Retiring a Dinosaur

[patrickjp93]

Well, it finally happened: my Dad's 11-year-old, 32-bit rig, finally had 1 of its 2 PSUs fail, so now he's going to replace the whole thing with a new 10-year rig. We're recycling the case (Lian Li something or other). I do have 1 problem: I can't convince him he doesn't need a discrete GPU when all he's going to do is watch HD video on 1080p, do office work, listen to music, and web browse...

 

Here are the two $2000 options I've made for him. Which is more future proof (AMD/Intel)? Also, please clearly state he doesn't need a discrete GPU!

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/patrickjp93/saved/gGFXsY

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/patrickjp93/saved/Hh7v6h

 

EDIT: RAID support is a must. He's bringing over 2  500GB Velociraptors from his old build which have striped data he'd like to keep.

[Shd0w2]

Why a 144hz monitor? WHY?EVERY THING ELSE IS horrible.. Making a better build in a seocnd. And why a cooling loop? Everything... so weird

[Coombzy]

If he is only doing the stuff you say then get something like a pentium anniversary or an i3 and a low end GPU like a 750.

[Shd0w2]

If he is only doing the stuff you say then get something like a pentium anniversary or an i3 and a low end GPU like a 750.

Look...at...what he put in the rig.

[patrickjp93]

Why a 144hz monitor? WHY?EVERY THING ELSE IS horrible.. Making a better build in a seocnd. And why a cooling loop? Everything... so weird

Okay, apart from the pretentious "everything else is horrible" which is bullshit, because everything was chosen for lasting performance and versatility, the 144 Hz monitors are decidedly easier on the eyes for reading text, and he''s almost 50 and his eyes are worsening.

 

As per liquid cooling, entropy is the enemy of a lasting chip. Also, he has the quad radiator left over from his old build, so yay water cooling!

[Hans Christian | Teri]

He doesn't need a GPU but needs a custom water cooling loop? That's a first.

[Coombzy]

Okay, apart from the pretentious "everything else is horrible" which is bullshit, because everything was chosen for lasting performance and versatility, the 144 Hz monitors are decidedly easier on the eyes for reading text, and he''s almost 50 and his eyes are worsening.

 

As per liquid cooling, entropy is the enemy of a lasting chip. Also, he has the quad radiator left over from his old build, so yay water cooling!

IPS would make the text and videos clearer vs TN 144hz.

[Shd0w2]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: AMD A10-7850K 3.7GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($169.97 @ Amazon) 

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master GeminII M4 58.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($33.61 @ Amazon) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-F2A55M-S1 Micro ATX FM2+ Motherboard  ($39.38 @ Newegg) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($29.99 @ Newegg) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($52.92 @ Amazon) 

Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($24.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($24.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $375.85

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-12 18:19 EDT-0400

All he will need

You can upgrade the ram if need be,

As well as more storage later.

[RatedBlam]

Shouldn't a 1hz screen be just as good for reading, scrolling text will be a pain but that's all. Books don't refresh at all, and they're still fine to read. Feel free to correct me, if need be

[patrickjp93]

If he is only doing the stuff you say then get something like a pentium anniversary or an i3 and a low end GPU like a 750.

No need for the extra power bill, and IGPU is strong enough while applications like the Excel solver will optimize for more threads as time moves along. Also, as the new instructions become applied, the real performance of the chip will come to shine as time goes on. Remember, this is not a "replace in 4 years" build. It is a 10-year rig.

[Shd0w2]

Okay, apart from the pretentious "everything else is horrible" which is bullshit, because everything was chosen for lasting performance and versatility, the 144 Hz monitors are decidedly easier on the eyes for reading text, and he''s almost 50 and his eyes are worsening.

 

As per liquid cooling, entropy is the enemy of a lasting chip. Also, he has the quad radiator left over from his old build, so yay water cooling!

I do admit,I was being quite rude, but I'm just surprised. I still think a nice IPS would be best,however, with the liquid ocoling, I'd just save that for a different build, or sell it.

[patrickjp93]

IPS would make the text and videos clearer vs TN 144hz.

I've heard heard the opposite actually, especially when scrolling. Hell I think I heard that on Linus' videos.

[patrickjp93]

I do admit,I was being quite rude, but I'm just surprised. I still think a nice IPS would be best,however, with the liquid ocoling, I'd just save that for a different build, or sell it.

It's a leftover rad from his old build (which handled 2 nvidia GPUs and an overclocked CPU as well as the voltage regulators), so we figured we'd re-use it and maximize chip life.

[Coombzy]

No need for the extra power bill, and IGPU is strong enough while applications like the Excel solver will optimize for more threads as time moves along. Also, as the new instructions become applied, the real performance of the chip will come to shine as time goes on. Remember, this is not a "replace in 4 years" build. It is a 10-year rig.

