New rig advise

[RichMan]

Guys, I hope you will help me decide on a new rig for a friend that I convinced a home build would be better (quality) than Dell or HP.
You were kind enough to advise 3-4 years ago on my rig. Tech changes so quickly I can't keep up!
Here's what I'm thinking, but first parameters. He's 70yrs. old and not real computer savvy, he's learning though. (I'm 66 btw and have built 3 rigs since 1999). Price is really not a concern, he wants quality and fast but not unnecessary cost that he wouldn't perceive speed-wise or video-wise.
No Gaming or OCing; Photoshop; Audacity for converting LP's to CD/MP3s; Some video stuff (not quite sure what he wants to do there yet); Internet and possible wireless network to utilize his XP Dell computer; You Tube videos for how-tos; Video chat; He already has a 23 inch Asus monitor.
Don't know much about on-board graphics (CPU? or MB?). Or video card? Thoughts?
Asus or Gigabyte MB? (I've used both and never had a problem. Both are still going strong)
Intel or AMD CPU? (probably depends on graphics solution)
CPU cooler? (I've had no trouble with my Zalman)
16GB Ram (GSkill?)
SSD for boot drive (Intel I've gathered is best right now) Size?
(2) 1Tb Hard drives for data (Seagate? WD?)
Any DVD writer? Don't need Blu-ray I wouldn't think.
USB3 and I imagine use 6gb/s SATA?
Antec's new P280 case and an Antec power supply (~650w)? Open for suggestions.
WIN 7 64 bit upgradeable to WIN 8 if it's worth it when its released.
I think that's it. I know next to nothing on SSD's and On-board video, advise especially there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening and thanks in advance for any input.
Rich

 

[MikeOnBike]

I would only buy one HD now and purchase the second one in a few months when the prices start to drop. They are still insanely high from the floods.

8gb is probably enough unless you know you need more. If you use 4gb sticks and your MB has four slots you can add more later if needed.

A discrete video card is always nice even if he isn't gaming. You don't need to spend hundreds though. My 5450 card was only $15 after promo and rebate and is faster than most on-board graphics.

Also, maybe one of the AMD A8 series (AMD A8-3870K) CPU/graphics combo processors might work well for him.

You say price is not a concern but you must have some budget in mind.

 

[Dangman]

Please answer the following questions so that we can help you better:
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
6) Will you be overclocking?
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?

 

[RichMan]

Please answer the following questions so that we can help you better:
3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
6) Will you be overclocking?
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Milwaukee, WI
6) Will you be overclocking?
NO
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
In one to three weeks
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI
Front USB 2 and 3 and Audio; Possible Raid; No Crossfire or SLI; for SSD, SATA 6Gb/s and Onboad Video I need advice/direction
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? 32bit or 64bit?
Will need to purchase Win7 64bit

 

[Dangman]

All right, here's a prelim build:
$320 - Intel Core i7-2600K CPU
$228 - Asus P8Z68-V LE Intel Z68 ATX Motherboard + Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Combo
$74 - 2 x G.Skill Value Series F3-10600CL9D-8GBNT 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$182 - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB SSD
$187 - Samsung Spinpoint F4 HD204UI 2TB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$20 - LG iHAS124-04 DVD Burner
$63 - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W PSU
$140 - Antec P280 ATX Case
-----
Total: $1214 plus tax and shipping.

Notes:
- If he needs to save $90, drop the CPU down to the Core i5 2500K.
- I went with the "K" version of that CPU because of the faster onboard video and the ability to OC later on. IMO, that's $20 well spent.
- I included a larger SSD because of your friend's not being too computer saavy and to make up for the slower hard drive. With the larger SSD, there's a little more room for error should he accidentally start saving a ton of files to the SSD rather than
- Due to the Thai floods that happened last year, hard drive prices are fairly high at the moment. As such, I don't recommend getting two 1TB drive from a cost perspective. However, if there's a legitimate reason for having two 1TB drives rather than a single 2TB drive, let me know and I'll recommend 1TB drives.
- The system would honestly be fine off a 400W PSU. But I included a 520W PSU just as huge "Cover your ass" feature.

 

[RichMan]

That sounds like an excellent build. I may swap Asus DVD writer for LG since I have that in my rig and love it, and he wants two of them. What about a CPU cooler? Is it necessary? What kind of heatsink comes with the i7? Thanks for the help. I'll have some build questions later but have to get some sleep.

 

[Forceman]

For a cooler, hard to go wrong with the CoolerMaster Hyper 212+:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master...YPH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327043615&sr=8-1

 

[Dangman]

What Forceman said.

Note that the i7 already comes with a heatsink that's ok as long you don't live in a hot place and have good cooling in the PC.