BestConfigs Poll - AMD-Based Office PC

[jpishgar]

It's time to vote on your favorite build for this category!
Please see below for a list of the choices available.

Rafeed's office multi use air heater

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core ProcessorP ($85.98 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU CoolerP ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A85X Extreme4 ATX FM2 MotherboardP ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 MemoryP ($54.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard DriveP ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 6670 1GB Video CardP ($48.98 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower CaseP ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power SupplyP ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD WriterP ($16.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $483.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-06 04:37 EDT-0400)

AMD Radeon's Office Micro GE Build

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core ProcessorP ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ MotherboardP ($54.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 MemoryP ($63.00 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard DriveP ($62.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video CardP ($70.00 @ Newegg)
Case: Rosewill RANGER-M MicroATX Mini Tower CaseP ($45.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power SupplyP ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD WriterP ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $444.93
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-05 13:00 EDT-0400)

G-Unit's "Milton's Revenge" Build

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core ProcessorP ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75M-ITX R2.0 Mini ITX FM2 MotherboardP ($91.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: A-Data Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 MemoryP ($41.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard DriveP ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Red) Mini ITX Tower CaseP ($99.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power SupplyP ($65.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD WriterP ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $482.89
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-06 19:20 EDT-0400)

jinayhvora's build
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core ProcessorP ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A85XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2 MotherboardP ($77.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 MemoryP ($57.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Sandisk Ultra Plus 128GB 2.5" Solid State DiskP ($95.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard DriveP ($67.95 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master NSE-200-KKN1 MicroATX Mid Tower CaseP ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power SupplyP ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $469.45
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-07 13:02 EDT-0400)

Lp231's build

Processor:AMD A4-4000 @3.2GHz Dual Core<$45.99@Newegg>
Processor Cooling:Stock Cooler<$@Newegg>
Motherboard:Asrock FM2A55M-DGS<$49.99@Newegg>
Memory:G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333<$36.99@Newegg>
Graphic Card:AMD Radeon HD7480D integrated graphics<$@Newegg>
Hard Drive:Western Digital Blue 500GB<$59.99@Newegg>
Optical Drive:LG 24x DVD Writer<$17.99@Newegg>
Power Supply:Corsair CX430 80Plus! Bronze<$39.99@Newegg>
Case:Rosewill FBM-02<$29.99@Newegg>
$280.93

 

[doron]

My vote goes to Lp231's build, simply because it is the only office PC (AMD's or Intel's) in the polls with a sensible price tag.

 

[Sangeet Khatri]

In my opinion an office build should have a SSD, hence my vote goes to Jinayhvora. AMD A4 is way too much underpowered on CPU front for my liking.

 

[doron]

That was also on my list, but I fail to see a use case for this much graphics horsepower and a 1TB + 128GB of storage.

If there was a build similar to Lp231's with a 5300 and a small SSD I would be all over it, but from that list this is as close as it gets.

 

[Sangeet Khatri]

1. SSD's are much faster than HDD when it comes to Random Read Performance and this is what makes Windows so damn snappy. A must have in an office build.

2. 1TB HDD costs only like 10 dollars more than the 500GB, so it is double the capacity for 10 bucks more. I see no reason why to not include one.

3. When comparing A4 and A10. It is not about the graphics power, It is more about the CPU power. The CPU of the A10 is way more powerful than the A4 and it is a quad core hence it would multi task better. AMD A4 is just a bit better than the Core2Duo's so they will eventually start to feel weaker in any task that is even a bit intensive.

 

[doron]

1. Yeah, but most use cases for office builds are opening a browser once, opening Word / Excel once, and going between them, so the ~5 seconds difference when opening / saving the programs, and the 10-20 seconds difference when booting up once per day won't make a huge difference. Still in the cheap build you'll always have the option of adding a 64gb - 128gb SSD.

2. $10 might not seem like much but it's around 4% out of the Lp231's total build cost. Multiplied by the amount of computers needed for the office and it adds up pretty quickly.
Also, considering the fact that even 500gb is already too much for the majority of office use cases, going for 500gb is a no-brainer.

3. I don't like to talk much about future proofing as we can also discuss about a recent ongoing trend of software optimizations for low power, low performance parts and a lot of web frameworks that take the 'mobile-first' approach, etc.
Even if I'm wrong about this, this doesn't change the fact that if an office requires X amount of performance today, it'll likely require the same amount of performance tomorrow, simply because the software (SAP, Office, web apps / websites) doesn't change. And given the fact that the A4 can even play some games, IMO it's more than enough for most offices.

Overall, for me the only thing that will keep me from recommending this cpu is performance / watt and lower performance compared to the similarly priced (and more efficient) Celerons / Pentiums, but I think that's off-topic

 

[Sangeet Khatri]

Everyone has different opinions, that is why there are polls to let people tell their own opinion.

 

[TheGarza]

Am I dumb or is this person looking for an office PC because if they are they don't need the 7770 and can use integrated graphics instead.

 

[cashshidao]

That was also on my list, but I fail to see a use case for this much graphics horsepower and a 1TB + 128GB of storage.

 

[g-unit1111]

Am I dumb or is this person looking for an office PC because if they are they don't need the 7770 and can use integrated graphics instead.

Yeah especially if all this is being used for is MS Office, accounting applications, and internet browsing and things of that nature. You don't need a Radeon 7770 to do that. :lol:

 

[lp231]

My vote goes to Lp231's build, simply because it is the only office PC (AMD's or Intel's) in the polls with a sensible price tag.

Thank you for voting on my build!

A typical office computer doesn't even need a SSD or a dedicate card.
A dedicated video card for a typical office PC? Are we shooting for 10,000FPS in Solitare? :lol:
Not all PCs needs to be configured for gaming.

 

[Sangeet Khatri]

Yeah! true, having a good GPU in a office build is just funny. Even I would not support that, LOL

 

[g-unit1111]

Yeah! true, having a good GPU in a office build is just funny. Even I would not support that, LOL

And I'm sure most HR managers wouldn't either. I know mine definitely doesn't like spending money unnecessarily. :lol:

 

[doron]

I used to work in a hardware store chain, had around 50 customers and around 5 computer build requests a day.
Boy, you sure learn that what people want here is NOT what the average joe is looking for.
This poll provides a pretty clear demonstration.

 

[g-unit1111]

I used to work in a hardware store chain, had around 50 customers and around 5 computer build requests a day.
Boy, you sure learn that what people want here is NOT what the average joe is looking for.
This poll provides a pretty clear demonstration.

Yeah I agree, I don't think people here are exactly getting what a real office PC does. It's not like it's meant for extensive simulation software, CAD, Photoshop / CS5, or rendering.

 

[Sangeet Khatri]

I am sorry to say, but the build which is winning right now does not make any sense for an office PC?

Why the hell would someone need a 7770 in an office PC? A $10 GPU is more than enough.

People should read that it is an office PC, not a gaming PC before voting.

 

[g-unit1111]

I am sorry to say, but the build which is winning right now does not make any sense for an office PC?

Why the hell would someone need a 7770 in an office PC? A $10 GPU is more than enough.

People should read that it is an office PC, not a gaming PC before voting.

You don't even need that - that's why I went with the 5800K.

 

[Sangeet Khatri]

The FX 6300 lacks built in GPU, hence you need a graphics card to output to monitors, hence a $10 GPU should be enough.

But yeah, I agree for office uses 4 cores are more than enough. No need of 6 cores unless you are into some serious multitasking which office PCs are not.