A strange build...

[collettnj]

Hi all, I've been asked to build a computer for my parents, who would be using it predominantly for word processing/internet browsing/looking at digital photos etc.

That's all very normal, only i've just finished an i7 build, so have an E8500, GA-P45-DS5, 4GB OCZ Reaper memory available, so was planning to use that in the build.

Given the above, there's a disproportionality between those three components and the rest of the PC - could you give me some recommendations for:

Graphics card (considering that there really won't be any gaming going on here, although I guess it'd be nice to have something mildly capable incase anything else would need it)

PSU (modular of course, possibly a corsair HX425?)

HDD (Samsung F1?)

Case

CPU cooler

19" monitor

....please?

I'm looking for as discreet and quiet a build as possible here, and looking to spend as little as I can! Maybe £300 for the rest of the required components? If it can get any less than that, i'd be very happy!

Thanks!


--

Just as an aside - if they should see this, many thanks to laywill, Pob255, kungpo, nightkhaos and nibbler for their help on my i7 Upgrade thread - your help is much appreciated I thought I'd post that here rather than bumping that thread, which is on the 2nd page now!

[Yosh]

Novatech Ion Fusion for £205

Sell your bits and pocket the cash for beer? Sound good?

[collettnj]

Heh...only issue is, they want me to build it so that I can get there and repair it if anything goes wrong - I know that in theory that'd be possible with a pre-built system, and it'd probably have some kind of warranty and all that, but I think it might even encourage them to use it a bit more - they are a little...nervous...when it comes to computer use

[Yosh]

Heh...only issue is, they want me to build it so that I can get there and repair it if anything goes wrong - I know that in theory that'd be possible with a pre-built system, and it'd probably have some kind of warranty and all that, but I think it might even encourage them to use it a bit more - they are a little...nervous...when it comes to computer use

As i've recommended to people in the past when buying cheap ass laptops, keep it, use it and sell it after its initial warranty period.

A) You can upgrade the next time
B) Your always covered by warranty

[collettnj]

A) You can upgrade the next time
B) Your always covered by warranty

That's good thinking, though this is a system that ideally we wouldn't want to tamper with for as long as possible. They are both retired, and wouldn't want the hassle of having to replace it etc. If it was for me, I'd be going your way!

On a side note, how much do you think I'd get for the CPU + mobo + ram? It might be worth selling that I guess.

[Pob255]

PSU = non-modular, ok excess cables to hide away but this case is not going to be opened up and tinkered with much so it's not that big an issue and it'll be cheaper.
CX400W Corsair £38.41
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400W-...-year-warranty

Hard drive 320gb, lets face it they are not going to be filling it up with movies or games.
320 GB Samsung HD322HJ Spinpoint F1 £33.89
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/320-G...MB-Cache-89-ms

Graphics card, almost anything will do
4550 Sapphire, passive, d-sub+dvi+hdmi for a wide range of conectivity £32.88
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB...-D-Sub-S-Video

Case, midATX, cheap but decent
Akasa Zen £34.37
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Akasa...-(NEW-Version)

Now personally I'd go for a 19" 4:3 non-wide screen monitor, now it does depend on the age and eyesight of your parents.
The reason is that the dpi is relatively low and the height is good, to get the same physical height of monitor on a wide screen monitor you'd have to go up to a 24"
The down side is that 4:3 new are currently a bit pricey
19" iiyama PLP1904S-B1 £149.49
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/19-ii...-Speakers-VESA

However a 2nd hand one off Fleabay should be under £100
eg this Samsung SyncMaster 940N currently at £22.50 + £6.99
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Samsung-SyncMa...d=p3286.c0.m14

EDIT: Before I forget
Cooler
Supercheap Akasa AK-965x3 £12.94
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Akasa...Intel-push-pin
Still cheap, 120mm fan so should be more quiet, Akasa Nero AK-967 £24.13
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Akasa...-120mm-PWM-fan

DVDr/w probably needed as well
LG £16.99
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/LG-GH...SATA-Black-OEM

[collettnj]

You're a genious Pob thankyou - how do you think the ACER perform? It's quite a bit cheaper.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/19-Ac...-m-100001-VESA

The components look great..would the cooling on that Zen need upgrading (new fans?) for quieter/cooler running?


EDIT: I actually have a 4:3 19" Viewsonic, but something is clearly wrong with it, as it's started to cause my mic to buzz unbearably for mates on skype - I assume some shielding of some sort has failed. I'm not using it atm, as I'm not really sure what's wrong with it!

