Buyer's Guide II: Extreme, High-End, Mid-Range, Budget, and Entry Level Systems

[Felfirez]

Hi, need some advise here.

I'm helping to build 3 x as CHEAP as possible PCs for office use.

Main uses would be Word processing applications (ms word, excel and powerpoint), frequent surfing of internet, reading emails and watching youtube videos.

I would require Microsoft Windows 7 OS and office. Prefer if this setup can last the next 3 - 4 years and how is this setup better compared to buying it cheap from dell?

I would just require the rig itself, no need monitor, keyboard or mouse.


Any advise here?

Thanks!!!!!

Intel i3 2100 + ECS H67H2-M2 (B3) - $246
Kingston 1x4GB DDR3 ValueRAM - $53
Samsung F3 320gb $49 (bell systems)
HEC Truepower 300W - $38
ATX Casing + 1 Fan - $35
Samsung DVDrw $25


PC Total $446x3= $1338 (you can bargain for less since buying 3. Go to tradepac if you're fixing yourself. If not go to PCthemes, Bell systems or Best price)

Win 7 HP $106
Office $115

For the softwares, I'm pretty sure there's a 3 computer bundle for each of those. They're not listed on the pricelist so maybe you can ask the shops for it.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Don't forget we have penny Pentiums too!

CPU+MB: Intel Pentium G620 + ECS H67H2-I @ $218
RAM: Kingston ValueRAM DDR3-1333 2GB @ $27
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F4 320GB @ $49 (Bell Systems)
ODD: Samsung S223 22X DVD+/-RW @ $25
CASE+PSU: In Win BP655 + 300W PSU @ $81 (mynextcom)

Total: $400 Each

Subtotal: $1200

All prices from Tradepac unless otherwise stated in brackets.

Optional Purchases:
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit OEM X3 @ $480
SW: Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Business X3 @ $594

Grand Total: $2274

IIRC you cannot use Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack Upgrade and Office 2010 Home and Student 3-User Pack for commercial usage.

 

[Felfirez]

I think he's building office coms for working at home.

 

[iichigoz]

Thanks for the advice!

It's not for home office but for those family service centre sort of office so not too sure if I'm still able to use the home premium version of windows 7.

 

[pekipom]

hi what if I wish to use wireless internet on the computer? is there a need for Modem, ISDN card, or network card?

what about soundcard?

 

[Felfirez]

hi what if I wish to use wireless internet on the computer? is there a need for Modem, ISDN card, or network card?

what about soundcard?

You can use a wireless USB dongle or a PCI card.

Most, if not all, current boards have onboard sound. Sound card is an option. It uses a PCI slot.

 

[winthony]

Hey guys! Gonna head down to sls tmr to get a rig. Can I have a reco asap? My budget is 1k. No need monitor. Need os and cpu only! Thanks!!

 

[temasekcity]

Hey guys! Gonna head down to sls tmr to get a rig. Can I have a reco asap? My budget is 1k. No need monitor. Need os and cpu only! Thanks!!

so short notice, see first page to get a feel. since on budget, recommend amd instead of intel. get win7 64bit home if you can afford.

get a good power supply for money saving. we don't know if the electricity bill will go up higher in the near future.

good luck and great shopping. see my signature for recommended shops. I have no direct interests or shares in them. hehe... just a happy customers after dealing with many who come and go since 1980.

 

[Felfirez]

Hey guys! Gonna head down to sls tmr to get a rig. Can I have a reco asap? My budget is 1k. No need monitor. Need os and cpu only! Thanks!!

I take it its for gaming?

i5 2400 + Biostar TP67b+ $381
2x4gb Kingston Ram $102
Samsung F3 1tb $72
Samsung DVDRW $25
Sapphire HD5830 $155
Ikonik en2 $69
Win 7 HP $112
FSP Aurum 400w $95

Total: $1011

All prices from PCThemes.

 

[winthony]

Hmm, why not just reco and I see bout it? Idk a lot bout mobo and processor and stuff! My bro birthday you see!!

 

[winthony]

I take it its for gaming?

i5 2400 + Biostar TP67b+ $381
2x4gb Kingston Ram $100 (Bell Systems)
Samsung F3 1tb $72
Samsung DVDRW $25
Sapphire HD5830 $155
Ikonik en2 $69
Win 7 HP $112
FSP Aurum 400w $95

Total: $1009

All prices from PCThemes except ram.

Hmm! Psu need up abit? Just in case! And the gpu is 1gb right?

 

[Felfirez]

Hmm! Psu need up abit? Just in case! And the gpu is 1gb right?

CPU 2400 ~95w
ram, mobo, hdd, odd, fan ~50w
HD5830 ~150w

total + 20% headroom ~350w max power draw

Usually gaming will at most hit 80% of max PD which is about 280w.

The FSP Aurum is a gold rated and it can handle loads of more than 400w so no worries about the PSU.

Yes the Gfx card is 1gb.

 

[winthony]

Hmm alright! What bout the mobo, somehow I got bad experience with biostar! And if I want an amd setup with the same budget, can you reco one?

 

[Felfirez]

Hmm alright! What bout the mobo, somehow I got bad experience with biostar! And if I want an amd setup with the same budget, can you reco one?

It is not advisable to get AMD right now as the new generation CPU are releasing soon. You'd be getting a CPU 2 generations behind.

Changed the mobo:

i5 2400 + Asrock H61M-GS $344
2x4gb Kingston Ram $102
Samsung F3 1tb $72
Samsung DVDRW $25
Sapphire HD5830 $155
Ikonik en2 $69
Win 7 HP $112
FSP Aurum 400w $95

Total $974

 

[MoneyFace =p]

It is not advisable to get AMD right now as the new generation CPU are releasing soon. You'd be getting a CPU 2 generations behind.

Changed the mobo:

i5 2400 + Asrock H61M-GS $344
2x4gb Kingston Ram $102
Samsung F3 1tb $72
Samsung DVDRW $25
Sapphire HD5830 $155
Ikonik en2 $69
Win 7 HP $112
FSP Aurum 400w $95

Total $974

Change MB to ECS H67H2-M2
And ODD costs $27

 

[Felfirez]

Edited

i5 2400 + ECS H67H2-M2 $339 (Tradepac)
2x4gb Kingston Ram $102
Samsung F3 1tb $72
Samsung DVDRW $27
Sapphire HD5830 $155
Ikonik en2 $69
Win 7 HP $112
FSP Aurum 400w $95

Total $931

The rest are from PCThemes.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

mynextcom $10 cheaper

 

[winthony]

Edited

i5 2400 + ECS H67H2-M2 $339 (Tradepac)
2x4gb Kingston Ram $102
Samsung F3 1tb $72
Samsung DVDRW $27
Sapphire HD5830 $155
Ikonik en2 $69
Win 7 HP $112
FSP Aurum 400w $95

Total $931

The rest are from PCThemes.

can the mobo+processor be bought at pcthemes? must as well get all from there

 

[Felfirez]

can the mobo+processor be bought at pcthemes? must as well get all from there

They dont have it there. You can choose either the asrock or ECS but recommended more towards the ECS. Just buy the mobo and cpu bundle 1st then go over to PCThemes for the rest and installation.

 

[cyberwave]

can the mobo+processor be bought at pcthemes? must as well get all from there

pcthemes no ECS m/b