New PC build

[titan131]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Office work: excel, word, web surfing, email etc
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
£400
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
UK
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.
Intel cpu's
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
OS, monitor, mouse, keyboard
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
yes
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
default speeds
8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1600x900
9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Sometime in may
10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
OK no problem

My build at the moment:

Kingston ValueRAM Memory 1333Mz DDR3 Non-ECC DIMM £13.99 x2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingston-Va...4277986&sr=8-7

Intel 40GB 320 Series £69.99 http://www.dabs.com/products/intel-4...-ssd-7FKM.html

Samsung 500GB SpinPoint F3 7200rpm 16MB Sata £32.08 http://www.dabs.com/products/samsung...sata-6605.html

Sony 24x DVD-RW SATA £11.98 http://www.dabs.com/products/sony-24...rive-73PL.html

Intel i3-2100 Sandybridge £92.48 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Sandy...4278184&sr=8-1

Gigabyte SKT-1155 H61M-D2-B3 Motherboard £62.20 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-GA-...4278227&sr=1-1

Black Micro ATX Case - No PSU £15.22 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/205561

XFX 450W Core Edition Pro £39.21 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/264381

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 £13.75 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...A1D873RMPMIV2C

Arctic Cooling Arctic F9 £2.78 http://www.kikatek.com/product_info....ucts_id=167308

Total: £367.67

hi all, I would like to build an office machine for myself and also, as an experiment, make another and see if I can sell it on ebay. Ive been planning to do this for a while just as a hobby, I dont mind if I don't make any money.

Any feedback back is much appreciated

edit: I have some questions about the SSD I have chosen, it is quite slow looking at the specs but I hear intel make quite reliable drives. I have also read that ssd's of small capacities wear out faster than the larger capacities, do u think this should affect my purchasing decision? thx

edit. added fan

 

[dma0991]

i all, I would like to build an office machine for myself and also, as an experiment, make another and see if I can sell it on ebay. Ive been planning to do this for a while just as a hobby, I dont mind if I don't make any money.

Any feedback back is much appreciated, thx

edit: I have some questions about the SSD I have chosen, it is quite slow looking at the specs but I hear intel make quite reliable drives. I have also read that ssd's of small capacities wear out faster than the larger capacities, do u think this should affect my purchasing decision? thx

Looks pretty good to me. The only thing that I would change is the RAM which currently is 2GBx2 and your motherboard has 2 DIMM slots only. I suggest getting a single 4GB stick so that you could upgrade another 4GB in the future if necessary.

Any SSD will be fast enough compared to a HDD. Small capacities does not affect faster wear and larger capacities has more space just in case the NAND degrades. I do recommend getting at least 60GB for the OS and some games perhaps.

http://www.dabs.com/products/corsair...html?q=corsair

 

[titan131]

Thx for your advice. I've been looking at ssd's including the one you linked to and I was wondering which, if any, are the most reliable? or are much they same when it comes to reliability?

 

[dma0991]

Comparing reliability of one SSD to another is not a good way of measuring reliability as SSD are quite durable. In comparison with a HDD then it makes a lot of sense to get a SSD because HDDs and sudden shock from a drop or vibration will cause problems. Nothing is more frustrating than a HDD full of data to completely brick up.

 

[titan131]

OCZ 60GB Agility 2E SSD
Kingston 64GB SSDNOW V100
Corsair 64GB Nova SSD
Crucial 64GB C300
OCZ 60GB Vertex 2E SSD
Corsair 60GB Force F60A
Crucial RealSSD M4 64GB

Out of all these drives is the corsair nova the best do you think? i forgot to mention it in the OP but I have read that the new 25nm drives wear out faster than the older 34nm drives, so is 34nm the way to go?

 

[dma0991]

I chose the Corsair Nova because it is around 60GB and closest in terms of price relative to the 40GB Intel SSD. If I could I would rather go for the Corsair F60 or the OCZ Vertex 2 60GB which is better than the Corsair Nova but at a higher price. Crucial is also a good brand I heard.

Yes, according to what I have read as well the 25nm drives does wear out faster than a 34nm drive. Get the 34nm type if you could find them.

 

[mfenn]

OCZ 60GB Agility 2E SSD
Kingston 64GB SSDNOW V100
Corsair 64GB Nova SSD
Crucial 64GB C300
OCZ 60GB Vertex 2E SSD
Corsair 60GB Force F60A
Crucial RealSSD M4 64GB

Out of all these drives is the corsair nova the best do you think? i forgot to mention it in the OP but I have read that the new 25nm drives wear out faster than the older 34nm drives, so is 34nm the way to go?

Disregarding the price differences between those drives, I would go with the M4 64GB or the Force 60.

 

[titan131]

thx for the advice, im a bit torn between 34nm drives and the newer 25nm ones now. i wonder why mfenn u would pick the newer 25nm drive if they degrade faster? they dont seem to be much faster.

 

[ncalipari]

do you really prefer intel? for this price range AMD would a much better fit (more performance, less costs)

 

[titan131]

do you really prefer intel? for this price range AMD would a much better fit (more performance, less costs)

I did kind of have my heart set on a new SB build but a £70 Athlon and a £35 motherboard would probably get the job done just fine. I think where the i3 really shines is in single threaded performance but for an office machine I guess its not that important. Maybe I should go the AMD route, i'll give it some more thought.

