Recommended Builds by Usage

Recommended Builds by Usage
Last Updated on Feb 8, 2010

This thread is to provide a few "pre-built" options for those looking to build or upgrade based on usage, not including monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers or OS. I have defined the usage guidelines using information provided to me by sKora in his Index of "If sKora had..." topics thread under the "sKora's system design guide beta v0.1" section... Thanks sKora for providing me this information.

• Bargain - Just a box that turns on and runs programs. This is older 2nd and 3rd gen tech and is built as a one and done. Very few parts can or should be carried over to a future build after a bargain build has exhausted its useful life.
• Budget - Maximize the price/performance ratio and have some upgrade path. Budget builders have high enough standards to spend extra on quality parts that offer resonable returns. Its current tech after but usually baby brother versions of the high end options. They also will consider upgrade paths and options for future builds with what is bought now.
• Gamer - With Price/Performance in mind, its more about getting great performance and quality and willing to pay some premium for it. Gamers use current tech with high end components, but not elite. The upgrade path is limited here as the initial build generally is near the top of the tech tree. Gamers aren't usually immediate adopters of next gen tech, but willing to do a full platform upgrade when warranted instead of just a component or too.
• Enthusiast - Whats price? Performance at most any level. These are the ones buying multi GPU systems and the most powerful CPUs. Highest quality and the most current tech. Upgrades will happen until something else bright and shiney comes along that can't be stuck in their current system, then its a new build again. This will be the thinnest section from me and would need help from those that actually build/use these systems.
• HTPC - This PC is designed to be used as Home Theater PC for the end user. It is not designed to be a gaming machine but requires some level of graphics power to play movies on a "Big Screen" TV.
• Non-Gamer - This PC is designed for running office programs, internet, music... etc. Basically, a Dell PC... It is similar to my "Bargain" build but requires less video graphics power.

As with all new builds, I highly recommend doing your research before doing any build to determine what your needs are.

I have provided what I find to be useful sites and areas to look for those answers.

• Google - If you cannot find it there... than you probably won't find it anywhere...
• Step-by-Step Guide to Building a PC - This is my thread on how to build a PC step-by-step.
• *How To Ask For New Build Advice* - This is the best thread to review how to ask for advice and is a required format to get the best answers.
• READ before posting about boot problems! - This thread provides very good details on trouble shooting when you have boot issues after your build.
• *Guide to Choosing Parts* - This thread provides a very good guide in choosing parts and provides many important links and ideas.
• Homebuilt PC Buying Guide - This thread provides a good guide in choosing parts for a new build. (Thanks for putting together another list... jbakerlent)
• HOWTO: Overclock C2Q (Quads) and C2D (Duals) - Guide v1.6.1 - This thread provides a very good guide to overclocking on the LGA 775.
• Core i7 Overclocking Guide - This thread provides a very good guide to overclocking on the Core i7 CPU.
• CPU and Heatsink Lapping Guides - This thread provides information on lapping CPU's and Heatsinks to help improve the the thermal transfer between them.
• CPU Buyer's Guide 2.0 - This thread provides good information on the end's & out's on what CPU to buy and related information. (Thanks for the new link... smithereen)
• Ranked PSU list - This is a newer thread that has been created to provide a nice guideline for ranked PSU's by AMP's and Tier Levels.
• FrostyTech - Best Heat Sinks & PC Cooling - The website provides good reviews and rankings on all things heatsinks.
• eXtreme Power Supply Calcuator Lite V2.5 - This site is a very useful site when you are trying to figure out what your power requirements are for your new build, so you get an idea on what PSU waltage you will need.
• AnandTech: - I find this site has very good links to multiple reviews from many different sites you'll see referenced and pretty up-to-date on news.
• techPowerUp! - I find this site has very good links to multiple reviews from many different sites you'll see referenced and pretty up-to-date on news.
• JonnyGuru - The website provides good reivews and rankings on power supplies.
• Mouse Ergonomics Guide from Razer - This is a good guide in providing an understanding the different grip styles for a mouse. (Thanks for the info.... jonsy2k)

All builds take a OS, Speakers, Monitors, Keyboards & a Mouse. I have not included those in the builds in my lists below in the other post, but I have listed a few I would recommend to add to any of my builds. This will add cost above and beyond what I have listed as budgets. Most builds I have helped OP's with over the last few months, normally have these components already, but I did want to give options for those that don't.

