Hi, I'm looking for feedback on my parts selection for a new computer system for my home use. I don't buy computers often, my current system is 8-years-old and has reached the end of its useful life. For my new system I'd like something that I will also be satisfied with for several years.
Approximate Purchase Date: Next [strike]two weeks[/strike] four days
Budget Range: $800-$1200 After Rebates & Shipping
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Word processing, spreadsheets, email, surfing the internet, watching movies. I'm hoping to learn how to use animation software soon and will probably use this system for foreign language study. I think about trying games but I've never had the time and energy nor found one that appealed to me though I haven't looked very hard (I'm not disparaging you avid gamers
). I'm planning to install Acronis Disk Director, which I've never used before. Once I'm satisfied that my Windows partition is working well, I want to start learning to use Linux and transition to using that OS as much as possible.
Are you buying a monitor: I just purchased a new Dell 27" Ultrasharp monitor (U2715H) for $526. It's still in the unopened box so I could return it for good reason.
Do you need to buy OS: Yes. Planning to buy MS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition w/ SP1, OEM w/ Media and Linux Mint
Preferred Website(s): You can find my current configuration at http://www.avadirect.com/A10-FM2-Mini-Tower-Custom-Computer-Desktop/Configure/9475430
Here are the parts:
Case: FRACTAL DESIGN Define Mini Black Silent Mini-Tower Case, mATX, No PSU, Plastic/Steel
Power Supply: CORSAIR RM Series™ RM450 450W Power Supply w/ Modular Cabes, 80 PLUS® Gold, 24-pin ATX12V V2.4 EPS12V V2.92, 2x 8/6-pin PCIe, Retail. Newegg's power supply calculator indicates I only need a 276W PSU but I ever decide I need a video 450W probably won't be enough. Thoughts?
Socket FM2 Plus Motherboard: ASUS A88XM-PLUS/CSM, FM2+, AMD® A88X, DDR3-2400 (O.C.) 64GB /4, PCIe x16, SATA 6 Gb/s RAID 5 /8, HDMI + DVI + VGA, USB 3.0 /2+2, HDA, GbLAN, mATX, Retail
http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/A88XMPLUSCSM/
Socket FM2 Desktop Processor: AMD A8-6500 Quad-Core 3.5 - 4.1GHz TC, HD Graphics, FM2, 4MB L2 cache, DDR3-1866, 32nm, 65W, Retail
RAM: DDR3 Non-ECC DIMM Memory: CORSAIR 16GB (2 x 8GB) Vengeance® Pro Red PC3-15000 DDR3 1866MHz CL9 (9-10-9-27) 1.5V SDRAM DIMM, Non-ECC
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS8000B CPU Cooler, Socket 1150/1155/1156/1366/775/FM1/AM3/AM2, 66mm Height, Copper/Aluminum, Retail
Thermal Compound: ZALMAN Thermal Compound, Non-curing, 3.5 g
Storage Drive: SEAGATE 1TB Barracuda®, SATA 6 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 64MB cache
DVD Burner Drives: ASUS DRW-24B1ST Black 24x DVD±R/RW Dual-Layer Burner, SATA, OEM
Video: Integrated Graphics Controller. Since I'm not a gamer and will only be using one monitor will this be satisfactory for the usage I described above and for viewing movies on my Dell U2715H monitor?
Sound Cards: Integrated Audio Controller (Choose upgrade)
Keyboard: LOGITECH K120 Black Keyboard, USB, Retail
Operating System: MS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition w/ SP1, OEM w/ Media
Parts Preferences: AMD Kabini or Kaveri processor
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Additional Comments: I'd like a low-profile, reliable, quiet, energy-efficient system that fits the usage I described above. Whenever affordable I prefer to use quality parts with a good warranty. Again, any feedback on my current proposed configuration/parts/vendor selection would be appreciated.
Approximate Purchase Date: Next [strike]two weeks[/strike] four days
Budget Range: $800-$1200 After Rebates & Shipping
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Word processing, spreadsheets, email, surfing the internet, watching movies. I'm hoping to learn how to use animation software soon and will probably use this system for foreign language study. I think about trying games but I've never had the time and energy nor found one that appealed to me though I haven't looked very hard (I'm not disparaging you avid gamers
![Smile :) :)](/data/assets/smilies/smile.gif)
Are you buying a monitor: I just purchased a new Dell 27" Ultrasharp monitor (U2715H) for $526. It's still in the unopened box so I could return it for good reason.
Do you need to buy OS: Yes. Planning to buy MS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition w/ SP1, OEM w/ Media and Linux Mint
Preferred Website(s): You can find my current configuration at http://www.avadirect.com/A10-FM2-Mini-Tower-Custom-Computer-Desktop/Configure/9475430
Here are the parts:
Case: FRACTAL DESIGN Define Mini Black Silent Mini-Tower Case, mATX, No PSU, Plastic/Steel
Power Supply: CORSAIR RM Series™ RM450 450W Power Supply w/ Modular Cabes, 80 PLUS® Gold, 24-pin ATX12V V2.4 EPS12V V2.92, 2x 8/6-pin PCIe, Retail. Newegg's power supply calculator indicates I only need a 276W PSU but I ever decide I need a video 450W probably won't be enough. Thoughts?
Socket FM2 Plus Motherboard: ASUS A88XM-PLUS/CSM, FM2+, AMD® A88X, DDR3-2400 (O.C.) 64GB /4, PCIe x16, SATA 6 Gb/s RAID 5 /8, HDMI + DVI + VGA, USB 3.0 /2+2, HDA, GbLAN, mATX, Retail
http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/A88XMPLUSCSM/
Socket FM2 Desktop Processor: AMD A8-6500 Quad-Core 3.5 - 4.1GHz TC, HD Graphics, FM2, 4MB L2 cache, DDR3-1866, 32nm, 65W, Retail
RAM: DDR3 Non-ECC DIMM Memory: CORSAIR 16GB (2 x 8GB) Vengeance® Pro Red PC3-15000 DDR3 1866MHz CL9 (9-10-9-27) 1.5V SDRAM DIMM, Non-ECC
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS8000B CPU Cooler, Socket 1150/1155/1156/1366/775/FM1/AM3/AM2, 66mm Height, Copper/Aluminum, Retail
Thermal Compound: ZALMAN Thermal Compound, Non-curing, 3.5 g
Storage Drive: SEAGATE 1TB Barracuda®, SATA 6 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 64MB cache
DVD Burner Drives: ASUS DRW-24B1ST Black 24x DVD±R/RW Dual-Layer Burner, SATA, OEM
Video: Integrated Graphics Controller. Since I'm not a gamer and will only be using one monitor will this be satisfactory for the usage I described above and for viewing movies on my Dell U2715H monitor?
Sound Cards: Integrated Audio Controller (Choose upgrade)
Keyboard: LOGITECH K120 Black Keyboard, USB, Retail
Operating System: MS Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition w/ SP1, OEM w/ Media
Parts Preferences: AMD Kabini or Kaveri processor
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
Your Monitor Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Additional Comments: I'd like a low-profile, reliable, quiet, energy-efficient system that fits the usage I described above. Whenever affordable I prefer to use quality parts with a good warranty. Again, any feedback on my current proposed configuration/parts/vendor selection would be appreciated.