Help picking a CPU

[aquavitae]

I am putting together a new PC for my parents, and would like some advice on the build. The PC won't be used for anything too intense, just internet, emails, etc. Perhaps a little light photoshopping. The main criteria is size - they want a small machine, so I'm going with mini-itx. They also like using two monitors, although AFAIK most modern on-board graphics support two monitors. Finally, they don't want to upgrade again in at least the next 5 years, so I need to plan for future software requirements.

Currently I'm looking at one for two motherboards:

1. Asus H81i-Plus all-in-one Intel H81 Chipset LGA 1150 mini-ITX Motherboard
2. Asrock H87M ITX/M Motherboard, 4th Generation Intel Core i7, i5, i3, Xeon, Pentium, Celeron in LGA1150

I'm probably going to go with the second because of the H87 chipset, which has better support for SSD, if they want to include one.

Where I'm stuck is picking a CPU. I don't really think an i5 is needed now, but I'm not so sure about what will be needed in 5 years time. Also, even within the i3/i5 haswell range there are a huge number of options and I don't know where to start. Can anyone give any suggestions or comments? Without a definite budget it is difficult to ask for a specific recommendation, but any points I could consider would help with the choice.

 

[Guest]

Depends.

What is your budget?

 

[beyondlogic]

I am putting together a new PC for my parents, and would like some advice on the build. The PC won't be used for anything too intense, just internet, emails, etc. Perhaps a little light photoshopping. The main criteria is size - they want a small machine, so I'm going with mini-itx. They also like using two monitors, although AFAIK most modern on-board graphics support two monitors. Finally, they don't want to upgrade again in at least the next 5 years, so I need to plan for future software requirements.

Currently I'm looking at one for two motherboards:

1. Asus H81i-Plus all-in-one Intel H81 Chipset LGA 1150 mini-ITX Motherboard
2. Asrock H87M ITX/M Motherboard, 4th Generation Intel Core i7, i5, i3, Xeon, Pentium, Celeron in LGA1150

I'm probably going to go with the second because of the H87 chipset, which has better support for SSD, if they want to include one.

Where I'm stuck is picking a CPU. I don't really think an i5 is needed now, but I'm not so sure about what will be needed in 5 years time. Also, even within the i3/i5 haswell range there are a huge number of options and I don't know where to start. Can anyone give any suggestions or comments? Without a definite budget it is difficult to ask for a specific recommendation, but any points I could consider would help with the choice.

what are they planning to use the pc for a i3 is enough for basic browsing and work pc

 

[aquavitae]

I am putting together a new PC for my parents, and would like some advice on the build. The PC won't be used for anything too intense, just internet, emails, etc. Perhaps a little light photoshopping. The main criteria is size - they want a small machine, so I'm going with mini-itx. They also like using two monitors, although AFAIK most modern on-board graphics support two monitors. Finally, they don't want to upgrade again in at least the next 5 years, so I need to plan for future software requirements.

Currently I'm looking at one for two motherboards:

1. Asus H81i-Plus all-in-one Intel H81 Chipset LGA 1150 mini-ITX Motherboard
2. Asrock H87M ITX/M Motherboard, 4th Generation Intel Core i7, i5, i3, Xeon, Pentium, Celeron in LGA1150

I'm probably going to go with the second because of the H87 chipset, which has better support for SSD, if they want to include one.

Where I'm stuck is picking a CPU. I don't really think an i5 is needed now, but I'm not so sure about what will be needed in 5 years time. Also, even within the i3/i5 haswell range there are a huge number of options and I don't know where to start. Can anyone give any suggestions or comments? Without a definite budget it is difficult to ask for a specific recommendation, but any points I could consider would help with the choice.

what are they planning to use the pc for a i3 is enough for basic browsing and work pc

Yes, but will an i3 be enough in 5 years? Also, there are several i3s available, how do I pick one? Budget is not an issue, but I don't want to buy something that will never be used.

 

[beyondlogic]

I am putting together a new PC for my parents, and would like some advice on the build. The PC won't be used for anything too intense, just internet, emails, etc. Perhaps a little light photoshopping. The main criteria is size - they want a small machine, so I'm going with mini-itx. They also like using two monitors, although AFAIK most modern on-board graphics support two monitors. Finally, they don't want to upgrade again in at least the next 5 years, so I need to plan for future software requirements.

Currently I'm looking at one for two motherboards:

1. Asus H81i-Plus all-in-one Intel H81 Chipset LGA 1150 mini-ITX Motherboard
2. Asrock H87M ITX/M Motherboard, 4th Generation Intel Core i7, i5, i3, Xeon, Pentium, Celeron in LGA1150

I'm probably going to go with the second because of the H87 chipset, which has better support for SSD, if they want to include one.

Where I'm stuck is picking a CPU. I don't really think an i5 is needed now, but I'm not so sure about what will be needed in 5 years time. Also, even within the i3/i5 haswell range there are a huge number of options and I don't know where to start. Can anyone give any suggestions or comments? Without a definite budget it is difficult to ask for a specific recommendation, but any points I could consider would help with the choice.

what are they planning to use the pc for a i3 is enough for basic browsing and work pc

Yes, but will an i3 be enough in 5 years? Also, there are several i3s available, how do I pick one? Budget is not an issue, but I don't want to buy something that will never be used.

Core i3-4130 is enough i doubt see any need for you to upgrade past this if all your doing is browsing and web surfing

but if you wan to keep it future proof

i5-4440 would easily be enough

 

[aquavitae]

I am putting together a new PC for my parents, and would like some advice on the build. The PC won't be used for anything too intense, just internet, emails, etc. Perhaps a little light photoshopping. The main criteria is size - they want a small machine, so I'm going with mini-itx. They also like using two monitors, although AFAIK most modern on-board graphics support two monitors. Finally, they don't want to upgrade again in at least the next 5 years, so I need to plan for future software requirements.

Currently I'm looking at one for two motherboards:

1. Asus H81i-Plus all-in-one Intel H81 Chipset LGA 1150 mini-ITX Motherboard
2. Asrock H87M ITX/M Motherboard, 4th Generation Intel Core i7, i5, i3, Xeon, Pentium, Celeron in LGA1150

I'm probably going to go with the second because of the H87 chipset, which has better support for SSD, if they want to include one.

Where I'm stuck is picking a CPU. I don't really think an i5 is needed now, but I'm not so sure about what will be needed in 5 years time. Also, even within the i3/i5 haswell range there are a huge number of options and I don't know where to start. Can anyone give any suggestions or comments? Without a definite budget it is difficult to ask for a specific recommendation, but any points I could consider would help with the choice.

what are they planning to use the pc for a i3 is enough for basic browsing and work pc

Yes, but will an i3 be enough in 5 years? Also, there are several i3s available, how do I pick one? Budget is not an issue, but I don't want to buy something that will never be used.

Core i3-4130 is enough i doubt see any need for you to upgrade past this if all your doing is browsing and web surfing

but if you wan to keep it future proof

i5-4440 would easily be enough

Thanks, that helps!