$300 Build / bang for the buck

[AnomalouS]

I know some like to piece things together and help others out.

Here is the deal.
-PC for my father on fathers day (surfs, some photo editing).
-$300 budget (already have win7, monitor, k&m)
-needing the following: case, psu, cpu, ram, mobo (on board video ok / low cost gpu maybe), optical drive, HDD 500GB or 1TB
-Intel or AMD


What can you come up with. Parcel to the EGG and will consider TD.

Thanks

 

[Jetster]

Board, CPU, Ram $170 This has the graphics he will appreciate and upgrade easily later

AMD A4-3400 Llano 2.7GHz Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core ... $70
ASRock A75 PRO4-M FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SAT... $80
Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333... $17


Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 ... $85
Rosewill R363-M-BK Black Ultra High Gloss Finished... $50 Case and PSU


Total $302
$10 more is the sweet spot 3500 AMD A6-3500 Llano 2.1GHz (2.4GHz Max Turbo) Socket...
Crap now I want one


Or you could go this route: Foxconn SFF R50-A1 AMD E-350 APU (1.6GHz, Dual-Cor...

 

[happita]

Board, CPU, Ram $170 This has the graphics he will appreciate and upgrade easily later

AMD A4-3400 Llano 2.7GHz Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core ... $70
ASRock A75 PRO4-M FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SAT... $80
Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333... $17


Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 ... $85
Rosewill R363-M-BK Black Ultra High Gloss Finished... $50 Case and PSU


Total $302
$10 more is the sweet spot 3500 AMD A6-3500 Llano 2.1GHz (2.4GHz Max Turbo) Socket...
Crap now I want one


Or you could go this route: Foxconn SFF R50-A1 AMD E-350 APU (1.6GHz, Dual-Cor...

^
+1...can't really get any better than what he recommends. A 3500 APU would be a MUCH better solution for you. Only $10 more like someone else said.

 

[JrRacinFan]

How much photo editing are you looking at? Maybe upping up to an A8? Will just say this ... If you got the budget its better to overkill.

 

[Breathless]

Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, L...


Core i3-2120/H61/4GB/500GB SuperCombo LE

 

[PopcornMachine]

Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, L...


Core i3-2120/H61/4GB/500GB SuperCombo LE

That's the kind of thing I was going to suggest.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

it's alittle over your budget, but what about a cheap laptop?

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/laptop-model.jsp?family=Satellite&model=C650

Or a refurbished laptop for $250? I actually have this model laptop(bought new from radioshack for $350). I'm pretty happy with it for what I use it for(college assignments).

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12818042&CAWELAID=1273368634

 

[Jetster]

I saw that shell Shocker. That is a good deal

 

[AnomalouS]

kinda leaning toward upping the budget to $400 and picking up this barebones kit.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1241992&CatId=333

 

[Aquinus]

kinda leaning toward upping the budget to $400 and picking up this barebones kit.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1241992&CatId=333

AMD has a better bang for the buck since the onboard graphics on a Llano chip are that much more powerful than Intel's onboard. Also CPU speed isn't a huge factor to Llano appears to be screaming "pick me!" Don't go cheap on stuff that you don't need to go cheap on, but keep in mind what this machine is going to be used for and your budget (why would you get him a 2500k, is he going to be over-clocking?)

 

[PopcornMachine]

kinda leaning toward upping the budget to $400 and picking up this barebones kit.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1241992&CatId=333

That's not as good a deal as it looks. You get a 2500K which is great, but a H61 mobo that doesn't allow you to overclock it.

 

[AnomalouS]

(why would you get him a 2500k, is he going to be over-clocking?)

He would not be, but it if it can be it will be. I guess I am leaning toward the 2500k over a 2400 because it was $10 more. As for AMD, I prefer Intel as well as a quad core or dual.

I do not know anything about on board video so maybe I need to be educated.
Is AMD supreme vs Intel when it comes to onboard video? Maybe I need to look at an entry level video card to add.

it's alittle over your budget, but what about a cheap laptop?

Thanks, but not interested in a laptop at all.

That's not as good a deal as it looks. You get a 2500K which is great, but a H61 mobo that doesn't allow you to overclock it.

OC Genie II: Auto OC to boost performance in 1 sec (sure it is auto maybe, but sufficient.
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/H61M-P23--B3-.html

 

[Aquinus]

How about something like this?

Antec Gaming Series One Black Steel ATX Mid Tower ...
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 ...
ASUS F1A75-M PRO FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA...
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR...
AMD A6-3500 Llano 2.1GHz (2.4GHz Max Turbo) Socket...
SeaSonic SS-300ET Bronze 300W ATX12V V2.3 80 PLU...

This is right over 400 if you're considering 400. You can shift things around to make it work.

I do not know anything about on board video so maybe I need to be educated.
Is AMD supreme vs Intel when it comes to onboard video?

You could put it that way, AMD has put more resources into their APUs as a budget solution.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/amd-a6-3500-apu-review/10

 

[AnomalouS]

I do have a Cooler Master RS750 psu laying around, so that will save some $.

Just put this together on the EGG.
-GIGABYTE GZ-KF03B Black SGCC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $19.99
-ASRock H61ICAFE LGA 1155 Intel H61 $64.99
-Intel Core i5-2320 Sandy Bridge 3.0GHz $189.99
-ASUS 24X DVD Burner $19.99
-Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB $40.99
-CoolerMaster RS750 $free
-SataIII HDD... still looking.

