Hi everyone, I am looking to build a general use system for my wife. I would like it to have great performance, but it doesn't have to be a graphics powerhouse that can run Crysis full out. Our son will probably do some gaming on it, but I will be making an actual gaming rig sometime in the future to handle those tasks. Just getting my feet wet again with this build.
I have not built a system for a good six years now and have been researching the last couple weeks to get myself back up to speed. Looking to you guys for a sanity check and to let me know if there are compatibility/reliability issues or if you have any suggestions.
Overall build requirements, in order of importance, are:
■Small, elegant case
■Quiet operation
■Snappy performance
■Data redundancy on storage drives
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: As soon as the various components are in stock (Intel G2 SSD and Lian-li case).
BUDGET RANGE: No limit really, but I do look at bang for buck.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Web surfing, email, Microsoft Office, digital camera photo manipulation and storage
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: LCD monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Netgear wireless b/g router, OS will initially be Windows 7 RC
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg
PARTS PREFERENCES: I have used Lian Li cases in the past, but am open to suggestions.
OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1600 x 1200 (Dell UltraSharp 2007FP 20")
Comments: I have included a modular power supply to help keep things clean inside the case. Other components were chosen based upon quietness and low heat generation & power consumption. I do know that the SSD has a poor cost vs. size ratio, but am willing to pay to get the extra responsiveness.
Here's what I have come up with thus far:
Case
LIAN LI PC-A05B Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112130
Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
RAM
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
Heatsink
Noctua NH-U12P 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608002
PSU
SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM 500W ATX12V 2.2 /EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151056
GPU
SAPPHIRE 100255HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820
Primary hard drive
Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2MH080G2C1 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016
with a:
SilverStone SDP08 3.5" to 2 x 2.5" Bay Converter - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817997007
Storage hard drives
QTY 2 in RAID 1
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Optical drive
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188
Wireless card
D-Link WDA-1320 IEEE 802.11b/g 32-bit PCI Wireless G Desktop Adapter Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-bit WEP Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127080
Sound card
Motherboard integrated sound
Total cost: $1105
Power requirements: 262 watts (according to this)
Thanks for any comments or suggestions!
I have not built a system for a good six years now and have been researching the last couple weeks to get myself back up to speed. Looking to you guys for a sanity check and to let me know if there are compatibility/reliability issues or if you have any suggestions.
Overall build requirements, in order of importance, are:
■Small, elegant case
■Quiet operation
■Snappy performance
■Data redundancy on storage drives
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: As soon as the various components are in stock (Intel G2 SSD and Lian-li case).
BUDGET RANGE: No limit really, but I do look at bang for buck.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Web surfing, email, Microsoft Office, digital camera photo manipulation and storage
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: LCD monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Netgear wireless b/g router, OS will initially be Windows 7 RC
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg
PARTS PREFERENCES: I have used Lian Li cases in the past, but am open to suggestions.
OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1600 x 1200 (Dell UltraSharp 2007FP 20")
Comments: I have included a modular power supply to help keep things clean inside the case. Other components were chosen based upon quietness and low heat generation & power consumption. I do know that the SSD has a poor cost vs. size ratio, but am willing to pay to get the extra responsiveness.
Here's what I have come up with thus far:
Case
LIAN LI PC-A05B Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112130
Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359
CPU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
RAM
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
Heatsink
Noctua NH-U12P 120mm SSO CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608002
PSU
SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM 500W ATX12V 2.2 /EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151056
GPU
SAPPHIRE 100255HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820
Primary hard drive
Intel X25-M Mainstream SSDSA2MH080G2C1 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016
with a:
SilverStone SDP08 3.5" to 2 x 2.5" Bay Converter - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817997007
Storage hard drives
QTY 2 in RAID 1
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Optical drive
SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188
Wireless card
D-Link WDA-1320 IEEE 802.11b/g 32-bit PCI Wireless G Desktop Adapter Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-bit WEP Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127080
Sound card
Motherboard integrated sound
Total cost: $1105
Power requirements: 262 watts (according to this)
Thanks for any comments or suggestions!