Budget Office Build (sub $500)

[sqoon]

Approximate Purchase Date: This week

Budget Range: $300-$500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: web browsing with dozens of open tabs, GIS (ArcMap), database building

Parts Not Required: KB, Mouse, Speakers, Case (Was given a UV Wizard), Using my old Apple 23" Cinema display

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon.com or Newegg.com

Country of Origin: N/A

Parts Preferences: AMD CPU, Any MOBO, but one with good support and reputation

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: I'm sorry, I don't know what this means.

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1200

Additional Comments: My biggest concern here is expandability. I want a machine that I can grow with. This is my first PC (I'm an Apple guy), and I want something I can tinker with and expand later on down the road. Looking at the AMD A6 or A8 APU. The ASUS F1A75-V Pro looks good and has the expandability I want, but something tells me it is overkill and my noobishness dones't know if I should hold back.

 

[cgleckman]

Are you set on AMD? If not heres an intel build

Processor: Core i3 2100 $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

Motherboard: ASRock H61M-VS $60 (55 if bought in sept)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241

RAM: Kingston DDR3 1333 ValueRam 4GB $26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134792&Tpk=Kingston%20ValueRAM%20Model%20KVR1333D3K2

Graphics Card: Radeon HD 4650 1GB $45 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131360


Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ $65 (can be 49.99 with promo code EMCKBGK32 until 9/5/11)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1pbkk69bq4hxc

Case: APEX TX-381-C Black Steel Micro ATX Tower $35 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154094

Power Supply: XIGMATEK NRP-PC Series ACXTNRP-PC402 $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1tjywmurssg4y

Cooling: Stock Heatsink+Fan (dont forget to buy thermal paste ($5-10)for connecting the CPU to the heatsink)

DVD Burner: SONY Black DVD-ROM Drive $17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1gbu08r8he28d

Total: ~$403 pretax/shipping

 

[Outlander_04]

Are you set on AMD? If not heres an intel build

Processor: Core i3 2100 $125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

Motherboard: ASRock H61M-VS $60 (55 if bought in sept)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157241

RAM: Kingston DDR3 1333 ValueRam 4GB $26
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134792&Tpk=Kingston%20ValueRAM%20Model%20KVR1333D3K2

Graphics Card: Radeon HD 4650 1GB $45 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131360


Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ $65 (can be 49.99 with promo code EMCKBGK32 until 9/5/11)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1pbkk69bq4hxc

Case: APEX TX-381-C Black Steel Micro ATX Tower $35 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154094

Power Supply: XIGMATEK NRP-PC Series ACXTNRP-PC402 $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1tjywmurssg4y

Cooling: Stock Heatsink+Fan (dont forget to buy thermal paste ($5-10)for connecting the CPU to the heatsink)

DVD Burner: SONY Black DVD-ROM Drive $17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118031&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1gbu08r8he28d

Total: ~$403 pretax/shipping

why add a graphics card to this build at all ? The processor graphics would handle this usage


why get thermal paste? Theres some pre applied to the stock cooler

 

[cgleckman]

why add a graphics card to this build at all ? The processor graphics would handle this usage


why get thermal paste? Theres some pre applied to the stock cooler

eh ya you can eliminate the graphics and save $45 if you want it wont make a difference, and the thermal paste was not suppose to be there lol.

 

[Outlander_04]

AMD A6-3650 Llano $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103943

ASRock A75 PRO4-M FM1 $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157259

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231474

Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148767

Any dvd drive $20

Antec NSK 4482B Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W Power Supply $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129072

Total is $400

The motherboard has additional RAM slots and dvi/ HDMI connectors
The RAM is 1866 MHz which improves Llanos graphics and system performance
The case is a quality unit and so is the power supply .

You also need a copy of windows 7 64 bit oem $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

You can build this more cheaply , but you start to compromise on quality