Office PC Build

[thescreensavers]

This Computer is going to be used in my Dads office, his current computer is 8 years old. So this is the new rig and I want it to be built to last.

Case: LIAN LI PC-A04B Black Aluminum
PSU: FSP Group AURUM GOLD 400W (AU-400) ATX12V
CPU : Intel Core i3-2105
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-Z68M-D2H LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI
Memory: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB)
HD:
CD: LITE-ON DVD Burner
W7 Home Premium SP1 64bit

Should I go with a Samsung F3 1TB? or should I look at Sata 6 drives? They all seem to have poor reviews with DOA's, was looking at the 500gb WD Black and Seagate

AMD is up for discussion since you can get a Quad Core for the same price while a bit slower might be better in the long run, which AMD model would you recommend?

The current Intel motherboard should support Ivy Bridge CPU's so if he would like to upgrade it in the future it shouldn't be too hard.


Any recommendations?

List Updated

 

[mfenn]

"Built to last" IMHO is a refurb Dell Optiplex with a Core i3 2100 and 3-year warranty for $469 (add another year for $90). You will have a hard time killing it when you want it dead.

 

[thescreensavers]

^ Thanks but we are not looking for a refurb

The parts have warranty as well

 

[lehtv]

Is it for internet, word processing, etc. light tasks only?

To my knowledge all of the current LGA1155 chipsets from H61 to Z68 will support Ivy Bridge. I'm not 100% on this though as the default RAM speed for IB will be 1600, while H61 and H67 only support 1333. On the other hand, this may not matter as H61 and H67 also support 1066, while the default RAM speed for SB is 1333.

Case: Good, but you could go microATX

PSU: I'd get XFX Core 450W for $30 AR (5-yr warranty, Seasonic built)

Mobo: Overkill, SLI is not going to be missed in a basic office build. Same goes for SSD caching... I'd go with a microATX H67 board: Biostar H67MU3 $75 AR

RAM: Overkill, the extra speed is impossible to justify at that price. Mushkin 8GB 1333 $33 AR

CPU: Would probably go with a Celeron G530 $57 if nothing particularly intensive is done on the PC. Otherwise, i3-2100 or i5-2400.

How much disk space does he need? HDD prices are currently very high, you could just go with an SSD as the sole form of storage if not much space is needed. The responsiveness of an SSD will do wonders to an office build. Crucial M4 64GB / Crucial M4 128GB.

 

[mfenn]

^ Thanks but we are not looking for a refurb

The parts have warranty as well

You would be extremely hard pressed to find a difference between a Dell refurb and a new machine.

There is also huge difference between Gigabyte's warranty and Dell's warranty. With Gigabyte's warranty, you ship your mobo to them (at your cost), wait 7-10 days, then get a maybe working replacement. With Dell's warranty, a guy shows up at your door within 24 hours and doesn't leave until the problem is fixed.

 

[thescreensavers]

Is it for internet, word processing, etc. light tasks only?

To my knowledge all of the current LGA1155 chipsets from H61 to Z68 will support Ivy Bridge. I'm not 100% on this though as the default RAM speed for IB will be 1600, while H61 and H67 only support 1333. On the other hand, this may not matter as H61 and H67 also support 1066, while the default RAM speed for SB is 1333.

Case: Good, but you could go microATX

PSU: I'd get XFX Core 450W for $30 AR (5-yr warranty, Seasonic built)

Mobo: Overkill, SLI is not going to be missed in a basic office build. Same goes for SSD caching... I'd go with a microATX H67 board: Biostar H67MU3 $75 AR

RAM: Overkill, the extra speed is impossible to justify at that price. Mushkin 8GB 1333 $33 AR

CPU: Would probably go with a Celeron G530 $57 if nothing particularly intensive is done on the PC. Otherwise, i3-2100 or i5-2400.

How much disk space does he need? HDD prices are currently very high, you could just go with an SSD as the sole form of storage if not much space is needed. The responsiveness of an SSD will do wonders to an office build. Crucial M4 64GB / Crucial M4 128GB.

Thank you for your input, the IB is 1600, so I got new ram with that speed and saved 20 bucks, For the PSU I want to get a Gold Cert PSU, otherwise the XFX would be fine.

