Computer Build Resource Thread - Page 1057

Hi, I'm looking to build a computer for my parents. Here's some info.

What is your budget?
They have money but obviously they don't want to spend more than necessary. Let’s say a maximum of $500 (~4000 sek) but less is more so to speak.

What is your resolution?
1900x1200

What are you using it for?
It's used for ordinary stuff, browsing and media content. The most resource heavy might be to play hq movies. They have an external Blu-ray player so they should be able to use that without problems.

What is your upgrade cycle?
As long as the computer works reasonably well they usually don’t buy new stuff. So years.

When do you plan on building it?
Probably within this month since the old one is kaputt.

Do you plan on overclocking?
Do you need an Operating System?
Do you plan to add a second GPU for SLI or Crossfire?
No, no and no.

Where are you buying your parts from?
www.inet.se (I'm open to other suggestions but I've had good experiences with them)
Press on webbshop if you get a popup to get to right prices. The components are under “Datorkomponenter” in the list on the left. If you can’t navigate the site (it’s in Swedish) feel free to give a general build anyway.

Some additional points:
Most of the stuff from the old computer is crap but the computer case is pretty nice so you don’t have to include that (it’s a standard atx case). The optical drive can also be re-used. The rest is either broken or extreemly outdated/crap. It would be nice if a ssd could be fit into the build but it isn't a requirement. They are not the biggest fans of loading times and their old one certainly had that.

First of all: Llano build because AMD's graphics actually handles media playback with different FPS properly. Also FM1 ends up cheaper than a Pentium G6xx build. And also the slightly better CPU performance of a Sandy Bridge Pentium is going to make no difference whatsoever in the user experience because they're not doing anything requiring that extra speed.

CPU 522 kr: A4-3400 http://www.inet.se/produkt/5308811/amd-a4-x2-3400-2-7ghz-fm1

Motherboard 563 kr: http://www.inet.se/produkt/1902079/asus-s-f1a75-m-le-matx

RAM 232 kr: 2x2GB http://www.inet.se/produkt/5315032/corsair-4gb-2x2048mb-cl9-1333mhz-value

SSD Crucial M4 64GB: 790 kr: http://www.inet.se/produkt/5315231/crucial-ssd-m4-64gb

PSU 426 kr: EarthWatts 380D: http://www.inet.se/produkt/6901479/antec-earthwatts-green-ea380-380w-80-bronze

Total: 2533 KR. You can either save the rest of the budget or go to a 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM, add a HDD for media storage if necessary, etc.

Crucial m4 128GB - 1350 kr
http://www.inet.se/produkt/5315232/crucial-ssd-m4-128gb

AMD A6-3500 - 650 kr
http://www.inet.se/produkt/5308688/amd-a6-x3-3500-2-1ghz-fm1
This is a much less powerful CPU than something like the equivalently-priced Pentium g630, but it has significantly better integrated graphics. Still, it doesn't sound like your parents will be doing anything that needs a powerful CPU. I'd recommend waiting for someone else to chime in, as an Intel Pentium may be a better way to go.

FM1 Mobo - 590 kr
(for DVI & VGA monitor connections) http://www.inet.se/produkt/1902110/gigabyte-ga-a75m-s2v-matx
(For VGA & HDMI monitor connections) http://www.inet.se/produkt/1902205/asrock-a75m-hvs-matx
(for VGA & DVI & HDMI & Displayport connections at a higher price) http://www.inet.se/produkt/1902074/gigabyte-ga-a75m-ud2h-matx

4GB RAM - 230 kr
http://www.inet.se/produkt/5315032/corsair-4gb-2x2048mb-cl9-1333mhz-value

DVD-burner (optional) - 190 kr
http://www.inet.se/produkt/7104230/dvd-rw-samsung-22x-dl-svart-oem

Antec Earthwatts 380 - 430 kr (does not come with power cable, I'm assuming you have an extra)
http://www.inet.se/produkt/6901479/antec-earthwatts-green-ea380-380w-80-bronze

That comes to 3440 Kroner. Should do for your purposes... but does not include an operating system or a hard drive (excepting the 128gb SSD), or a case, of course. Also, others more familiar with Scandinavian/EU vendors might know better deals. I just browsed inet.se.

Edit - different from above in that I went with a tri-core processor instead of dual-core with more powerful graphics (not necessarily worth it - you can see the price difference), an SSD twice as big, an optional dvd-burner, and a selection of different mobs (the one wabbit linked is fine, comes DVI & VGA connectors, but is not currently in stock).

AMD A-Series A8-3850 995.00
Gigabyte GA-A75M-S2V, Socket-FM1 569.00
Crucial DDR3 1333MHz 4GB KIT, CL9, 229.00
Corsair CX V2 430W PSU 345.00

= 2.138,00 SEK

-----------------------optional-----------------------

OCZ SSD Agility 3 Series 2.5" 60GB 685.00 (I know people are going to whine 2281 sucks wah wah, I guess you could also do Samsung SSD 830 Series 64GB 2.5" for 849:-)
Western Digital Caviar® Green 2TB 1068.00 (for the porn surfing )

= 3.891,00 SEK

This build is better (from http://www.komplett.se/)
I disagree with that they won't notice, remember that the a8 has a lot better integrated GPU than the A4, even simple things such as flash ads in webpages will be a lot smoother with a better CPU. Price difference isn't big enough to warrant the A4.

@nihlon
Well, I haven't actually owned one of the a-series processors myself, but I would think you should be fine with the a4 in terms of processing power. Up here in the nosebleed gaming CPU world, we look down on the a-series, but they are capable modern processors. I actually recommended the a6 over the a4 because it has a beefier integrated graphics at a very small price premium (which to be honest should not matter unless someone sneaks in a light game now and again) - not because of processing power concerns.

As for flash ads & programs in webpages, I don't notice any problems with my crappy Intel integrated graphics, and ANY of the a-series should smoke that. So I wouldn't worry about it. Then again, as Shauni pointed out t's only a price difference of $30 or whatever between the a-series. But in terms of budgeting I think the difference in processor price would be better put towards data storage - either the larger SSD I recommended if you think they won't need total space bigger than 100 GB or so, or a 500gb backup to the smaller hard drives if you think they'll need more than 100gb of space.

Well, I've heard that some of the entry level llanos has issue rendering the exact fps of movies (23.976),the A8 handles that better. And like I said, for GPU accelerated tasks it will be noticeably faster. There is no good way to measure that since I don't know your parents user pattern. It's your own call. If you want a cheap as possible build however, this is cheaper than what they suggested:

cdon.se:

AMD A4-3400 X2 2.7GHz Socket FM1 Boxed 549 kr
Asus F1A75-M LE, AMD A75 Socket FM1, uATX 531 kr
CHIEFTEC PSU ATX 350W CE With 8cm Fans Only 230V Bulk 265 kr
OCZ Agility 3 60GB SSD R:525/W:475 2.5" SATA-3 626 kr
PATRIOT Memory 4GB DDR3-1333 PC3-10600 Module Signature Line 151 kr
Sweclockers -5% swec1204 -83 kr

Frakt 49 kr
Total 2171 kr