If he is literally just doing the things you have listed it will last 10 years. this whole build is overkill for what he is doing there is no gaming just basic stuff heck a core 2 duo will do all those things.

[Guest]

He doesn't need a discrete GPU. Just get a good power supply so he can add a GPU if he wants later

[nsyedhasan]

Look...at...what he put in the rig.

Yeah...no. All the cringe

 

 

This PC would be a better choice for your dad. If he wants to game, add a GTX 750/Ti.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI B85-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($79.49 @ Amazon) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($68.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($219.00 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Newegg) 

Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer  ($59.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: AOC i2367Fh 60Hz 23.0" Monitor  ($148.62 @ TigerDirect) 

Total: $801.05

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-12 18:23 EDT-0400

[patrickjp93]

Shouldn't a 1hz screen be just as good for reading, scrolling text will be a pain but that's all. Books don't refresh at all, and they're still fine to read. Feel free to correct me, if need be

Remember old people's eyes become more sensitive to abuse of slow refresh rates. Even at 60 on his old BenQ he can't sit and look at spreadsheets as long anymore, and brightness beyond 250c/d won't help as much as the jump from 175 he'll be making. Also, he reads LONG reinsurance claims and legal documents. The scrolling needs to be seamless.

[xrex64]

 

Yeah...no. All the cringe

 

 

This PC would be a better choice for your dad. If he wants to game, add a GTX 750/Ti.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($179.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI B85-G41 PC Mate ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($79.49 @ Amazon) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($68.99 @ Amazon) 

Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($219.00 @ Amazon) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($44.99 @ Newegg) 

Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer  ($59.98 @ OutletPC) 

Monitor: AOC i2367Fh 60Hz 23.0" Monitor  ($148.62 @ TigerDirect) 

Total: $801.05

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-06-12 18:23 EDT-0400

 

Overkill...

[RatedBlam]

Remember old people's eyes become more sensitive to abuse of slow refresh rates. Even at 60 on his old BenQ he can't sit and look at spreadsheets as long anymore, and brightness beyond 250c/d won't help as much as the jump from 175 he'll be making. Also, he reads LONG reinsurance claims and legal documents. The scrolling needs to be seamless.

Sure, I'm not discrediting I'm just wondering, maybe it has something to do with the backlight. My self, I feel like a not refreshing screen would be best, but its not optimal for a monitor

[xrex64]

Remember old people's eyes become more sensitive to abuse of slow refresh rates. Even at 60 on his old BenQ he can't sit and look at spreadsheets as long anymore, and brightness beyond 250c/d won't help as much as the jump from 175 he'll be making. Also, he reads LONG reinsurance claims and legal documents. The scrolling needs to be seamless.

Get a good monitor and a cheaper build.

 

No need for trying to make it last 10 years. You can get a new one every 3-5 with up to date tech and still have it cost less. There's also a chance that something could break in this long-lasting build. 

[patrickjp93]

I suppose the other point I should mention is he likes building the 92+ percentile now so it's still in the 60s when it retires (we've gotten a good $300 offer for everything but the cooling in his old build).

 

He does run Excel's solvers on very large data sets, so the performance needs to be there.

[patrickjp93]

Get a good monitor and a cheaper build.

 

No need for trying to make it last 10 years. You can get a new one every 3-5 with up to date tech and still have it cost less. There's also a chance that something could break in this long-lasting build. 

Doubtful. There's far less moving parts than were in his dinosaur, and that thing ran hot. He had 4 overclocked sticks of RAM, 2 overclocked nvidia GPUs, and overclocked quad core 32 bit which ran hotter than any other chip that year, and all the parts except the 1st of 2 power supplies still work.

 

With this, considering nothing will be overclocked except the CPU, and everything is military grade, it's not breaking.

 

With regards to better tech, how much better? 2% gain in performance? 4%? Generally it's not worth the upgrade unless you're a gamer. He's a simple man of simple luxuries and lasting work.

[patrickjp93]

IPS would make the text and videos clearer vs TN 144hz.

Also, the clarity of black on white has more to do with backlight bleeding. Extreme color reproduction is not necessary. This monitor has a rep for having almost none. If someone has a better option in the 75 Hz range, feel free to suggest.

[juretrn]

Your dad doesn't need a custom built rig, sorry. How about save 1500 $ and use them on a nice cruise or something?

[patrickjp93]

Your dad doesn't need a custom built rig, sorry. How about save 1500 $ and use them on a nice cruise or something?

We always build our rigs by hand. Pre-mades have never done well for us, and a $500 PC would undoubtedly need an upgrade in 3 years whereas this is meant to last the long haul. It seems like no one here has ever built with such a long time frame in mind. Would this be a good assumption?