Getting a rig this week..any thoughts?

[hoven00]

Right, so helping my uncle build a simple itx rig some time this week. Got a 2nd hand CM elite 120 for a cool $20 awhile ago. Will be reusing HDD and therefore OS is also not needed.

Asrock B75M-itx - i3 3220 - $242 (Tradepac) **PCtheme sells the same for $279..dunno why
1x 4GB value 1333Mhz RAM - $36-$40 (can't remember which shop sells for $36)
Thermaltake smart SE 520W -$75 (PCtheme)
ODD - None needed
CPU cooling - None needed

USB Wireless adapter - Prolink Pan2001 - $27 (Cybermind)

Total: $384, from pricelist as of 29th June. Wish I'm good at bargaining..

Pretty much finalised..but I have no experience with any USB wireless adapter, decided to go for one with an antenna and USB extension.

 

[LesterQ]

G2120 enough...

 

[betadyne]

Looks ok to me.

 

[hoven00]

G2120 enough...

I dunno leh..been having a headache choosing the CPU. At first I'm leaning towards the G2120 actually, but choose to add on $50 for the i3 to 'future proof' a little. I can't find a solid benchmarks to settle for a decision. Will there be like a 10% improvement (FPS wise) between the i3 and 2120?
Forgot to say, I will be adding on a HD 6670 from my secondary rig. Some light gaming as well..like Minecraft or Lego games.

 

[LesterQ]

Mojang | Minecraft system requirements

ARK | Intel® Pentium® D Processor 820 (2M Cache, 2.80 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)

think g2120 more then enough?

 

[iKoori]

I feel that hor, wireless try to get on-board de? Try find ASUS/Gigabyte see whether they got or not @.@ I use the USB adapter before like will dc sometimes not very reliable.

 

[hoven00]

I feel that hor, wireless try to get on-board de? Try find ASUS/Gigabyte see whether they got or not @.@ I use the USB adapter before like will dc sometimes not very reliable.

Thought of getting those mobo with wifi too..but i scared that if the antenna/wifi chip spoil or something will have to replace the mobo entirely. Much less tedious than to replace a USB one. PCI network card of course not an option and have to stick to USB one..
My uncle's son (main user, still pri school) won't be playing MMORPG or other internet intensive stuffs (yet) so i'm not that worried.

 

[LesterQ]

Thought of getting those mobo with wifi too..but i scared that if the antenna/wifi chip spoil or something will have to replace the mobo entirely. Much less tedious than to replace a USB one. PCI network card of course not an option and have to stick to USB one..
My uncle's son (main user, still pri school) won't be playing MMORPG or other internet intensive stuffs (yet) so i'm not that worried.

G2120 . If the computer is seldom moved , which should b the case for all desktop. Just use the ethernet port la..

 

[sHrike]

G2120 enough...

G2120 is equivalent to mine E8400. Hoho....and i can still play crysis with it hohoho...of low settings

 

[iKoori]

G2120 . If the computer is seldom moved , which should b the case for all desktop. Just use the ethernet port la..

Oh ya hor why want wifi when you can use ethernet. Must better/faster somemore!

 

[hoven00]

G2120 . If the computer is seldom moved , which should b the case for all desktop. Just use the ethernet port la..

He's in a weird situation..the modem in the house belongs to the tenant and the PC would be located in a different room. Ethernet cable not an option.

Still unsure about the CPU, read somewhere that the G2120 performs similarly to a i3-2100 which I'm totally okay with, but can't confirm it yet..
Headache ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Thehim]

He's in a weird situation..the modem in the house belongs to the tenant and the PC would be located in a different room. Ethernet cable not an option.

Still unsure about the CPU, read somewhere that the G2120 performs similarly to a i3-2100 which I'm totally okay with, but can't confirm it yet..
Headache ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

Still boils down what you are willing to give.
you stated is for a primary school kid chances of gaming are very low, and internet intensive stuff is low.
The requirements settles for G2120, the difference between the 2 CPUs may not be needed for the required jobscope.
You get to scrimp on CPU, spend more on better Networking as needed.
Do note that if the router is backward, no use getting a N adaptor.

 

[hoven00]

So I spent like 30 minutes internally debating between these 2 CPUs last night, I decided to settle for the G2120. Came to the conclusion that the i3 is not worth $50 more and a GPU would be far more of a factor for gaming.

You get to scrimp on CPU, spend more on better Networking as needed.
Do note that if the router is backward, no use getting a N adaptor.

Actually I got no idea what the modem/router specs is, but I read that wireless N adapters are backward compatibly with Wireless G. But the main reason why I choose that particular adapter is because of the antenna and USB extension.

 

[wwenze]

Pentium vs i3?

Performance Summary - Is This Even Fair? Budget Ivy Bridge Takes On Core 2 Duo And Quad
Contemporary APUs: AMD Trinity vs. Intel Ivy Bridge. Page 8 - X-bit labs

 

[Thehim]

So I spent like 30 minutes internally debating between these 2 CPUs last night, I decided to settle for the G2120. Came to the conclusion that the i3 is not worth $50 more and a GPU would be far more of a factor for gaming.

Actually I got no idea what the modem/router specs is, but I read that wireless N adapters are backward compatibly with Wireless G. But the main reason why I choose that particular adapter is because of the antenna and USB extension.

Yes, the N adaptors are backward compaitable.
But that wasn't my point, my point is that, if the router is a g/b router, or even worse, b router.
no point getting a good adaptor.
would be better off with a whole new set of router + adaptor.
use some of the money saved from CPU.

 

[hoven00]

Pentium vs i3?
Performance Summary - Is This Even Fair? Budget Ivy Bridge Takes On Core 2 Duo And Quad

Interesting article, thanks for sharing. Still sticking to the G2120..

Yes, the N adaptors are backward compaitable.
But that wasn't my point, my point is that, if the router is a g/b router, or even worse, b router.
no point getting a good adaptor.
would be better off with a whole new set of router + adaptor.
use some of the money saved from CPU.

I will check out the modem specs first then, if possible. He used to have a netbook with wifi and from what I can tell the signal was no problem and doesn't disconnect whatsoever.
What does the router do? Amplify the signal from the modem? Isn't a <$30 USB adapter suffice?

**No experience with wireless networking..so..yeah**

 

[Thehim]

I will check out the modem specs first then, if possible. He used to have a netbook with wifi and from what I can tell the signal was no problem and doesn't disconnect whatsoever.
What does the router do? Amplify the signal from the modem? Isn't a <$30 USB adapter suffice?

**No experience with wireless networking..so..yeah**

The modem is the thing the communicates to the internet service provider (Starhub/M1/Singtel) for cable. (Myrepublic/ViewQuest) for fibre.
Router is the thing that shares this communication/bandwidth/connection to whoever having access to the router.

even you have a bombastic ISP service, it will still be bottlenecked by the router next in line would be the adaptor.