$900-1000 Build. Double check/Suggestions

[nv40pimp]

So I'm building a new machine for an older friend of mine. He will be using the machine for web browsing, streaming content (eg Netflix), photo organizing and whatever else but he WILL NOT be using the machine for gaming (he says).

Anyway here are the parts I'm looking at for him on the egg

i5 2500k (k mainly for the 3000 gfx, is there much difference vs intel 2000 gfx?)
Gigabyte Z68A Motherboard
Crucial M4 128GB SSD
500GB Spinpoint F3
G.Skill Value Series 2x4GB
Corsair H70
Win 7 Home Prem. 64-Bit
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W
Lian-Li A05FNB Case

Total after shipping $966.96

 

[Fourstaff]

If he is not gaming or any other cpu intensive tasks you can knock the processor down to i3, skip on the Z motherboard and get H61, and then get a sensible air cooler with quiet fans (or stick with stock). Use a 400w PSU too, you want to hit the maximum efficiency curve.

If you are sticking with 2500K, get 1600Mhz rams. If you are not overclocking, again, get a quiet aircooler. No need to get H70.

 

[nv40pimp]

He's a multi-purpose user, I can see him doing some things where an i5 would be handy such as working with windows movie maker to eidt basic videos.

My goal for him is to have this machine last 6-10 years without being a complete POS when he wants a new one.

If he wanted a shorter life span machine maybe an i3 would be in order, but I want this to last quite a while for him.

Maybe I should drop to a H61 board and just a i5-2500? and 1600MHz RAM

 

[techguy31]

Well, if you live near a Microcenter, I suggest you go get him a 2600k because its dirt cheap even if you don't wish to overclock. If you don't live near a Microcenter, I suggest just getting a i3 2120 or 2100, which would be more than adequate to meet his video editing needs. Sure you can get a i5-2500, but why spend more when you can do it with an i3? A H61 board would be more than adequte as he is not overclocking. 1600mhz ram would definitely benefit, and I don't suggest getting any lower as 1600mhz are quite cheap anyways.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Id wait for ivy bridge because the Integrated GPU is much better then Sandy bridges, and even if hes not gaming its good to have that extra graphical power just in case

 

[nv40pimp]

Wow, really no offense here guys but am I really picking up that you would rather an i3 than an i5?
I guess what I'm getting at is that if in 2004 we were in this situation and the problem was a 2.4 Celeron vs a 3.4 Pentium... sure, the celeron will do everyting the pentium will, but NOW, 8 years later, you would struggle with that celeron, but the pentium could still hold it's own for internet browsing and some basic stuff right?

For longevity and 'futureproofing' looking at a machine that will still be functional in 8 years (with proper maintenance of course ) what hardware would you pick out? If it's the i3, well hell I'll save him a few bucks and get that, just seems hard to believe

 

[Fatal1ty39]

assuming you want a gigabyte mobo same board but with the new z77 chipset also it works with sandy bridge cpu and support the upcoming ivy bridge.
GIGABYTE GA-Z77-D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6...

 

[nv40pimp]

assuming you want a gigabyte mobo same board but with the new z77 chipset also it works with sandy bridge cpu and support the upcoming ivy bridge.
GIGABYTE GA-Z77-D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6...

hmm, and a few bucks cheaper... I'm game for that

 

[techguy31]

Wow, really no offense here guys but am I really picking up that you would rather an i3 than an i5?
I guess what I'm getting at is that if in 2004 we were in this situation and the problem was a 2.4 Celeron vs a 3.4 Pentium... Right now you would struggle with that celeron, but the pentium could still hold it's own for internet browsing and some basic stuff right?

For longevity and 'futureproofing' looking at a machine that will still be functional in 8 years (with proper maintenance of course ) what hardware would you pick out? If it's the i3, well hell I'll save him a few bucks and get that, just seems hard to believe

Then maybe an i5 2500 or 2600 would suit your needs.

 

[Yo_Wattup]

Ditch the cooler, ditch the 600W PSU, go for 2600k. Done.

While the i3 is quite a good chip now, I'd expect there to be alot more multi threaded applications in the coming years.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Ditch the cooler, ditch the 600W PSU, go for 2600k. Done.

While the i3 is quite a good chip now, I'd expect there to be alot more multi threaded applications in the coming years.

again if hes not overclocking. there is no need for a 2600k. save the 20 or 30 bucks and get the 2500 or 2600.

CPU along with that gigabyte z77 Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Tur...

Another $20 bucks off with promo code

ditch the cooler though and get like a Xigmatek Dark night(well rounded cooler for practically everything haha)

Cooler: XIGMATEK Gaia SD1283 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU C...

Oh god and definitely ditch that PSU, OCZ power supplies the older ones like the ModX ones that you have listed suck.

get this PSU

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 8...

 

[techguy31]

again if hes not overclocking. there is no need for a 2600k. save the 20 or 30 bucks and get the 2500 or 2600.

ditch the cooler though and get like a Xigmatek Dark night(well rounded cooler for practically everything haha)

Agreed. Save the money for a decent Optical Drive.

 

[Fatal1ty39]

what about the case i think he can save some money but i don't know which one he should get.
fractal core 3000 is nice but no front usb 3.0.

 

[xenocide]

what about the case i think he can save some money but i don't know which one he should get.
fractal core 3000 is nice but no front usb 3.0.

I would just get a Source 210 and maybe a read Exhaust fan since that would total much lower than that case--about half the price.

 

[JrRacinFan]

No such thing as futureproofing. I just don't see your current build lasting 6+ years even with a 2600k.