Total $336

 

[Fourstaff]

I would consider a fast dual core Sandy Bridge, I have learned that most people will appreciate 2 core + SSD more than 4 core no SSD. 10 sec boot time is a lot more noticeable than extra 2 seconds in pic processing (unless he processes thousands of them, in which case get the 4 cores instead).

 

[AnomalouS]

you know building a PC for myself is so much easier... lol

 

[brandonwh64]

A I3-2100/H61/2x4GB DDR3 is nice!

 

[Fourstaff]

you know building a PC for myself is so much easier... lol

You know what you want and what you don't lol. Right now we are just feeling in the dark about the needs and wants of your dad.

A I3-2100/H61/2x4GB DDR3 is nice!

This. You can drop the ram to 2x2GB, but rams are dirt cheap anyways, might as well get 2x4GB. I am a big fan of adding an SSD lol.

 

[AnomalouS]

I am a big fan of adding an SSD lol.

I'm willing to toss in a Crucial C300 I already have, replaced by my M4.
Still looking at a 500GB SataIII HDD.

Dual vs Quad is my main hangup now. I had myself talked into a quad and did not want to step "down" to a dual core.

This pc will most likely be around for the next 4 years or so, barring any major issues or need changes.

 

[Fourstaff]

I'm willing to toss in a Crucial C300 I already have, replaced by my M4.
Still looking at a 500GB SataIII HDD.

Dual vs Quad is my main hangup now. I had myself talked into a quad and did not want to step "down" to a dual core.

This pc will most likely be around for the next 4 years or so, barring any major issues or need changes.

Add the 500GB, that one you will need in the next 4 years. You will have 4 threads anyway, so no need to worry too much. Other than the most intensive applications, most stuff will run 2+2 as though it has got 4 real threads

 

[bretts31344]

I have an i5-2550k, Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3, and a Radeon 4650 that I am looking to part with for $270 shipped if you're interested. The CPU/Mobo is less than 2 months old, so it still has almost three years of warranty. The 4650 is older, but has just been my spare GPU and has seen little use. I am just looking to downgrade to using my laptop for now, since I rarely have time to play games.

 

[AnomalouS]

Here is a dual core build.

Just put this together on the EGG.
-GIGABYTE GZ-KF03B Black SGCC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $19.99
-ASRock H61ICAFE LGA 1155 Intel H61 $64.99
-Intel Core i3-2120 Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz $127.99
-ASUS 24X DVD Burner $19.99
-G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) $37.99
-Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX $84.99
-CoolerMaster RS750 $free - have
-Crucial C300 64GB $free - have

Total $356

AMD build coming.

 

[xenocide]

AMD has a better bang for the buck since the onboard graphics on a Llano chip are that much more powerful than Intel's onboard. Also CPU speed isn't a huge factor to Llano appears to be screaming "pick me!" Don't go cheap on stuff that you don't need to go cheap on, but keep in mind what this machine is going to be used for and your budget (why would you get him a 2500k, is he going to be over-clocking?)

But Memory is a huge factor for Llano. You need at least DDR3-1866 to get the CPU\GPU to run optimally. I was thinking something like;

BioStar H61MGC
Intel Pentium G840
Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3-1333
WD Caviar Blue 500GB
Corsair CX430
Gigabyte Case
HIS HD5570

That comes to $365 pre-rebates, $335 after. That's basically barebones. A Llano based system would look like this;

AMD A6-3500
ASRock A55M-HVS
G.Skill RipJaw X 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3-1866
WD Caviar Blue 500GB
Corsair CX430
Gigabyte Case

Total price is $324 before MIR, $304 after. I assure you though, the Intel setup would dominate the Llano in terms of performance. Even just bumping the budget to $400 would allow a better discrete GPU on the Intel setup which would make a huge difference.

 

[JrRacinFan]

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163555

 

[Vulpesveritas]

He would not be, but it if it can be it will be. I guess I am leaning toward the 2500k over a 2400 because it was $10 more. As for AMD, I prefer Intel as well as a quad core or dual.

I do not know anything about on board video so maybe I need to be educated.
Is AMD supreme vs Intel when it comes to onboard video? Maybe I need to look at an entry level video card to add.
[/url]

Onboard video-wise, AMD is considerably faster. Despite having lower CPU performance than that 2c/4t, because the graphics on the A8 (which is ~25% faster GPU wise than the A6 I'm about to suggest here( are just at or just over twice as fast as intel HD 3000 graphics, it is 70% faster in gaming. Which means it should be capable for what you're looking at.
Here are a couple of options:
$358: OC'able
Case: LOGISYS Computer CS2008XBK Black ABS + Mesh bezel,...
Motherboard: ASRock A55M-HVS FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI Micro...
APU: AMD A6-3670K Unlocked Llano 2.7GHz Socket FM1 100W...
RAM: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM...
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 ...
ODD: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X...

~$302
Case: Rosewill FBM-01 Dual Fans MicroATX Mini Tower Comp...
Motherboard: ASRock A55M-HVS FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI Micro...
APU: AMD A4-3400 Llano 2.7GHz Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core ... (the A4 is still going to have ~50% faster graphics than the i3.)
RAM: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM...
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 ...
ODD: ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X...

Figured I'd throw in my input.

But Memory is a huge factor for Llano. You need at least DDR3-1866 to get the CPU\GPU to run optimally. I was thinking something like;

By what I've read, DDR3-1600 is the best price / performance point for Llano. But yeah Llano loves fast RAM.