APU and motherboard

[Sandor]

Hello,

 I'm new to the forum and search gave me no reply, so Im making this topic in order to get some useful information for an upcoming build.

I'm looking into building a small form factor PC,possibly based on APU. Its not for gaming, just regular day-to-day usage(Internet, Outlook, HD Films etc).

System should be fast and quiet, but as I said no gaming intended. I haven't decided yet witch form factor to go -  iTX or mATX.

Im currently searching for a suitable APU/motherboard, but my experience with AMD is close to zero.
IF you guys could advise me regarding the APU and Motherboard combo, that would be great! Also any other suggestion is taken into a consideration.

 

*Case should fit between 50-70€.

*No graphics card needed.
*SSD 256GB(can also be 2x120GB RAID 0, but simplicity is valued over price)

*No HDD needed.
*RAM 8 or 16GB?
* System should run on Windows 7(I hate Win8)
Total budget is 600-700€, but cheaper is better

 

 

I have looked at  AMD® Kaveri APU A10 7700K Processor (4M Cache, up to 3.80 GHz). Is this up to the task?

Cheers and Thanks,
Sandor from Estonia

[N7_Zer0]

7700K is more than enough for you. In fact, I'd get the A8-7600 instead. It has a configurable TDP (45W and 65W) and is cheaper. 8GB of RAM is good enough, you won't even come close to utilizing all of it. I'd go ITX with an A88X board and  maybe a Corsair Obsidian 250D case. A single 256GB SSD would be fine. I would not bother with RAID-0 SSD as you won't notice any difference with what you plan on doing with your PC.

[Jaybird]

+1 for that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Sandor]

Thanks for the quick replys. I have small issue.. I can't find 250D in Estonia. Same goes with A8-7600.
Is there any other variations that will work aswell? Case is not that big of an issue. I have zero experience with AMD or APU's.
Also I have a question about PSU. What wattage should I look for? Whats the minimum reccomended wattage for this kind of a setup?

[N7_Zer0]

The A8-7600 is not released yet in most locations. The A10-7700K isn't a bad choice, just overpowered for what you're doing and draws more power. It can handle some minor gaming too if you wanted to.

 

Your system won't draw more than 100W during load. I'd get a quality 350W or 450W in case you want to add a discreet gpu later. (eg. Corsair, Seasonic, Silverstone, etc.).

[danejesse1]

Here is a build.  I made it using the US Pcpartpicker since I don't know where you will be getting your parts from.

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2O2Fl
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2O2Fl/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2O2Fl/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD A10-6790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($109.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A88XM-D3H Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory  ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial M500 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk  ($124.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($39.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($19.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit)  ($91.48 @ OutletPC)
Total: $531.42
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-02-05 21:01 EST-0500)

 

 

Methodology :

CPU - You don't need the performance of a A10 7700K, so I put in a A10 6790K, which is still pretty good

Mobo - It has a FM2+ socket an has the A88X chipset

Ram - 8 gb is the sweet spot and APU's use the system ram for the gpu part, so the faster the better (if it isn't overpriced)

Storage - Wallet friendly highly reviewed SSD

Case  - It is a matx case and from fractal design

PSU - From a good company (Corsair) an is relatively cheap (in the U.S.)

OS - You dont like windows 8

 

Any questions feel free to ask!

[Sandor]

Thanks again for the replys.
As I live in Estonia, the availability and price is quite different to the North America, so Im gonna list the prices in Euros as a reference.

The system will be wallmounted and superstealthy so what to think about these thin "console" like cases? Some of them come with integrated 150w PSU, but I don't really trust noname PSU to handle my 500+€ components.

Do they have enough space for regular size power supply? Also is there enough space for a aftermarket CPU cooler, like Noctua NH-L9a(45€)?

 
If the slim case doesn't match the criteria, then Im thinking of going with SilverStone Sugo SG06(45€)

Motherboard selection is currently Gigabyte F2A88XM-DS2(84€)

 

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit 90€

 

Regarding RAM, I currently have a 3x4GB DDR3 in my current PC that I will be moving to my office, and because RAM prices are still stupid(39€ for 1stick of 4GB RAM), Im thinking of cannibalizing 1x4GB from my current setup and buying another stick of 4GB RAM and it should be good to go.

 

Samsung 840 EVO Series 250GB SSD 159€
         or
ISS Intel ® SSD 530 series 180GB 133€(campaign price)

250GB is the bare minimum, but should I prefer the legendary Intel reliability over Samsung?

Prefered PSU should definitely be modular. The cheapest modular PSU I can find is Corsair CX Series™ Modular CX430M - 430 Watt 80 PLUS® Bronze Certified 46€

 

I also have a strange feeling, that I'm forgetting something.

Thanks,
Sandor

[N7_Zer0]

Just a note, the Noctua NH-L9a cooler is not fully compatible with the F2A88XN-WIFI, it blocks one of the DIMM slots. I have the same setup. BTW, you wrote "Gigabyte F2A88XM-DS2" above but the picture is for the F2A88XN-WIFI. DS2 is an mATX board, the other is an mITX.

[Sandor]

Just a note, the Noctua NH-L9a cooler is not fully compatible with the F2A88XN-WIFI, it blocks one of the DIMM slots. I have the same setup. BTW, you wrote "Gigabyte F2A88XM-DS2" above but the picture is for the F2A88XN-WIFI. DS2 is an mATX board, the other is an mITX.

Thanks man, that is exactly why I'm here. I should check this with the retailer. The picture is from their product labled Gigabyte F2A88XM-DS2, but the box in the picture says differently.

Can you reccomend me any other low profile coolers that will work with the F2A88XN-WIFI? Im not after overclocks, but quietness, and the stock cooler will not suffice my needs.

 

And still the question about the slim "console" like cases is in my mind.

Cheers,

S