Operating System: Updated to include the three major OS still in use by Users (Thanks for the feedback... 4ryan6 & psycho sykes)

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 32-bit for System Builders - OEM
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
• Ubuntu

Monitor:

• Acer X193Wb Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
• ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
• Hanns·G HG-281DPB Black 27.5" 3ms Widescreen LCD HDMI Monitor Built-in Speakers - Retail
• DELL ULTRASHARP 3008WFP 30-inch Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor

Keyboard:

• Logitech 967740-0403 Black USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard - OEM
• Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 - Retail
• Saitek PZ30AU Black 104 Normal Keys 4 Function Keys USB Standard Eclipse Keyboard - Retail
• RAZER Lycosa Black 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard - Retail
• Logitech G19 Black USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard - Retail

Mouse:

• Microsoft D66-00066 Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB or PS/2 Wired Optical Mouse - OEM
• RAZER DeathAdder RZ01-00150100-R3M1 Black 5 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Optical High Precision Gaming Mouse - Retail
• GIGABYTE GM-M8000 Black 7 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB Laser 4000 dpi Gaming Mouse - Retail (Recommended by obsidian86)
• Cooler Master Sentinel Advance Gaming Mouse SGM-6000-KLLW1-GP, 8 Button, 5600 DPI, w/ OLED Display (Recommended by obsidian86)
• Logitech G9 Black 9 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB Wired Laser Gaming Mouse - Retail (Recommended by dirtdiver)
• RAZER Mamba Black 7 Buttons USB Laser Gaming Mouse - Dual Mode Wired/Wireless Functionality - Retail

Speakers / Headset:

• Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - OEM
• Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail
• Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 Speaker - Retail
• M-Audio Studiophile BX5a Deluxe 70-watt Bi-amplified Studio Reference Monitors (Recommended by Zinosys)
• Logitech 981-000074 Supra-aural PC Headset 880
• Creative Fatal1ty Professional Series Gaming Headset MKII

Routers: (Recommended by just a nickname)

• TRENDnet TEW-639GR IEEE 802.3/3u/3ab, IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE802.11n 2 Wireless Router - Retail
• D-Link DIR-655 IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE802.11n Draft 2 Xtreme N Gigabit Wireless Router - Retail
• D-Link DGL-4100 10/100/1000Mbps GamerLounge Broadband Gigabit Gaming Router - Retail

Extras:

• 1ST PC CORP. 12" 8-pin EPS extension cable Model CB-8M-8F - Retail - This is normally needed on full size cases to help with the cable management.
• ICY DOCK MB882SP-1S-1B 2.5" to 3.5" SSD & SATA Hard Drive Converter - Black - Retail - This will be required when you purchase a SSD to convert it to a 3.5" drive for your case.
• SpeedFan - Very useful tool to download to monitor temps and control fan speeds.
• CPUID's CPU-Z - Very useful tool to download to monitor system information and speeds.
• CPUID's Hardware Monitor - - Very useful tool to download to monitor temps, fan speeds and voltage.
• Real Temp - CPU Temperature Monitoring - Very useful tool to download to monitor your CPU temps.
• CoreTemp - Very useful tool to download to monitor your CPU temps.
• Prime95 - Most used downloaded software to stress your system to make sure it is stable throughout each process (overclocking... etc.)
• MemTest86+ - Most used downloaded software to test your memory to make sure it is not defective.
• Futuremark's 3DMark Vantage (Vista / Win7) or 3DMark06 (XP) - Most used downloaded benchmark software to be compared against to see how your system ranks with similar parts.

