New Computer for Mother's Office

[Dr DMoney]

My mother needs a new computer for her home office. She wants a new monitor too. Here is what I have pick out for her. She doesn't use many intensive programs, but she does keep 10+ application open at a time. The budget is around $800, no more than $850. I am trying to pull ot an i5, ITX motherboard, and SSD. Right now, I think she will have to settle with a smaller ssd, and use it as cache. I am open to compete alternate systems if the price is right.

Moniter: Dell ST2321L Black 23" 5ms HDMI LED Monitor --- $159.99
DVD: SAMSUNG DVD Burner SATA Model SH-224BB/RSBS --- $16.99
Motherboard: ASUS P8H77-I Mini ITX Intel Motherboard ---$99.99
Case: COOLER MASTER Elite 120 Mini-ITX Tower Computer Case -- $19.99 with combo
HDD: Seagate Momentus XT 500GB 7200 RPM 2.5" Hybrid Drive --- $49.99 with rebate and code
SSD: OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC (SSD)--- $64.99
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit --- $99.99
Ram: Patriot Viper Xtreme Series, 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM --- $44.99
CPU:Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz Intel HD Graphics 4000 ---$219.99
PSU: COOLER MASTER Elite 460w V2.31 Power Supply --- $19.99 after rebate

 

[jasonalwaysready]

your mother is probably not going to overclock or notice the slight difference in cpu speed. you cant really oc on a 'h' motherboard. for an office computer, it is still overkill, but get this:
Newegg.com - Intel Core i5-2310 Sandy Bridge 2.9GHz (3.2GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I52310

use that saved money to get a better lower wattage psu:
Newegg.com - Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

if money is tight, save $5
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

 

[PP Mguire]

Actually, I would get the i5 3330 instead. Better GPU, better CPU all around.

Next I would ditch the Momentus for a different storage drive. 500GB non hybrid drive, preferably 7200.11 Seagate or WD Black in 3.5" flavor. That case still has 3 internal 3.5" bays.
I would also ditch the Agility 3 for a Samsung 830 for a few reasons.

As was suggested, get a better PSU. A CX500, or 450w Antec equivalent.

 

[Dr DMoney]

I will go with that PSU over the cheap cool master. I planned on going with the 3570k due to it being the only i5 with Intel HD Graphics 4000. Would saving $30 and going with the 3330 be the better option?

I only picked the Momentus due to it being on sale. I am also torn between getting a 256gb ssd (no HDD) or geting a 500gb SSD and using a 64gb SSD for Smart Response Technology. I would have gone with the 830 64gb but they are sold out.

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

SAMSUNG DVD Burner 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA Model SH-224BB/RSBS

Western Digital WD Blue WD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Acer G226HQLBbd Black 21.5" 5ms Widescreen LED Monitor200 cd/m2 ACM 100,000,000:1 (600:1) No

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000 BX80637I53570K

ASUS P8H77-I LGA 1155 Intel H77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard case combo

Corsair Force Series GT CSSD-F60GBGT-BK 2.5" 60GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

If i were to go with only an SSD I would go with the 830/840 series, but probably have to step down to a i5-3330.

 

[jasonalwaysready]

i'd say go with the ssd only. dont worry about the smart response tech ssd.

also, fyi, the psu doesnt come with a power cable, but you can reuse the one that went with the old computer.

that monitor. i dont think you should get it. i know it has some sort of crazy pretend 10^10 contrast ratio, but the brightness and actual ratio are pretty bad. get this bigger and better screen by a better monitor company for the same price.

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG B30 Series S24B30BL Matte Black 23.6" 5ms (GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DCR 70000:1 (1000:1)

 

[PP Mguire]

If you go with only an SSD make sure you drop the pagefile below 500MB max usage.

 

[Dr DMoney]

My sister plays some will probably will be playing some no very intense games, but she also plays Minecraft. This is a home office computer mainly as she works from home, but when you have kids then they want to use it too...

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (11192-22-20G)

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Windows 7 Pro for Students Microsoft Store

If there is a better option that is around the same pricing please tell me. You guys have been very helpful, I always get this forums input before I build/upgrade any machine. Right now I am at $823.67 with shipping.

Plan on using the double install technique for the upgrade version of windows 7. Save her $35, and its pro, and dont worry I have a student email... BTW with is the SSD I think we will be going with.

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Added Excel Sheet for full parts list...

 

[jasonalwaysready]

if youre doing some amount of actual gaming (minecraft) and need a real gpu then that sort of sets up upgrades for the future to consider. when i was building, it was the intent of integrated graphics only...

if youre going to have a gpu, then it would make sense to downgrade the cpu to a better core i3 dual core and upgrade the psu to a 550 wattish antec or corsair psu (or another brand that someone will vouch for)

 

[PP Mguire]

My sister plays some will probably will be playing some no very intense games, but she also plays Minecraft. This is a home office computer mainly as she works from home, but when you have kids then they want to use it too...

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card (11192-22-20G)

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Windows 7 Pro for Students Microsoft Store

If there is a better option that is around the same pricing please tell me. You guys have been very helpful, I always get this forums input before I build/upgrade any machine. Right now I am at $823.67 with shipping.

Plan on using the double install technique for the upgrade version of windows 7. Save her $35, and its pro, and dont worry I have a student email... BTW with is the SSD I think we will be going with.

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Added Excel Sheet for full parts list...

if youre doing some amount of actual gaming (minecraft) and need a real gpu then that sort of sets up upgrades for the future to consider. when i was building, it was the intent of integrated graphics only...

if youre going to have a gpu, then it would make sense to downgrade the cpu to a better core i3 dual core and upgrade the psu to a 550 wattish antec or corsair psu (or another brand that someone will vouch for)

Jason beat me to it, plus I'll add that is the bottom of the barrel worst quality Corsair PSU you can buy. The 6670 wont be very good either.

If you get the 840 then you want the 840 pro as the 840 is actually slower than the 830.

Drop the i5 to an i3 3220, get the CX500, and grab a 650 or 650ti.

 

[Dr DMoney]

I only added the 6670 to make the game more playable compared to the integrated graphics. This computer will be 99% work machine, and 1% gaming for a girl who enjoys playing minecraft time to time on a computer that currently gets no higher than 25 FPS . A 650 would be great, but really unnecessary expense.

Would it be able to drive a 6670 with the Antec EarthWatts 380w?

As for the 830/840/840 pro debate, the cost of the 840 is out of her reach. If it were my computer I would need the 840 pro. I went with the 840 over the 830 due to price.

I talked to my folks, and they plan to buy all the parts cyber monday to try to get the best deal. Wish they would have told me that before as everything could change...