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New PC Build - Looking for some recommendations


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#1
Webslinger64

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I want to build a new desktop PC for my father-in-law and it needs to do more than just surf the web (news, stock market and genealogy sites) and e-mail.  What he wants is the ability to watch news and stock market videos/streaming videos and his 10 year old Pentium 4 PC just won't do the trick. 

I have done two PC builds in the last year, so I feel comfortable and excited to do another.  However, I don't believe his PC requirements are as extensive as mine were for the first two builds.  In my opinion, I should be able to build a nice budget system for his use.  I prefer to stay with an Intel CPU vs. AMD if possible and want the PC to run nice and quiet.

Mainly, I'm looking for recommendations on the motherboard, CPU and RAM.  This is what I've determined so far for each category:

 

Motherboard - Looking at a mobo with integrated video and sound.  A socket 1150 mobo seems fine, but I don't think I need to go with a Z87 or H87 chipset, I think a B85 chipset would be fine and price wise, a little less expensive.  Not sure if the savings, if any, with a B85 chipset is really worth it though.

 

CPU - All I know here is that the CPU needs to be powerful enough and fast enough for streaming video.  For the two PC builds I did recently, I installed Intel i5-4670 processors.  I don't believe he will need that.  Right now I'm considering an Intel Pentium G3220 Haswell 3.0GHz processor for about $59.99.  It's still a Pentium and honestly I don't know if that will do the trick, so very open to suggestions.

 

RAM - The builds I've already done were installed with 8GB of RAM each.  For this build, I'm not sure if I need 8GB or if I can get away with 4GB.  Seems that for streaming video, the more RAM the better, but again I'm not absolutely sure.

 

As for the OS, it will likely be Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.  He is still using Windows XP on the old PC at this time.

 

Your thoughts and recommendations are appreciated.


Edited by Webslinger64, 13 June 2014 - 08:24 AM.

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#2
iammykyl

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Gday Webslinger64, welcome back.

configured this yesterday as a reasonable priced base build, so it is somewhere to start for tweaking.   Is it close to the budget you have?

Just off to bed, hopefully Phillpower2 will spot the post and come in with suggestion.

Base Intel build  > http://pcpartpicker.com/p/V22bCJ


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#3
Webslinger64

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Gday Webslinger64, welcome back.

configured this yesterday as a reasonable priced base build, so it is somewhere to start for tweaking.   Is it close to the budget you have?

Just off to bed, hopefully Phillpower2 will spot the post and come in with suggestion.

Base Intel build  > http://pcpartpicker.com/p/V22bCJ

 

Thank you for the reply.  I should have mentioned my build budget is $400.  I will not need to buy a monitor, video card, sound card, networking card, ODD, keyboard, mouse, or speakers.  The $400 goes for a PC case, PSU, Motherboard, CPU, RAM, and HDD.

So with the build information you provided, and what I've considered so far for a CPU, my question is this; will a dual core CPU like the Intel G3258 do the job nicely for watching videos or would I be better off going with a quad-core CPU?  I've priced out a G3220 3.0GHz CPU w/integrated graphics for $59.99. Your build has the G3258 3.2GHz CPU at $74.99.  I really need to look at cost savings, so would the G3220 suffice?

 

This is what I've put together so far (I value your opinions on my choices)

http://pcpartpicker....er/saved/JXGxFT


Edited by Webslinger64, 13 June 2014 - 10:27 AM.

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#4
iammykyl

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Gday.

Your selected parts are compatible and will work OK.   Please consider the following observations. 

CPU, the duel core G3220 at stock,  will do a good job work wise and video streaming but is  a bit weak graphics for anything but basic gaming. The G3258 has better performance, but still weak graphics, it is however unlocked and very easy to overclock and would be my choice. As seen in this review, with a cheap GPU would satisfy most casual gamers.http://hexus.net/tec...n-g3258/?page=9

 

MB. the B85 supports the G3220 but not the G3259. > http://www.asrock.co...5 Pro4/?cat=CPU

I think the H97M is a more robust boards with better quality parts but the G3258 is still not on the QVL, could be as it is so new.

 

RAM.   would not recommend using a single stick as should it fail, no computer.  For most users though performance wise, it seems to make little difference. > http://www.gamersnex...Page-3?showall=

 

Case.   I would prefer the Antec, able to control the fans, low for this build, or higher if a GPU is added later.

 

Revised build, > http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wfGbCJ


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#5
Webslinger64

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Gday.

Your selected parts are compatible and will work OK.   Please consider the following observations. 

CPU, the duel core G3220 at stock,  will do a good job work wise and video streaming but is  a bit weak graphics for anything but basic gaming. The G3258 has better performance, but still weak graphics, it is however unlocked and very easy to overclock and would be my choice. As seen in this review, with a cheap GPU would satisfy most casual gamers.http://hexus.net/tec...n-g3258/?page=9

 

MB. the B85 supports the G3220 but not the G3259. > http://www.asrock.co...5 Pro4/?cat=CPU

I think the H97M is a more robust boards with better quality parts but the G3258 is still not on the QVL, could be as it is so new.

 

RAM.   would not recommend using a single stick as should it fail, no computer.  For most users though performance wise, it seems to make little difference. > http://www.gamersnex...Page-3?showall=

 

Case.   I would prefer the Antec, able to control the fans, low for this build, or higher if a GPU is added later.

 

Revised build, > http://pcpartpicker.com/p/wfGbCJ

Great!  Thank you for the recommendations.  I think I've got it pegged down and am excited to begin.


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#6
iammykyl

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Thanks for the update.

Please let us know how the build performs and we are here if you need any other assistance.


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#7
iammykyl

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Gday.

If you have not already purchased the MB, Please take a look at a new Assrock one, with special support for the G3258.

http://www.asrock.co...97 Anniversary/


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