What CPU? for basic stuff (word processing, YouTube etc.)

[Rotendahl]

Hello all you lovely people.

 

I want to build a PC for my dad. He watches a lot of YouTube, cares about audio (not audiophile, but still he cares), multitasks a lot (not heavy applications, just word, mail, chrome, spotify ect.)

 

Since he does not edit video, does not 3D model, does not game, and all that good stuff, I am thinking that he does not need a graphics card, and could runs of the CPU's internal graphics, am I crazy for thinking that?

 

I am thinking a build something along the lines off:

• i5 or i7 (for his multitasking, maybe an i5 7500)
• 8 gb ram (maybe 16)
• Standard MOBO (or one with built in enhanced audio)
• possibly a mini ITX case if he does in fact not need the GPU.
• a fitting power supply
• a soundcard if it is worth getting (an external mixer or amp would probably be a bit much for him)

I am asking here for your oppinions about the CPU, since i don't know how powerful it would need to be, and if there is any major differences regarding internal graphfics, from SKU to SKU, i should be aware of? As well as your generel suggestions, as you can probably tell, I am still new to PC building, I have only build one PC so far, so I am still learning.

 

Thank you for your time

[Guest]

Just get a G4560 with 8GB of RAM

He doesn't even need an i3/i5 at all

[LienusLateTips]

Get a R5 1600 then get a cheap HD 5450 because Ryzen does not have iGPU

 

[Silentprototipe]

Get some sort of i3 or hell Kaby Lake Pentium. I would recomend the R3's if they were released but sadly they arent yet

[tom_w141]

You are overkill on the CPU.

 

Sounds like a Kaby Lake Pentium will suit him or above from that an R5 1400 but anything higher is overkill.

[tom_w141]

1 minute ago, JDE said:

Get a R5 1600 then get a cheap HD 5450 because Ryzen does not have iGPU

 

Freaking 6 core/12t cpu for web browsing and word  I like Ryzen but come on... no need  

[tom_w141]

3 minutes ago, Rotendahl said:

Hello all you lovely people.

 

I want to build a PC for my dad. He watches a lot of YouTube, cares about audio (not audiophile, but still he cares), multitasks a lot (not heavy applications, just word, mail, chrome, spotify ect.)

 

Since he does not edit video, does not 3D model, does not game, and all that good stuff, I am thinking that he does not need a graphics card, and could runs of the CPU's internal graphics, am I crazy for thinking that?

 

I am thinking a build something along the lines off:

• i5 or i7 (for his multitasking, maybe an i5 7500)
• 8 gb ram (maybe 16)
• Standard MOBO (or one with built in enhanced audio)
• possibly a mini ITX case if he does in fact not need the GPU.
• a fitting power supply
• a soundcard if it is worth getting (an external mixer or amp would probably be a bit much for him)

I am asking here for your oppinions about the CPU, since i don't know how powerful it would need to be, and if there is any major differences regarding internal graphfics, from SKU to SKU, i should be aware of? As well as your generel suggestions, as you can probably tell, I am still new to PC building, I have only build one PC so far, so I am still learning.

 

Thank you for your time

Intel Nucs are pretty cool and tiiiiiiiny have you looked at those?

[Mira Yurizaki]

You don't need anything more powerful than a desktop i3 for your use case OP.

[LienusLateTips]

Just now, tom_w141 said:

Freaking 6 core/12t cpu for web browsing and word  I like Ryzen but come on... no need  

Better multitasking!

[tom_w141]

1 minute ago, JDE said:

Better multitasking!

Yeah but read his application list... Word, Chrome, Outlook...

 

The type of multitasking the R5 1600 is for is:

 

Game, OBS, Chrome, word, excel, outlook, premier at the same time. Not the most basic of apps.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, JDE said:

Better multitasking!

[LienusLateTips]

1 minute ago, tom_w141 said:

Yeah but read his application list... Word, Chrome, Outlook...

 

1 minute ago, deXxterlab97 said:

But I'm going to stop now.

[Rotendahl]

Thank you for the fast replies

 

I actually use a i3 7100 my self, and I have had a good experience with that. So that might be a good bet.

 

How about the internal graphics on the different models, are they equal, or are there any differences, I should take note of and research?

