PC for my Grandma

[Requisition]

PC for my Grandma

Hey guys,

My grandpa wants to replace my grandma's PC, so instead of paying too much for lackluster hardware, I convinced him to let me build it. I wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions yourself. I'm merely looking for a most bang for your buck system, that can handle generally web browsing and emailing. After many revisions, here is the build I'm currently looking at:

AMD

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1JzuO

CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 750K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($79.98 @ Outlet PC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A85XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($62.99 @ NCIX US)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($30.83 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $311.77

Intel

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1JyWY

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($52.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (1 × 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($34.45 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5450 1GB Video Card ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $315.38

I welcome all of your thoughts on the matter and am open to changing anything. I can't seem to get people to agree whether it's best to go Haswell or APU. After much reading I decided a dedicated graphics card would be necessary in the Intel build, but I'm still leaning towards it. Also, my grandpa is footing the bill and isn't concerned about cost, but I'd like to keep it on the cheap side. Above all else though, I want this to be the last system she ever has to buy. Let me know your thoughts, not use to building in the low end like this.

[misace]

Good choice. But HD 5450 is on par with integrated Haswell Graphics. Crucial is the best memory producer, but always use dual channel.
You can consider using this mobo: gigabyte-ga-h81m-hd3-intel-h81 http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4674#ov

[misace]

Athlon X4 doesn´t have integrated VGA. So you should use AMD CPU with integrated graphics (A8, A10,..)

[Requisition]

Something like this?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1JAol

CPU: Intel Pentium G3220 3.0GHz Dual-Core Processor ($69.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($52.99 @ Microcenter)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($33.81 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GT 610 1GB Video Card ($34.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $329.73

The exact motherboard wasn't on PartPicker for the list here. Any particular reason you recommend that one? And would this GT 610 be a better choice?

[Requisition]

[misace]

If you want to play 3D games you should buy powerfull graphics. If you want to play videos, integrated graphics will be sufficient. Moreover GT 610 isn´t much better.

[Requisition]

For this processor I'm not so sure. The G3220 simply has a Intel HD GPU, not even a HD 2000. It also lacks any features at all: http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-033757.htm

QuickSync is also unsupported: http://ark.intel.com/products/77773/

My main concern is playing 1080p video and streaming skype calls.

[misace]

OK, most of these feature are "video playing" related, but CPU itself has enough power to play full HD videos with high bitrate. Or instead of dedicated VGA you can buy Core i3.

[Requisition]

With video playback being equal, do you have a preference for the Haswell or APU?

[misace]

Maybe I would prefer Hasswell, it could save some energy over time. But AMD has more 3D performance if needed.

[Requisition]

Yeah, I think AMD may have won me in full at this point.

Critiques of this build?

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1JBox

CPU: AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($74.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $392.93

[misace]

I think it is OK. I would take these memories, if they´re about the same price: Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1866MHz CL9 BLT2CP4G3D1869DT1TX0CEU.

[Requisition]

What do you think of G.SKILL Sniper Series? I'm digging the reviews on it.

EDIT: CORSAIR Vengeance looks nice too =D

EDIT2: Oh baby baby

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($74.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($37.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $367.93

EDIT3:

I was explained how pointless it was to run 1866 RAM if I had no intention of overclocking it. So I'm thinking G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory might be the way to go.

Also, something to think about AMD 3-in-1 APU with 8GB MEM SuperCombo.

AMD 6600k Richland 3.9 Quad-Core APU with Radeon HD 8570 + ASRock FM2 A75 MOBO + AMD Radeon 8GB MEM + SimCity Game

EDITx4: Oh wow, it just keeps getting better.

What do you think of this Newegg system?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1444758

EDITxFINAL: Well, I've decided to go with the 6600k build. With shipping and whatnot, it comes in at just under $400 in total. I'll likely not put the order in until tomorrow, so feel free to try and sway me if you think you've got a better option. =D

[Requisition]

Hey guys, someone hooked me up with two builds based on the APU deals Newegg is having(still having a touch time deciding though =P):

Start quote:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-6600K 3.9GHz Quad-Core Processor ($0.00)
Motherboard: ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($0.00)
Memory: AMD 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($0.00)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($30.00)
Other: APU combo http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1433574 ($225.00)
Total: $354.98
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-01 15:00 EDT-0400)

Using the 3-in-1 APU Combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1433574

The 6600k would be nominally faster than a 5600k, but probably not enough to notice, especially for your granny

the Pro4 is a nice motherboard, supports overclocking (probably not necessary) and has 4 RAM slots

RAM, not much to say

I would stick with the v300. It's twice as large as the M4 for only $10 more. I would say 120GB is probably large enough on its own, but if you went with only 60GB I'd probably suggest throwing in a HDD too.

I changed the PSU because the CX430m you had is $53 on amazon, not the $43 that it says. The EVGA 500w is the cheapest decent quality PSU available ATM. Buy from newegg. You could stick with the cx430m if you really want modularity.

You could get it a little cheaper going with this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD A8-5600K 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 Micro ATX FM2 Motherboard ($56.00 @ Amazon)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Cougar Spike MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Other: 13/10/7 Team 2x4 8GB 1600 RAM w/ promocode: EMCWXXW43 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313344&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL100113A&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL100113A-_-EMC-100113A-Index-_-DesktopMemory-_-20313344-L012A ($59.00)
Total: $334.96
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-10-01 15:07 EDT-0400)

Using the AMD 5800k Trinity machine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1444758

Like I said, the 5600k is only nominally slower than the 6600k.

Cheap basic A75 mobo, only 2 RAM slots.

Cheap 1600 RAM, 2 sticks rather than 1 in the build above. Dual channel RAM will give better graphics performance.

The rest is the same.

End quote.

[debs3759]

If the computer will mainly be used for internet, office apps and movies I would recommend only 4 GB memory, any more will be overkill. Also, you don't need faster than 1333 MHz RAM. I use a Llano A8-3870 with 4GB for everyday use (non gaming) and it is more than adequate.