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Here's an interesting build question...

post #1 of 16
6/28/12 at 9:29pm
Thread Starter 
Just officially joined the forums, been browsing and appreciating all the help I have found. Looking to build a system for general use, mainly watching movies and shows from the net. Looking for a full system (minus peripherals and monitor, so just a tower). Now here is the question; what would be the best system that can be built while following the... following list?


Budget: $400
Tower size: mid or smaller
Processor: Any
GPU: Any
Ram: 4-8Gb preferred
HD: Any (or none)
PSU: Sub 600
Disk Drives: Any (or none)

So there is my question, what is the most powerful (energy efficient (not expecting much due to the low budget)), basic (no overclocking), slight future proofing (system needs to last 3-5 years with little to no component swaps), stream videos from the net (hulu, netflix, youtube), play movies (dvd), play music, browse the net, and multitask with multiple instances of browser tabs and media.

So lets see what overclock.net can produce! (and thanks in advance for any help!)
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post #2 of 16
6/28/12 at 10:03pm
look at the matx or even mini itx offerings. you could even go wwith an amd apu to stay within your budget and end up with a pc that will easily do what you are asking
basic black rev 2.0 (triple black)
(28 items)
  		  
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phenom ii x6 1100t gigabyte ga990fxa ud5 gigabyte 480gtx gigabyte 480gtx 
GraphicsRAMHard DriveHard Drive
evga 480gtx corsair vengence ddr3 1600 ocz agility 3 sdd ocz agility 3 sdd 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingCooling
maxtor hdd asus blu-ray reader/burner xspc ex360 rad (x2)  swiftec mcp655 pump w/bitspower pump kit and v2... 
CoolingCoolingCoolingCooling
laing d5 pump w/bitspower pump kit and v2 pump top heatkiller cpu block koolance nv480gtx full vga blocks ek northbridge block 
CoolingCoolingOSMonitor
lamptron fc5 bitspower 150 black ice reservoir vista ultimate 64 bit asus s248h-p hdmi led 
MonitorMonitorKeyboardPower
acer x183h acer x183h corsair k60 mechanical silverstone strider 1000 silver 
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corsair 500r corsair m60 func 1030 archetype creative x-fi xtreme gamer 
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basic black rev 2.0 (triple black)
(28 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
phenom ii x6 1100t gigabyte ga990fxa ud5 gigabyte 480gtx gigabyte 480gtx 
GraphicsRAMHard DriveHard Drive
evga 480gtx corsair vengence ddr3 1600 ocz agility 3 sdd ocz agility 3 sdd 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingCooling
maxtor hdd asus blu-ray reader/burner xspc ex360 rad (x2)  swiftec mcp655 pump w/bitspower pump kit and v2... 
CoolingCoolingCoolingCooling
laing d5 pump w/bitspower pump kit and v2 pump top heatkiller cpu block koolance nv480gtx full vga blocks ek northbridge block 
CoolingCoolingOSMonitor
lamptron fc5 bitspower 150 black ice reservoir vista ultimate 64 bit asus s248h-p hdmi led 
MonitorMonitorKeyboardPower
acer x183h acer x183h corsair k60 mechanical silverstone strider 1000 silver 
CaseMouseMouse PadAudio
corsair 500r corsair m60 func 1030 archetype creative x-fi xtreme gamer 
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post #3 of 16
6/28/12 at 10:12pm
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why look further than OCN market place?

Phn II x6 GTX 460
AMD Phenom II x6 1055t
Thermalright Silver Arrow
ASUS TOP GTX 460 1GB
8800 GS
Gigabyte GA-890FXa-UD5
OCZ Vertex SSD 30GB x 1
Vengeance 8GBx2
Rosewill 1K (1000W) PSU
Light-On DVD Burner
Logitech Extreme Joystick - Optional
Samsung 19" Monitor - Optional
$575 O.B.O

i5-2500k Gaming Rig $750 shipped lil out of your price range, but worth taking a look
Techno Ninja
(13 items)
  		  
