New Build Help / Review

[jonesresidence]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Internet Surfing, Web Based Email, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access 2010), Pictures/Music, all in one printer software. I want these basic programs (Chrome, FireFox, MS Office, printer software) to load at lightning fast speeds, basically in the time it takes to blink an eye. (Please let me know if I'm being unreasonable here....) I want immediate response and load performance within reason of course.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$450 - $480 (Tax included)
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.

United States, California
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.
CPU, RAM, PSU, Motherboard, Case, Monitor (Pref 24, but I'd settle for 23)
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I will be reusing a Seagate 7200 ST3400620AS SATA and just a basic IDE CDROM.
6) Will you be overclocking?
No.
7) 7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
I'd like a 24" but I'll settle for 23" for prices sake. Resolution I'm looking to get is 1920x1080. Not sure what the integrated video supports.... (BTW, I might be getting a 24"DELL from a friend for cheap, so we will see what happens there)
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within the next month or two.
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 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, onboard video (main GPU), onboard sound, onboard NIC,
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
I have the 32 Bit XP pro sp3


Here is the build I have on Newegg.com, is it all compatible and am I paying the best price? Anything I am missing? What are you suggestions based on my answers? Here is my build:

CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131758
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220668
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106009

 

[Dangman]

Quite a few problems with that setup. The case isn't a good choice and that motherboard doesn't have an IDE port. For the usage you're describing, you're better off with a significantly faster dual-core CPU from Intel.

In addition, your "I want immediate response and load performance within reason of course" requirement is a problem. In order to meet that sole requirement, you will need a SSD or a new hard drive to a lesser extent. No matter how fast the rest of the PC is (even if you spent $3000), the system response time is still somewhat limited by the HDD. Your problem is further exacerbated by the fact that you have a relatively old hard drive that's fairly slow. So if you can, up your budget by another $125 to fit in a SSD. That'll instantly meet your requirement for a responsive system.

Also, since you're in CA, try to buy as much of your pasts as possible from Amazon.com as they do not charge you sales tax like Newegg does.

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within the next month or two.

Can you narrow down that time frame any further? Our hardware recommendations tends to change monthly and sometimes even weekly.

EDIT: Though for the usage you're describing and your budget, you're better off with a prebuilt like this awesome dell deal:
http://www.gotapex.com/content/6140...23-Pro-LCD-Monitor-for-499-with-FREE-Shipping!

 

[jonesresidence]

Why is the case not a good choice? (So I know what not to look for...)
I will probably go with an SSD, any suggestions?
Based on my immediate response and load performance demands, which CPU Dual Core speed would be sufficient?

 

[Dangman]

Please answer my last question.

 

[E4g1e]

Why is the case not a good choice? (So I know what not to look for...)

That case is cramped on the inside (from front to rear) because any hard drives mounted in the middle section will restrict the length of the graphics card that can be used to only 9 inches long. That means that even mid-range GPUs might force you to install the hard drive(s) at the very bottom bays. (This would be a disadvantage if you ever decide to add a discrete GPU to that build in the future.)

Second, it has absolutely no cable management features whatsoever. There are no openings on the motherboard tray to allow you to reroute the cables to the other side of the tray. If you put in a PSU that has a lot of fixed, non-detachable cables (all non-modular PSUs and even some partially-modular PSUs), the cables that are left inside the case could restrict airflow inside the case.

The "improved" version of the Three Hundred, the Three Hundred Two, has a rearranged interior, adds some cable management features, and its hard drive bays have been reoriented so that the installed HDDs no longer obstruct long graphics cards (this is in addition to the front USB ports now being USB 3.0).

As for the CPU, nearly all of the apps that you're planning to run on that new build are only single-threaded or lightly-threaded. And we know that the entire FX series CPU line performs relatively poorly on such lightly-threaded apps - in fact, slower than even some old-generation Intel Core 2 Duos. On the other hand, all of the new Sandy Bridge and just-introduced-today Ivy Bridge i3 CPUs are a significant improvement over the old Core 2 Duos.

 

[jonesresidence]

Thanks guys, good info...and thank you for your time and talent.....

New computer will be purchased within 2 weeks maybe, pending approval, Can't really narrow it down more than that....

