Seeking Advice on $550-$700 Budget Desktop Build

[indianpunk]

Hi Community,

I am from India and would like to make a Budget computer with the following requirements

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: in the next fortnight(Am targeting 4th August Sat as the build date ..we have long weekend around that time)

Budget Range: $600-$700) - After Shipping (Although i will buy the parts locally and probably not online)

System Usage from Most to Least Important:

1)Heavy browsing/surfing /watching movies

2)Casual gamer - bought a A4 3400 for dad some months back and played GTA 4 and COD MW3 and amazingly Max payne 3 on low/medium settings and was impressed with the performance of the APU based graphic chipset)

3)FUTURE Wishes - I want to learn music composition and would likely use Reason and fruityloops with a Midi based Piano/keyboard , will also want to try Adobe softwares as i work in advertising and have limited knowledge of Photoshop and illustrator and would like to use premier and after effects in the coming years.. i will obviously start with older version like CS3 and don't necessarily require the latest software)

Are you buying a monitor: Yes


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: (e.g.: www.flipkart.com, www.theitwares.com)

Location: New Delhi , India

Parts Preferences: AMD fanboy but open to suggestions from Intel as well

Overclocking: Mostly no but i can try

SLI or Crossfire: Initially NO plans whatsoever

Your Monitor Resolution: Anything and above 1440x900

Additional Comments: Decent Sound card and Graphic Card if the budget permits


Shortlisted Configurations in mind (1 USD = 55 INR-Indian Rupees )
Mostly my mind is Tied up between Bulldozer Vs Llano Debate and since i have zero knowledge on whats happening in the Intel Sandy bridge world lately i havent mentioned any builds in that range but if you can then plz feel free to suggest )

CPU/MOBO

CPU - AMD A6 3650 Llano 2.6GHz 4MB L2 Cache Socket FM1 100W Quad-Core Price RS 5,490.00/- ( $100)
http://www.theitwares.com/processors-processors-c-101_28_109.html
+
MOBO - ASUS F1A75-M FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Price: 6,850.00/- ($125)
http://www.theitwares.com/asus-f1a75m-hudson-hdmi-sata-6gbs-micro-motherboard-with-uefi-bios-p-2371.html

or

CPU - AMD FX 4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad Core Rs 6,400.00/- ($ 117)
http://www.theitwares.com/processors-processors-c-101_28_109.html
+
MOBO - ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard Price Rs. 6,600.00/- ( $120)
http://www.theitwares.com/asus-m5a97-sata-6gbs-motherboard-with-uefi-bios-p-2375.html


HARDRIVE

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Price 4,228.00/- ($78)

RAM
Transcend/Kingston 4GB DDR3 1333mhz x 2 - Rs 2600( $48)

LCD /LED Monitor- Need help as i would likely be happy with a a monitor that has HDMI capabilities with the CPU
Size 15.6" to 18" should be more than enough i guess
Budget Price Rs 6000 - 7000 ( $ 110 - $130 )

Basic DVD Writer

ASUS 24X Sata Black Internal DVD Writer Rs 1300 ($24)

Keyboard + Mouse
Logitech MK250 Wireless KeyBoard & Mouse Rs 1200 ($22)

Cabinet
Maybe ($50) - Please suggest precautions

I have good speakers and Headphones so that will do for the time being


My major concerns remain the architecture AMD/Intel ..Llano / Bulldozer/Sandy bridge
Since i will not be buying a graphic card anytime soon i would like a llano based machine but then i don't want to compromise badly on the performance zone and have been told by some Friends to go for bulldozer build.

Secondary Concerns
---LCD / LED Debate
---Motherboard capabilities and extendability - Musical instruments should be connectable and future options to install sound card /graphic card TV tuner etc and more Ram
---No of USB 3.0 and HDMI outputs



Current Build Comes around to $600 roughly and leaves some room for extra expenses like furniture and cables and fitting/assembling charges.

Please Let me know what should i go for i.e any one of these or something u think will be good for my requirement

Thanks a lot for helping me out.
Cheers

 

[Rockdpm]

Hey, ah do me a favor take the FX 4100 out of the equation and get a Phenom II. I am sure they still have them in your country some where..Once you have changed that... Listen bro... i know your trying to use the onboard graphics for hard core gaming. Thats just not gonna work. If you want a cheap and better graphics card, shoot for a 7750 or GT 430

 

[indianpunk]

Hey, ah do me a favor take the FX 4100 out of the equation and get a Phenom II. I am sure they still have them in your country some where..Once you have changed that... Listen bro... i know your trying to use the onboard graphics for hard core gaming. Thats just not gonna work. If you want a cheap and better graphics card, shoot for a 7750 or GT 430

I agree that i will have to buy a Graphics card but I'd like to do that say after 6 months and that's why was leaning towards llano ..but people have been saying to me that llano is practical for laptops and not for desktops

For Phenom II i believe AMD is fazing it out and so i was thinking of buying a FX series with a good motherboard but then on my travel through google i have found out that the reviews of bulldozer are really bad which has put me into a dilemma.


