enki needs a new PC

[enki_ck]

I've been in a need of a new desktop PC for some time now, especially as my current one was bought in 2006. I've been upgrading it occasionally and fixing stuff but I really need a new one now.

I used to be somewhat versed in the hardware stuff but as I don't fix them anymore and have found other, shiny and sharp items to occupy me I'm pretty much out of the loop now so I'll need your help, guys and gals.

I've been comparing AMD and Intel offerings and for most it seems they are priced much closer than they once were. As most of my computers except for a few laptops were AMD, I'd like to try Intel now.

So I was looking into buying it in parts and assembling it myself, but price wise, ...   It seems I might get away cheaper if I buy an assembled one.

For instance in a shop nearby (chain on computer stores) I can get this assembled:

LINKY

Motherboard: Intel H87 socket 1150, DDR3, sound, SATA, Gigabit LAN, PCI-E
Processor: Intel i3 4150 (3.5 GHz)
Memory: 8 GB DDR3, 1600MHz
Graphics: nVidia GeForce GTX 750
HDD: 1000.0 GB, SATA 7200 o/min
DVD: DVD±RW, SATA
Case: Antec, Midi Tower
Power Suply: 500W
Extra Cooling
Mouse: Logitech, USB
Keyboard: Logitech, USB
Speakers: Logitech 2.1

for $760. True, I'm not completely sure what makers some of the parts used are but I'm still looking and haven't called or visited to ask.

If I buy pretty much the same components in parts.
MOTHERBOARD
PROCESSOR
MEMORY (I prefer 2x4GB)
HDD (Had good experiences with Seagate  )
GRAPHICS
DVD
CASE (cheap, don't need anything flashy)
POWER SUPPLY


it comes to $800. And that's without the added cooling, mouse+keyboard+speakers.  Don't really need a new mouse and keyboard but my speakers are starting to act up.

Yes, the parts config has a 2TB HDD compared to the 1TB of the first one, but that's a very small price difference between the smaller and bigger HDD.

I'm sure I'm missing something though so please me if you see something obvious or have some advice.

Now what will I be using it for? Well to visit MTO, obviously.

Except that, nothing too extreme, an occasional small video edit, nothing professional, just cut and paste video segments stuff.

Office programs, maybe a bit of AutoCAD once in a blue moon.

I'm not a big time gamer, I play one or two games a year. For the last few years the Elder Scrolls series, the Witcher series (waiting on III to come out ) and Dragon Age series.

And I don't like having to rebuild my PC too often so I'd like buy once and be good for a few years.


Advise me please, IT gurus.




PS: Not to forget, my price limit would be around $800 and that's really pushing it. Closer to $700 would be better.


If you know better components for less $$$, let me know. I can shop around and find most if not all in different shops. I was just using the one as a reference for pricing.

[Millhouse]

If you are not gaming, do you need the graphics card? The CPU has Intel's HD4400 graphics which is fine for general use.

The saving can be used for an SSD, in addition to your HDD of choice.

if you need the graphics card, you may want to spend a little extra and get a HDD with SSD cache.

[Reinier]

Go for an SSD, you won't regret it!

[enki_ck]

I've considered an 120GB SSD for the OS + regular HDD for storage so I might add that. The basic ones however are about $100.

But as I said, I do use it for gaming occasionally and the newer RPG use quite bit of graphics.

[Millhouse]

Ah, missed the gaming bit.

HDD's with an SSD cache are worth considering if you don't want to go the seperate SSD route.

Both my laptop and desktop are SSD equipped, could never go back to HDD only.

[PTRSAK]

Another vote for the SSD. 

I was looking at a MB/CPU/RAM upgrade to my computer a year or so back and I ended up spending about 1/4 on a SSD and extended the life of the current setup probably as much as the "heart transplant" would have.

The boost in performance is nothing short of amazing.

My 5 year old Macbook Pro will be getting a SSD rather than being replaced with a new model. I would expect the SSD would put 3 or more years usable life on that too.

[sir_mike]

It doesnt look like a too bad of a setup to me but I would not get a core i3.  IMO, I think the i3 is alittle weak, preformance wise but I have known some light gamers that think it is okay.

[derekmac]

I bought an Asus CM6870 around a year ago as it was cheaper than building one.  Future Shop has it on sale for right around your budget.

It's an:
i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
16 GB RAM
GeForce GT 630
2 TB HD (no SSD )
Bluray player with burner

I've had no problems with it (other than Windows 8 sucking the life out of it and myself!  ), and it runs Linux like a dream!!

[derekmac]

It doesnt look like a too bad of a setup to me but I would not get a core i3.  IMO, I think the i3 is alittle weak, preformance wise but I have known some light gamers that think it is okay.

Oh yeah, I'd also say to stay away from the i3's.  They are really a pretty cheap budget processor.  Even the i5's seem a little weak.

[sir_mike]

 

It doesnt look like a too bad of a setup to me but I would not get a core i3.  IMO, I think the i3 is alittle weak, preformance wise but I have known some light gamers that think it is okay.

Oh yeah, I'd also say to stay away from the i3's.  They are really a pretty cheap budget processor.  Even the i5's seem a little weak.

