New Build as Summer Project for my Son

[lansa]

Hello All,

I am wanting to build a system with my son as a summer project. I'll answer below as best as I can:

PLEASE when you POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

General home use, photoshop and other graphic/video editing programs

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

We're trying to keep this as low as possible, can we do it for under $500?

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

I know most here prefer Intel, but for our purpose and budget AMD will do just fine if the price is right.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

we'll keep our current keyboard and mouse
*

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Default speeds

8. What resolution will you be using?

not sure

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Next few days.


Thanks for all your good advice!

 

[lehtv]

X. Do you need to purchase any software to go with the system, such as Windows or Blu Ray playback software?

Also, you currently own a monitor or not? If not, is the $500 budget including or excluding the monitor?

$500 for a photoshop and video editing build is pretty easy as long as it doesn't include Windows or a new monitor. If you need everything for $500 I'd recommend looking into prebuilts

 

[lansa]

No software or monitor will be needed, thanks.

 

[lehtv]

Good. Here you go:

CPU - i5-3550 $200 after promo
Mobo - Asrock B75M $67 after promo
RAM - G.Skill 2x4GB 1333MHz $40
GPU - Integrated $0
HDD - Seagate 2TB 7200RPM $108
DVD - Samsung burner $15
PSU - Antec Basiq 350W $30
Case - Rosewill Challenger-U3 $40 after promo (has USB 3.0)

= $500

This build maximizes CPU performance and drive space for $500, and it's USB3.0 and SATA 6gb/s compatible so you can get the most out of an external usb drive and an SSD, respectively. So it's a very "future-resistant" rig. The PSU could be better but it's a low power system so it doesn't have to be top notch, and I tried to avoid going over budget. Antec is a reliable brand and the PSU is made by Delta Electronics.

You can of course spend less overall. If you think 2TB of drive space is just ridiculous, you can get the 1TB version for $85. The CPU is very fast for photo and video editing, but you could get away with an i3-2100 just fine as well and save $90 (compare), enough to afford a small SSD and maybe even a higher quality PSU with 5-year warranty: PCP&C MK III 400W $55 ($35 after rebate). There's no right or wrong here IMO. Of course, if you could spend $600, you could get the i5, the 2TB drive, the SSD and the better PSU, making no sacrifices anywhere.

Also, if you're close to a Microcenter you can get the CPU and Mobo there. They should have $50 off on all Z77 boards when combined with 3570K, unless I'm mistaken. So 3570K + Biostar Z77 could be had for $240 ($230 after rebate). Alternatively you can get an AMD bundle for even less.

 

[lansa]

Thank you! We do live next to Microcenter and the bundle option sounds great. What is the advantage of having an SSD drive in addition to HDD?

Truly great info, appreciate your input.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Thank you! We do live next to Microcenter and the bundle option sounds great. What is the advantage of having an SSD drive in addition to HDD?

Truly great info, appreciate your input.

SSD allows for faster boot time. If will increase the life of a PC. People put ssds into 5 year old computers and they say it makes it completely new

 

[lehtv]

SSD allows for faster boot time. If will increase the life of a PC. People put ssds into 5 year old computers and they say it makes it completely new

Boot time is among the lesser benefits. That's just some seconds less waiting every day, people usually have the PC starting up while they do something else anyway. The benefits of an SSD are in actually using the PC - with the OS and programs installed on it, everything from starting up or closing programs to handling files or interacting with a browser becomes considerably more responsive than on a HDD. This is also very important for resource intensive programs like Photoshop or video editing tools.

In practice, an SSD is used just like a small hard disk, except you never defragment it.

We do live next to Microcenter and the bundle option sounds great.

Nice. Ask them about what bundle deals they have going for <$200 so you could get an SSD without going over budget. If you want to grab the 3570K+Z77 combo and the better PSU, it's fine to leave hte SSD for later, it'll require reinstalling the OS though.

 

[lansa]

Thanks again.....smile on my 9yr olds face upon finding out he can build his new pc for less than $500: PRICELESS

Would I have any luck pricing-wise going to Frys as far as CPU bundles?

 

[lehtv]

It's for a 9-yr old? He can use photoshop? I had pictured a 16-18 yo.

Somehow I get the feeling that an i5 build will be overkill :S

I think MC has better intel bundles than Fry's but ofc you can ask them yourself

 

[saratoga172]

Micro center has better Intel proc deals but I've never had any trouble getting frys to price match. Mostly its just the proc I've had them match.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[lansa]

He's already made his own movies on iMovie and now getting into adobe video editing, a bit ahead of his time I know.

 

[lehtv]

Very nice

Micro center has better Intel proc deals but I've never had any trouble getting frys to price match. Mostly its just the proc I've had them match.

you could probably also get them or MC to price match NCIX for the hard drive to avoid the shipping which I've heard takes a while

 

[azeem40]

He sounds like my brother, but my bro is a tiny bit older.