[LienusLateTips]

Just now, Rotendahl said:

Thank you for the fast replies

 

I actually use a i3 7100 my self, and I have had a good experience with that. So that might be a good bet.

 

How about the internal graphics on the different models, are they equal, or are there any differences, I should take note of and research?

Just get a Pentium G4560. The i3 is just a overclocked Pentium.

[tom_w141]

2 minutes ago, Rotendahl said:

Thank you for the fast replies

 

I actually use a i3 7100 my self, and I have had a good experience with that. So that might be a good bet.

 

How about the internal graphics on the different models, are they equal, or are there any differences, I should take note of and research?

Each generation gets the same iGPU. the iGPU far exceeds his needs. Those lil Nucs I mentioned are worth a look though! They are totally what I would buy my mom for example. So compact.

 

Pentium G4560 is honestly your best bet if you want to build vs pre built. However please make it small... Don't built a PC without a dGPU in a mid tower... There is no need  

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, Rotendahl said:

Thank you for the fast replies

 

I actually use a i3 7100 my self, and I have had a good experience with that. So that might be a good bet.

 

How about the internal graphics on the different models, are they equal, or are there any differences, I should take note of and research?

They are pretty much equal. i3 uses HD 630 which is the same for i5 7500, i5 7600k and i7 7700k..

If you are not gaming G4560 with its HD 610 is more than enough

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, JDE said:

Just get a Pentium G4560. The i3 is just a overclocked Pentium.

You can't overclock a G4560

[LienusLateTips]

1 minute ago, deXxterlab97 said:

You can't overclock a G4560

Well:

 

Factory overclocked with Turbo Boost and Optane support enabled.

[Rotendahl]

9 minutes ago, tom_w141 said:

Each generation gets the same iGPU. the iGPU far exceeds his needs. Those lil Nucs I mentioned are worth a look though! They are totally what I would buy my mom for example. So compact.

 

Pentium G4560 is honestly your best bet if you want to build vs pre built. However please make it small... Don't built a PC without a dGPU in a mid tower... There is no need  

Yeah I am getting a small form factor case, the only reason i was not sure is if he did need a graphics card, and then since i am so new to this, i would not be up for the challenge, but now that i know that he does not need it, i am definantly going for a small form factor.

 

Money is not really an issue, so would the i3 7100 be good for the future, or is it just totally not worth it, i am a little aprehensive about the Pentiums, the first thing that pops into my heard when i hear pentium is "old and outdated", since the name has been around for so long, and i3, i5 and i7 have been standard for so long. I know it is not true, but yeah, you probably know what i mean.

 

Btw the reason for not getting a Nuc, is that i want to practise building

[tom_w141]

8 minutes ago, Rotendahl said:

Yeah I am getting a small form factor case, the only reason i was not sure is if he did need a graphics card, and then since i am so new to this, i would not be up for the challenge, but now that i know that he does not need it, i am definantly going for a small form factor.

 

Money is not really an issue, so would the i3 7100 be good for the future, or is it just totally not worth it, i am a little aprehensive about the Pentiums, the first thing that pops into my heard when i hear pentium is "old and outdated", since the name has been around for so long, and i3, i5 and i7 have been standard for so long. I know it is not true, but yeah, you probably know what i mean.

 

Btw the reason for not getting a Nuc, is that i want to practise building

About the Nuc fair enough building is fun. But ask anyone experienced around here. Intel killed their own i3s with the Pentium. Yes the Pentium name isn't new but neither is the i series to be honest... It is a kaby lake Pentium so not old at all.

 

To further help look at the benchmarks of YT reviewers like hardware unboxd when they make budget systems. Very popular combo right now is the G4560 and an RX 570.

[Rotendahl]

2 minutes ago, tom_w141 said:

About the Nuc fair enough building is fun. But ask anyone experienced around here. Intel killed their own i3s with the Pentium. Yes the Pentium name isn't new but neither is the i series to be honest... It is a kaby lake Pentium so not old at all.

 

To further help look at the benchmarks of YT reviewers like hardware unboxd when they make budget systems. Very popular combo right now is the G4560 and an RX 570.

