Please help get this build under $400

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Noitidart

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Apr 15, 2013
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Hi all, I'm trying to make a real budget build for my family. I got a lot of help from a previous topic I made here and that led me to a lot of research. I want to give them great performance.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($134.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Cooling MX-2 4g Thermal Paste ($7.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LK ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($114.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($139.60 @ Amazon)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Rosewill Line ATX Mid Tower Case ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Enermax UCTB12 42.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($9.99 @ Microcenter)
Case Fan: Enermax UCTB12 42.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($9.99 @ Microcenter)
Case Fan: Enermax UCTB12 42.1 CFM 120mm Fan ($9.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $693.45
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-05 01:48 EDT-0400)
Click to expand...

That is what I got. But I need help to get a cheaper mobo, however it supports all those technologies.
I need help to get a case with no fans and cheaper.
Do you think I'll need the cpu cooler?

Thanks
 
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No gaming. Lots of video editting, especially of family pictures and videos. Lots of Microsoft office (outlook, word, excel, powerpoint). Some Adobe illustrator and maybe photoshop. Some flash coding. Some C# and .NET coding. Firefox browsing with heavy addons. Lots of video watching, netflix etc.

Thanks much ksham!
 
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A few setups:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A85X Extreme4 ATX FM2 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair XMS3 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($99.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Crucial M4 64GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.73 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($52.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $618.65
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

This one should be a better set for what you'll be using it for.


Now, I don't know how fluent in computing your family is, but my family knows nothing about it. So putting in a SSD is almost useless because they'll just fill it up in a heartbeat. So alternatively, I'd replace the SSD with another HDD so that you can save important data across two drives. Just for redundancy in case one dies.

As for OS, I'd stick with Windows 7. Easier to use, navigation wise. And easier for your family if they are computer-illiterate.
 
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Thanks much ksham! I was getting the SSD mainly for them to take advantage of the Intel Rapid Start and Intel Smart Response technologies.

I was hoping to really stick with that i3 🙁
 
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1. ditch the CPU cooler. you are not overclocking
2. go down to 8 gigs of ram (I do everything you do and more and never break 8 gigs even if I have 16)
3. ditch the SSD. you do not need it.
this is based off of ksham build but holds true for any build
I also think that amd is the better chip for productivity. Intel is the gamers CPU


that is about $160 in savings. down to $480 now
also go back to the CPU you picked and look at the bottom for some combo deals. there may be some that work for you
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113280&Tpk=AMD%20A10-5800K&IsVirtualParent=1
above is the link to your CPU
 
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Yes. But the main point was that your Intel Core i3 is only a DUAL CORE. And the AMD one that I listed is a QUAD CORE. And in video editing, there's a big difference as it's more CPU-intensive.

I disagree with fkr on one point. I'd keep the cooler because the FX-8350 runs rather hot.

Edit: sorry fkr .. had my mind set on a different build.
 
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amd is better at everything except for single core performance. that is to say that if a program is only using one or two cores then intel kills AMD on a performance per core aspect. many games only use one or two cores and that is why Intel seems to be the champ but if you are doing non-sexy things on your computer (productivity) then AMD is the way to go and they are way ahead on the integrated GPU scene. Intel is just trying to catch up to AMD's last generation of integrated chips.
 
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they do run kinda hot but not dangerously so. I know I will always have an aftermarket cooler but I will never build a $400 rig either. anything under 75C is safe and that AMD chip should not break that even if they use a cheaper cooler.
 
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Tallying up. The G.Skill Ripjaws RAM is great if you're not OC, which you aren't.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A85X Extreme4 ATX FM2 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($59.94 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($69.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: XFX ProSeries 450W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($52.99 @ NCIX US)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $463.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

@fkr: sorry about that. Had my mind set on a different build. >_<

@Noitidart: you want a case with good airflow. More fans isn't always better. The HAF 912 has great airflow at stock. No need to add anything more. And you're not OC so it really matters even less especially without a discrete GPU.
 
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I run a CM haf 912 for my case and it is great. you can put large fans in the front and on top and it keeps things really well ventilated and silent. big fans are always quieter btw. I have an i5 2500k running at a pretty aggressive voltage and I idle at 26C.
 
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Thanks thats a great idea! I can just use my old one, I don't use CD's that much.

Seriously appreciate all your guys help. I'm researching AMD now and comparing them to Intel processors. My family nor I game at all, so we just need really good performance for everything else. (Well we play those small flash games but nothing serious)
 
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A sincere thanks fkr, especially for your speedy reply and care. I definitely will, espeically because I'm now thinking of ditching intel that changes everything. I'm making 2 builds but the family build is more important to me as my sibilings use it for homework and parents use it heavily for images and email.
 
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Hi all quick question please, so my build is looking like this now:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A10-5800K 3.8GHz Quad-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($27.99 @ Newegg)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Cooling MX-2 4g Thermal Paste ($7.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4 ATX FM2 Motherboard ($85.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($66.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.19 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Rosewill Line ATX Mid Tower Case ($60.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $467.09
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-05-08 16:03 EDT-0400)
Click to expand...

Can I connect 3 monitors to this? 1 HDMI, 1 DVI, 1 VGA? I know with intel you can only do 2 at a time and have to use WiDi for wireless 3rd monitor.

I also read that AMD A10-6800K is coming soon, does anyone know how soon? Is it worth the wait?

Thanks
 
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