Help Wanted - Budget PC Build

[porkpork]

Building computer for sister, ditching her old laptop for a desktop.

Budget: ~$500
Location: Canada.

Looking for a modest sized computer for everyday use that wont get easily taxed by image editing software and the like.

- Not a gaming rig. Don't need amazing graphics card. Something lower end that does the job. Maybe I can get away with integrated?
- ATX or Micro ATX. Smaller is better, but would be nice to preserve some future upgradability/additions.
- Aiming for 8GB memory to avoid any sluggishness
- 500GB+ HDD. Or can get less now, and upgrade in the future.
- Need monitor (20" or better)
- Need wireless keyboard
- Need speakers (Something simple, but not totally crap)
- Can reuse old wireless mouse

Would be a plus if I could get everything in one order from one online website like DirectCanada, NCIX, Newegg.ca, etc. But not necessary. Looking to build as soon as possible, any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[le2key]

What you're asking for is pretty tight, but doable. If it's not for gaming then there's not much you can do to make room for future upgrades; Intel is going to be changing sockets soon. Also, will you be planning to overclock in the future?

Here are some of the parts I've put together, not too shabby if I do say so myself.

LG E2242C-BN 21.5IN Widescreen LED Backlit LCD Monitor 1920x1080 5MS 5M:1 VGA VESA Mount Black

Microsoft 800 Wireless Keyboard ENGLISH/FRENCH

Corsair CX Series CX500 500W ATX 12V 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply 140mm Fan

Logitech X-140 2.0 5W RMS Black Analog Speakers W/ Headphone Jack & Auxiliary Input

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM 64MB SATA 6Gbps 3.5in Internal Hard Drive - OEM

[bliz]

For that price, i would go for the best APU.

[Bond007]

If you aren't doing gaming and only using a HD monitor you will have no issue on any current integrated graphics.

[porkpork]

Originally Posted by le2key

What you're asking for is pretty tight, but doable. If it's not for gaming then there's not much you can do to make room for future upgrades; Intel is going to be changing sockets soon. Also, will you be planning to overclock in the future?

Here are some of the parts I've put together, not too shabby if I do say so myself.

LG E2242C-BN 21.5IN Widescreen LED Backlit LCD Monitor 1920x1080 5MS 5M:1 VGA VESA Mount Black

Microsoft 800 Wireless Keyboard ENGLISH/FRENCH

Corsair CX Series CX500 500W ATX 12V 80 Plus Bronze Power Supply 140mm Fan

Logitech X-140 2.0 5W RMS Black Analog Speakers W/ Headphone Jack & Auxiliary Input

Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM 64MB SATA 6Gbps 3.5in Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Okay I like these suggestions so far, and I think I might go with integrated graphics to help cut costs like the other poster suggested. This is what I got so far:

CASE: APEX TM-524 Micro ATX Case (Includes 300W PSU) $49.99
MOBO: ASUS P8B75-M LGA 1155 Intel Micro ATX $83.99
CPU: Intel Pentium G860 LGA 1155 $89.99
PSU: Included in case; 300W.
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM $69.99
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3 1600 (2x4GB) $37.99
SPEAKERS: Logitech X-140 2.0 5W $29.99
KEYBOARD: Microsoft 800 $14.99 OR Rosewill Wireless mouse/keyboard combo $49.99
MONITOR: LG E2242C-BN 21.5" $89.99

With the first keyboard that would be $469 NOT including tax and shipping and handling.
If I can trim this down a bit without losing too much performance that would be good.
Don't think u can get a cheaper 20IN+ monitor. Probably can go cheaper on MOBO, CPU, HDD, and maybe RAM but would probably only save like 10 bucks on the RAM tbh.

What you guys think?

+ I imagine I can't go too too cheap on the MOBO cause then the integrated graphics would probably be even worse no?

[dandelioneater]

AMD A8-5600K APU Quad Core Processor Socket FM2 3.2GHZ 4MB 100W Retail Box $99
ASUS F2A55-M/CSM mATX FM2 A55 FCH DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 1PCI SATA3 DVI HDMI USB3.0 Motherboard $89


I think you will be happier with something like an FM2 APU from AMD. It will be far more futureproof than that pentium cpu and well worth the extra 40 dollars over the intel dual core you spec'd. It has better graphics too.