Yeah from all the comments here, I am more than convinced by now that the Pentium is a good pick, and I just have a "mental hurdel" to overcome. I have seen, as you suggested, a lot of bugdet builds using it (when picking parts for my own system), and kinda assumed they only used it because it was cheap.

But a Pentium, no GPU and small form factor (passively cooled would be awesome) should be good.

 

I know I posted in the CPU, MOBO part of the forum, but you might know something about it, if not that is totally fine i really appreciate the help you (and all the others) have already given.

 

Regarding sound, is it worth getting a better soundcard than the intergrated one? He is using a pair of Bose speakers similar to the one in link 1. Or would the money be better spent on better speakers?

 

And regarding case. I love the design, and passive cooling, of the Streacom DB4 (link 2), but it is insanely priced do you have any recomendations?

 

Link 1: https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/stereo_speakers/companion-20-multimedia-speaker-system.html#v=companion20_silver

Link 2: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5FY56S9979

 

I am sorry for my broken english, I am Danish, so the language checking I am getting here is for danish, so my spelling sucks

[tom_w141]

20 minutes ago, Rotendahl said:

Yeah from all the comments here, I am more than convinced by now that the Pentium is a good pick, and I just have a "mental hurdel" to overcome. I have seen, as you suggested, a lot of bugdet builds using it (when picking parts for my own system), and kinda assumed they only used it because it was cheap.

But a Pentium, no GPU and small form factor (passively cooled would be awesome) should be good.

 

I know I posted in the CPU, MOBO part of the forum, but you might know something about it, if not that is totally fine i really appreciate the help you (and all the others) have already given.

 

Regarding sound, is it worth getting a better soundcard than the intergrated one? He is using a pair of Bose speakers similar to the one in link 1. Or would the money be better spent on better speakers?

 

And regarding case. I love the design, and passive cooling, of the Streacom DB4 (link 2), but it is insanely priced do you have any recomendations?

 

Link 1: https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/stereo_speakers/companion-20-multimedia-speaker-system.html#v=companion20_silver

Link 2: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5FY56S9979

 

I am sorry for my broken english, I am Danish, so the language checking I am getting here is for danish, so my spelling sucks

1st the stock fan that comes with Intel CPUs is crap and very noisy so I'd expect you to toss that out. Passively cooled CPUs are not really a thing it usually requires special case support. There are some BEAUTIFUL passively cooled cases (see hardware canucks YT channel case reviews 2016) these would be silent but can be costly. I personally would get a nice small mini itx case with a good quiet cooler from noctua. About the sound, motherboard sound has come a long way so unless he is a true audiophile he won't notice, the money would be better spent on speakers ('m not an audio expert so my help ends here sorry :p).

 

Lastly your English is very good I didn't notice you weren't English so don't worry about it  Europeans make me feel guilty they often speak English well and I don't speak anything other than English because I'm lazy and it is the international language  

[Rotendahl]

14 minutes ago, tom_w141 said:

1st the stock fan that comes with Intel CPUs is crap and very noisy so I'd expect you to toss that out. Passively cooled CPUs are not really a thing it usually requires special case support. There are some BEAUTIFUL passively cooled cases (see hardware canucks YT channel case reviews 2016) these would be silent but can be costly. I personally would get a nice small mini itx case with a good quiet cooler from noctua. About the sound, motherboard sound has come a long way so unless he is a true audiophile he won't notice, the money would be better spent on speakers ('m not an audio expert so my help ends here sorry :p).

 

Lastly your English is very good I didn't notice you weren't English so don't worry about it  Europeans make me feel guilty they often speak English well and I don't speak anything other than English because I'm lazy and it is the international language  

Thank you very much for the help, i think i have what i need now

 

Well when there is only about 6 million people who speak danish, then you kinda need to speak other languages

[bimmerman]

i3 or Pentium. OP, I get by doing all you mention (plus 3d modeling and matlab) on a 2c/4t "i7" Ultrabook at work. It's far from ideal but portability needs trumped performance desires for the last couple years, and the iGPU wasn't an issue. Now that I travel less I've upgraded to a Xeon/Quadro laptop, but that's not the point here.

 

An ultrabook i7 is basically an i3 desktop chip. That's all your dad needs. I would not overclock it whatsoever unless you want to be permanent tech support and blamed for when things go awry.