Rate my build

[SubZeroKelvin]

Hi guys,

 

My father asked me to build a new computer for his personal use. He'll basically browse the internet, use his work related softwares (he's a CPA) and my mom would also use it for a tiny bit of image editing (basically MS Paint and a other free tools). His requirement was that it would be fast (I convinced him to use an SSD) and also have a couple nice features like USB 3.0 and the ability to upgrade the system with extra ram and storage. He also wants a decent yet affordable case and a mini tower size is mandatory so I went with a micro-ATX build.

 

I'm not used to building a low spec computer so I would like to request your help.

 

Here's the pcpartpicker link. I couldn't find the power supply so I went with the closest one in spec to the one I have saved on amazon.fr.

Edit: pcpartpicker link updated

[Indus Monk]

3/10 get at least a core i3 and what about the GPU?

[WereCat]

Build looks nice but I would still recommend you to go rather for i3 than for Pentium.

Do you plan only on using integrated graphics?

 

BTW:

That PSU on Amazon link is SFX format so you will need mounting bracket for it as it is smaller. Your case fits larger ATX units.

 

EDIT:

I really recommend you to go for the i3 at least and if the price of PC wil be then higher and you dont like it then dont buy that CPU cooler and just use Intel stock one. It will have no problems cooling i3 and Intel stock coolers are actualy quite silent considering the fan size and RPMs.

You can always get aftermarket cooler later when you get money.

[LegacyStijncat]

Looks great! Good job on it!

EDIT: if you have more budget, go with @AmbarChakrabarti's and @WereCat's suggestion.

[TheeBackground]

Considering you're not Overclocking, you're not likely going to need the aftermarket cooler.

 

This PSU should do fine.

 

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/be-quiet-power-supply-bn220

 

The only other thing to worry about is, what kind of files and how big are they going to be that are going to be put onto this computer, may need to drop the SSD down to 250 GB and get like a 1 TB HDD.

[SubZeroKelvin]

Wouldn't an OC'd Pentium outmatch a non overclockable i3? I won't order a dedicated graphics card since my father wouldn't need it.

 

I googling "small size atx PSU" atm.

[Sam Z Man]

Why get only a ssd, get a 120gb SSD and a HDD.

[Sam Z Man]

Wouldn't an OC'd Pentium outmatch a non overclockable i3? I won't order a dedicated graphics card since my father wouldn't need it.

 

I googling "small size atx PSU" atm.

That's not a overclocked Pentium when used with a H97 motherboard.

[SubZeroKelvin]

Considering you're not Overclocking, you're not likely going to need the aftermarket cooler.

 

This PSU should do fine.

 

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/be-quiet-power-supply-bn220

 

The only other thing to worry about is, what kind of files and how big are they going to be that are going to be put onto this computer, may need to drop the SSD down to 250 GB and get like a 1 TB HDD.

Thanks for the PSU tip. Would I still be able to use the bottom cable management hole to route the cables?

 

About the SSD, I also advised my father to have a storage hdd but he wants a hassle free solution and 2 disks is already too much for him (lol) so he checked the drive size on his current system and wanted a similar size SSD. He's only using 170 of 500 gigs so a 480 ssd should be plenty of space.

That's not a overclocked Pentium when used with a H97 motherboard.

Thanks, I didn't know that! So to sum things up: core i3 and h97 if no OC and pentium with z97 and custom cooler if OC.

[TheeBackground]

That's not a overclocked Pentium when used with a H97 motherboard.

I mean, considering his parents aren't doing any heavy productivity, I don't that'll make a difference.

[SubZeroKelvin]

I just checked the prices on amazon.fr and found that an i3-4160 + the asus h97 mobo cost €211 while a pentium G3258 + an asus z97 mobo and the be quiet custom cooler cost €246. I think it's a no brainer so I will go for the i3. I have updated the pcpartpicker link.

 

How do you guys like the updated one? Is the CPU overkill or not?

[Nena Trinity]

1. Go i3 minimum

 

2. No dedicated GPU?

[TheeBackground]

1. Go i3 minimum

 

2. No dedicated GPU?

Considering this is for his parents and nothing terribly high productivity, it's doubtfully needed.

[Nena Trinity]

Considering this is for his parents and nothing terribly high productivity, it's doubtfully needed.

hmm parents complain if its slow go i5?

[TheeBackground]

hmm parents complain if its slow go i5?

Basically, or like a  cheap 260 or a 960.

[Nena Trinity]

Basically, or like a  cheap 260 or a 960.

A 260 is never worth it.

[SubZeroKelvin]

I believe the SSD will do the trick. Wouldn't an i5 reaaallly be overkill? I do most of my work (LaTeX) on an old 2.4ghz core2duo on my mac and I don't feel like the processor is slowing me down. The responsiveness is there because I upgraded my disk to an ssd

[KemoKa]

I believe the SSD will do the trick. Wouldn't an i5 reaaallly be overkill? I do most of my work (LaTeX) on an old 2.4ghz core2duo on my mac and I don't feel like the processor is slowing me down. The responsiveness is there because I upgraded my disk to an ssd

I have a build lying around with a Core 2 Quad and an SSD, that thing is plenty fast for pretty much any average joe, and a 4th gen i3 is significantly more powerful.

[SubZeroKelvin]

Final version.

[Sam Z Man]

Final version.

You could get by with a much cheaper case, as you are going to have no heavy GPU or CPU cooler, and be putting out a miniscule amount of heat. You could also get a standard copy of windows and save some money.

If you build a system that is cheaper and performs just as well as what they were expecting they will be more impressed then if you build a system that performs like they expected but took the entire budget. People love coming under budget when getting anything.

[SubZeroKelvin]

Sure, but remember that I ordered the parts from France so prices differ. For instance, the windows 7 pro licence only cost me €40 because I found a good deal at a certain online retailer (probably an error on their part because they also list the same product at €140~. Now about the case, my father really liked the define r5 look/connectivity/sound dampening but wanted a smaller case so I went with the define mini.