 

[Fourstaff]

At any rate I would rather spend $600 now and get a decent budget system, and then partly overhaul it again in 4-5 years time with the remaining $400, rather than spending $1000 now in one shot and then suffer through 7 years without upgrading.

 

[digibucc]

now hang on a second, if the most intensive thing he will EVER do is honestly netflix, an i3 or an i5 will last 6 years. but what are the chances, of him not ever wanting to play a game or do anything more with the $1000 machine he bought?
that being said, fourstaff is right - $600 now $400 later is better. trying to buy it all now just to give some feeling of completion is not worth it imo. as jr says, no such thing as futureproofing.

what i'm going to do tonight? you're asking me to tell the future dee, how am supposed to tell the future?

 

[xenocide]

Intel i5-2400 Quad-Core
BioStar TZ77B
G.Skill RipJaws 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600 RAM
Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HDD
SeaSonic M12II 520W 80-Plus Bronze PSU
HIS Radeon HD7770 1GB GPU
NZXT Source 210 Mid-Tower
LG DVD Burner
Windows 7 Home Premium OEM

Total Price: $830 Ship. Incl., $820 after MIR.

It's a much better setup. You could even throw something like an OCZ Agility 3 120GB SSD back in there and have it be cheaper than the setup you posted. It's a more well-rounded setup in just about every way--Slightly slower CPU, Better Mobo, Much better PSU, Exponentially Better GPU, More HDD Space, and a more Cost-Effective Case.

 

[ShiBDiB]

Intel i5-2400 Quad-Core
BioStar TZ77B
G.Skill RipJaws 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600 RAM
Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HDD
SeaSonic M12II 520W 80-Plus Bronze PSU
HIS Radeon HD7770 1GB GPU
NZXT Source 210 Mid-Tower
LG DVD Burner

Total Price: $830 Ship. Incl., $820 after MIR.

It's a much better setup. You could even throw something like an OCZ Agility 3 120GB SSD back in there and have it be cheaper than the setup you posted. It's a more well-rounded setup in just about every way--Slightly slower CPU, Better Mobo, Much better PSU, Exponentially Better GPU, More HDD Space, and a more Cost-Effective Case.

You forgot the $150 of windows 7

 

[xenocide]

You forgot the $150 of windows 7

I forgot to add it to the list, but it's factored into the price. It's $99 for a single OEM copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. Just re-added it.

 

[mastrdrver]

No such thing as futureproofing. I just don't see your current build lasting 6+ years even with a 2600k.

I agree and I don't see the reason for spending the lot of money on what is being offered here.

This sounds like a system request for something my dad would use. Here is a lot cheaper build I came up with. Add ~$15-20 for a DVD drive. Its a basic build with some graphics power if ever desired. The CPU is more then fast enough. If my dad can live with a Athlon 64 X2 and call it fast, then the SB Pentium will be a speed monster.

Don't over build the system for something not needed. As for the PSU, I have a friend that has been using that exact unit on a C2D setup with a GTS 250 for well over 4 years without a problem so I have no hesitation in suggesting it.

 

[Yo_Wattup]

again if hes not overclocking. there is no need for a 2600k. save the 20 or 30 bucks and get the 2500 or 2600.

CPU along with that gigabyte z77 Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Tur...

Another $20 bucks off with promo code

ditch the cooler though and get like a Xigmatek Dark night(well rounded cooler for practically everything haha)

Cooler: XIGMATEK Gaia SD1283 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU C...

Oh god and definitely ditch that PSU, OCZ power supplies the older ones like the ModX ones that you have listed suck.

get this PSU

CORSAIR Builder Series CX600 V2 600W ATX12V v2.3 8...

Whoops sorry forgot the 2600 even existed.. thats what TPU does to ya...

 

[Iceni]

You know in all honesty for a machine for netflix.... I'd go with one of these.

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=2081185&CMP=e-2072-00001000&gross_price=true

it'll browse the web and do netflix. For a fraction of what your paying there. Just add a hard drive and flash card and USB wifi (with linux drivers).


O.K troll over.

I'm a favourite of the $600 now, $400 later theme.

But for someone that's going to be doing nothing but netflix/web browsing and downloading the I3 is overkill.

Z68 motherboard. (upgradable in the future to IB cpus)
G630 sandy bridge (it's powerful enough to game when that time comes and is very cheap)
4Gb ram. (upgradeable)
Hard drive
Case
PSU (Budget 80+bronze)

For windows see if you can get away with Ubuntu. It's free it's fast, and it'll do all of the stuff he wants the machine to do bar gaming. The new narwhal release is also pretty sleek in design. If he can't get on with it then windows is an option but I would go with a basic Win7 package. There's no need to be on ultimate if he's not an enthusiast with less than 16Gb of ram. You could even dual boot him with an older copy of windows XP if he has a key so he has time to get used to it.

I know the G630 is way lower than most people would suggest. But this is not for a gaming machine. For general pc use the G630 is overkill. In 2 years time when windows 8 demands more cpu then you can stick and IB cpu and some more ram in there for minimal cost. But the truth of the matter is most users will not see any difference in a G6xx I3, i5 and i7 cpu. The load time of firefox and the refresh time of facebook is not cpu dependant in any of those cpu's.

 

[brandonwh64]

I3-2100 (Dual core with HT so 4 Threads)
H61 (Any cheap board will work)
2x2GB DDR3 (Anything cheap but reliable on the egg)
Hard drive of choice
PSU of choice

^ that would be an ideal build for office work and netflix

 

[Fourstaff]

+1 for the G530, its not like grandpa is going to use 4 cores, I am surviving on 2 cores! (hurpdurp). That said, this laptop is not going to last me any longer than a year.