Is there Anyone here with a llano configuration who can help me out ....?

or else i can start researching on an Intel based config as well but i know my budget will go for a toss

 

[Nw333]

Well, the FX doesnt really do well on gaming (except some games). So, without bias, (Intel fanboy here ) go for an i3 or G630. Although, if you can find a Phenom II cpu, would be great.

 

[indianpunk]

Well, the FX doesnt really do well on gaming (except some games). So, without bias, (Intel fanboy here ) go for an i3 or G630. Although, if you can find a Phenom II cpu, would be great.

Hey its nice to find an Intel Fan

I've been researching on the Intel front and I'm kind off leaning towards a core i5 processor, maybe 2500k or something in the ivy bridge series (Intel Core i5 3450 or 3550 ) but i believe the benchmarks here(http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/graphics/display/intel-hd-graphics-4000-2500_6.html#sect3) say that the on-board chipset is more or less *** when compared to an A8 3870 and since i don't have a budget to spend on a graphic card right now should i go for AMD A8 APU or will i lose on the processing power of Intel heavily ?

Also please suggest good motherboards for Intel setup.

Cheers

 

[Nw333]

If you plan to buy the GPU after a few weeks of using the comp. maybe you can live through the graphics until the time comes. A good mobo... If you can afford a z77, its one of the best chipsets in the bunch, but an H67 will do decent. If you DO decide on the Intel side, dont get Kingston RAM. High voltage may damage the processor. I dont know about transcend but make sure the voltage is 1.5V or lower.

 

[PCBEater]

The APU series has the best integrated GPU from what im seeing and hearing(basically like 6650 GPU in die with the CPU) BUT CPU performance suffers compared to the Phenoms and FX's since it has NO L3 CACHE. FX and Phenoms are the same performance wise(in games) you get more security on multi-threaded features with the FX processors though

On the Intel side: Core i3 2100(119 dollars) crushes all Core2Duo's and most Core2Quads and its only a DUAL CORE(check Anandtech im not lying)...BUT onboard graphics are crap, always have been, if you aint got a spare GPU to throw in with it i'd go for the AMD setup since you said you needed graphics

But really AMD is just as good as Intel, check Anandtechs REAL WORLD benchmark comparisons, the phenom II's beat the Core i5's and i7's in some tests(encoding, multithreaded performance etc.)

 

[indianpunk]

If you plan to buy the GPU after a few weeks of using the comp. maybe you can live through the graphics until the time comes. A good mobo... If you can afford a z77, its one of the best chipsets in the bunch, but an H67 will do decent. If you DO decide on the Intel side, dont get Kingston RAM. High voltage may damage the processor. I dont know about transcend but make sure the voltage is 1.5V or lower.

Thanks Nw333 i will do some more research on the z77 and H67 mobo's and thanks for the heads up on the ram i never knew there was a voltage specification in rams also
Anyways any idea which i5 should i go for ..IVY bridge or sandybridge or like 2500k or 3450 types ?

 

[Nw333]

The APU series has the best integrated GPU from what im seeing and hearing(basically like 6650 GPU in die with the CPU) BUT CPU performance suffers compared to the Phenoms and FX's since it has NO L3 CACHE. FX and Phenoms are the same performance wise(in games) you get more security on multi-threaded features with the FX processors though

On the Intel side: Core i3 2100(119 dollars) crushes all Core2Duo's and most Core2Quads and its only a DUAL CORE(check Anandtech im not lying)...BUT onboard graphics are crap, always have been, if you aint got a spare GPU to throw in with it i'd go for the AMD setup since you said you needed graphics

But really AMD is just as good as Intel, check Anandtechs REAL WORLD benchmark comparisons, the phenom II's beat the Core i5's and i7's in some tests(encoding, multithreaded performance etc.)

Cause they have extra cores.