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i5 2500k ECS Black Deluxe P67H2-A2 EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 (dedicated to folding) 
RAMHard DriveCoolingCooling
CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2x 4GB) OCZ Agility 3 240GB SSD Corsair H60 Asetek 760GC 
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Windows 7 Pro 64-bit Asus VE228H 21.5" Corsair AX 850 Corsair 600t SE 
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Techno Ninja
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i5 2500k ECS Black Deluxe P67H2-A2 EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 EVGA NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 (dedicated to folding) 
RAMHard DriveCoolingCooling
CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2x 4GB) OCZ Agility 3 240GB SSD Corsair H60 Asetek 760GC 
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Windows 7 Pro 64-bit Asus VE228H 21.5" Corsair AX 850 Corsair 600t SE 
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post #4 of 16
6/29/12 at 3:29pm
Thread Starter 
__TRU__ That build would be over budget...

Also could you include some links please?
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post #5 of 16
6/29/12 at 9:43pm
Thread Starter 
However, I will not be using the system as a gaming machine, I have a set priced out but am nt sure... http://pcpartpicker.com/p/b649
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post #6 of 16
6/29/12 at 9:47pm
hey dude, i just did a $400 build a little while ago.
a6-3650 + Asus F1A55 M LE = $147
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.892403
XFX 6670 = $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150576
Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 = $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148488
COOLER MASTER Elite 430 + COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus 500W =$68
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.975855
WD Caviar Blue 500gb SATA 6gb/s 16mb cache =$70
Total=$385 and has about $30 in rebates!
My First Rig
(17 items)
  		  
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AMD A6-3650 F1A75-M PRO AMD Radeon HD 6700 Series Samsung Wonder Ram 
RAMHard DriveCoolingCooling
Samsung Wonder Ram WD Caviar Blue Coolermaster hyper 212 CM R4 Sickleflow X3 
CoolingOSMonitorKeyboard
Artic Silver 5 Windows 7 Professional  Samsung Syncmaster SA10 18.5" Logitech K520 
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CM xTreme power 500w Thermaltake Commander MSI Logitech M310 Some generic mousepad.. 
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My First Rig
(17 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD A6-3650 F1A75-M PRO AMD Radeon HD 6700 Series Samsung Wonder Ram 
RAMHard DriveCoolingCooling
Samsung Wonder Ram WD Caviar Blue Coolermaster hyper 212 CM R4 Sickleflow X3 
CoolingOSMonitorKeyboard
Artic Silver 5 Windows 7 Professional  Samsung Syncmaster SA10 18.5" Logitech K520 
PowerCaseMouseMouse Pad
CM xTreme power 500w Thermaltake Commander MSI Logitech M310 Some generic mousepad.. 
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Logitech Z313 
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post #7 of 16
6/30/12 at 2:46pm
Thread Starter 
Looks good, what do you think the longevity of the system be? 2-3 years or 5-6?
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post #8 of 16
6/30/12 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
What about this setup?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.956692

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.956686
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post #9 of 16
6/30/12 at 8:41pm
  • xd_1771
  • Mess with the goat, get the horns
  • Forum Moderator
 
 
 

Don't look at the supercombos, always config your own.  The value is always better and I can tell you this from having beat several supercombo builds myself.

 

Your best option at this budget?  Take an A8 and put it into a small form factor case.

 

Like this:
A8 3850 + ASRock A55M-HVS - $144 shipped [Newegg]

Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB DDR3-1600 CL8 kit - $25 shipped [Newegg]

WD Caviar Blue 1TB HDD - $88 shipped [NCIX] (choose WDs for the longer warranty)

Apex DM-317 and 275W PSU - $42 shipped [NCIX]

ASUS 24X DVD drive - $17 shipped [Newegg]

 

^^^ This config above is $316 shipped - for exactly $1 less than the second supercombo you linked, every relevant component is better.  Much better CPU and graphics performance (A8 quad core vs A6 triple core and HD 6550D vs HD 6530D graphics ), much better RAM (DDR3-1600 for no bottlenecks with APUs), HDD with longer warranty, and smaller form factor.  This even beats the first supercombo (you can swap the hard drive for little or no increase in price to a 1.5TB) and that is out of stock.

