Mid-range general usage PC

[basslover1]

1. Internet, reddit, youtube videos, light word processing/spread sheets. Occasional gaming, and I mean occasional, the last game I played was Sim City, back in March. But that isn't to say I may change down the road, so if I decide to do some light gaming in a few months I don't want to have to shell out another 500 for more RAM and a better CPU + video card.

2. $400.00 USD including shipping, 350 is better.

3. US

4.xxx

5. No preference, I want the best bang for my buck.

6. All I'll need is CPU/RAM/Mobo combo, maybe a sound card/wireless adapter, depending on what I decide.

7. Stock speeds.

8. 1680*1050

9. Before the end of this week probably, 6% CB through newegg if I use my Chase card, so that's a plus


Current setup in my sig will be relegated to strictly HTPC duty, which is does currently but it's also my every day PC as well, so I'm looking to separate the two, as it does one thing at a time very well but not both. I have everything I'll need to make this a smooth transition, I have all the hardware just have to set it up and install Windows.

Only thing I have set in stone is that the HTPC will be getting a 2TB drive for OS and data storage, the SSD will stay with my main PC as well as a 1TB drive for storage.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

AMD A10-5800k - 99.99
Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-HD3 -74.99
G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 2133 - 79.99
Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM 64mb cache - 79.99
Edimax EW-7822UAC - 24.99

Total - 359.99

OR......

AMD A10-5800k - 99.99
Gigabyte GA-F2A88XN-WIFI - 109.99
G.Skill Sniper 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 2133 - 79.99
Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM 64mb cache - 79.99
StarTech ICUSBAUDIO7D 7 Channels - 49.99

Total - 419.95

Because my main rig also does audio duty for my TV/PS4 via optical input, the second one would need a USB sound card because it lacks any PCI slots minus for video card.

I like the fact that the second setup has built in WiFi AC + Bluetooth 4.0, but not sure if it's worth the premium or lack of expansion slots. Though, that shouldn't be of concern because my current setup has all slots occupied; Video, Ceton 4, Wifi, Sound. Except for maybe the sound card (depending on which MoBo I end up with) the others will stay with the current rig for HTPC. And I can't see my self needing to add anything down the line, I've been fine with this setup for 2+ years.

I'm really just thinking out loud here, but it's nice to have input from others, maybe I missed something and can get comparable performance for cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Techhog]

I'm guessing that you already have a power supply. What model is it and how old is it?

 

[basslover1]

Sorry forgot to mention that. It's an OCZ modxstreme pro 600w modular PSU. I bought it in 2009 but newegg still sells it, however.

 

[basslover1]

I think I'm going to go with the second option but change the a10-5800k out for the a10-6790k. Also swap out the RAM for a single 8gb stick of crucial ddr3 1866. I know the RAM is slower and these APUs really benefit from faster speeds but I can't find a single 8gb ddr3 2133 stick, they're all 2x4gb and with only two dimm slots it'll be cheaper to up it to 16gb down the line. Plus at some point I'll get a GPU and the memory speeds won't matter as much at that point.

 

[mfenn]

APUs really love memory bandwidth, that's why higher speed memory helps them. Going down to single-channel halves your effective memory bandwidth, i.e. it'd be like getting DDR3 933 (if there was such a thing). So I'd say to stick with two DIMMs.

I guess I don't understand your sound setup. Why do you need the extra card versus just using the optical out for the TV and the normal plugs for your computer speakers/headphones? They show up as separate audio outputs to Windows.

 

[basslover1]

APUs really love memory bandwidth, that's why higher speed memory helps them. Going down to single-channel halves your effective memory bandwidth, i.e. it'd be like getting DDR3 933 (if there was such a thing). So I'd say to stick with two DIMMs.

I guess I don't understand your sound setup. Why do you need the extra card versus just using the optical out for the TV and the normal plugs for your computer speakers/headphones? They show up as separate audio outputs to Windows.

Ok, thanks for the heads up, looks like I'll go with two 4gb sticks of DDR 2133, I'd love to do 16GB and not have to worry about memory for a while, but they're out of my price range ATM.

I should have been more clear, since everything connected to my TV is via HDMI (PC, Chromecast, PS4, 360), I don't have a true home audio setup, and my PC speakers aren't half bad, it made more sense to run an optical out from my TV in to my PC so everything plays through my PC speakers instead of the TV speakers, which suck. Hence the need for a sound card with optical input, and with the Gigabyte board being the mini form factor, it only has one full size PCI-E slot, which is why I need a USB sound card.

 

[mfenn]

Ah OK, thanks for explaining that. An alternative solution that avoids the PC altogether would be a S/PDIF DAC and a 2-input stereo mixer. It would cost a little more than the sound card, but wouldn't be reliant on drivers (or the PC even being on).