Graphics cards are not an issue, this is not a gaming PC, i am using onboard video.

So If I went with the Ivy Bridge or Sandy Bridge i3 with an SSD, i'd get the performance I'm looking for?

 

[jonesresidence]

Also, which line of AMD processors are good for single threaded apps like the ones I'll be running? I'm leaning towards AMD cause it's cheaper.....thanks

 

[Dangman]

So If I went with the Ivy Bridge or Sandy Bridge i3 with an SSD, i'd get the performance I'm looking for?

Pretty much yes. Hell a Pentium G8xx series with a SSD would get you the performance you're looking for.

Also are you ever planning on upgrading to a 64bit OS anytime soon?
Is your budget still the $480 max or did you increase it to cover the cost of SSD and monitor? Or is the monitor not part of that $480/updated budget?

Also, which line of AMD processors are good for single threaded apps like the ones I'll be running? I'm leaning towards AMD cause it's cheaper.....thanks

The Phenom II series are your best bet for AMD. However, AMD isn't cheaper or that much more cost-effective. Even Intel's cheap Pentium CPUs will outperform many of AMD's $100+ CPUs in certain apps.

 

[jonesresidence]

I notice on Newegg, that when I read the specs under Onboard Video, it says "None", but when I check the picture of the motherboard it has a DVI and VGA port on the rear panel, doesn't that indicate that it does indeed have onboard video? Just a little confused as I look at these motherboards.....I've seen maybe a dozen of them like that so far......

Budget is still the same, just might have to get the monitor a little bit later down the road....

 

[/usr/sbin]

I notice on Newegg, that when I read the specs under Onboard Video, it says "None", but when I check the picture of the motherboard it has a DVI and VGA port on the rear panel, doesn't that indicate that it does indeed have onboard video? Just a little confused as I look at these motherboards.....I've seen maybe a dozen of them like that so far......

Budget is still the same, just might have to get the monitor a little bit later down the road....

The video is done on the CPU die now (Sandy + Ivy).

 

[Dangman]

I notice on Newegg, that when I read the specs under Onboard Video, it says "None", but when I check the picture of the motherboard it has a DVI and VGA port on the rear panel, doesn't that indicate that it does indeed have onboard video? Just a little confused as I look at these motherboards.....I've seen maybe a dozen of them like that so far......

Thats because these days the GPU is integrated directly into most current Intel CPUs out now, not the motherboard as it was in the past. So the motherboard doesn't actually have an onboard video chip. The CPU does and thats how/why the motherboard has DVI and VGA ports despite a lack of onboard video chip.

Budget is still the same, just might have to get the monitor a little bit later down the road....

Again, are you going to be upgrading to Windows 7? I have to ask that question for two reasons:
1) You only have 32bit XP so that means 4GB of RAM is about the max you can get
2) You have XP which isn't great for a SSD.

 

[silent-circuit]

I'd get that Dell and put a SSD in it to boot off of. Gives you a single point of service for issues, better warranty than buying parts separately, smaller footprint, likely quieter...

There are times when prebuilt is the way to go. This is one of those times.

 

[Dangman]

I'd get that Dell and put a SSD in it to boot off of. Gives you a single point of service for issues, better warranty than buying parts separately, smaller footprint, likely quieter...

There are times when prebuilt is the way to go. This is one of those times.

Totally slipped my mind. Yeah that prebuilt is the way to go in this case considering that he has XP.

 

[silent-circuit]

Totally slipped my mind. Yeah that prebuilt is the way to go in this case considering that he has XP.

Exactly, a 7 license will cost what, $60? More? Also gives a good size HDD to supplement the SSD later. It may be fast enough for him out of the box, and failing that you watch FS/FT and HotDeals (I have 3 SSDs for sale now, others have many many more... plenty of deals) and pick one up later.

EDIT: And it includes a monitor? Forgot about that. Yeah, way way better deal.

OP, follow the instructions and upgrade the monitor, though I'd probably go a little over $500 and upgrade somewhere else instead of extending poor quality anti-virus software... just use MS Security Essentials.

 

[jonesresidence]

Hey Thanks alot guys, a little bummed about going with a prebuilt only because I was looking forward to building and putting it all together....but yeah, the dell (with the monitor) is a good deal. Again, I appreciate all your input.