/MOBO/RAM and hard drive yours is like almost $500...what I have selected which will honestly work just as well is like $250...plus with a cheaper monitor around $120 thats another $80...I mean, thats like $330 off right there...

Hope this helps!

Thanks 🙂

It's not a deal breaker, but I have to get him WiFi so that adds in another $30 for a PCI-WLAN card.

I know I can get cheaper KB/Mouse, but they are just that cheaper.

I think I'll keep the bigger monitor as he wanted that. If I switch off on the CPU/MB to your selection that would be a big savings. The nice thing with the Intel was it was a 75 watt vrs the AMD at 125 watt, but I'm not sure there's a huge electrical bill savings after the dust settles.

 

[paperfist]

Is mini-ITX needed/preferred? You can probably save about $40 by going microATX for the motherboard. I'd also say Samsung F3 500GB for ~$53 at zipzoomfly.

I'd also advise for a better case/psu for $20-30 more. Antec 200 is something like $20+$14 shipping at newegg with a promo code, and then $40 for a Corsair 400W.

No mini-ITX isn't a requirement, it's just that they have an incredible amount of onboard features vrs other boards.

Thanks, I'll look into the Antec 2000 as I'm not real comfortable with what I picked.

 

[paperfist]

That i3 certainly is overkill, though you will have a nice computer if you ever decide to do a little more with it.

I'd go above an AMD 64 personally - you can just grab this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103681 Only $10 more or so. New 45nm fab is a little better, unless that 64 is 45nm? Not sure. Anyway, the 250 benches a little better, and in general is a baller chip - I have people who rave about its gaming ability at 1680.

Vageta's build is perfect otherwise.

That's actually the CPU I spec'd out on my first build with a Gigabyte MA785GMT motherboard. Then I said, "It would be nice to get WLAN onboard". Problem with that is Zotac seems to be the only ones that support that feature and their earlier boards sucked for USB and I'm not looking to have technical support issues.

So after reading up on the gaming potential of the i3's and not knowing if he'll game at all I went down that path and broke the budget 🙂

 

[mfenn]

Am I the only one seeing "***" filtered?

EDIT: worked for my post, strange.

EDIT2: OK so this is strange. When I first posted, it was fine, now it's filtered??? *** *** ***

Now about the thread. I think that Vageta's build is fine, but you should be able to get a Dell Outlet deal for less.

 

[MisterDonut]

Weird, I'm starting to see them filtered now too...

Could be morning madness, but I think pre-built could suit your needs for cheaper

 

[Zap]

Overall I'd like to drop the price by $100, but I don't see where that's going to happen without comprising on quality.

When you say "quality" do you mean "performance" or "it won't blow up?"

Here's the obligatory buy a Dell.

$780 plus tax/shipping
Core i3 530
4GB DDR3
640GB 7200RPM HDD
DVDRW
23" monitor
USB keyboard/mouse
card reader
1 year warranty
slim chassis

Based on the usage description, you can probably get away with totally low-balling stuff. For instance some random micro ATX motherboard and AMD dual core processor would easily knock $100 or more off the cost, yet likely deliver the exact same internet and office application experience of a more expensive setup.

 

[paperfist]

When you say "quality" do you mean "performance" or "it won't blow up?"

Here's the obligatory buy a Dell.

$780 plus tax/shipping
Core i3 530
4GB DDR3
640GB 7200RPM HDD
DVDRW
23" monitor
USB keyboard/mouse
card reader
1 year warranty
slim chassis

Based on the usage description, you can probably get away with totally low-balling stuff. For instance some random micro ATX motherboard and AMD dual core processor would easily knock $100 or more off the cost, yet likely deliver the exact same internet and office application experience of a more expensive setup.

Custom built vrs Dell and correct me if I'm wrong:

Custom built offers 3 years warranty on most parts vrs Dell's 1 year.

With the Dell I'm going to have to deal with trial-ware, bloat-ware and a machine starting off more sluggish then it should vrs a clean, mean running machine of custom built.

Granted I just click order and I'm done and the prices are very comparable.

For quality I just meant not going to break right away which I know is possible with anything, but it feels more comfortable sticking with known quantities. Typically if you drop down on a HD for example you save what? $10-15 which isn't really worth it IMO. Same with keyboards, you buy a $15 KB and that's what you get a PoS 🙂