Want to sanity-check this build for me?

nfriedly

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1. Usage: Building this system for a friend. Primarily usage will be internet / email / youtube, but it should be able to handle some occasional light gaming also.

2. Budget: $550, with a little wiggle room.

3. Country: USA

5. Brand preference: Prefer AMD over Intel.

6. Current parts: Already have a 180gb OCZ Vertex 2 SSD and Windows 7 license.

7. Overclocking: No overclock, default speeds.

8. Monitor: Friend is keeping existing monitor, I think it's 1024x768 but I'm not certain. (I wouldn't let them buy a new monitor like this, but since they already have it and want to keep it, I'm not going to argue too much.)

9. WHEN: Within the next month or so.

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.17 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A88X-ITX+ Mini ITX FM2+ Motherboard ($147.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory ($95.15 @ Amazon)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 2 200GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($20.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $573.28
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-28 13:49 EST-0500)

I picked the motherboard because it has wifi built in. That isn't a need right now but I think it may prove nice to have in the future.

The friend I'm building the system for is purchasing the parts directly, and would prefer to get everything through Amazon. I'm hoping that amazon drops the price on the motherboard before it's time to buy though, or else I may convince them to buy it from newegg instead and save $40. ...And it looks like amazon sold out of the motherboard while I was writing this. I might switch to http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-F2...dp/B00FYKNEVS/ instead.

Overall, I think this will make for a decent, well-rounded system. But I'd like to hear your thoughts and if anyone has any specific recommendations.
 

nwo

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Since you're going to build within the next month or so, be on the lookout for RAM/PSU deals, you can save about $30-40 easily if you're able to pick up RAM @ ~$70 and that exact same PSU @ ~$20 after MIR. Subscribe to newegg's deals and be on the lookout for their deals.
 

Termie

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Honestly, $333 for that CPU/MB set is way, way too expensive. The 7850K really isn't at the sweet spot for Kaveri pricing, and if you have to pay over $100 for a Kaveri motherboard for a CPU you won't be overclocking, you're overpaying.

Here's what I'd consider a much better use of the $333:
(1) Intel i3-4130 - $120 at Amazon
(2) Zotac H87-WIFI motherboard - $94 at Amazon
(3) Asus Radeon HD 7770 - $93AR at Amazon

Comes to $307AR (or $327 before rebate). It will be faster for every single use you listed, and for gaming, it will be more than twice as fast.

Also, paying extra for DDR3-2400 in a system like this doesn't make much sense. Even if you were trying to maximize the performance of the Kaveri GPU, you're much better off spending the extra money on a dedicated GPU.
 
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nwo

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Must have overlooked the RAM speed. You definitely have no need to go any higher than DDR3-1600.

Only reason I'd recommend AMD APU is if you really want to use onboard graphics since they are way faster than what Intel currently has to offer. As Termie pointed out, there are plenty of better and faster solutions if you are willing to use a dedicated video card.
 

nfriedly

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Thanks! That's all great feedback.

To address a couple of the points brought up:

I went AMD because I don't like some of Intel's business practices. I know they've improved things in recent years, but I'd still prefer to go AMD, especially for desktop systems.

I'm targeting more like $300 for cpu + mobo + graphics, the price just happened to have jumped $40 on that mobo right as I was about to list it. But there is a little wiggle room here.

And, yea, I'd probably go for DDR3-1600 if I wasn't using the APU, but it looked like it would be worth it to bump up performance of the APU.

So, given all that info, what would you recommend for an AMD system with discrete graphics?
 

Termie

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...

So, given all that info, what would you recommend for an AMD system with discrete graphics?

How about the 6800K for $140 and MSI's FM2 ITX board for $90? That would leave you enough money for this Asus HD7750 for $80AR: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-HD7750-1G...radeon+hd+7750

That's nearly twice as fast as the Kaveri GPU for the same price, with a CPU that's just as fast as the 7850K in real-world applications.

The FX-6300 is the better CPU for the money, but unfortunately you can't get a compatible motherboard in the ITX format. Are you set on ITX? The MSI FM2 board I mentioned apparently wasn't BIOS-compatible with Richland CPUs at the beginning, so it might be luck of the draw whether you get an updated BIOS out of the box.

Frankly, for ITX, you really have to go Intel for any bang-for-the-buck, unless you're willing to wait for the new A8-7600, which is a much better fit for a tiny gaming box than the expensive 7850K.
 
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Termie

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No, I could go for Micro ATX, but that adds $20 to the case if I'm still going for the Prodigy.

I'd be willing to consider other cases, but I do like the Prodigy.

OK, I'd go with the Prodigy M, a micro ATX board, and the FX6300, and then add in an HD7770.

That would be a great all-AMD setup. Here's a very inexpensive mATX board you could pair with the FX6300: http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-DDR3-...ref=pd_sim_e_2

CPU: $120
MB: $55AR
GPU: $93AR
Total: $268

Even with the premium on the case, you end up way ahead in terms of both price and performance. You may need to get the case at Newegg - seems to be in short supply at Amazon. I'd check those reviews, though - I'm not sure the Prodigy translates that well into mATX form, and that's the trouble with the build you've created. You want the Prodigy, you want AMD, and getting AMD in ITX is cost-prohibitive. The best ultra-compact mATX cases come from Silverstone, but they don't have the Prodigy styling.
 