 

You have $84 in headroom.  I recommend you spend it where it'll count:

Get the unlocked A8 3870k with the ASRock A75M-HVS for $157 + $5 shipping [Newegg] - A75 has SATAIII capabilities which are important regarding my next suggestion:

OCZ Agility 3 SATAIII 60GB Solid State Drive - $60 shipped, $10 rebate [NCIX]

 

Everything in mind, the final config I recommend is:

A8 3870k + ASRock A75M-HVS - $162 shipped [Newegg]

Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB DDR3-1600 CL8 kit - $25 shipped [Newegg]

WD Caviar Blue 1TB HDD - $88 shipped [NCIX] (choose WDs for the longer warranty)

OCZ Agility 3 SATAIII 60GB Solid State Drive - $60 shipped, $10 rebate [NCIX]

Apex DM-317 and 275W PSU - $42 shipped [NCIX]

ASUS 24X DVD drive - $17 shipped [Newegg]

$394 shipped / $384 shipped after rebates

 

This'll far outlast your needs.

 

 

Edited by xd_1771 - 6/30/12 at 8:56pm
Hexagonal
(16 items)
 
Voyager [XT875]
(11 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II x6 1055T [4GHz, 300x13.5, 1.42V] Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ [NB 3ghz 1.35v] MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II 1GB 8GB [4x2GB] G.Skill ECO DDR3 [1600 6-8-6-20-24-1T] 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveCooling
80GB Intel X25M SSD WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) Noctua NH-D14 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Scythe GT-15 Gentle Typhoon 1500RPM fans (2x, o... Windows 8 Pro 64-bit ASUS PA238QR 23.6" 1920x1080 IPS LED monitor [x2] Corsair HX520 Modular PSU [520W] 
CaseAudioAudio
Antec P182 SE ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Headphone Amp Audio Technica ATH-d40fs 
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ARM Cortex A9 dual core [1.2Ghz]  TI OMAP 4430 PowerVR SGX 540 1GB low power DDR2 
Hard DriveHard DriveOSMonitor
16GB on board storage 32GB Class 10 MicroSDHC card Android 4.0.4 "Ice Cream Sandwich" (LiquidSmoot... 4.3" 960x540 TFT capacitive multi-touch screen 
KeyboardPowerCase
Swiftkey 3 Battery Motorola DROID BIONIC 
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Hexagonal
(16 items)
 
Voyager [XT875]
(11 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
AMD Phenom II x6 1055T [4GHz, 300x13.5, 1.42V] Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3 AM3+ [NB 3ghz 1.35v] MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II 1GB 8GB [4x2GB] G.Skill ECO DDR3 [1600 6-8-6-20-24-1T] 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveCooling
80GB Intel X25M SSD WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) WD 1TB Caviar Black (WD1002FAEX) Noctua NH-D14 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Scythe GT-15 Gentle Typhoon 1500RPM fans (2x, o... Windows 8 Pro 64-bit ASUS PA238QR 23.6" 1920x1080 IPS LED monitor [x2] Corsair HX520 Modular PSU [520W] 
CaseAudioAudio
Antec P182 SE ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Headphone Amp Audio Technica ATH-d40fs 
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
ARM Cortex A9 dual core [1.2Ghz]  TI OMAP 4430 PowerVR SGX 540 1GB low power DDR2 
Hard DriveHard DriveOSMonitor
16GB on board storage 32GB Class 10 MicroSDHC card Android 4.0.4 "Ice Cream Sandwich" (LiquidSmoot... 4.3" 960x540 TFT capacitive multi-touch screen 
KeyboardPowerCase
Swiftkey 3 Battery Motorola DROID BIONIC 
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post #10 of 16
6/30/12 at 9:35pm
Thread Starter 
Awesome advice, and I will no longer be looking at the super combos. Also I began looking at the A8 Apu's after I posted the message, so I guess I had a similar idea. However, I was wondering, if I was to get a comparable radeon gpu in the future ($40-70), would the 275w power unit be enough to run the system? Also the gpu may be a possibility for video editing and just having everything run smoother.

Other than the previous question, I believe I will be going with the suggested system.

Just realized I may need to purchase an OS (seperate budget from the build), anyone know where the best price would be and if I should wait for windows 8 (I have a copy of vista and currently run windows 7 on my laptop)?

Once again, thanks for the incredible advice!
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