Shopping for cheap low-end CPU + motherboard + RAM

[NervousNovice3]

I would like to upgrade my computer. I already have a case, PSU, SATA HDD, and monitor. As seen from my shopping list below, I'm taking the best-bang-for-the-buck route.

Usage:
Office work, internet, HD video, no gaming, no heavy multi-tasking.

My current shopping list:
Intel Celeron G530 with HD Graphics $50
Asus P8H610M motherboard $70
4G DDR3 1333 RAM $23

Question 1:
That's all I need right? For example, I don't need a discrete graphic card right?

Question 2:
I try to avoid buying hardware that are more than one generation old. I think my choice of CPU and motherboard chipset are not yet outdated, right?

Quesiton 3:
I also try to avoid buying a piece of hardware and later find out that it is already totally outdated or would be 50% faster if I had paid $20 more. Is it the case here with my shopping list? Should I spend a little bit more (or less) on something?

Thanks!

NN3

 

[ElFenix]

that's all that's needed. for CPU tasks and office tasks, ivybridge is little more than a die-shrink of sandybridge. and for a lot of tasks sandy isn't noticeably faster than nehalem was. CPU generations aren't what they used to be.

a few dollars more will get you more performance. if you're near a microcenter you can get a G620 processor for that same price.

but without knowing what you're doing with it there's really no way of knowing what'd be best.

 

[NervousNovice3]

...

but without knowing what you're doing with it there's really no way of knowing what'd be best.

Thanks for your reply. I just edited my post with my computer usage. As the hardware spec suggests, the computer will not be used for anything too fancy.

 

[krnmastersgt]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116399 Pentium G620 with promo code: EMCYTZT1770 is $54 if you're interested, just a few dollars more for an overall better processor (bit more cache and such). Ends at midnight of the 19th PST in case you were ordering online and interested.

 

[lehtv]

I'd rather get Asrock B75M motherboard, it's a newer chipset with native USB3.0 and SATA 6gb/s as well as compatibility with Ivy Bridge CPU's out of the box. On the other hand, a H61 motherboard can be had for as low as $40 AR: Biostar H61MCG. It's a no frills but functional board.

Question 1: Integrated graphics is good for internet/office and such, even 1080p video
Question 2: Correct
Question 3: Get the G620 for $4 more after promo as suggested above

 

[sm625]

I would not buy new hardware if it doesnt support usb 3.0

I would wait for the ib celeron if that is at all possible.

 

[NervousNovice3]

Question 4:
Which motherboard should I choose ASUS P8B75-M LE or Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H

Question 5:
Both of the above motherboards say they have "Integrated Graphics Processor". So Intel B75 chipset has integrated graphic? And H77 chipset doesn't?

Question 6:
Intel Celeron G530 has "HD Graphics" integrated graphic too? In that case, if I use this CPU on a motherboard with B75 chipset, then which integrated graphic would be used? Which one is better?

NN3

 

[lehtv]

1. Out of those two, I'd say Gigabyte is better as it has four DIMM slots. Where are you shopping at?
2&3. The integrated GPU is located on the processor die, these motherboards (like almost any lga1155 board) simply have the display connectivity (DVI, HDMI, VGA) to support it

 

[NervousNovice3]

1. Out of those two, I'd say Gigabyte is better as it has four DIMM slots. Where are you shopping at?

I'm buying it locally and both ASUS P8B75-M LE and Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H cost the same $85.

I thought Asus is better than Gigabyte but, yes, Gigabyte has 4 DIMM slots. So if that's pretty much the difference, then I'll probably go for Gigabyte.

2&3. The integrated GPU is located on the processor die, these motherboards (like almost any lga1155 board) simply have the display connectivity (DVI, HDMI, VGA) to support it

That's what I suspect. So when the motherboard websites say ""Integrated Graphics Processor", they really mean integrated in the CPU.

Most of the B75 mobos have HDMI port but the H77 boards do not. It seems strange since I thought H77 is better than B75.

 

[lehtv]

I edited my post above.

 

[mfenn]

I'm buying it locally and both ASUS P8B75-M LE and Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H cost the same $85.

I thought Asus is better than Gigabyte but, yes, Gigabyte has 4 DIMM slots. So if that's pretty much the difference, then I'll probably go for Gigabyte.

$85 is too much to be spending on a mobo to pair with a G530 IMHO. I'd personally just get the Biostar H61MGC that lehtv recommended above and add a USB 3.0 PCIe card down the line if it ever became an issue.