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[Deleted member 302842]

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[lehtv]

So your budget range is $200 to $800? I'm just going to take that as "$800 max., preferably less".

Mobo Asrock Z68M/USB3 $90
CPU i3-2120 $120
RAM Mushkin 2x4GB 1600 $40
GPU Integrated $0
SSD Crucial M4 64GB $109 or Crucial M4 128GB $197
PSU Corsair CX430 V2 $20 AR

Total $379 to $467 depending on SSD. For the uses you describe, the i3 is certainly fast enough, but if you really want to, you could get an i5-2400 or i5-2500K. 8 years is a long time.

Your 1280x1024 monitor could do with some upgrading. I'd consider a nice 24" 1080p IPS panel or a 27" 1080p TN panel, in the sub $300 range. It'd make the PC more enjoyable and convenient to use... after all, the monitor is what you stare at 99% of the time you're on a PC. For your descibed uses I'd say it's the single most important component.

What is the Antec case that you have?

 

[mfenn]

~500 +/- 300 (tower only) (8 yr lifespan)

Not gonna happen. You can get a good machine that will last you 3-5 years, but 8 is just ridiculous.

Lehtv's build is good though.

 

[Strange Famous]

The 8 year lifespan is unrealistic in and of itself just based on likely part fatigue, but untill parts start giving out I actually dont see a reason why your activities, one's that aren't going to scale up in the future (lots and lots of firefox tabs), would cause your system to be obsolete as quickly as that of an editing PC or gaming PC.

 

[mfenn]

The 8 year lifespan is unrealistic in and of itself just based on likely part fatigue, but untill parts start giving out I actually dont see a reason why your activities, one's that aren't going to scale up in the future (lots and lots of firefox tabs), would cause your system to be obsolete as quickly as that of an editing PC or gaming PC.

Think of a 2003 PC. It probably had 512MB of RAM. Now imagine trying to run Windows 7 on that.

 

[Deleted member 302842]

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[lehtv]

Think of a 2003 PC. It probably had 512MB of RAM. Now imagine trying to run Windows 7 on that.

That machine would be running Windows XP and still perform all the tasks it was meant to. In fact, my parents have got just such a PC, it still works fine, running a relatively fresh install of Win XP. The Pentium 4 and the old hard drive are a bit slow, yes, but it could just about manage all of the intended uses the OP listed, apart from 1080p video.

 

[MrCrispy]

I would recommend a low noise case such as the Fractal Define R3/NZXT H2. There is nothing wrong with an 8 year lifespan IMO - today's hardware running Windows 7 is far above what's actually needed for daily tasks. So it probably won't run Windows 12 (or whatever) in 8 years, it will be hopelessly out of date w.r.t tech, but if you choose good components, it will still be running.

 

[mfenn]

That machine would be running Windows XP and still perform all the tasks it was meant to. In fact, my parents have got just such a PC, it still works fine, running a relatively fresh install of Win XP. The Pentium 4 and the old hard drive are a bit slow, yes, but it could just about manage all of the intended uses the OP listed, apart from 1080p video.

I was thinking of the OP's web browsing in particular. Web pages are getting heavier, not lighter, so I don't think that he'll be able to keep a ton of tabs open and still render fully interactive HTML 6 and Flash 15 pages very well.

 

[mfenn]

exactly what i meant price wise (<800). i can get a bigger monitor for free. i dont actually have the antec case, but i was thinking of a sonata or p180. noise is important to me. around 5 years lifespan is fine.

IMHO the P180 is showing its age at this point. There are better quiet options out there like the Fractal Design R3 and Antec P280. Also important is a quiet HSF like the Scythe Mugen 3.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Think of a 2003 PC. It probably had 512MB of RAM. Now imagine trying to run Windows 7 on that.

um...mine is on a Pentium D 7th stepping (Revision B0)

I HAS 1 GB OF RAMZZZZZZ :awe:

 

[mfenn]

um...mine is on a Pentium D 7th stepping (Revision B0)

I HAS 1 GB OF RAMZZZZZZ :awe:

Yeah but Pentium D's came out in 2005. A 2003 PC is going to have a Northwood or Barton at best.

 

[Deleted member 302842]

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[justinj6]

So your budget range is $200 to $800? I'm just going to take that as "$800 max., preferably less".

Mobo Asrock Z68M/USB3 $90
CPU i3-2120 $120
RAM Mushkin 2x4GB 1600 $40
GPU Integrated $0
SSD Crucial M4 64GB $109 or Crucial M4 128GB $197
PSU Corsair CX430 V2 $20 AR

I'm not getting $20 AR for the PSU. Is there another source?

Thanks

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Yeah but Pentium D's came out in 2005. A 2003 PC is going to have a Northwood or Barton at best.

well my computer is a pos, its slow af and well then

8 year comp = impossible

wait... my moms AMD 2800+ pc D:
its still chugging along, but its soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo slow

 

[lehtv]

@justinj6

It was $20 AR when I wrote that post. At $35 AR from newegg it's still the cheapest good quality option. Same price without any rebate hassle on ncix, only today.

 

[justinj6]

@justinj6

It was $20 AR when I wrote that post. At $35 AR from newegg it's still the cheapest good quality option. Same price without any rebate hassle on ncix, only today.

Thanks. I was looking to score on one of these at that price and that is why I asked.

Cheers

 

[mfenn]

i like that fractal r3 case alot. i was also considering maybe going matx and ssf.

Fractal also has a MicroATX version called the Define Mini if you're interested in going that route.

 

[Deleted member 302842]

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[mfenn]

had no idea processors now include onboard video which should work fine for my needs. i think microcenter has i5/mobo deals, but would that be too much for me?

The i5 2500K plus cheap Z68 mobo like the GA-Z68MA-D2H is not a bad deal if you don't mind being closer to the top end of your budget. You don't need the "K" part, but I think that's the only one with the combo.

 

[Deleted member 302842]

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[lehtv]

There are still cheap brands and quality brands I would say. Though I don't know how much of a gap in reliability there is between them. In any case it's safest to stick with G.Skill, Corsair, Mushkin and a few others but usually you don't need to look further than that. Make sure the RAM you get is 1.5 volt.

 

[sm625]

8 years old is intel 865G with a P4 HT northwood with most likely 512MB of dual channel memory. Such systems are still very functional today for web surfing. Only just recently has youtube become a problem for them, because of flash player bloat. And even then its only 480p youtube that presents a problem.

 

[mfenn]

8 years old is intel 865G with a P4 HT northwood with most likely 512MB of dual channel memory. Such systems are still very functional today for web surfing. Only just recently has youtube become a problem for them, because of flash player bloat. And even then its only 480p youtube that presents a problem.

Uhh, that's most of youtube these days (unless you like really bad quality). Also, that's with only a small number of tabs, the OP is talking about having many open.

 

[Deleted member 302842]

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