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Help building a Robust/budget Office PC

M

motolube

Gawd
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
1,002
It seems that every few years I come here to pick you guy's brains and this year is no different so I hope you can lend me your tech...

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Office PC, Web Browsing, Light Image Editing (Fireworks), Accounting Software & point of Sale

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I like to be between 500 and 600 max.

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Miami, Florida ... USA

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.

Tower
PSU
CPU w/onboard video if cheaper this way.
MOBO w/onboard video if cheaper this way.
1TB HDD Max
8GBs RAM DDR3
Optical Drive r/w


5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
KB / Mouse & Monitor


6) Will you be overclocking?
No


7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
Dell 17" LCD ... Not sure of the res as it will be given to me.


8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Right away or within a couple/few days


9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video (as a backup or main GPU)? UEFI? etc.
USB 2.0 is more than enough but I'll take 3.0 looking at the future.
Regular Sata or Sata 6GB is fine
Onboard video if price is less between CPU/GPU combo

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
This is kind of a trick question because I could re-use my Legit Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit OS but I also like to see what is the cheapest price I could locate a Win 7 Pro 64bit. Reason is that soon I will be upgrading my Gaming Rig (not in use at the moment, no time) and I like to continue to use my win7 Ultimate.

Well, hopefully you guys can set me straight with the cheapest but robust parts I need.

Thanks again.
 
Thanks but aside from the link giving me an error, I don't like DELL and I prefer to buil my own rigs.

My main problem, as usual, is not knowing the compatibility of the hardware I am going to use, hence, the need to pick the guru's brain. Ever since I spent a lot of money buying good hardware, albeit at a very good price, and had to spent it all back returning things because they were not compatible, I have decided to ask for help and I have yet to have an issue with it.
 
I'm a little confused here: What exactly are you upgrading on your current PC?

Also, if you use your existing Windows 7 Ult key on this office PC, it means that you need a new OS key for your gaming PC.

Now is this PC going to be used in a home or small business?

EDIT: Wait, are you the one who's using this office PC?
 
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Just a quick build to give you an idea on how far your budget can go :

ASUS DVD-writer - $20.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135305&leaderboard=1

Case : Coolermaster N200 - $45.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119274&cm_re=n200-_-11-119-274-_-Product

Hard drive : Seagate Barracuda - $50.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840

RAM : G.Skill Ripjaws 8GB DDR3 1600 – $52.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231488&cm_re=ddr3-_-20-231-488-_-Product

Motherboard : MSI H81-P33 - $40.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130731

CPU : Intel Pentium G3220 – $57.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116950

PSU : Corsair CX430V - $40.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&cm_re=cx430-_-17-139-026-_-Product

Total : $304.00

For better performances, I strongly recommend you add a SSD to the mix (Crucial BX100 250GB - $90.00)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148945&cm_re=bx100-_-20-148-945-_-Product

New total : $394.00 before shipping and taxes

Depending on your answer regarding your Windows key, you have enough elbow room to add a new one with the remaining budget.

Also, you could change the motherboard with a B85 or a H97 one but with a higher sticker price (but better features and higher quality). If you want a better and bigger case, look for the NZXT Source 210 Elite for only $2.00 more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_re=source_210_elite-_-11-146-078-_-Product

Dangman will probably give you a better build, just something I would do in your situation.
 
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Dangman said:
I'm a little confused here: What exactly are you upgrading on your current PC?
Well, nothing at the moment but I hope to revamp my Gaming rig at some point before the end of the year. I am just no using it much at the moment, hence, why I thought I could use the W7 but after much thought I have decided against it.


Also, if you use your existing Windows 7 Ult key on this office PC, it means that you need a new OS key for your gaming PC.
Sorry for the confusion, the W7 Ultimate is on my Gaming rig at home, this new built is for an office, a new project I am starting with another company so I don't want to mix things up.

Now is this PC going to be used in a home or small business?
Small business office/worsktation... unrelated to my gaming rig at home

EDIT: Wait, are you the one who's using this office PC? Yes, I will be the one
Click to expand...

Perhaps I am over thinking it and I should just get one of those Lenovo Refurbished i-5s, more so because we are kinda press for time and I may end up getting blamed for any delay.

I had put something together but I will talk with the owners and have them make the decision so the ball is in their court. Thanks for the help nonetheless, I always appreciate the effort and you guys's help.
 
the link was to a Dell Vostro workstation for $299

Win 7Pro
8GB
500GB
I5
Keyboard
Mouse
DVD/RW drive

it was a deal, and unfortunately for you, you missed out on it
 
YeuEmMaiMai said:
the link was to a Dell Vostro workstation for $299

Win 7Pro
8GB
500GB
I5
Keyboard
Mouse
DVD/RW drive

it was a deal, and unfortunately for you, you missed out on it
Click to expand...

Crap, my life story... a day late and a dollar short! ;) :D

Thanks nonetheless

On the other hand, I gave the specs I needed to my boss, they told me they found the components cheaper from Tiger Direct and it will even come in built already... I called "B/S" in my mind but at the end of the day, I do not care as long as it is what I asked. LOL
 
That might be true if they used the cheapest parts they could find...
//Danne
 
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