New office build.

[mycarsavw]

It's been a while since I've built so here goes nothing.

I'm currently using an old off the shelf HP (DC5100MT - 3.4GHz P4, 2Gb RAM, XP Pro) which when faced with anything mildly intensive (a youtube video, a flash website, Scan's site, etc) chokes and dies.

I need to keep various programs and applications running constantly (postgresql, a java based software program, office 2k7, etc) as well as 6+ Firefox tabs open to monitor various things.

I wont be playing any games now or in the future and I have no desire to make it look shiny and special.

Most of the prebuilt PCs I've looked at (HP/Dell) have 2Gb RAM and a lot of other useless crap I don't want and/or will never use. So, taking a few hints from CTF's threads of win, I've cobbled together the following;

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 - £25
PSU: CMPSU-430CX - £30
Mobo: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 - £41
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 460 - £57
RAM: XMS3 8GB DDR3 - £30
HDD: Anything around the £50 mark that's in stock when I come to order.
ODD: Lite On DVD Writer IHAS124B - £13
OS: Win7 64bit Pro - £90

I have cables, fans, etc already.

Comes to about £336 (exc). If I can keep it under £350 I'll be a happy chappy. Am I on the right track?

Ta!

[Arthran]

I would call that perfect for an office machine!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Any reason for Windows 7 Pro?? Is it for the XP mode??

[kalniel]

Any reason for Windows 7 Pro?? Is it for the XP mode??

Windows domain and network backup are useful features. Maybe some extra remote stuff? Can't remember.

[mycarsavw]

Any reason for Windows 7 Pro?? Is it for the XP mode??

I have one piece of software that is either not going to work with 7 or 64bit, I couldn't remember which it was though, so opted for Pro in the hope it's not 7 friendly - this may change though.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I have one piece of software that is either not going to work with 7 or 64bit, I couldn't remember which it was though, so opted for Pro in the hope it's not 7 friendly - this may change though.

Get Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit?? It might be worth looking at the software again as you could save you around £30 with a cheaper Windows 7 version. It would mean you could get a faster CPU like a Phenom II X6 1045T,A8-3870K or a Core i3 2100,or have a cheaper build.

BTW,I would get this PSU:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-...v-fan-atx-v231

[DannyM]

http://www.ebuyer.com/339477-zoostorm-desktop-7873-1055

I'd probably get a better PSU tho and you'd need the OS.

EDIT: Just realised it is OOS at the moment but there expecting stock.

[mycarsavw]

Get Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit?? It might be worth looking at the software again as you could save you around £30 with a cheaper Windows 7 version. It would mean you could get a faster CPU like a Phenom II X6 1045T,A8-3870K or a Core i3 2100,or have a cheaper build.

BTW,I would get this PSU:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-...v-fan-atx-v231

As soon as I know which way the software is going, I'll be able to adjust accordingly. I'm hoping it's 64bit & 7 compatible.

In an office environment, what difference will the Phenom II/i3 make over what I've picked?

I'll look at the PSU too, thanks.

http://www.ebuyer.com/339477-zoostorm-desktop-7873-1055

I'd probably get a better PSU tho and you'd need the OS.

EDIT: Just realised it is OOS at the moment but there expecting stock.

Not heard much (anything) about Zoostorm, but I'll have a look, cheers.

[Pob255]

Zoostorm are fairly new to the OEM market, mainly focused on educational but now expanding into more mainstream, they are not too bad and they do nice OS free cheaper options.
Although the PSU's are not very good quality, I cannot remember the OEM for the psu but they are reported to be a bit noisey and it's one area where many OEM's skimp

For your proposed build the cx430w would be plenty unless you plan on sticking a gpu in there for the odd bit of gaming when no ones looking
As an alternative to the cx430w I'd look at the bequiet 350w 80+ Gold http://www.scan.co.uk/products/350w-...t-fan-atx-v231

AthlonII x3 should be plenty for office use, might be worth considering one of the FM1 socket cpu's instead. (and motherboard of course)

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The XFX 450W is only £3 more than the CX430W. Its well worth the extra IMHO!

Other alternatives include the GX 450W if you can get one for around £30:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-...t-fan-atx-v231

The Antec VP350 is also OK as long as it is under £30.

[mycarsavw]

Right, the software is both 7 and 64bit compatible (altho it installs as 32bit) so I can rule out needing W7Pro. I backup using Karen's Backup, I'm not using AD and I don't RDC so I don't think I need W7Pro at all.

Pob, I had a quick look at Llano CPUs (APU?) using PassMark charts and the equivalent seems to be the A6-3500 - £53
Motherboard, no idea. Asus F1A55-M LE fits the bill on a similar price and A55 looks like ass which made me smile

[mycarsavw]

Danny's Zoostorm + Cat's PSU + W7HP license (OEM due to purchasing a PSU) = £260 exc.

The E5800 seems a lot less capable than the Athlon although both are obviously far more capable than my current P4. The only thing I'd like to know more about is the mobo. I'm also not convinced about the brand.

Revising my first build to include all the tweaks;

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 - £25
PSU: XFX P1-450S-U2B9 - £33
Mobo: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 - £41
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 460 - £57
RAM: XMS3 8GB DDR3 - £30
HDD: Anything around the £50 mark that's in stock when I come to order.
ODD: Lite On DVD Writer IHAS124B - £13
OS: Win7 64bit HP - £60

Comes to about £309 (exc).

Is it worth the extra £50 over the Zoostorm?

[DannyM]

If moneh isnt a problem then get the custom build. eBuyer reviews on other zoostorm systems are fairly good.

[scaryjim]

The E5x00 are a fantastic range of budget CPUs, tbh. I've got the E5300 overclocked to 3.0GHz and it's more than plenty for office type tasks - don't forget that the lower end Core 2 Duos started out with only 2MB of cache, or less! For your needs it should be plenty, and 8GB of RAM will help the system fly along.

As you say, the only real question about that zoostorm is what motherboard/chipset it uses. But tbh on an OEM board I'd expect something reasonably reliable, and if you decide the graphics are too poor you could stick in an entry level graphics card for £20ish and still have saved plenty of money...

[Pob255]

However being an oem and low cost I've much doubt it'll have any overclocking options.
It's probably a G41 chipset

But at the same time a 2.5ghz pentium dual core is currently fine for office work & web browsing.

Flash is the current curse of web browsing, my work pc, an aging athlon xp 2400+ & 6200 AGP can cope fine, until it hits something flash heavy.
It struggles with 720p youtube.
At the same time our Pentium Dual-Core E2220 + G41 copes with youtube 720p fine

As it currently stands I'd buy this as it is http://www.ebuyer.com/339477-zoostorm-desktop-7873-1055 and test it out first, then see what might need to be changed to improve it.

[scaryjim]

However being an oem and low cost I've much doubt it'll have any overclocking options.

True, but the E5800 runs at 3.2GHz stock, so faster than my OC'd 5300 (although at a lower FSB of course). But yeah, at £190 for a full system, with 8GB and a HDD (which are still stupid expensive, of course), I don't see why you wouldn't go for it then upgrade piecemeal if you find anything's not got enough oomph for you