[sswilson]

If you're going onboard GFX, I'd strongly recommend going AMD vice Intel. FM1 bundles are getting few and far between but here's a pair that should work together.

AMD A6-3500 APU W/ AMD Radeon 65XX HD GFX Triple Core Processor Socket FM1 2.1GHZ 3MB 65W Retail Box

ASRock A75M-HVS mATX FM1 AMD A75 FCH DDR3 1PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 1PCI SATA3 HDMI D-Sub USB3.0 Motherboard


edit:

Originally Posted by dandelioneater

AMD A8-5600K APU Quad Core Processor Socket FM2 3.2GHZ 4MB 100W Retail Box $99
ASUS F2A55-M/CSM mATX FM2 A55 FCH DDR3 2PCI-E16 1PCI-E1 1PCI SATA3 DVI HDMI USB3.0 Motherboard $89


I think you will be happier with something like an FM2 APU from AMD. It will be far more futureproof than that pentium cpu and well worth the extra 40 dollars over the intel dual core you spec'd. It has better graphics too.

Ninja'd!!! :) (Although my suggestion would save him money rather than being more expensive).

edit#2:

Or, no matter how much I hate win8, you can't beat this for a complete system with legit OS......

NCIX PC Bundle Deal AMD Athlon II X4 640 8GB 1TB DVDRW 760G 350W MSI Case Windows 8 Assembled

[porkpork]

Damn, I think I'm gunna get that bundle cause it comes with same 1TB HDD, legit OS, and a DVDRW + is AMD spec like you suggested would be better for integrated graphics. Hmmmm.

Then I'd just need to get peripherals.

PC BUNDLE: NCIX PC Bundle Deal AMD Athlon II X4 640 8GB 1TB DVDRW 760G 350W MSI Case Windows 8 Assembled $369.99
SPEAKERS: Logitech X-140 2.0 5W $29.99
KEYBOARD: Microsoft 800 $14.99 OR Rosewill Wireless mouse/keyboard combo $49.99
MONITOR: LG E2242C-BN 21.5" $89.99

Total: $505 or $540 + TAX and S&H

She has a 30IN LCD TV, you think it would be possible/advisable to use that via HDMI cable instead of buying a monitor at the present time? Does that bundle have an HDMI port?

EDIT: Okay there is a VGA port on the TV she has. Does the VGA limit the screen resolution options you'd get or is that solely about your computers graphics. Like would using HDMI versus VGA enable you to get higher resolution setting for your desktop?

[sswilson]

Doesn't look like it's got HDMI, but her TV might have a DVI input.

Does she absolutely have to have a wireless keyboard? The package comes with a keyboard + mouse and she could pick up a wireless one in the future if she really wants one.

It's not the absolute best graphics on that motherboard (an FM1 or FM2 combo would have better graphics) but should be better than the intel one.

[porkpork]

Okay not gunna get the bundle, don`t think its gunna save me that much. And yeah I think she really wants wireless keyboard/mouse. I think getting around the monitor will save this build and put it closer to $500 mark after tax and stuff. Using ur suggestions I now have:

CASE: APEX TM-524 Micro ATX Case (Includes 300W PSU) $49.99
MOBO: ASRock A75M-HVS mATX FM1 AMD $77.99
CPU: AMD A6-3500 APU w/ AMD Radeon 65XX HD GFX Triple Core Processor FM1 2.1GHZ $71.98
PSU: Included in case; 300W.
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM $69.99
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3 1600 (2x4GB) $37.99
DVDRW: Samsung SH-224BB 24X SATA DVD Writer $23.98
SPEAKERS: Logitech X-140 2.0 5W $29.99
KEYBOARD: Microsoft 800 $14.99 OR Rosewill Wireless mouse/keyboard combo $49.99
MONITOR: Use current LCD TV.

Total: $412 + Tax and S&H

This is looking a bit better, any comments/suggestions?