 

[PCBEater]

Sandy Bridge is old, Ivy bridge is new, the new 3570K should be about 10-15 dollars more than the old one, the difference in speed wont be relevant to you since they are both fast beyond what the average gamer uses

 

[Nw333]

Thanks Nw333 i will do some more research on the z77 and H67 mobo's and thanks for the heads up on the ram i never knew there was a voltage specification in rams also
Anyways any idea which i5 should i go for ..IVY bridge or sandybridge or like 2500k or 3450 types ?

Either. Get a Z77 if getting Ivy though.

 

[daamz]

Sandy bridge 3450 is unlock cpu.. 2500k ivy is unlock cpu and ready to overclock. the performance both gpu is almost identical 9if at stock) but 2500k is one of the legend i5 ivy bridge cpu for gamers and will deliver a very decent performance (overclocked).

If the price of both are similar, u better choose 2500k and get P67 mobo with cheap price.


if you take the 3450, u better find a z77 (cheap price) but p67 and H67 will still work as good as Z77 for the time being.
and i'm not sure since when Kingston will damage the cpu.. Hyper X i think clock average 1.6V+/- (heard like very high) but not a problem and fyi the voltage will static at 1.6V+/- even i push it to 2133MHZ..

 

[daamz]

correction -

Ivy bridge 3450 and Sandy bridge 2500k.

 

[indianpunk]

@PCBEATER

I guess its going to end up with the debate of Processing power VS graphics and since i will end up buying a card sooner or later i believe the APU and FX both will have to be dropped from the plan....i will have to end up buying a core i5 of a phenom II which i don't want to buy since it's being phased out
Also 3570k is too costly and since i wont be overclocking anytime soon can u suggest some cheaper Processor MOBO combo i.e Core i5 3450 what say

@Nw333
Are you talking abt this board

ASUS P8Z77-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI bcoz this thing is pricy like hell

then there this

ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard which is like 40% less than the price of the above one

@daamz
I guess 3450 is not for overclocking which is what i am trying to set my sight on but it still hurts me that an amd a8 + a mobo 75 will come for the price of just the processor here

Overall am confused as hell right now

 

[Nw333]

i5 2500K or 3570K will be very good OCers. You can find a $100 Z77 mobo easily on newegg. To get better repies, please state your budget

 

[daamz]

@PCBEATER

I guess its going to end up with the debate of Processing power VS graphics and since i will end up buying a card sooner or later i believe the APU and FX both will have to be dropped from the plan....i will have to end up buying a core i5 of a phenom II which i don't want to buy since it's being phased out
Also 3570k is too costly and since i wont be overclocking anytime soon can u suggest some cheaper Processor MOBO combo i.e Core i5 3450 what say

@Nw333
Are you talking abt this board

ASUS P8Z77-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI bcoz this thing is pricy like hell

then there this

ASRock Z77 Pro4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard which is like 40% less than the price of the above one

@daamz
I guess 3450 is not for overclocking which is what i am trying to set my sight on but it still hurts me that an amd a8 + a mobo 75 will come for the price of just the processor here

Overall am confused as hell right now

bro,

typo error.. what i mean is, 3450 is locked cpu and 2500k is unlock..

if you want to overclock, u may try 2500k.

i dont have a good knowledge in AMD Phenom cpu so i wont speak out about it..

the different of Z77 and previous gen mobo is PCIE3.0 gpu support.

If you want to overclockable system (intel), it gonna cost you at least $900-100 for a mid-system + a monitor... but your budget is 500-700, so not much can help

 

[indianpunk]

i5 2500K or 3570K will be very good OCers. You can find a $100 Z77 mobo easily on newegg. To get better repies, please state your budget

I don't want to get into overclocking and that's why i want to know a good decent processor + mobo combo
My budget is still $550-$700 for the overall system with a monitor as stated in the Header

 

[daamz]

yes, but u wish to use After Effect and premier.. so, 3450 = im not sure how good to handle after effect.. you may ask somebody name = g-unit111

 

[indianpunk]

yes, but u wish to use After Effect and premier.. so, 3450 = im not sure how good to handle after effect.. you may ask somebody name = g-unit111

Well "After Effects" is a long goal, right now i just want to start with Reason/Fruityloops and little bit of Photoshop and Premier and mainly Counter strike and MW3 Multiplayer action

 

[Nw333]

Dang. I need to get some eye glasses lol xD. Anyways, the 2500K will handle your programs well since your just starting out, but when you start doing it seriously, the i7 will need to come into play.

 

[daamz]

agreed.. at least it is 2500k or 3570k.. but the best for its still i7.. After effect and premier i believe required more threads and its suit with 3770k or 2600k..