 

[Zap]

Would I have any luck pricing-wise going to Frys as far as CPU bundles?

No. Fry's have not had decent priced CPU/mobo bundles in a while, and when they did/do, they were always on specific models.

Micro Center gives you many choices. For instance the Intel bundles has 3 CPUs and ANY Z77 chipset motherboard as available options. They may even toss in Z68 chipset boards into the mix too, but don't bother with those.

If you shop there you may as well check out their hardware prices. Many of those prices are really close to Newegg's pricing, and with the convenience of exchanging the product quickly if something is DOA.

 

[lansa]

I'm at micro enter now....they have the biostar z77 for $50 bundled with 3570 vs the biostar z77xe4 that's $90 bundled. What's the difference between the 2?

 

[lehtv]

Z77XE4 has

- compatibility with SLI/Crossfire (don't need it)
- four SATA 6gb/s ports (don't need more than one, Z77A has two)
- displayport output (probably will never need it)
- eSATA (USB3.0 is much faster)
- fancier heatsinks and probably some differences in power delivery, only relevant to high end overclocking

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138354
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138353

If you can get the mobo for $50 combo'd with the i5-3450 that'd save you another $40

 

[azeem40]

The deal is only with the i5-3570k and i7-3770k.

 

[Zap]

- displayport output (probably will never need it)

I don't know if Z77 is similar to Z68 in this respect, but with Z68 the ONLY way to get 2560x1600 resolution was using DisplayPort.

The deal is only with the i5-3570k and i7-3770k.

How about i5-2500K? Not Ivy Bridge, but is $20 less than the i5-3570K.

 

[lansa]

I think we'll go with the 3570k, looks like a good deal and would be nice to have the extra horses for the future. MC even has the RAM for $35, only thing I need to get online is the Rosewill case. Thanks for all your help guys, will update this thread once system is up and running.

 

[krnmastersgt]

How about i5-2500K? Not Ivy Bridge, but is $20 less than the i5-3570K.

Officially the deal was only meant for 3rd gen i5/i7 K-series processors, but I've heard from a lot of people here that if you ask you can get the deal with the 2500K as well, but that could vary from location to location (or just cashier/manager) but its not something they were officially doing.

Also this rig for a 9 year old... boy do kids grow up fast.

 

[lehtv]

I don't know if Z77 is similar to Z68 in this respect, but with Z68 the ONLY way to get 2560x1600 resolution was using DisplayPort.

I don't know, but the chances of him ever buying a 2560 pixel wide monitor are pretty slim, and if he does it's easy to just buy a low end discrete GPU to drive it.

 

[lehtv]

I think we'll go with the 3570k, looks like a good deal and would be nice to have the extra horses for the future. MC even has the RAM for $35, only thing I need to get online is the Rosewill case. Thanks for all your help guys, will update this thread once system is up and running.

You can also get a case from MC but it'll cost a bit more if you want it to have USB 3.0. Xigmatek Asgard Pro $50 is a nice budget case with a spacious interior, tool-free installation and USB3.0.

What PSU did you plan to get if neither of the units I linked?

 

[lansa]

You can also get a case from MC but it'll cost a bit more if you want it to have USB 3.0. Xigmatek Asgard Pro $50 is a nice budget case with a spacious interior, tool-free installation and USB3.0.

What PSU did you plan to get if neither of the units I linked?

They have an Inland 400W PSU for $23, I'll go with that one.

 

[lehtv]

Inland? What's that? I've never heard of them so I'd avoid them. I'm pretty sure I've heard of every PSU manufacturer or brand that can be trusted. The Inland units I can find on MC's web store are all sub 80% efficient, grossly inadequate rail amperage specs for the rated wattage, and covered by only 1 year warranty apart from their "Gold" labeled units (which are still 77% efficient, not Gold efficient. Marketing.).

The thing with PSUs is that there are literally hundred of small brands of PSUs with dubious power ratings, efficiencies, protections and/or component qualities. About a dozen brands exist whose units are actually what they say they are - capable of outputting their rated wattage cleanly and continuously, without blowing up or otherwise risking your components.

If you want to buy the PSU from MC, the least expensive unit from a reliable brand is Antec BP-350 for $38. Next up is Antec VP-450 for $50. At those prices you're better off ordering the PSU online

 

[lansa]

Inland? What's that? I've never heard of them so I'd avoid them. I'm pretty sure I've heard of every PSU manufacturer or brand that can be trusted.

The thing with PSUs is that there are literally hundred of small brands of PSUs with dubious power ratings, efficiencies, protections and/or component qualities. About a dozen brands exist whose units are actually what they say they are - capable of outputting their rated wattage cleanly and continuously, without blowing up or otherwise risking your components.

If you want to buy the PSU from MC, the least expensive unit from a reliable brand is Antec BP-350 for $38. Next up is Antec VP-450 for $50. At those prices you're better off ordering the PSU online

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0367692

Was told its the MC brand, can't be that bad can it?