Need help on a budget computer ($500)

[Infer]

Hey guys need some input on a budget computer
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
- just surfing, watching videos, microsoft office stuff
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
- Max is $500
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
- will be buying everything from memory express or ordering online if they won't price match
4. IF YOU have a brand preference
- I'd like to stick to intel for the processor
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
- I have an old monitor, keyboard/mouse and speakers ill keep
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
- Yes
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
- Default
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
- as soon as possible
9. What resolution do you use?
- 1280x1024 i guess as a minimum
===================================
with that sorted out this is what I've got so far....
Case: Coolermaster Elite 310 - $36.30 (best direct)
Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz LGA 1155 - $119.99 (mem express)
Motherboard: Asus P8H67-M LX Rev 3.0 w/ Dual DDR3 1333, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E ..$96.99(mem express)
Ram : Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9 Dual Channel Kit (2 x 2GB) ...$59.99 (mem express)
Harddrive: seagate 1TB Barracuda 7200.12 SATA III w/ 32MB Cache ...$54.99 (mem express)
Dvd drive: Samsung SH-S223C 22x SpeedPlus™ DVD-Writer, SATA, Black, Retail ...$22.99 (mem express)
Power Supply: Corsair CMPSU-430CX V2 430 Watt Power Supply...$49.99 (mem express)
Assembly : $40.00

Total: $481.24 + GST
-plan to use onboard sound/video card ...not sure if I should get a discrete video card unless I can still fit it under 500 also was wondering if that i3 is one of the newer sandy bridge ones

anyway let me know what you think...I havn't had time to price match these parts yet I figured id wait to hear from you guys on the parts first then spend the time on finding price matches or just buying online.

Thanks in advance

[upcoast604]

Buy Samsung [SH-S223C/BEBE-OEM] Samsung SH-S223C 22X DVD Writer SATA Black OEM $17.

G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL Ripjaws PC3-10666 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 Core i5 Memory Kit - DirectCanada $40 cl9.

NCIX.com - Buy G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL Ripjaws PC3-12800 4GB 2X2GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Core i5 1.5V Memory Kit - G.Skill - F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL - in Canada $45 for the 1600.

I really dislike the seagate 1TB drives, I bought 2 both months apart are different rev and both are loud and undependable.
I've had no problems with the seagate single platter 500GB.

[tabasko]

Will you be upgrading? It doesn't look like you're doing anything intense with your computer, you could probably get away with saving ~50-100$ by getting a slower CPU/MOBO, unless you really want sandy bridge.

For example, if you aren't dead set on the mobo, ncix has the 2100 and MSI mobo for 170$ this week.
NCIX.com - Buy NCIX Bundle Deal Intel Core i3 2100 Dual Core Processor & MSI H61M-P21 DDR3 Motherboard - Bundle Deals - 2100 & H61M-P21 - in Canada
The mobo is a mATX, so it's small, but for surfing and watching videos, it will be OK

[Infer]

well this computer is for my cousin I'm not sure exactly how heavy of a user he will be but will the i3 be able to say watch netflix video's in HD? I'm not sure how good the integrated graphics are on the i3 processor.

I have switched the ram as suggested...I can try switching the HD to some other one gonna have to look though. How are the cavier green/blue they go for around the same price?

as for the motherboard I just picked one at random that was under 100 bucks so if there are better ones out there for around 100 I'm fine with switching I normally go for regular size boards though

[dma0991]

The Core i3 2100 will be able to play 1080P videos without any problems. The Intel HD2000 is not the best but it is definitely very usable for basic applications that you have said. If you want to get alternatives for the HDD, get the WD Blue instead. The WD Green does not make it as a good primary drive.

[tabasko]

The i3 will run netflix videos.

Caviar greens are slower/use less power (use for storage). Blacks are high performance (use as boot drives). Blues are in between.

As for the motherboard, if you don't have anything for the PCI slots, a smaller motherboard will be cheaper and do the job.

[Infer]

Originally Posted by tabasko

The i3 will run netflix videos.

Caviar greens are slower/use less power (use for storage). Blacks are high performance (use as boot drives). Blues are in between.

As for the motherboard, if you don't have anything for the PCI slots, a smaller motherboard will be cheaper and do the job.

Ya he might eventually want to put a discrete video card in so ill prob stay with a regular size mobo.

Looks like caviar blues are very close in price so I'll swap that as well.

Another question, he has a really old computer right now (like 8+ years old) which doesn't work and I was wondering can I remove the harddrive in there and be able to install it in this new one and just grab the data off it? It's prob a real old Sata 1 hd

[tabasko]

Yes you will be able to retrieve the data, assuming the hard drive wasn't the broken piece in the computer.

Also, the mATX board has 1 slot for a discrete card, and 3 extra PCI-E slots, so that's not a problem. NCIX often has bundle sales with processors and motherboards, those are good to look into

[_dangtx_]

decent choices, but remember the 1155 i3 wont overclock....so if you want to keep it at stock than its fine, else
maybe look at 1156 as well. clock per clock slower,yes,but when you bump that bus up youll get more bang.
cheap mobos that will oc a 99$ 530(memexpress) are around 60-70 bucks. chip in here there and youll have some cash left for
gpu,oh yeah and build it yourself,thats another 50 bucks in the pocket.

slaughter dude built me pops an i3 1155,similar specs to your initial choices.

either way, have fun with it!

[Infer]

Originally Posted by _dangtx_

decent choices, but remember the 1155 i3 wont overclock....so if you want to keep it at stock than its fine, else
maybe look at 1156 as well. clock per clock slower,yes,but when you bump that bus up youll get more bang.
cheap mobos that will oc a 99$ 530(memexpress) are around 60-70 bucks. chip in here there and youll have some cash left for
gpu,oh yeah and build it yourself,thats another 50 bucks in the pocket.

slaughter dude built me pops an i3 1155,similar specs to your initial choices.

either way, have fun with it!

Ya he will never overclock he just needs a pretty low end comp for regular day to day use. I could probably put it together myself as well, just less hassle with them doing it.