Advice on System I'm looking to Build

[edrobjr]

Hello all.. thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking to build a new pc, but haven't built one in probably 10 years. So i'm a bit rusty. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money. But I want a decent PC for basic use. I'm pretty much sold on the CPU I want, so looking to build everything else around it. Here's what I'm looking at getting so far:

CPU - AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition 3.1GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor

MB - ASUS M4A78-E ATX AMD Motherboard

4 gig of RAM - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

1 DVD burner

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive

I could use some help on recomendations for a Case, as well as if I need extra fans, a different heatsink/fan, etc.
Also curious as to if that's a good motherboard, and since I'm not a big gamer, is onboard video (HDMI) decent, or is it better to add a video card?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Darren]

Hello all.. thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking to build a new pc, but haven't built one in probably 10 years. So i'm a bit rusty. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money. But I want a decent PC for basic use. I'm pretty much sold on the CPU I want, so looking to build everything else around it. Here's what I'm looking at getting so far:

CPU - AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition 3.1GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor

MB - ASUS M4A78-E ATX AMD Motherboard

4 gig of RAM - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

1 DVD burner

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive


I could use some help on recomendations for a Case, as well as if I need extra fans, a different heatsink/fan, etc.

Also curious as to if that's a good motherboard, and since I'm not a big gamer, is onboard video (HDMI) decent, or is it better to add a video card?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The system you're building looks good and I can not fault it, although I'd recommend OCZ over G.Skills but that is just a personal preference. You said that you're not a big gamer, if you're not playing any games than onboard should be fine, however if you're planning on playing the odd game once a week than I'd recommend a dedicated video card, something on the lines of a GTX260 or ATI 4870.

As far as an aftermarket heatsink goes the Phenom II X2 550 should come with a heat sink and it is more than adequate for one if you're not overclocking. Most decent cases come with cooling fans so its not something you may not have to worry about.

 

[MilkyWay]

a decent card will be anything ati over a 4830 or for nvidia a gtx 260 or higher
for going lower than a gtx 260 i recommend getting like an ati card

the system is fine, dosnt need an oc as its already 3.1ghz which is fine for stock, if it was lower than 3.0ghz id clock it a little but its not so COOL...

 

[neatfeatguy]

If you find you might need a video card, look towards something fairly decent but not too spendy...

HD 4770 or 9800GT - they'd run you around $100 or so. If you don't want to spend that much, then go for a 9600GT or HD 4670 - roughly $70 or so. Since you're not a big gaming person, any of those should do you just fine and still allow you to play most, if not all, games out there without any problems.

Most cases come with fans. The only suggestion I have is make sure you get a fan for the back of the case (if one isn't provided - I think 120mm is generally the size I see that fit on backsides of cases) and a fan for the front of the case (only if one isn't on the side panel). This way you have cool air pulling in and hot air pushing out.

 

[boomstik360]

The system you're building looks good and I can not fault it, although I'd recommend OCZ over G.Skills but that is just a personal preference. You said that you're not a big gamer, if you're not playing any games than onboard should be fine, however if you're planning on playing the odd game once a week than I'd recommend a dedicated video card, something on the lines of a GTX260 or ATI 4870.

As far as an aftermarket heatsink goes the Phenom II X2 550 should come with a heat sink and it is more than adequate for one if you're not overclocking. Most decent cases come with cooling fans so its not something you may not have to worry about.

Lol because playing a game every once in a while is worth spending the extra $150-200 on a video card yeah okay. If that were the case I would say an ati 4670.

 

[Darren]

Lol because playing a game every once in a while is worth spending the extra $150-200 on a video card yeah okay. If that were the case I would say an ati 4670.

Everyone's definition of "not a big gamer" is different, he obviously plays games but the frequency and duration of his game sessions is debatable without him specifying, he didn't give us a budget so we are working with extremely limited information here. I'd avoid 4670 and buy a 4830 minimum even for casual gaming. If he isn't playing any games at all I'd settle for onboard.

 

[Rage_3k_Moiz]

Consider getting this motherboard and this RAM kit instead of your picks. Also, this drive is a better pick for its longer warranty coverage. The price difference in between it and the Seagate drive is minimal, and the slightly higher price on the WD drive is worth it IMO.

For a case, the NZXT Beta and Cooler Master Elite 330\331\341, as well as the Antec Three Hundred, are reasonably-priced, all-around great cases.