Steltek

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Mar 29, 2001
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Thanks! That's all great feedback.

To address a couple of the points brought up:

I went AMD because I don't like some of Intel's business practices. I know they've improved things in recent years, but I'd still prefer to go AMD, especially for desktop systems.

One question I have is whether this is also your friend's belief.

You may be building this system, but your friend is paying for it and deserves the best available performance. And, at this price point, an Intel based system simply provides significantly better bang for the buck. Not to mention a wider selection of components, and also the availability of future compatible higher end CPU upgrades to i5/i7 that AMD simply can't match.

Just my personal opinion.
 

nfriedly

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OK, I spoke with my friend this evening:
* They agreed with me on the AMD-vs-Intel point so I think that's settled.
* They clarified that "light gaming" consisted entirely of solitare, and further stated that they would prefer a little less performance and a reduced price if available. So, with that in mind, I went back to the drawing board and came up with this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-4300 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($104.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($64.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($76.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 2 200GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card: Diamond Radeon HD 6450 1GB Video Card ($34.52 @ Amazon)
Case: Silverstone PS09B MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($21.95 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $388.42
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-28 22:26 EST-0500)

So, what do you guys think?

Oh, and thanks for all the advice so far!
 

Termie

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OK, that's all good to know. For playing Solitaire, your friend doesn't even need a graphics processor, other than to output video. In that case, on the AMD side, an APU is your best bet, but definitely not Kaveri or even the 6800K.

How about the 6600K and an FM2 motherboard for around $165? That's far cheaper than the CPU/MB/GPU setup you listed above. I don't know all the APU options that well, but for this purpose, you really do not want to spend any money on a video card. Perhaps others will have suggestions on the best APU to use. An Intel CPU is still a better overall option for this usage scenario, but you've crossed that off your list, so APUs are your next best option.

By the way, the PS09B is obviously in a completely different price class than the Prodigy. I assume your friend talked you down from the more expensive case. Luckily, the PS09 is also a better overall design. It's not fancy-looking, but it's a much more efficient use of space. I've built up a system with the PS08, which is nearly identical, and the case is fantastic for the price, and also happens to be smaller than the Prodigy.
 
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nwo

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Get DDR3 1600 RAM for a few bucks more. Other than that it's a pretty solid build for its purpose.
 

Charlie98

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Nov 6, 2011
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OK, that's all good to know. For playing Solitaire, your friend doesn't even need a graphics processor, other than to output video. In that case, on the AMD side, an APU is your best bet, but definitely not Kaveri or even the 6800K.

How about the 6600K and an FM2 motherboard for around $165? That's far cheaper than the CPU/MB/GPU setup you listed above.

I agree... the A6 graphics are likely better than the HD6450, the A8's certainly are. I can say that because I have that exact GPU in my HTPC... it beats my Sandy Bridge iGPU... but not by much.
 

nfriedly

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Right, I forgot to mention that I had been talked out if the Prodigy due to the price. The PS09B sounded like a good alternative.

Here's a further revised build, switching back to an APU, a FM2 mobo with USB 3 headers (to match the case), and I bumped RAM back up a bit for the APU.

Thoughts?

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-6600K 3.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($103.24 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($59.79 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($86.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 2 200GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (Purchased For $0.00)
Case: Silverstone PS09B MicroATX Mid Tower Case ($39.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($21.95 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (Purchased For $0.00)
Total: $356.95
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-01-29 00:00 EST-0500)

Oh, and its getting pretty late here, so this is probably my last post for this evening.
 

nwo

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Pretty good build for $200 under budget :thumbsup:

By the way, no storage drive, just SSD?
 

monkeydelmagico

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Nov 16, 2011
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Looks like a top shelf build, very nice. One suggestion: Since it's under budget and there is not going to be a seperate graphics card why not go mini itx?

MSI mITX mobo is $82.- and put it in a tiny cooler master elite 120 for $35.-

nothin against the silverstone mATX case but if I had a choice.....
 
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nfriedly

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Pretty good build for $200 under budget :thumbsup:

By the way, no storage drive, just SSD?

Nope, they're upgrading from a 30GB hdd, so I think 180GB of SSD will be more than enough :D

Looks like a top shelf build, very nice. One suggestion: Since it's under budget and there is not going to be a seperate graphics card why not go mini itx?

MSI mITX mobo is $82.- and put it in a tiny cooler master elite 120 for $35.-

nothin against the silverstone mATX case but if I had a choice.....

Yea, that does look like a good option, but after our followup conversation, I'm pretty sure they're going to prefer the lower priced option. But I just might come back to that for myself in a few months here, so thanks ;)

And, I've just now sent over the parts list, so I'll post an update once everything arrives.