I guess the i5 could be alittle weak but i havent noticed it.  I dont game and have the 4th gen cpu but i recently acquired an i7 3rd gen with 32gigs of ram and yeah to that it seems weak! 

[Syph007]

I used to be in the PC upgrade cycle but after I gave up gaming on it, I can make due with very low end hardware now.  Ive mostly been buying budget Dell laptops now as they can be had on sale very cheap.   

If you're a gamer though I would imagine its still much cheaper to get performance in a desktop rig compared to a gaming laptop.

[enki_ck]

How about this one. 120gb SSD only, but adding an extra HDD to it is easy.

http://www.instar-informatika.hr/racunalo-instar-strike-4460-haswell-intel-i5-32ghz-ssd-120gb-8gb-geforce-gt730-2gddr3/IN2320

Around $650

[Millhouse]

I had a strange dream last night about building a new PC.

[PTRSAK]

I had a strange dream last night about eating a giant marshmallow.
This morning I couldn't find my pillow.

[Whoey]

Something you may want to consider is doing much like I did for my main machine, which is buy a system which has most of what you want but with low end/onboard graphics, and buy the nvidia card you want/can afford with the balance.

I'm keen on grabbing a GTX 750 TI for this machine, which uses half the power of my current (9600GT) and gives me double my current performance. There's quite a bit of horsepower difference between 750 and 750 TI for about 25 eur extra cost...

[Whoey]

fyi: http://gpuboss.com/gpus/GeForce-GTX-750-Ti-vs-GeForce-GTX-750

[enki_ck]

I've been looking some configs and graphic cards and a lot of them use ati radeon r7 or r9. I always used nvidia till now. So which would you rate better?

[AimlessWanderer]

I haven't got a sodding clue what any of you geeks are saying  I should have known better than to look at this thread  Good luck with getting it all sorted 

My idea of buying a PC consists of pointing at one and saying "I want that one, it looks nice" 

[jerseydevil]

I haven't got a sodding clue what any of you geeks are saying  I should have known better than to look at this thread  Good luck with getting it all sorted 

My idea of buying a PC consists of pointing at one and saying "I want that one, it looks nice" 

   I hear that!  I'm positive in a past life I was one of those who would throw their wooden shoes into the mill machinery.  I've referred to myself as a Luddite on numerous occasions.  Sadly there are many people who have no clue what that means.......

[AimlessWanderer]

Just remember to take your shoes off first 

[Whoey]

From my understanding over the years there's not a whole lot of difference these days between  the decent gaming cards. I personally prefer nvidia, and like you have stuck to them on most of my machines throughout the years. Most of my ATI experiences haven't been great largely due to confusing or unpolished driver packages. Nvidia has largely been superior in that department. Also more recently ATI seem to have upped the quality of their cards offering better performance vs nvidia models of the same price. I think largely it's your preference that wins. ATI and AMD or Intel and Nvidia. The latter pair tend to be more expensive, but seem to cope for a long time.

sent from my Firespray-31-class patrol and attack craft

[enki_ck]

Well I finally got the payment I was waiting for for tax reasons and can go forward with the purchase. Probably this week.

I've been thinking this configuration: for $750

MB: Intel H87 socket 1150, DDR3, zvuk, SATA, Gigabit LAN, PCI-E
Processor: Intel Pentium G3258 (3.2 GHz)
RAM: 8 GB DDR3, 1333MHz
Graphic card: nVidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti
HDD: 1000.0 GB, SATA 7200 o/min
DVD±RW, SATA
Midi Tower
Power: 500W
Additional cooling
Mouse: Logitech, USB
Keyboard: Logitech, USB
Speakers: Logitech 2.1




+ an additional 120GB SSD for $80




Any thoughts?

[sir_mike]

I would say that as long as it is above the specs of any game you play, software you use or other stuff you are going to use it for, then it should be fine! 

Well I finally got the payment I was waiting for for tax reasons and can go forward with the purchase. Probably this week.

I've been thinking this configuration: for $750

MB: Intel H87 socket 1150, DDR3, zvuk, SATA, Gigabit LAN, PCI-E
Processor: Intel Pentium G3258 (3.2 GHz)
RAM: 8 GB DDR3, 1333MHz
Graphic card: nVidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti
HDD: 1000.0 GB, SATA 7200 o/min
DVD±RW, SATA
Midi Tower
Power: 500W
Additional cooling
Mouse: Logitech, USB
Keyboard: Logitech, USB
Speakers: Logitech 2.1




+ an additional 120GB SSD for $80




Any thoughts?

[Whoey]

seems like a good option overall to me, the SSD will make a huge performance difference with your OS loaded on it rather than the standard drive, provided of course it's a decent SSD.

[mrynnr]

I definitely agree with loading your OS on SSD.

[Millhouse]

Any way you can squeeze in a better processor.

[enki_ck]

Any way you can squeeze in a better processor.

It's a preassembled configuration but I can ask. Any suggestions?

[Millhouse]

I would be looking at one of the i5's.

However, they are much more expensive than the Pentium, so may be outside of the budget you have set yourself.

[HarleyXJGuy]

What is SSD? 

[zoidberg]

What is SSD? 

SSD stands for Solid State Drive, which is a storage component, think large USB key.