I listed the information provided in Proximon's *Guide to Choosing Parts* on building a PC, since it is very good information and felt it was important to post in my thread, as well.

• Here is a GOOD step-by-step. Really good. If you encounter anything in any other links that contradict this, THIS is the right one. Sadly, no pics: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_T [...] sembly#CPU
• Here is a tutorial with pictures that shows how to put together a cheap PC. All parts are cheap and you should NOT use the PSU they use: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/f [...] s?page=0,1
• This you tube video has some good points, and is done with fairly modern equipment, all new. The case he is using is a micro-ATX case from Antec: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdsUuWlhOvo
• Proximon's method for applying thermal paste to Heatpipe Direct Touch (HDT) coolers such as the Xigmatek or Sunbeam CCTF: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] e-xigmatek
• This is a good ariticle about "Building a PC: Step by Step Guide" using current parts by DriverHeaven... http://www.driverheaven.net/articl [...] 2&pageid=1
• This is a good Tom's Hardware article about how to put a PC together. I would recommend reading through this one, as well: http://www.tomshardware.com/review_print.php?p1=1382

Thanks for taking the time to read through my post and making this a stickie. My goal is to update this once or twice a month as new technology comes out and prices change.

Recommended Builds by Usage - Post Three

Okay... on to more recommended builds and my current builds.

HTPC: $881.90 - Thanks Psycho Sykes and obsidian86 for your feedback

• CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 425 2.7GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor Model ADX425WFGIBOX - Retail
• MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retaill
• RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C7 - Retail
• HSF: Not required
• GPU: XFX HD-567X-YNFC Radeon HD 5670 (Redwood) 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ... - Retail ***
• HDD (OS): SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
• HDD (Storage): SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive ***
• PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ... - Retail
• DVD: LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail
• Case: SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / Steel LC13B-E ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail
• Thermal Compound: Not Required
• Accessories: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC/ClearQAM/NTSC TV Tuner MC-Kit 1183 PCI Interface - Retail

This build will allow you to play music and movies on a 1080 HD TV and light 720P->1080P gaming & DX11 compatabilty...
*** = Option Item: Can be removed to cut cost, if needed, and still maintain an acceptable HTPC performance

Non-Gamer: $397.94 Updated

• CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model ADX620WFGIBOX - Retail
• MOBO: ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
• RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-2GBPK - Retail
• HSF: None Required
• HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
• PSU: Antec Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ... - Retail
• GPU: None Required - This system will use on the onboard video, since graphic power is not a priority.
• DVD: SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
• Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 541 RC-541-SKN1 Black Aluminum bezel, SECC chassis MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case - Retail
• Thermal Compound: What ever comes with the stock cooler

This build will allow you to play games like On-line Poker or lowend Graphics power games. You shoud be able to play Sims with this PC. Don't plan on running any graphic intensive games with this PC, without upgrades


My Current Personal Builds:

My PC

• CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
• MOBO: EVGA E758-TR 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
• RAM: OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600LV6GK - Retail
• HSF: XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
• HDD: Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
• PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
• GPU: 2x EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI ... - Retail
• DVD: SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
• BD-ROM: Sony Optiarc Black 2X BD-ROM SATA Model BR-5100S - OEM
• Case: Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
• Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
• Montior: SOYO Pearl MT-NI-DYLM24E6 Monitor 24" 1900x1200

My Dad's PC - (Originally My Daughter's PC)

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - Retail
• MOBO: MSI P7N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (Recertified through RMA)
• RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P10664GK - Retail
• HSF: Thermaltake V1 Max-Performance CPU Cooler with Massive 110mm Blue LED Full-Range Variable Speed Fan CL-P0401 - Retail
• HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
• PSU: ABS Tagan ITZ Series ITZ900-V2 900W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail (Recertified through RMA)
• GPU: 2x EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
• DVD: SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
• Case: Thermaltake M9 VI1000BWS Black SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
• Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
• Montior: ASUS VH222H Black 21.5" 5ms HDMI Widescreen 16:9 Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor Built in Speakers 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR20000:1) w/ SPDIF out - Retail

My Daughters' PC...

• CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
• MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
• RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
• HSF: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-GP 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long ... - Retail
• HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
• PSU: Antec earthwatts EA430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
• GPU: XFX HD-465X-YAF2 Radeon HD 4650 512MB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
• DVD: Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
• Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
• Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
• Montior: ASUS Hanns·G HW-191APB Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail

If someone has to buy all those parts, chances are they don't have a legal OS to put on there either. Might want to at least put a note in how much it will cost starting with nothing. Check your PMs, i'm sending you out something I typed up a few weeks ago.

I have updated this thread and direction of it to go with "pre-builts" based on usage versus looking at it by socket (775, AM3 or 1366). I've found it to be more useful to look at things the way I've updated it.

If anyone has any feedback I would be greatly appreciate it.

If I find anything on the mouse info... I will sure to add it to my thread.

I liked how you posted your thread & Proximon's, so I benchmarked it for mine, as well...

Good post. Please change "bargin" to "bargain" or you'll have me spelling it that way

This is very nicely done. I'll have to find space in the guide to link this.

Great post. I can definitely see this becoming a sticky. One error I did find was your 'Goggle' section part. I know you said grammar wasn't your strong point but now you are one step closer to becoming a sticky!

My Google spelling has been corrected and I've added a section for my personal builds for those who want to review what I've actually "playing" around with.

^ I'd swap the xigmatek for the Cogage TS, it's better than the TRUE and about the same price as the Xigmatek.

Thanks for the recommendations... I make the changes when I get an extra minute here at work.

I've heard great things about the Cogage TS but where can you pick one up? I couldn't find it on Newegg, which is where I've tried to keep all my parts from, mainly for easy of use on my part.

Not a problem... Enjoy your vacation in B.C. and don't forget to where your sunscreen...

Updated to include the picture of my daughter's PC and a link to sKora's Index of "If sKora had..." topics thread

I could be wrong usually am but shouldn't the ram be lower voltage? I am in the process of picking parts for my wife. I am going X3 with a mb with integrated graphis (no gaming) I was told to shoot for 1.8v on ddr2 with low timings

The only thing that you'll probably have to do with RAM rated at a higher voltage is manually set the RAM speed/timings/voltage in the BIOS to get it to run at its rated settings. That's not really a big deal since it's a good idea to do that anyway.

x3 720 Build substitution for PS & MOBO?

Combo PSU Motherboard $109 AMIR

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16817341016


MSI 770-C45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813130228
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.237091

Jonsy2k, If I could vote yours as best answer, I would. That is awesome and exactly what I was looking for.

haha thanks a lot, it looks like years of random useless emails from Razer paid off(I still love their products of course, just a bit overpriced initially).

Good luck with that. The mods have said that they're limiting the number of stickies to 3 in each section.

So the total cost of the first gamer build is around $1500 with monitor, mouse etc?

Oh, would the budget or bargain builds be able to run games such as COH for example on maximum graphics with good performance? The computer i have now has the worst possible performance with the lowest graphics setting possible.

The x2 545 is support by that MOBO... http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support [...] uctID=3153

The MOBO just down clocks the HT to the supported level without effecting CPU's speed, well that is what Gigabyte's website says.

So the HT is the speed the CPU can talk with the rest of the system components.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HyperTransport
Being HT 1.0, is why the board only has an x16 instead of 2.0 x16? And is the Ram controller seperate from the HT or are they related? I haven't had an AMD chip since my K6-266mhz many moons ago.

CONGRATS Tecmo34 on making Regular!!!

Thanks for the suggestion.... The MOBO takes care of the HT concerns listed by sKora.

Maybe, you will have to find an e-tailer that ships to Australia, your prices will be quite different but his builds are good for the purposes they are for. You should be able to find similar parts but you likely wont be able to keep them in the same budget range.