Tom's Hardware > Forum > Opinions and Experiences > Products > I want to build a high performance non gaming computer

I want to build a high performance non gaming computer

Forum Opinions and Experiences : Products I want to build a high performance non gaming computer

Hello,I would like to build a high performance non gaming pc that can be updated in the future. Mostly E-mail, surfing the internet, recording and watching movies, and research. Price range is $500.00-$600.00. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to piperdog

Ok well lets put it this way, a "gaming" computer usually just has a high end GPU for the graphics. Since you want to record and watch movies, lets say in 1080, then you want at least a midrange GPU $100~. As for a CPU a sandy bridge core i5, and 4-8gb ram, depending on use.

What do you plan on using the "high performance" for? The difference I can think of would be the CPU's being AMD opteron or Intel Xeon, compared to Intel Core series and AMD bulldozer/phenom.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to shardey

Intel Core i5 2400k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115074
Asrock EXTREME3 GEN 3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157271
Corsair Vengeance ram 8 gigs 4x2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145345
Seagate Barracuda 500 gig HDD Sata III
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148767
NZXT Source 210 Elite Black Steel Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146078
Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118067
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W Power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139027

You don't need a discreate graphics card with the sandy bridge cpu's and the z68 chipset the onboard video from the i5 should suffice and if I'm not mistaken can handle hd content blu ray's etc., however, you have room to do things with it. You can add a extra video card two actually if you wanted SLI/Crossfire. Ram could be upgraded to 32GB if you felt like it. It's future proof to the new ivy bridge cpu and pci-e 3.0. Kind of a bare system and you may already have some of the components listed that you can move over.
Total: Depending on where you are in Southern California its
$627.34 w/ tax+shipping.

Also, if you need windows you can pick that up through newegg oem. Don't buy retail kind of a waste in my opinion.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by bigshootr8 on 01-09-2012 at 01:06:20 AM

Reply to bigshootr8

shardey wrote :

Thanks so much for the info. I was leaning toward the i5 and ram but wanted some input. Think I will go with i5. Thanks!

Reply to piperdog

bigshootr8 wrote :

piper sounds like he wants just a general use computer. Also, I agree on the core i5 suggestion. I'm going to take a shot at a cheap 500-600 dollar machine this doesn't include mouse, keyboard, speakers, monitor.

Intel Core i5 2400k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115074
Asrock EXTREME3 GEN 3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157271
Corsair Vengeance ram 8 gigs 4x2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145345
Seagate Barracuda 500 gig HDD Sata III
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148767
NZXT Source 210 Elite Black Steel Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146078
Sony Optiarc 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118067
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W Power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139027

You don't need a discreate graphics card with the sandy bridge cpu's and the z68 chipset the onboard video from the i5 should suffice and if I'm not mistaken can handle hd content blu ray's etc., however, you have room to do things with it. You can add a extra video card two actually if you wanted SLI/Crossfire. Ram could be upgraded to 32GB if you felt like it. It's future proof to the new ivy bridge cpu and pci-e 3.0. Kind of a bare system and you may already have some of the components listed that you can move over.
Total: Depending on where you are in Southern California its
$627.34 w/ tax+shipping.

Also, if you need windows you can pick that up through newegg oem. Don't buy retail kind of a waste in my opinion.

You hit the nail on the head! Thanks! I just wanted to build a general use computer but also make sure it can handle pretty much anything I wanted to do (excluding gaming) and will have the option of future updates and room for adding more devices if needed. Thanks again to you both! (shardey and bigshootr8)

Reply to piperdog

piperdog wrote :

I would also consider the new i5 2550K processor. About $225 and officially over-clockable with a $25 replacement from Intel-(1-time only). I'd also get the most RAM I could in the budget and a midrange 1Gb video card (no onboard video from intel).

Reply to Wizwill