Simple answer needed!

[sodapop707]

Hi, I am building a micro-atx desktop. I was wondering if this is reasonable or if i should choose different parts. I am going to be doing some gaming and photo editing. My budget is 500 dollars. (I dont need an OS / monitor / keyboard or mouse).

Here is what I have picked out. (Note: the case has already been purchased. It is the NZXT Micro-ATX Vulcan, not the regular sized one)

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/v6Y2
(Note: All the same parts are picked out on Tiger Direct because they have free shipping plus discounts making the same build on "pcpartpicker" total 477$, not 527$)

I noticed PC part picker says "WARNING: Some Intel H61 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Ivy Bridge CPUs." What does this mean? I'm a computer 'noob' and this is my first build. I'd like to make the build as simple as possible. Help is appreciated!

Let me know what you think

 

[g-unit1111]

I noticed PC part picker says "WARNING: Some Intel H61 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Ivy Bridge CPUs." What does this mean? I'm a computer 'noob' and this is my first build. I'd like to make the build as simple as possible. Help is appreciated!

H61 is a chipset that is meant for older CPUs. It can run the newer Ivy Bridge CPUs but not before you update the motherboard's BIOS system. That power supply isn't really good either. The one I picked is much better.

Here's something that would be better:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Pentium G2120 3.1GHz Dual-Core Processor ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($111.97 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($49.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($70.17 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $536.06
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-31 02:12 EST-0500)

 

[sodapop707]

Okay, well you see, I'd rather spend a bit extra and keep the i3. I dont want any of the pentium 'junk'. And the 7770 vs the 560 isnt as good.

Should I just spend extra and get a micro ATX mobo that supports the second gen. i3's?

 

[sodapop707]

Oh and like I said, I dont need a case.

 

[g-unit1111]

Okay, well you see, I'd rather spend a bit extra and keep the i3. I dont want any of the pentium 'junk'. And the 7770 vs the 560 isnt as good.

Should I just spend extra and get a micro ATX mobo that supports the second gen. i3's?

Yeah that's not really a junk CPU - it's better than say a Phenom II X3: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/404?vs=202

If you don't need a case you could go with:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual-Core Processor ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Blackline 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($45.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB Video Card ($111.97 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12II 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($70.17 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($22.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $516.08
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-31 03:17 EST-0500)

 

[angaddev]

Drop the expensive RAM you can get 8GB 1600 kits as low as $32.
Drop the expensive Silverstone PSU, buy an Antec Earthwatts 500W unit.

 

[angaddev]

And try to get a 7850 if you plan on doing ANY gaming with decent settings.

 

[sodapop707]

Yea i really dont need a 70 dollar PSU, and im trying to stick with a nice 4GB stick of RAM for now so i can keep an open slot to buy another one later.

SO what about this instead?

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vbWq

And why not the EVGA 560? Why the 7850? I can get the 560 for instant 20.00 off plus 30 MIB.

 

[sodapop707]

ALso, there is no way im buying a 7770, no way. I need something a lot faster. That is a great budget card, but the card is more important to me than having more RAM/ an expensive PSU. I could go with a 430watt PSU for around 40-50and a 4gb ram stick for 20ish and spend the extra money on a nice GPU. upgrading ram is cheaper than upgrading a gpu thats for sure.