Basic Reliable build

[nns]

Hi,

 

I am looking to build a PC for very basic PC for office use, only for using MS Office and Firefox on Windows 7.

 

Please suggest a reliable build as I want it to last 5-7 years without a hitch, i.e., No BSODs (relating to hardware of course), No HDD crashes, no hardware related problems..

 

I don't want a future-proof build in terms of technology as I am pretty much satisfied with a Celeron of micrometre architecture with 128MB RAM running Windows XP.

 

Only about 10-15 GB of HDD space beyond OS and softwares is sufficient. (Currently only 1 GB is used.)

 

(It's been a long time since I last logged in... Feels nice to be here again!! Thanks, OCC)

 

EDIT: I am looking to buy it in the next few hours.. And budget is around US$500..

Edited November 17, 2010 by nns

[MercuryDoun]

Ok, so i tried going for the best performance, extended life system i can put together. There are many options in which you could save money with. But you mentioned a very long life span for the system so i believe you will find this exceptable.

 

Going to break this down into a few sections as you werent that specific to your needs. Do you need a case and power supply? Im asking because if there is a chance your can just 'recycle' an old case or PSU or something could save you money. Do you need a CD/DVD Drive?? Most of the times these days i use my cd drive 7-10 times a year... im not entirely sure you need one anymore, especially not for a basic use office machine, possibly borrow a cd drive from another system, install everything you need, then put the drive back into its original machine, i dunno just a suggestion. There are gonna be the core components, and the optional/unsure if you need them components, as well as two different choices for processor and MoBo. Do you need a Monitor??? Do you need an OS? I have no idea, but im going to assume you dont need a OS, and likely wont need a monitor.

 

Stage 1:

4gb DDR3 memory -$60- 4gb of memory is the new 512mb, its an excepted amount require for even daily use. Do you need 4gb, no, is 4gb so cheap that you might as well so that your system continues to run well for many many many years, absolutely. Its a very high quality brand i literally use this ram set in my workstation at the office, simply amazing for its price. Also, Mushkin rocks!

 

60gb VERY fast SSD -$130- Now for low price machine id normally say SSD is totally out of the question. BUUUT you need only very little space outside of the OS. And SSD's are nearly indestructable, if you want a machine that will last 5-7 years with the lowest chance of hardware failure, SSD is your way to go for sure. Its very expensive compared to a standard HDD, but i think once you have one in your office system and still stay under budget, you will never want to use a HDD as a main drive again. Ill also include a much cheaper HDD alternative as part of the lowest cost option i found later.

 

Stage 2: Its possible that you need nothing from Stage 2

Mid-size tower case -$40- I have also personally used this case, its a very cheap, very high quality product with no sharp edges, and very easy to work with. I highly recommend it. Is there cheaper cases, sure, are those cases strong and durable and likely to not start falling about after just one year, meh, i have my doubts.

 

430w 80+ PSU -$45- Basic efficient power supply with plenty of power for any basic use computer. Will provide you with some room to add a mid-level/low power usage video card one day if thats something you want as well.(future expandability is part of a long-life system) and its 80+ certified to help keep your power bill low as well!

 

DVD Burner -$17- Whut? Its a burner drive, samsung brand/quality and its cheap. Nuff said.

 

Stage 3:

3Ghz dual-core with integrated GPU and socket LGA 1156 Mobo -$167- Intel i3-540 3.06Ghz Dual-core, I was orginally going to point to towards AMD(because im an AMD fanboi), seeing as how you can get an AMD core-core for the price of this Intel Dual-core, BUT the intel dual-core will be better at day to day tasks that arent multi threaded. Its a more effcient cpu, and completely knocks the socks off of low end AMD dual-core. Its got an integrated GPU on the CPU, it will handle any and all day to day task with ease, its even capable of full blu-ray playback. Later i will offer up a much cheaper AMD alternative with an onboard gpu that its slightly better than the Intel HD. But meh, with the intel's hyper threading and superior through put, it will be all that is required to push you many years into the future with this system. Also the MoBo aint bad either for its price, should even give you some leeway for Overclocking should one day you decide to buy a after market heatsink and fan. This is a combo deal that saves you a couple bucks($10) to buy the two together.

 

Total cost of the fancy system w/o a monitor = $458.93 w/o shipping, and there wont be tax unless your in Cali.

 

Now just incase you need a monitor, or perhaps just want the cheapest option, use all the items above in Stage 1(except the SSD) and Stage 2 with the stuff in the alternative Stage 3:

 

AMD dual-core, AM3 Mobo, and a great monitor!

 

Alternative, Stage 3:

3.0Ghz AMD Dual-core -$60- Not nearly as good as the i3 at the same clock speed, but also not nearly as expensive, slightly more efficient power usage. Not much of a overclocker compared to the i3, which with half decent air cooling(like $30) the i3 will hit 4.0Ghz with relative ease. This chip will like have a top end of 3.5-3.6 with ALOT of work required to make it stable. Again i really feel like the i3 is a better choice, but if perhaps you need a monitor or are just really excited about spending the lease possible amount of money its a good option.

 

AM3 socket MoBo -$60- Decent AM3 socket MoBo, with intergrated ATI 4250 graphics, really quite good for basic desktop day to day usage, better then the Intel HD as part of the i3. This MoBo has some great future expandability, perhaps one day upgrading to a AMD Hex(6)-core processor sounds like fun?? I dunno not likely, but still its all about options baby!

 

ASUS 20" LED Backlit Monitor -$130- Its ASUS quality with some fancy-ness like LED backlighting! Great features, great size, great price! Sure there is cheaper, but with crappy brands/quality, or smaller screen sizes.