[Pob255]

Should be ok but only 250cd/m² so not as bright.

Misco sell a HannsG 19" 4:3 £106.94+P&P
http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/...0722&CatId=917
HannsG is a cheap brand but a good cheap brand.

Ebuyer have got the glass fronted Ilyama 19" for £146.45
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161543
Glass fronted are very good is places where the screen could be damaged by thing like being poked (we're slowly swapping over to glass fronted monitors at the school I work at, far harder for the "little darlings" to damage)

How old is the viewsonic? all monitors have 3 year warranty (it's been standard for some time now) although you will probably need a copy of the original receipt to prove the age.

[collettnj]

How old is the viewsonic? all monitors have 3 year warranty (it's been standard for some time now) although you will probably need a copy of the original receipt to prove the age.

Getting on for four years i'm afraid, so it'll be well out of warranty by now.

There's also an aesthetics issue; they have been using a small (but ancient and dreadfully slow, as in, turn on, leave the room, make some coffee, drink it, return to computer and it's at the desktop with the hourglass still spinning) toshiba laptop at the moment, so a monitor might come as a shock (initially, but they'd get used to it i'm sure) in their living room. They haven't complained about the 15" screen on their lappy yet, so I'd guess a widescreen 19", though wider, might be a better choice given the lesser height compared to a 4:3 from a 'footprint in the living room' sort of perspective.

The the widescreen version of that acer 19" is a bit cheaper too, which is a plus. I really can't forsee any particular risk of it getting damaged - they know not to poke the screen, and it'll be quite a way back on the desk, so should be fairly safe

[UseItNow]

I would say if it's for general usage such as browsing and the like why not go for something with on-board graphics? You could as you say sell your components and go down the AMD route.

[Pob255]

Some pictures of the Zen here
http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...D=5994&imgID=1
it's an older design but solid enough, decent build quality and the cooling should be more than good enough.
Not like it's going to be doing anything very taxing or have the added heatout put of a gameing graphics card to shift.

The people saying sell what you have and buy an AMD motherboard and cpu do also have a good point, esp as you could then get a mATX motherboard and a smaller case.
But it would depend on how much you can get for your current bits.

Or maybe you could find someone willing to swap that p45 motherboard for a g41
or sell the p45 and buy a g41 as they cost under £50 or a g31 as they cost £35ish

[collettnj]

I would say if it's for general usage such as browsing and the like why not go for something with on-board graphics? You could as you say sell your components and go down the AMD route.

On board graphics would serve them fine i'd guess yeah, and I might make a fair amount selling my components!

Some pictures of the Zen here
http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...D=5994&imgID=1
it's an older design but solid enough, decent build quality and the cooling should be more than good enough.

Thanks for the link - that's just what I was after. The case looks great - I'll probably go for that one if the build goes ahead with the E8500 hardware.

They've asked me to postpone it for a while, probably not too long, so I've got a bit of time to think about what i'm gunna do

[nibbler]

I would say why cost teh earth? Make use of what you have. Get a cheap motherboard from reputable company and get something like a 4650 just to make sure things are catered for.
BTW, you're very welcome for help, didn't know I was being helpful at all
Good to hear the build is up and running, maybe upload rig info?

[collettnj]

I would say why cost teh earth?

It's looking like well under £300 for the new components + monitor + mouse and keyboard, so I'm happy enough

Good to hear the build is up and running, maybe upload rig info?

I'll do that when I'm sure i've got it up and running at a stable overclock I'm posting on it now though which is a good start!

[kungpo]

Go for a simple build.

Case + PSU = Antec NSK4480 (£62.70):

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159625

HDD = WD AAKS (£33.47):

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/320-G...MB-Cache-89-ms

GPU = NVidia 9600GT (£59.75):

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/512MB...-DL-DVI-I-HDTV

Monitor = Viewsonic VA2226W (£111.98):

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/22-Vi...680x1050-20001

Total: £267.90 + Delivery.

I have used the Antec cases with PSU several tiems and all work well. GPU is open to debate as is the monitor. LG and Samsung make great screens and there isn't a great price difference between 19" Wide and 22" wide and your parents will appreciate the larger size.

[Syllopsium]

Cooler : Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro. Cheap. Effective. Quiet.

Is it really worth using a modular PSU? Yes, it's easier to work with, but frankly it's your parents PC which is likely never to change other than perhaps a hard drive replacement every few years.

I presume you've budgeted for some nice cheap fans?

PK