 

[ncalipari]

I did kind of have my heart set on a new SB build but a £70 Athlon and a £35 motherboard would probably get the job done just fine. I think where the i3 really shines is in single threaded performance but for an office machine I guess its not that important. Maybe I should go the AMD route, i'll give it some more thought.

if you really just need light web broswing/email I would personally ditch a full blown CPU, and would rather go with Brazos/llano.

For 80-120£ you can get a mobo+CPU, plus save a lot of power for its use.

If you can stand a low performance wall then brazos is the way to go, also because you get a good integrated GPU.

 

[titan131]

if you really just need light web broswing/email I would personally ditch a full blown CPU, and would rather go with Brazos/llano.

For 80-120£ you can get a mobo+CPU, plus save a lot of power for its use.

If you can stand a low performance wall then brazos is the way to go, also because you get a good integrated GPU.

I definitely would like something more powerful than brazos/llano for data sheets and multiple programs running at once. At the moment i'm thinking either the i3 2100 or maybe a phenom 955? If i went with the phenom I could get a cheap £35ish motherboard. Would you personally buy a cheap motherboard with an older chipset? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/258709
or go for a newer AMD chipset?

 

[ncalipari]

I definitely would like something more powerful than brazos/llano for data sheets and multiple programs running at once. At the moment i'm thinking either the i3 2100 or maybe a phenom 955? If i went with the phenom I could get a cheap £35ish motherboard. Would you personally buy a cheap motherboard with an older chipset? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/258709
or go for a newer AMD chipset?

Avoid phenom I and cheap motherboards, especially nvidia chipsets.

You'll get little to none support.

Try this:

Cpu 1:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004LRO9B...SIN=B004LRO9B4


Cpu 2 (cheaper):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-ADX450W...1_5?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1304352028&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-GA-...4351452&sr=1-5


Anyhow around september Bulldozer (new AMD cpu) will be out. Maybe you can wait, but this system can handle Bulldozer CPUs.

 

[titan131]

its hard to deny the value of the tri core you linked. I think that would be fine for office use. I'll go for that then and the mobo you linked too. Thx for all your help

 

[ncalipari]

I would change a few other things as well:

PSU:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPS...4356279&sr=1-1

[Better quality]

Ram:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMX4...4356381&sr=1-7

[2 GB is not enough. This is more expensive, but much more reliable]

HDD;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digi...4356571&sr=1-1

[you have SSD for speed, this is for storage]


SSD:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-X25-M-...4356618&sr=1-1

[yes, it's more expensive. maybe 40 gb is better, but go for intel]

 

[titan131]

I would change a few other things as well:

PSU:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPS...4356279&sr=1-1

[Better quality]

Ram:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMX4...4356381&sr=1-7

[2 GB is not enough. This is more expensive, but much more reliable]

HDD;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digi...4356571&sr=1-1

[you have SSD for speed, this is for storage]


SSD:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-X25-M-...4356618&sr=1-1

[yes, it's more expensive. maybe 40 gb is better, but go for intel]

That PSU got a great score at jonnyguru.com, the only thing that bothers me about it is that it only comes with a 2 year warranty and uses a sleeve bearing fan. The xfx pro doesn't perform as well (according to jonnyguru) but it is seasonic made and comes with a 5 year warranty. Thanks for the info about the ram, i didnt realise the ram i picked was less reliable. 2tb would be massive overkill for me =) but I guess I could get a green drive to save on power.

 

[mfenn]

thx for the advice, im a bit torn between 34nm drives and the newer 25nm ones now. i wonder why mfenn u would pick the newer 25nm drive if they degrade faster? they dont seem to be much faster.

There is really no relevant difference between the lifetime of 25nm and 34nm flash. Anand proved in one of his recent SSD articles that even 25nm will last 10 years under a harsh desktop workload.

do you really prefer intel? for this price range AMD would a much better fit (more performance, less costs)

Less cost? Sure. More performance? You must be out of your mind.

 

[ncalipari]

Less cost? Sure. More performance? You must be out of your mind.

Well the intel costs double of the AMD. I would be amazed if it wasn't more powerful.


Check out two CPU with less than 10$ of difference:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=289

Obviously you get more power with AMD.


Fresh from this morning:

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph4310/37367.png

the i3 2100 is as fast as the athlon X3 in at least one test.

But the latter cost 72% less.

 

[mfenn]

Well the intel costs double of the AMD. I would be amazed if it wasn't more powerful.


Check out two CPU with less than 10$ of difference:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=289

Obviously you get more power with AMD.

Looks like you get about the same amount of performance to me. If anything, the graphs show that the i3 2100 is faster in about 50% of the tests. The point still stands, you cannot get more performance and lower cost with AMD. You can get either, but not both.

Fresh from this morning:

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph4310/37367.png

the i3 2100 is as fast as the athlon X3 in at least one test.

But the latter cost 72% less.

Sorry bud, you can't just cherry pick one benchmark and call them even.