 

250gb 7200rpm HDD -$43- Its your basic small HDD drive, and can be used as a cheap replacement to that very nice, but expensive solid state drive i mentioned earlier. Ive personally also used this drive. It works, not much can be said besides thats, its Western Digital quality/reliability. But its sure not an SSD, but if you've never experienced the speed and overall just UBER-ness of an SSD, you wont miss it anyways. I still really say get that SSD i mentioned. But hey, its only my opinion right?

 

Total cost of AMD w/ Monitor, but no SSD, boo! = $451.92 w/o shipping, again no tax unless in Cali. This is the case, PSU, HDD, DVD drive, Everything, with a 20" monitor, VERY cost effective build.

 

 

Now just come up with whatever you favorite mix of stages 1,2, and 3 are. And enjoy!! lol I was very bored at work and took alot of time to do this just because i could. If nothing else i hope i gave you some good ideas!

 

Edit: Oh yeah forgot to mention, if your going to be using windows XP, or more to the point, if your not going to be using Windows 7, there isnt much point in getting a SSD. XP and even vista really, dont understand how to use a SDD properly and really wont give you that WOW factor that a SSD should. Also without TRIM SSD's get alot of garbage on them and tend to slow down, again XP doesnt support TRIM. NEVER DEFRAGMENT A SSD! Lol, SSD's can be complicated, do some research before you really jump into one.

Edited November 17, 2010 by MercuryDoun

[IVIYTH0S]

Same wattage, Same price, but better quality PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017 (actually cheaper after rebate)

The intel system is good, but how does the integrated gpu compare to the AMD??

[TerryC]

 

Under budget with a nice 20inch monitor.

[MercuryDoun]

Ah, nice catch on the PSU Iviy, i got sick of looking at garbage PSU's and just picked a decent cheap one. You should definitely go with the Corsair PSU Iviy found.

 

The ATI 4250 is better than the Intel HD. But not by so much that it makes any difference in real world basic office apps. It will be unnoticeable. Its really more ATI drivers that make it better, Intel video drivers have never been very good. Regardless there is enough juice left on a 430w PSU and a pci-e slot on either board, so a low-middle end Video card is easily be used for any future upgrades that might be desired.

[MercuryDoun]

 

Under budget with a nice 20inch monitor.

 

Looks like an OEM CPU terry, you would have to buy a HSF as well. They specfically mentioned they didnt need hardly any Hard drive space. Could knock off couple bucks to drop to a much smaller HDD despite the fact that that 1TB HDD is very cheap.

 

Thats the same Asus Monitor i linked, so i definitely approve!

[TerryC]

Looks like an OEM CPU terry, you would have to buy a HSF as well. They specfically mentioned they didnt need hardly any Hard drive space. Could knock off couple bucks to drop to a much smaller HDD despite the fact that that 1TB HDD is very cheap.

 

Thats the same Asus Monitor i linked, so i definitely approve!

 

Nice catch! Cooler master hyper 212 should keep this thing super cool.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148451

 

or

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113

 

perhaps. I'd still buy a 1tb but thats just me.

[Krieg1337]

SSDs die fast, bad for no hassle PC's.

[Locutus]

Since you're doing so little on it, I'd suggest a "net top" desktop PC. Basically they are the same specs as a netbook, but usually a bit better (especially at power usage since they don't have batteries.)

 

Here's a link that pretty much shows all desktops with the intel atom, they start at around 200 bucks, and come with a keyboard and mouse (some are even built into monitors.)

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006736%20600014722&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Order=PRICE&PageSize=20

 

Given, you won't be able to do a whole lot of stuff on it since it's simple... But I had an Acer Aspire One netbook and I could play CS:S on it (very low settings, but it was bearable.)

[bobby898]

SSDs die fast, bad for no hassle PC's.

They die fast if there is a lot of writes, however with normal everyday use it will last a long time, the only thing that is going to be written to the drive is cache and temporary files, not too damaging. Then there is a massive speed increase over hdd's making a cheap build pretty quick.

[MercuryDoun]

They die fast if there is a lot of writes, however with normal everyday use it will last a long time, the only thing that is going to be written to the drive is cache and temporary files, not too damaging. Then there is a massive speed increase over hdd's making a cheap build pretty quick.

 

Exactly! Thats why your not supposed to put Pagefile on SSD's too many writes mess them up. But if you doing basic office stuff with some web surfing and maybe some movies or whatever, it will last for a LOOOOONNNGG time... I made sure to include 4gb of ram. Is MUCH more than is require, could easily run the system with no pagefile(since they wont have a 2nd drive to put the Pagefile on) and it would run amazingly well.

 

While the nettop isnt a bad idea. I dont see how it could compare to an i3 + SSD combo...

 

I really hope the OP comes back and actually looks at all this good info. Alot of good ideas here.

[Locutus]

Exactly! Thats why your not supposed to put Pagefile on SSD's too many writes mess them up. But if you doing basic office stuff with some web surfing and maybe some movies or whatever, it will last for a LOOOOONNNGG time... I made sure to include 4gb of ram. Is MUCH more than is require, could easily run the system with no pagefile(since they wont have a 2nd drive to put the Pagefile on) and it would run amazingly well.

 

While the nettop isnt a bad idea. I dont see how it could compare to an i3 + SSD combo...

 

I really hope the OP comes back and actually looks at all this good info. Alot of good ideas here.

Well since he's only planning on using it for MS Office, Firefox, and other basic stuff....I personally think an i3 build would be a bit overkill.