Core I5 for my wife

[elsh]

Hey guys,

My wife has asked me to build a new computer for her. I've love some feedback on the appropriateness of this build.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (Tuesday 9/15) BUDGET RANGE: (About $1000)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Word + PowerPoint, web searching, World of Warcraft, RTS Games)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: OS, Mouse, Keyboard - We'll use windows 7 (32 bit)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (Newegg was great to me with my first build and I'd like to continue to work with them unless there is great reason not to.)

PARTS PREFERENCES: (I'm willing to pay a little more for a part if it means better reliability or support.)

OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, we're more likely to upgrade to an entirely new card when this proves necessary.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: The monitor we selected is 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (She needs a speedy/reliable system that will last her a few years with a minimal yearly investment in upgrades)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case: 89.99
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

Hard Drive: 74.99
Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136283

Monitor: 149.99
Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145

Graphics Card: 144.99
SAPPHIRE 100279-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102849

DVD Drive: 18.99
Sony Optiarc Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1678A - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131061

Power Supply: 119.99 + $20 Mail-in Rebate
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

Heat Sink/Fan: $29.99
COOLER MASTER Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

COMBO: CPU, Motherboard, Memory $434.97 ($40 Combo Savings)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.259927

CPU:
Intel Core i5 750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215

Motherboard:
MSI P55-GD65 LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130239

Memory:
G.SKILL Trident 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory Model F3-16000CL9D-4GBTD - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231282

 

[build]

First off, try telling your wife she doesn't need a Core I5 for those uses . An AMD quad core set-up would last a long time and save the both of you a lot of money.

If you want to stick with the Core I5 however, there are a couple of issues with your proposed build.

1. The DVD drive is IDE, SATA is a must.

2. The 750W PSU is overkill for a non-crosssfire set-up. 600W will be plenty for this build. Get this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017&cm_re=17-341-_-17-341-017-_-Product. Comes to $55 after rebates and is also modular, which translates to a tidier case and better airflow.

3. If you want to see more than 3.5GB RAM, then you will need a 64 bit OS.

 

[mindless728]

AMD would be plenty for her, i would suggest the AMD Phenom II X4 945 (actually i think she could use a AMD Phenom II X2 550 an have plenty of cpu power)

the CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX is plenty for a single 4870

 

[obsidian86]

the tri 720 is a good compromise

 

[build]

This OCZ 600W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017&cm_re=17-341-_-17-341-017-_-Product comes out to just $55 after rebates though, plus it's larger and modular.

 

[mindless728]

This OCZ 600W comes out to just $55 after rebates though, plus it's larger and modular.

and i say the Corsair is better quality (not to mention it will really handle quite a bit more than 550w, the 450w was able to get to 571w Corsair 450VX)

 

[build]

OCZ is very reliable. $55 for a very reliable 600W modular PSU seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[mindless728]

OCZ is very reliable. $55 for a very reliable 600W modular PSU seems like a no-brainer to me.

very true, for $55 that is one hell of a deal

 

[build]

I'm glad we finally agree . You're right about Corsair PSU's though, you can't go wrong with one.

 

[tecmo34]

^+1 Everyone's suggestions.

An AM3 Phenom x3 720 BE would be a better suited for her build. If she wants Core i5, here are my suggestions...

1) Get the Antec 300 Illusion case. She isn't a hard core gamer and the Antec is a great case for the price.
2) I second the PSU mentioned by Build.
3) SATA DVD... As mentioned by Build.
4) No OCing... No aftermarket HSF is needed. Stock will serve you well.
5) Samsung F3 500GB hard drive... It is the fastest non-SSD out. It is faster then the WD Blacks.

 

[Shadow703793]

^+1. Massive overkill if you get the i5 for her. (Any chance you can use the i5 and give your system to her? )

 

[Why_Me]

Good call on the one good card set up. Here's a build worth taking a look at. I changed the HD for the fact this 640 in this build is faster than that 750 you have due to platter density, etc. Also with the one good card set up there's no need to get a 750 psu. The 550w in this build is more than plenty not to mention it's modular which makes for a nice clean build and it matches that CM Storm Scout perfectly with the red LED. I changed the mobo on here also for the fact again...no reason to spend more money on a mobo that isn't needed. The one thing I would think about is going with Windows 7 64bit so you can utilize all your RAM seeing how a 32bit o/s only reads 3 gigs of memory. That o/s will combo with just about anything in this build. In regards to the monitor I added this one for the fact it has a much quicker response time (2ms) than the slower 5ms you chose. If you going to do any gaming it's always good to have a monitor that has a quick response time. This build also includes a 4890 instead of the 4870 you chose.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196 $89.99 Free Shipping*
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10009795 $71.99 ($46.99 after MIR) Free Shipping
OCZ OCZ550FTY 550W Active Power Supply Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.246589 Combo Discount: -$15.00 Combo Price: $304.98 Free Shipping*
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core i5 750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.256454 Combo Discount: -$20.00 Combo Price: $254.98 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - Retail
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X 100269VXLE Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030 $29.99 Free Shipping*
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $74.99 Free Shipping*
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.buy.com/prod/asus-vw224u-22-widescreen-lcd-monitor-5000-1-2ms-1680x1050-dvi/q/loc/101/211494107.html $159.99 Price After Rebate: $139.99 Shipping: FREE
ASUS VW224U 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 5000:1, 2ms, 1680x1050, DVI

Total: $966.91 | 931.91 w/rebates

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022 <--- Here's the OCZ psu used in this build.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050 <--- Here's the monitor used in this build.

 

[Shadow703793]

^+1 for that build. Massive overkill on the GPU tough.

Also wait for the ATI 5xxx cards!

 

[elsh]

^+1. Massive overkill if you get the i5 for her. (Any chance you can use the i5 and give your system to her? )

My system is an I7 :-D

 

[Why_Me]

My system is an I7 :-D

LMAO!

 

[tecmo34]

[:lectrocrew:9] LOL.. Yeah keep your system