The Motherboard other then being a brand I would not buy for this build has no current support for IB and does not seem to have many bios updates as well as only having 2 memory slots limits would cost more to upgrading, your right though I should go MicroATX and the new motherboard is cheaper and already has 22nm CPU support, also it being a new chipset means it should get better update/support treatment.

The CPU Is fine, I understand you personally would get a cheaper CPU but for this build, which is planned to be running for 5+ years its better to spend a bit more in this area.

What I really dont know about is the Hard Drive, the last build I did which was over a year ago used the F3, Id think there is a new drive king now? ~500gb is what I am looking for. Any recommendations?

You would be extremely hard pressed to find a difference between a Dell refurb and a new machine.

There is also huge difference between Gigabyte's warranty and Dell's warranty. With Gigabyte's warranty, you ship your mobo to them (at your cost), wait 7-10 days, then get a maybe working replacement. With Dell's warranty, a guy shows up at your door within 24 hours and doesn't leave until the problem is fixed.

that would be easy, It would say Dell on it . I have built many rigs before, I am fully aware on how warranty works. But if you buy quality stuff, you should not have a problem.

 

[lehtv]

For the PSU I want to get a Gold Cert PSU, otherwise the XFX would be fine.

Why? It's going to make quite literally no difference in a low-power PC.

The CPU Is fine, I understand you personally would get a cheaper CPU but for this build, which is planned to be running for 5+ years its better to spend a bit more in this area.

Not sure how that works if you're going to upgrade it to Ivy Bridge? Ivy CPUs will have disappeared the market in 2-3 years.

 

[thescreensavers]

Why? It's going to make quite literally no difference in a low-power PC.



Not sure how that works if you're going to upgrade it to Ivy Bridge? Ivy CPUs will have disappeared the market in 2-3 years.

Its all about the efficiency, anyhow It might be upgraded to IB, If not the CPU that is in it now will be good.

Don't feel like I am ignoring your input, I am defiantly listening its just not all of it works out.

 

[DaveSimmons]

One prebuilt option is this Gateway, $499, very small and quiet:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883113181

I have an Acer almost identical to this, and my brother and I got this exact model for my mom for her birthday.

Pro: tiny, quiet, unbox and go (well, after uninstalling a bit of crapware)

Con: harder to service, not expandable

 

[mfenn]

Thank you for your input, the IB is 1600, so I got new ram with that speed and saved 20 bucks,

Ivy Bridge will officially support 1600, it will most certainly not require it. It's not going to be change performance difference between 1333 and 1600 (i.e there is none).

For the PSU I want to get a Gold Cert PSU, otherwise the XFX would be fine.

The only reason to get a Gold PSU is for energy savings down the line (efficiency in no way, shape, or form denotes output quality or longevity). What lehtv is saying is that there is no way that you're ever going to recoup your initial cost by way of energy savings in a machine this low power.

The Motherboard other then being a brand I would not buy for this build has no current support for IB and does not seem to have many bios updates as well as only having 2 memory slots limits would cost more to upgrading, your right though I should go MicroATX and the new motherboard is cheaper and already has 22nm CPU support, also it being a new chipset means it should get better update/support treatment.

What is wrong with Biostar? As for BIOS support, all H67/P67/Z68 chipsets will support Ivy Bridge. None currently support Ivy Bridge because the CPU isn't out yet.

The CPU Is fine, I understand you personally would get a cheaper CPU but for this build, which is planned to be running for 5+ years its better to spend a bit more in this area.

So do you want to have your cake (upgrade to IB) or eat it (buy a strong SB CPU)? One or the other makes sense, both do not.

What I really dont know about is the Hard Drive, the last build I did which was over a year ago used the F3, Id think there is a new drive king now? ~500gb is what I am looking for. Any recommendations?

Prices are crazy right now due to the flooding in Thailand. Amazon has the Seagate 7200.12 for $75 though. A Samsung F3 or Hitachi 7K1000.D are better, but they're not worth the $100+ that people want for them right now.

that would be easy, It would say Dell on it . I have built many rigs before, I am fully aware on how warranty works. But if you buy quality stuff, you should not have a problem.

I meant the difference between a new Dell and a refurb Dell.